Thonda Nadu Temple 1. Thirukachi Ekambam - Kanchipuram

SIVAYA NAMA


Kanchipuram Ekamranathar Temple






Kanchi Ekambaranathar Rajagopuram



 Location:

 
Kanchipuram Ekamranathar Temple is the first Thevara Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. This temple is also known as Periya Kovil and Kachi Thiruvekambam.This temple is closer to Chennai and on the Chennai - Bangalore highway. It is on the Chengalpat - Arakkonam rail route. Govt Bus facilities are there from Chennai, Vellore, Mahabalipuram and Arakkonam. Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India. The skyline is dotted with towers over the temple gateways (Kopuram) of temples. The city was the capital of the early Cholas during the 2nd century BC. It was the Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries.

Reason for the name:

Ekam (Single) + Amram (Mamaram) = Ekambaram (Single Mamaram)

As Lord Siva stays under this single tree he got this name Ekambranathar in this temple

 

Swamy -  ArulMighu Ekambaranathar
 

Amman - Arulmighu Elavarkuzhali
 

Theertham - Sivagangai Theertham
 
Sthala Viruksham - Mamaram




Arulmigu Ekambaranathar



 

Temple:

This Temple is around 3600 years old. One among the Pancha bootha sthalam. Prithivi ( Sand ). The other four are - ( Vayu -  Kalahasthi, Neeru - Thiruvanaikkal, Agni - Thiruvannamalai, Space - Chidhambaram.). The main idol (Shiv linga) of this temple is made of sand and being referred as Prithvi Lingam (Prithvi means earth). The main temple tower (Raja gopuram) is 57m tall, and it was built by Krishnadeva Raya, the popular Vijayanagara Emperor. This vast temple covers an area roughly 47 acres. This temple was sung by all the three Samaya Kuravars ( Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar). Sundarar got his right eye sight back on worshiping Ekambaranathar. Manikkavasakar also sung about  Ekambranathar's  glory in his Thiruvasagam. Arunakirinathar and Pattinathar have also praised about this deity in their Thirupugazh and Kanthapuranam.

Sthala Puranam:

As per the legend, the goddess Parvati once playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva, and the entire universe went into darkness. Lord Shiva opened his third eye and gave light to the whole universe. To make her realise the folly of her action Lord Shiva renounced Goddess Parvathi. She then left her abode in 'Kailash' and came down to Kancheepuram. In order to atone for her sin, she moulded a Sivalingam out of sand and installed it under a mango tree  in a snake cave called " Pilakasam", on the bank of River Kambai. She prayed to the Lord daily requesting that she be forgiven and taken back. Lord Shiva wanted to test her devotion and caused the river to swell. The Kambaii river overflowed and threatened to engulf the Shiva Linga. Kamakshi, embraced the Linga and saved it from getting eroded. Lord Shiva appeared before Kamakshi and married her.

The mango tree under which Kamakshi installed Shiv linga is believed to be still there in this temple complex, which is believed to be 3500 years old. This mango tree is the sthala vruksham of this temple. The mango tree is said to bear fruits of four different tastes each season, representing four Vedas of Hinduism. You can find the small shrine with the idols of Kamakshi and Shiv linga under the mango tree. This shrine is Called Mavadi Sannathi.

There are other deities in this temple such as Vellakambar worshipped by Brahma, Kallakambar by Vishnu and Nallakambar by Rudra. On the east Pragharam Nilathunda Perumal shrine is there. There are also idols such as Vikata chakra Vinayakar, Arumugar, Sahasara linga, 108 lingas, 63 nayanmars, Markendeyar, Bikshadanar, Nataraja, Pralayam katha amman and Navagrahas.

Near Ekambranatahar temple is Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple. Between these two temple is Kanthakottam Murugan temple. These three temples together reflects Somaskandar.

Timings:

Morning - 6.00 AM to 12.30 PM

Evening - 4.00 PM to 9.00 PM

Poojas start everyday at 6.00 AM 

Kalaisanthi at 9.30 AM.

Uchikala poojai begins at 11.30AM.

