Thirukavalampadi Rajagopalaswamy

The main deity of Thirukavalampadi town's temple is Rajagopalaswamy with Rukmini and Sathyabhama - similar to the famous temple in Mannargudi. This sthalam is a Divya Desam.

Thirukuraiyalur Ugra Narasimhar

The town of Thirukuraiyalur is the birthplace or avatara sthalam of Thirumangai Azhwar. The main deity of this temple is Ugra Narasimhar with his consorts ShreeDevi and Bhoodevi. The name of the Thayar is Amrithavalli Thayar. This temple is a Divya Desam and is also considered to be a Navagriha Parihaara Sthalam.

The Narasimhar in this temple is one of the five Narasimhas in and around Thirunangur.

Annadaanam during Ammavaasai or New Moon day in this sthalam is considered to be a parihaaram for Pitrukaryam (rites for forefathers) that was not performed. Offering prayers at this temple is believed to remove obstacles for marriage.

Thirunagari Kalyana Ranganathar

This temple is in Thirunagari town and also known as Thirumangai Azhwar temple. This temple along with the temple in Thiruvaali are together considered as one Divya Desam. 

The Thirumangai Azhwar in this temple has a Vel given by Thirugnana Sambandar. Praying to The Lord here in kalyana kolam ensures speedy marriage. Devotees offer Kalyana Nela Maalai for marriage.

The temple also has two Narasimhas - Yoga Narasimha and Hiranya Narasimha in the praharams or corridor of the temple. These two Narasimhas along with Ugra Narasimha in Thirukuraiyalur, Veera Narasimha in Thirumangai Madam and ThiruVaali Lakshmi Narasimha are the Pancha Narasimhas that Thiru Mangai Azhwar established in and around Thirunangur after seeing the Nava Narasimha in Ahobilam.

Trip to Andhra temples in Ahobilam, Mantralayam, Srisailam

Three famous temple towns in Andhra are are Ahobilam, Mantralayam and Srisailam. The temples of Ahobilam and Srisailam are nestled among hills and the trek in Ahobilam to view the temples is challenging. We went on a 4 day trip to the above mentioned places

Day 1

• Start from Chennai in the morning.
• Reach Ahobilam in the evening.
• Darshan of Lakshmi Narasimha in the evening.

Day 2

• Darshan of Ahobila Narasimha, Varaha Narasimha, Jwala Narasimha, Sthambha Narasimha, Malola Narasimha, Karanja Narasimha, Chatravata Narasimha, Yogananda Narasimha. Bhargava Narasimha
• Start from Ahobilam by afternoon.
• Reach Mantralayam by night.

Day 3

• Darshan of Raghavendra Swamy.
• Start from Mantralayam in the morning.
• Reach Srisailam in the afternoon.
• Darshan of Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Day 4

• Start from Srisailam in the morning.
• Reach Chennai in the evening.

Trip Map:http://goo.gl/maps/7ml1i


Useful Contact/ Accomodation Information:

• Guide Krishnan:  +91 94416 90238 in Ahobilam for darshan and accommodation arrangement
• Sreekara Paradise, Near Temple, Mantralayam 518345, 08512-280047; Contact: Narayana - 09440591611; Venkat Raju - 09985812472 venkatraj9393@gmail.com
• Haritha Hotel - Srisailam, Police Station Road, Kurnool 518102, India
• APTDC (Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation) offers regular tour packages to Srisailam-Ahobilam and Mantralayam.

Chinnababasamudram Bade Sai

The Jeeva Samadhi of a Siddhar called Bade Sai is at place called Chinnababasamudram - almost midway along the route from Villupuram to Pondicherry. Bade Sai was born a Muslim but grew up to be an ardent devotee of Lord Arunachala.  Lord Arunachala - pleased with Bade Sahib's devotion appeared in person.

Gopura Vaasal for the Jeeva Samadhi

There is a temple of Lord Arunachala and Abithakuchamba adjoining the Jeeva Samadhi. The Sthala Vriksham is Nagalinga maram. There is also a Magizhampoo Maram in the temple which is of special significance. The Siva Lingam is unique in that the forms of two eyes, Trishul, Pillayar, Ambal, Kala Bhairava can be identified on the face of the Lingam.

Devotees wishing to get their prayers fulfilled can pray to Bade Sahib's Samadhi, offer food items like dates, biscuits etc as Neivedhyam and distribute the food items to the poor /needy just outside the temple after taking some as prasadam for oneself.

Thiruputkuzhi Vijayaraghava Perumal

This temple marks the place where Jatayu was given Moksha by Rama. The temple is located 8 kms from Kanchipuram towards Bengaluru on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway.

The name of the Perumal is Vijayaraghava Perumal. As Perumal is performing rites with his right hand, Sreedevi moves to the left of Perumal with her head slightly tilted whereas Bhoodevi who bears the heat is at the right of Perumal.

The name of the Thayar is Varuththa Payaru Mulaika Vaitha Maragadhavalli. On Amavasai, fried beans is offered as Neivedyam for Ambal and then tied to the stomach of ladies who are looking to get children. The women will then sleep overnight at the mandapam outside the Thayar sannidhi. If the beans sprout then the devotee can expect to become pregnant soon.

Tirukarukkavur Garbarakshambikai

Tirukarukkavur is a small town about 320 kms from Chennai and 70 kms from Kumbakonam. The town can be accessed easily from Kumbakonam along the Kumbakonam-Papanasam-Tanjore route.

The main deity of the temple is the swayambhu Mullaivanathar. The entire place was earlier a forest abounding in jasmine creepers (a cousin of jasmine species actually - முல்லை வனம்).   In fact, one can still observe the creepers marks on the Lingam. Since the Swayabhu Lingam is made out of mud (புத்து மண்), there is no abhishekam for the Lingam - only Punugu Thailam is applied to the lingam. Nandhi and Karpaga Vinayagar are also Swayambhu in this temple.

Garbarakshambikai

Mullaivana Natha Swamy

Sthala Puranam

On the advice of sages Gauthama and Karkeya, Naithruvar and his wife Vedikai prayed to Lord Mullaivananathar to get a child. Time passed and Vedikai too became pregnant. When Naithruvar went to participate in a sacrifice in Varunaloka, Sage Oordhvapada visited Naithruvar’s ashram. Vedikai, distracted by pains related to pregnancy, did not offer any hospitality to the guest. An enraged Sage Oordhvapada cursed Vedikai. However, Ambal intervened, saved Vedikai’s foetus in a pot, instructed the divine cow Kamadhenu to nurse the baby and then handed over the child Naithruvan to the parents Naithruvar and Vedikai.

As the Goddess saved Vedikai’s foetus, she is called “Karu Kaatha Amman” or “Garbarakshambigai”, and the town is called Tirukarukkavur.

Pariharam/ Prayer

Info about applying Punugu

Temple Darshan Timings

Those wishing to conceive,  apply ghee on the garbagriha entrance (Vaasal padi/ step), put kolam and offer prayers to the Garbarakshambikai. As prasadam, a small bottle of ghee is given which should be taken by the couple. 

Lamps are also lit as a prayer for conceiving. Pregnant ladies are asked to recite the Slokas for the Ambal. 

A small  bottle of castor oil is given to apply at the time of labour for normal delivery. Once child is born, the child is placed in a cradle and taken around the Ambal’s praharam as a token of thanks.

Punugu is applied to Mullaivananathar to cure diseases and skin problems.

Website, Address and Phone