Ther Azhundoor Devaadirajan

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Therazhundoor is the place where the poet Kambar (who wrote Ramayana in Tamil was born.Thirumangai azhwar refused to sing praises for Devadi Rajar mistaking him to be just a king. The Lord then came in the guise of a cowherd, asked Thirumangai Azhwar to recognise that Devadi Rajar was Perumal himself and sing praises. Thirumangai Azhwar then sang songs (Paasuram) from the place where the Thirumangai Azhwar Mandapam stands today.

The place is called Krishnaranyam as it was a favourite of Lord Krishna. The main deity of the temple is Hemabjavalli Thayar sametha Devadi Rajar. The utsava murthy is Senkamalavalli Thayar sametha Aameruveeyappar. This temple is the 10th Divya Desam.  During the days preceding Vaikunta Ekadasi, the Moolavar is in the Swarna Kavacham.

   

According to the Sthala Puranam, there lived a king called Uparithavasu who had a peculiar boon. Anything/ person who prevented the shadow of his flying chariot from falling on the ground would be destroyed. As the king flew over Therazhundoor, the shadow of his flying chariot fell on a herd of cows, which technically prevented the shadow from falling on the ground and hence faced doom. Lord Vishnu then appeared in the guise of a cowherd and saved the cows by pressing Uparithavasu 's chariot to the ground - which is how the place earned its name ( Ther = chariot; Azhunda = press; Oor = place ) 

Uparithavasu was unable to get his chariot off the ground even with the help of his army. The king then prayed to the sages for help. The sages asked him to get the help of the cowherd who roamed the area. Overcome with pride, the king failed to recognise the true identity of the cowherd. He asked the cowherd what his wages would be for helping the king get his chariot off the ground. The cowherd asked for 1000 pots of butter by daybreak as wages.

The king's assistants were able to get 999 pots of butter only. So, in an attempt to deceive the cowherd, they placed a pot of water amidst the 999 pots of butter. When the cowherd came to inspect the pots, everybody discovered that the single pot of water contained butter instead and the remaining 999 pots contained water. The cowherd finally revealed His true form (vishwaroopam) to the king and the temple for Devadi Rajar was constructed.

Mandapam for Poet Kambar

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Kadiramangalam Vanadurga Temple

Kadiramangalam is situated on the bus route from Kumbakkonam to Mayavaram - between Kanjanur and Thirumananchery.

Vanadurga is one of the nine forms of Durga or Navadurga. The goddess has four hands - with conch and shell. The deity has the Abhaya Hastha posture with a left hand placed near the thigh - much like the posture commonly seen for Vishnu. The Durgai is seen standing on a lotus instead of the usual buffalo head. 

The temple was established by sage Agastya who then went off to Kasi. The sage felt sad that he was unable to perform Pooja for the Vanadurgai at Kadiramangalam. The Goddess then comforted the sage saying that She would come to Kasi daily after the temple closes in Kadiramangalam at 8 pm and accept worship in the form of Aghora Durgai (another form of Nava Durga or 9 Durgas) in Kasi.

In the temple, the idol of Vanadurga is the only one - without the usual accompanying idols of Pillayar, Murugar etc. The powers of Pillayar, Murugar and  Vishnu are vested in the deity Vanadurgai. Hence, those who don't know who their Kula Deivam ( Family Deity) or have forgotten over time who their Kula Deivam is, can offer their prayers to this deity instead. Thus, the Goddess is the protector of those families who don't know who their Kula Deivam is.

Mayavaram Vadanyeswarar

Medha Dakshinamurthy

Mayavaram or Mayiladathurai is about 260 kms from Chennai. The temple of Vadanyeswarar is in Mayavaram or Mayiladuthurai. Situated across a petrol bunk, this temple can be identified by an arch at the entrance and is locally referred to as Vallalar temple.

Siva Lingam in this temple is called Vadanyeswarar and his consort is Gnanambikai. This temple is famous for the Medha Dakshinamurthi. This Sthalam is the place where Dakshinamurthi gave advice to Nandhi who had become vain in his capacity as Lord Shiva's vehicle. In all other places Dakshinamurthi is the yoga mudra posture. However in this Mayavaram temple Dakshinamurthi is in the "Upadesa Posture".

Vallalar Temple Entrance