Sayarakshai Poojai starts at 5.30PM

Ardhajama poojai at 8.30 PM.

( Other special poojas are offered every Monday, Friday, Saturdays, on the first day of

  every Tamil month, Sukla Chaturthis, Sashti, Amavasya and Pournami. )

Contact : Temple officer Tel - 044- 27222084

 Photographs:



1. Nandhikeeswarar

 

2. Lingothbavar




3. Enterance to Moolavar Sannithi




4. A portion of the Sthala viruksham -  Mamaram.  More than 3500 Yrs old




5. Pralaya Kala Amman




6. Main Prgharam (1000 Pillars Mandapam )




7. 108 Lingams in the Ull Pragharam




8. Sahasara Lingam



9. Sthala Viruksham and Mavadi Sannithi



10. Arulmighu Elavarkuzhali



Uthsava Murthy



12. Arulmigu Natarajar with Sivakami







Thevara Pathikangal on Ekambranathar Temple



Thirugnasambandar - 4 Pathigam

Thirunavukkarasar  - 7 Pathigam

Sundarar                - 1 Pathigam



வெந்த  வெண்  பொடிப்  பூசு  மார்பின்  விரி  நூலொருபால்  பொருந்தக்

கந்த  மல்கு  குழலியோடுங்  கடி  பொழி ர கச்சி  தன்னுள்

அந்தமில்  குந்தர்  அவர்  போற்ற  சித்திரு  வேகம்பத்

துறைவனை  அல்ளத்துள்  காதென  துள்ளும்       -------------------- திருஞானசம்பந்தர்  ---- 2nd - திருமுறை

கரவாடும்  வன்னெஞ்சர்க்  கரியானை  கரவர்பால்

விரவாடும்  பெருமானை    விடையேறும்  வித்தகனை

அரவடச்  சடை  தாழ அங்கைஎனில்  அனலேந்தி  

ஏறவடும்  பெருமானை என்  மனதே  வைத்தேன்    ----------------திருநாவுக்கரசர்  ------ 4th - திருமுறை  

அளந்தான்  உகந்தமுது  செய்தனை

ஆதியை  அமரர்  தொழு  தேத்தும்

சீலந்தான்  பெருதும்  உடையனை

சிந்திப்  பரவர்  சிந்தையுல்லனே

எலவற்குழளால்  உமை  நங்கை

என்றும்  எதி  வழிபடபெற்ற

கலகலனை  கம்பேன  மனைக்

காண  கண்  அடியேன்   ஏற்றவரே        --------------- சுந்தரர்   ---------- 7th திருமுறை



SIVAYA NAMA

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

Thonda Nadu Temple 3. Onakanthan Thali Temple

         SIVAYA NAMA                

 

 

THIRU ONKANTHAN THALI



Rajagopuram

Location:

This is a small temple,  situated in the west of Ekambaranathar temple near Panchupettai electricity sub -station. It is around 1 KM from Ekambranathar temple.

Temple:

The temple has three tier rajakopuram and has three Siva lingams in seperate shrine (Oneswarar and Kantheeswarar). They are facing the east. On the south side of this temple you can see another Sivalingam worshiped by Jalandran called Jalanthreeswarar. In the pragharam there is shrine for Vaiyuruthari Vinayakar. There is no Amman in this temple. Kamakshi amman of Kanchi is the ambal for all the Siva temples of Kanchipuram.

Sthala Puranam:

Onan and Kanthan were two asuras. They were comandent of Vanasuran. They worshiped Siva and attain moksham. The respective lingams are Oneswarar and Kantheeswarar. Sundarr saw three Suyambu lingams without any shelter. To construct the temple Sundarar sang a pathigam. Lord Siva asked him to come under a tamarin tree and changed all the fruits to gold. With those gold Sundarar constructed the temple. To show Asuras also had Siva bakthi and to protect the three lingams Sundarar constructed the temple.

