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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Vembedu KalaBhairavar

There is a KalaBhairavar temple about 52 kms from Chennai - near Vandalur in the small town of Vembedu - close to Ruby Engineering College and VIT Chennai Campus. On reaching Chinnakayar from Vandalur, one can see Bhairavar temple on the hill and an Anjaneyar temple. A left turn after the Anjaneyar temple will lead to the priest's house - 5th house in Pillayal Koil street.

To reach the Bhairavar temple, go straight from Anjaneyar temple & take a right in Malai koil road. which is a mud road leading to the bottom of the temple. One has to climb a small hill with steep steps to reach the temple which has Bhairavar and Pillayar sannidhis. Since there are no shops near the temple, devotees planning to offer pooja items must make their own arrangements.

Praying to Kalabhairavar is considered to be a pariharam for Navagriha dosham and beneficial for those undergoing Sani (Saturn) Dasa or seven and a half years of Saturn period.

Tirubhuvanam Kambhahareswarar

Varaguna Pandya was a famous king of Madurai. He was afflicted by Brahmahaththi dosham and got relief from the dosham at the Mahalingeswarar temple in Tiruvidaimarudhur. However, Varaguna Pandya got relief from the shivering and finally mental peace after worshipping the Shiva Lingam in this temple.

Kambhahareswarar mean the One who destroys shivering/ trembling. The name of the ambal is Dharmasamvarthini. Sarabeshwarar has a separate sannidhi in this temple.

Devotees offering prayers at this temple are blessed with mental peace and removal of fears.

Thiru Athanoor Sudharshana chakra Anjaneyar

Thiru Athanoor is a town about 3 kms from Swamy Malai. This temple is very small and a full fledged temple with Gopurams etc. is yet to be constructed.

Anjaneyar has Sudarshana Chakra signifying the 12 rasis near the head and the navagrihas in his tail. This is a Navagriha parihara kshetram. 

    

Triambakeshwar Mahadev temple

Triambakeshwar temple is about 30 kms from Nashik and is one of the 12 jyotirlingam temples of Lord Shiva.

The main deity - the Shiva linga is swayambhu and has three small wedge like portions - each representing a face of the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

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.

Navathirupathi temples

The Navathirupathi temples are closely located along the banks of River Tamirabharani along the route from Tirunelveli to Tiruchendur. There are two more important temples - Vaanamaamalai and Thirukurungudi to the South of Tirunelveli that are important Dhivya Desams also.

The nine temple are:

SriVaikuntam

Varagunamangai

Tirupuliyunkudi

Rettai Thirupathi (two temples beside each other)

Perungulam

Then Thirupperai

Thirukollur

Azhwarthirunagari

Devotees wishing to tour the Navathirupathi temples can easily do so in a day. A trip to Navathirupathi temples and Navakailasam temples can be completed in two to three days. Map and temple timings are provided below for reference.

Navakailasam Temples

Navakailasam temples are nine temples for Lord Shiva along the banks of River Tamirabharani. Each of the Navakailasam temples has a significance for Navagrihas also. 

According to Sthala Puranam, Sage Romasa prayed to His Guru - Sage Agasthya for attaining salvation. Sage Agasthya gave nine lotus flowers to place on River Tamirabharani and asked Sage Romasa to establish and worship the Shiva Linga in each of the places where the lotus docked on the river banks.

The nine temples are in:

Papanasam

Cheran Mahadevi

Kodaganallur

Kunnathur

Murappanaadu

Sri Vaikuntam

Then Thirupperai

Serndhapoo Mangalam

Rajapathi

Devotees wishing to tour the Navakailasam temples can easily do so in a day or day and a half. Since some of these temples are in small villages close to the river banks, it is better to contact the priest prior to visit and confirm the temple timings. Information scanned from some pamphlets are provided below for reference. A trip to Navathirupathi temples and Navakailasam temples can be completed in two to three days. 

Navagriha Sthalams and Details

Benefits of Pooja

Thirunallaru Darbaranyeswarar

The town of Thirunallaru is situated in the Nagapattinam district close to the town of Nagapattinam itself. The main deity of the temple is the Lingam Darbaranyeswarar and the name of the Ambal is Pranambikai.