Swamy : Arulmigu Oneswarar

Swamy : Arulmigu Kantheeswarar

Swamy : Arulmigu Jalandeeswarar

Theertham : Onakanth Theertham

Sthala Viruksham : Tamarind and Vilvam

 

Pathigam:
 

நெய்யும்பாலும் தயிரும் கொண்டு நித்தல் பூசனை செய்ய லுற்றார் கையில் ஒன்றும் காணம் இல்லைக் கழலடி தொழுது உய்யின் அல்லால் ஐவர் கொண்டிங்கு ஆட்டஆடி ஆழ்குழிப்பட்ட அழுத்து வேனுக்கு உய்யு மாறொன்று அருளிச் செய்வீர் ஓண காந்தன் தளியுளீர

                                                           ------------ Sundarar -- 7th Thirumurai

Timing :

Morning   -  8.00 AM to 1.00 PM

Evening    -  5.00 PM to  8.00 PM

 

Contact :  +91- 98944 43108 

 

Photographs:

Inside the temple




Jalandhreeswarar Temple and the main temple




Vayuruthari Vinayakar

Thiruchitrambalam

Thonda Nadu Temple 2. Thirukkachi Metrali

SIVAYA NAMA


THIRUKKACHI METRALI

Thirumetraleeswarar Temple Rajagopuram

 

Location:

This temple is situated around 2 KM south west of Ekamaranathar temple. It is east facing and built in 1.5 Acre land . This temple has three - tiered Rajagopuram. Kachi Metralinatahr temple is the 2nd of the 32 Thonda nadu Thevara padal petra Temples.

There are two Siva's shrine there. Vishnu meditated upon Siva here to attain Sivaroopam. Siva mentioned to Vishnu the day Thirugnasambandar comes to this temple, and on hearing his pathigam  he will get the Sivaroopam. When Thirugnasambandar came to this temple he sung on lord Siva. On hearing that Vishnu attain the Sivaroopam. After attaining the Sivaroopam he sits in the shrine facing east as Othakeeswarar ( You can see Thirumal padham in front of Othakeeswarar ) and Siva sits facing west as Metraleeswarar.

Thirumetraleeswarar

Arulmighu Dhakshinamurthy

Thiru Otha Urugeeswarar and Thirumal Patham



Temple view from inside



Swamy - Arulmighu Thirumetralinathar.
 

Swamy - Arulmighu Otha urugeeswarar (Thirumal)
 

Ambal  - Arulmighu Kamatchi Amman

Theertham:  Vishnu Theertham

There are Vinayakar, Murugan, Kasi Viswanathar, Bairavar, Natarajar, Amman and Navagraham shrines are there in the inner pragharam.

Timings:

Morning 8.00 AM to 12 Noon

Evening  4.30 PM to 7.00 PM

Contact:

Chandramouli Archakar - 9865355572 ( Check if any change )

Thevara Pathigam:

Thirunavukkarasar - One Pathigam

Sundarar    -  One Pathigam

மாறியது  படிப்  பிட்சைகேன்ற  அகந்த  திரிந்து  வாழ்வார்

பிரியாது  சடைமுடி  மேற்பெய்வளையல்  தன்னோடும்

கரியது  கண்டங்  கொண்டார்  கஞ்சி   மாநகர்  தன்னுள்ளல்

இறையவர்  பாடல்  ஆடல்  இலங்கு  மேற்றளியனாரே . ---- திருநாவுக்கரசர்  --                                                                                                                                   - 4th திருமுறை

நொந்த  ஒண்சுடரே  நுனையே  நினைத்திருந்தேன்

வந்தாய்  போயயரியை  மனமே  புகுந்து  நின்ற

சிந்தை  எந்தை  பிறன்  திரு  மேற்றளி  உறையும்

எந்தை  உன்னை  அல்லால்  இனி  ஏத்த  மாட்டேன் . ---சுந்தரர்  ---7th திருமுறை

SIVAYA NAMA

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

Thirumurai Kovilgall

SIVAYA  NAMA



Arulmigu Sri Sivasailanathar

Arulmigu Sri Paramakalyani

The  Siva temples, which were sung in praise of the Deity by the Moovars ( Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar ) in their Tevara Pathigams are called "Thirumurai Kovilgall" or "Thevara Sthalangal" or "Padal Petra Sthalangal". There are 276 temples in this list. It has been segregated into 10 categories according to the area. They are namely Thonda Nadu Temples (33), Nadu Naadu Temples (22), Chozha Nadu Kaveri Vada Karai Temples (63), Chozha Nadu Kaveri Then  Karai Temples (128), Pandia Nadu Temples (14), Kongu Nadu Temples (7), Malai Nadu Temple (1), Thuluva Nadu Temple  (1), Vada Nadu Temples (5) and Eezha Nadu Temples (2).

We have visited all these temples and have given details about the temples including the Sthala Puranam, location, timings, contacts and the distance to the nearby other Thevara Temples. We have also attached the photographs of each temple. We have done this to make it easier and enable the devotees to plan very well to visit these temples. We welcome any suggestion to improve this blog.

Thiruchitrambalam

Thonda Nadu Temple 32. Thiru Irumbaimakalam

OM NAMASIVAYA

 

 

THIRU IRUMBAIMAHALAM
 

 

Location:

  

Irumbai Mahalam is just off the Pondy-Tindivanam Highway at a distance of about 10 Kms from Pondy. It is at a distance of just 3 Kms from Aroville. Another padal petra temple Tiru Arisili (Ozhynthyapattu) is 5 km northwest of this temple.

 

 

Swamy:         Arulmigu Thirumahakaleswarar

 

Ambal:          Arulmigu Kuilmozhinayagi Ambal

 

Theertham:   Mahakala Theertham

Sthala Viruksham: Iluppai Tree (இலுப்பை மரம்) - known as mahwa or mahua






Arulmigu Mahakaleswarar



 



Arukmigu Kuilmozhi Nayagi







 

 

 

 

Temple:

 

Thiru Irumbai is a small village and the Temple is situated separately. For the convenience of devotees there is a choultry nearby constructed by one Ulagapuram Chettiyar. The Temple is facing East with one pragaram. We heard once the temple had five pragarams. There is no Rajagopuram.  Moolavar shrine is facing east. The Ambal shrine facing south.
Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya with six faces along with his consorts Goddess Sri Valli & Deivayanai are there in the pragaram. The shrine to Subramanyar here is of significance, and Panguni Uthiram is celebrated in splendour here. Lord Nataraja & Goddess Sivakami, Kalabhairavar are there
 

Chandran is present in a separate shrine. He holds a palm leaf in one of his hands signifying that He is the one who gifts his devotees with good knowledge, education and great skill in fine arts. He is known as Kala Chandran. Devotees offer him rice boiled in milk as prasadam. A very interesting feature of this temple is that all the Navagrahams are seen with their consorts.

 
There are some beautiful painting on the temple wall depicting the story of the temple. These paintings are done from Kerala and the ingredients are from nature. 



Sthala Puranam:

Devimahathmyam describes the story of two demons Shumbha and Nishnumba. The two demon brothers underwent severe penance on the sacred land Pushkar and attained several boons from Lord Brahma. Immediately after achieving the boons they turned out arrogant and malicious.  Shumba and Nishumba heard about the enthralling beauty of Goddess Parvati. Shumba and Nishumba approached Goddess Parvati with an appeal to marry them. Goddess Parvati transformed into Mahakali, in a fierce form and beheaded all the demons. As a result Goddess Parvati was afflicted with Brahmahathi dhosham; she arrived on this sacred land and underwent severe penance praying to Lord Siva to get rid of Brahmahathy dhosham. Consequently, Goddess Parvati got relieved from the sin.