The Sthala vriksham of this temple is Darba (grass) and this temple is a famous Navagriha kshetram for Saneeswarar.

According to legends, Saneeswarar had promised Darbaranyeswarar that he would be kind in his treatment of Darbaranyeswarar 's devotees.

King Nala who was afflicted by Kalipurusha and lost his kingdom and separated from his family was advised by a sage to visit Darbaranyeswarar and pray to The Lord for relief. Nala is said to have bathed in the pond Nala Theertham before offering his prayers. Blessed with Nala's devotion, Darbaranyeswarar answered his prayers. Nala was soon reunited with his family and regained his kingdom.

Thiru Athanoor Aandalakkum Aiyan

Thirumangai Azhwar performed mangalasaasanam at this temple which is also the 9th Divya desam. 

According to the Sthala Puraanam, Perumal was tired after completing His creation work and giving everybody their dues. So, He laid down with the Marakkapadi (measuring instrument) for support in one hand.  The other hand holds onto the Olachuvadi and Ezhuthaani (Manuscript and Pen) in the other. Perumal Himself performed Samashrenam for Adiseshan in this Sthalam. This is the only temple where Adiseshan has the Conch and Chakram.

One can also find a gigantic idol of yoga narasimhar in this temple. 

The temple is open from 7 am to 12.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 7 pm.

Pullumboothankudi Valvil Rama Swamy

The name of the thayar is Hemabja Nayika and this temple is the 7th Divya desam. The town is located within 3 kms of Swamy Malai.

Ramar rested here after giving salvation to Jatayu. The moolavar sannidhi shows Rama in a lying position with Lakshmana, Brahma and Jatayu. 

Thirumanikoodam Varadaraja Perumal

Varadaraja Perumal is the main deity of the temple in Thirumanikoodam. This temple is a Divya Desam around Thirunangur.

Keezhachalai Devanar Thogai

Keezhachalai Devanar Thogai is a Divya Desam near Thirunaangur and the main deity is Perumal in standing position with Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thayar. There is a separate sannidhi for Madhava Nayaki Thayar.

Thirumangaimadam Veera Narasimhar

The presiding deity of the temple in Thirumangaimadam is Veera Narasimhar with Senkamalavalli Thayar. Thirumangai Azhwar and his wife Kumudavalli Thayar performed services here. This temple is also the Kula Deivam or Family Deity for Thirumangai Azhwar and the Ellai Devatha or Guardian Deity for the area. 

The temple is a Divya Desam and also one of the five Narasimhars (Pancha Narasimhar) around Thirunangur. It is open from 9 am - 11 am and from 5 pm - 7 pm.

Kaakalur Veera Anjaneyar

About 44 kms from Chennai, is the town of Kaakalur in Tiruvallur district. The main deity of the temple is Lakshminarayana sametha Veera Anjaneyar. 

The contact number for the temple is 04427661624. The temple is open from 6 am - 1 pm and from 3pm - 8 pm. 

Thiruvaali Lakshmi Narasimhar

The main deity of the temple in the town of Thiruvaali is Lakshmi Narasimha Perumal. Thiruvaali-Thirunagari is specified as one Divya Desam but it actually refers to two different temples in adjacent towns. Thirumangai Azhwar lived in Thiruvaali after being born in Thirukuraiyalur. 

The Narasimhar is in a seated position embracing Lakshmi to the right. Since the deity is in the embraced position the place is called "Thiru Aalinganam" or Thiruvaali. This Narasimhar is one of the Pancha Narasimhar or five Narasimhas in and around Thirunaangur.

Thiru Paarthanpalli Parthasarathy

The main deity of the temple in the town of Thiru Paarthanpalli is Parthasarathy with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There is a separate sannidhi with Arjuna and Krishna . 

In this temple there is a tank which Arjuna created with his arrows to quench the thirst of a sage. This is also the place where Arjuna or Partha was a student and obtained Divya Asthras. Hence this place obtained its name Parthan Palli

Currently this temple which is also a Divya Desam is being expanded with funds collected from devotees and the kumbabhishekam is expected to happen in 2014.

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.