Kaduveli Siddhar:


It is said that Makaalar Rishi, installed a Sivalingam at Ujjain in Madhy Pradesh and another at Amabar Makaala near Mayavaram, Tamil Nadu. When he heard of the divinity of this place, he decided to install a Sivalingam at this village

Kaduveli Siddhar, a famous yogi who lived in the area some four to five hundred years ago. According to the legend, Kaduveli Siddhar was performing harsh penance sitting under a peepal tree in yogic pose for days. The heat of his body was so intense that the rain gods suffered, no rains came and the people were exposed to hardship and drought. The situation was so bad that it finally came to the ears of the King, who ruled from Edyanchavadi village. No one dared disturb Kaduveli in his penance as he chanted the mantra of Siva, and soon an anthill started to rise up around him. Finally a temple dancer, named Valli, devoted to the Lord Siva, decided to do her best to get the attention of the yogi, and to rescue the King and his people from the adverse effects of his penance. She observed that occasionally the Siddhar would, with his eyes shut, put out his hands to catch and consume the falling, withered peepal leaves. So she prepared some thinly fired appalam (a flat salty wafer made out of Urad gram dhal), and started placing them in the Siddhar's outstretched hands, as he tried to catch the falling leaves. Soon he started eating the appalams and getting his taste back. Slowly he grew fatter until finally the anthill broke and he was once more exposed to the rays of the sun. Finally he opened his eyes. Valli was extremely happy and was able to take him back to her house where she kept him happy, dancing for him and learning songs for him. Meanwhile the God of Rain was relieved from the torture he felt from the heat of the Siddhar's penance, the rain fell in plenty, and the people were happy once again.

In order to celebrate this event the King ordered a big Puja to be held at Irumbai temple, which was to be followed by a classical performance by Valli in which she would act out the cosmic dance of Lord Siva, in the form of Natarajar. During the performance, however, one of her anklets fell off, and she started to lose her balance and rhythm. Kaduveli Siddhar,  who saw the Lord Siva in Valli, picked up the anklet and put it back on her feet. This exposed him to the ridicule of the King and court for having touched the feet of a dancing girl, and he was heckled and jeered. Furious, he invoked the Lord Siva to come out of his temple and prove his innocence by causing a rain of stone.

Kaduveli Siddhar

He sung as follows:

"வெல்லும்  பொழுது  விடுவேன்  வெகுளியை

செல்லும் பொழுது செலுத்துவேன் சிந்தையை 

அல்லும் பகலும் உன்னையே தொழுவேன் 

கல்லும் பிளந்து கடுவெளியாமே" 

 Immediately the lingam in the sanctum of the temple exploded in to three parts, and wherever its fragments fell became desert. No greenery will grow around these spots, including a crater at a distance of three kilometres from the village, still to this day known as "Kaduveli".

The King was suddenly frightened and begged the pardon of the Siddhar, bowing down to him with all his entourage and pleading with him to quench the effects of his anger and curse. This appeased Kaduveli Siddhar, who, repenting of his anger, said that what was done was done, but that in the future, people from far-off lands would come and make the desert land green and fertile again.

 

The Siddhar sung a song again

 

எட்டும் இரண்டும் அறிந்த எந்தனை 

எட்டும் இரண்டும் அறிந்த உந்தனை 

எட்டும் இரண்டும் ஒன்றதாகுமே 

 

The broken Siva Lingam joined together of its own and the King put a copper belt to keep the parts united. Even today one can see the lingam in parts and the copper plate (belt) uniting them. This can be visible during the Aarthi. One piece fell outside this place. That place is called as Kazhuvezhi (கழுவெளி) is a small village nearby. 

In side of the Temple

 

 

 

 

Ambal Shrine

Navagraham with their consorts

Pathigam:

 

 

மண்டுகங்கை சடையிற் கரந்தும் மதிசூடிமான்
கொண்டகையாற் புரம்மூன் றெரித்த குழகன்னிடம்
எண்டிசையும் புகழ்போய் விளங்கும் இரும்பைதனுள்
வண்டுகீதம் முரல்பொழில் சுலாய்நின்ற மாகாளமே.

 

                                                                          ---- 2nd Thirumurai  திருஞானசம்பந்தர் 



Swamy Shrine





Wall Paintings

 

Wall Paintings

Wall Paintings

Wall Paintings

 

 

 

Timings:     7.00 AM to 12.00 Noon

                    4.00 PM  to 8.00 PM 

 

 

Contacts:   0413 - 268 8943, 98435 26601

                   Swamynatha Gurukkal - 9443465502

 

 

Address:   Sri Mahakaleswarar Temple, Irumbai-605 010, Villupuram district.

 

 

 

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM