Pillayarpatti Karpaga Pillayar

Pillayarpatti is about 17 kms from Tirukoshtiyur. This temple is famous for the Pillayar koil. The Pillayar here is called Karpaga Pillayar and has the powers to grant wishes to His devotees like a Karpagavriksham.

The Siva Lingam in this temple is called Marudeeswarar Arjuna Vaneswararand the Ambal is called Vaadamalar Ashoka Kusumambal. In this temple's Murugar Sannidhi, Valli and Deivaanai are both seated on the peacock. Navagrihas are peculiarly in the seated position. There is also a Sannidhi for Sivagami.

The temple is open from 6 am - 12.30 pm and from 4pm to 8.30 pm. The contact number(s) for the temple office are 04577 264240/264241/264797/264182.

Tirukoshtiyur Sowmya Narayana Perumal

Location:

The town of Tirukoshtiyur is about 33 kms from Thirumayam near Pudokottai. The Soumya Narayana Perumal temple of Tirukoshtiyur is the first Divya Desam.

Temple:

In this temple, Perumal appears as Koothadiyan (as Nardhana Krishna in Bhooloka), Kidandhan ( as Pallikonda Bhoomi Neela Sametha Soumya Narayana in Devaloka), Nindran ( as Upendra Narayana in Indraloka) and Amarndhan ( as Paramapadanathan in Vaikunta). The last two Perumal Sannidhis can be accessed through the stairs leading all the way up to the Gopuram. The name of the Thayar in this Sthalam is Thiru Ma Magal Thayar.

There are also three forms of Narasimhar in this temple. He appears as Ugra Narasimha in the outer Praharam of the temple. The Ugra Narasimhar appears in the Yuddha pose (fighting with Hiranyakashipu) and Vadham (killing Hiranyakashipu) pose protecting Prahlada. Near the Dwajasthambam one can find Yoga Narasimhar. Lakshmi Narasimhar is at the base of the flight of stairs leading upto the Gopuram. Thus one can find Narasimhar with increasing levels of composure as one proceeds from the temple exterior to the Gopuram.

There are only three places where the Temple Gopura Vimanam is constructed as Ashtanga Vimana to match the Ashtakshara Mantra  - Uthiramerur, Koodalazhagar temple and Thirukoshtiyur. Among the three, Thirukoshtiyur temple's Vimanam has the special "Divya" taga and its Vimanam is Ashtanga Divya Vimanam. A statue of seated Saint Ramanujar can be found today near the Astanga Vimana from where He preached the Ashtakshara Mantra.

Sthala Puranam:

According to Sthala Purana, Brahma, Vishnu and Sivan met as a "Koshti" (group) in this place to discuss how Narasimha Avatar should take place. That is how the place got its name.

Saint Ramanuja learnt the Ashtakshara mantra for reaching Vaikunta - "Om Namo Narayanaya" from His Guru. The Guru had instructed Saint Ramanuja to keep the mantra a secret failing which, Saint Ramanuja would be severely punished. However, Saint Ramanuja immediately went to the Thirukoshtiyur temple gopuram and preached the mantra to everybody. His reasoning was that even if He - Saint Ramanuja,was punished, others who heard the mantra would reach Vaikunta.

The temple is open from 7.30 am - 12.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8 pm.

Tirukoshtiyur Temple Entrance

Thirumayam Perumal

Location:

The town of Thirumayam is about 69 kms from Trichy in the direction of Pudukottai. The Perumal temple over here is 40th of the 108 Divya Desams. The temple and the surrounding areas appear to be protected by the Archaelogical Society of India

Perumal Temple:

The main Sannidhi shows Vaikunta katchi engraved on the wall. Thirumeyyar Perumal is on Adisesha as Pallikonda Perumal -  much bigger than the Sriranga Perumal Himself. The Perumal is surrounded by Chitragupta, Dharmaraja, Brahma from His navel, Devas, Rishis and Asuras. Bhooma Devi is at the Lord's feet.

The name of the Thayar is Ujjeevana Thayar and is in a separate Sannidhi. Other Sannidhis include those of Chakrathazhwar, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Andal, Krishnar, Sathyamurthy Perumal, Garuda, Viswaksenar, Ramar and Anjaneyar.

The temple is open from 6.30 am - 12.30 pm and from 4.30 pm to 8.15 pm.

Thirumayam Perumal Temple Entrance

Vayaloor Subramanya Swamy

Vayaloor is about 7 kms from Trichy. The place is famous for its Murugan temple.

The Siva Lingam and Ambal are called Adinathar and Adinayaki. The Sthala vriksham is Vanni Maram. The temple dates back to the Chola period. Vayaloor Murugar is called Subramanya Swamy. Arunagirinathar wrote Tiruppugazh after being called to Vayaloor and blessed by Vayaloor Murugar. One peculiar feature in the Navagriha Sannidhi of this temple is that Suryan is in the centre with his wives Chaya and Samya. All other members of the Navagrihas face Suryan - a rarity.

The temple is open from about 6.30 am to 1 pm and from 3.30 pm to 9 pm. On the days of Krittika star, there is a special procession at 8 pm (if the Krittika star  prevails at that time) and the temple is kept open through the day. A lot of fresh vegetables from the surrounding farms are sold at the temple entrance.

Trichy Uchchi Pillayar and Thayumanavar

One of the famous landmarks in the city of Trichy is the Rockfort temple. There are two famous temples in the same place.

As one climbs up the staircase carved out in the hill, one crosses the samadhi of the Mouna Guru and then reaches the Thayumanavar Swamy. The Lingam in the temple is Swayambu. The name of the Ambal is Maettuvar Kuzhalamman.

According to Sthala Varalaru, Ratnavati was a pregnant devotee who was awaiting the arrival of her mother at the time of delivery. However, due to the swelling of waters in the River Cauvery, Ratnavati's mother was unable to make it on time to assist her daughter. Thayumanavar Swamy appeared beside Ratnavati in the form of her mother with the required medicines to ease the delivery of pregnant Ratnavati. This fact came to light after Ratnavati's mother finally managed to cross the river to reach her daughter. To this day, pregnant mothers and loved ones on their behalf pray to Thayumanavar Swamy for safe

delivery.

Verses 1 - 49 of Soundarya Lahari are apparently inscribed in the Grantam script in the temple.

On climbing some more steps from the Thayumanavar temple, one reaches the Uchchi Pillayar temple. The view of the city, Cauvery, Kollidam and the Srirangam temple from the top of the hill is fantastic.

Sloka for pregnant women  - to be chanted 3 times daily before namaskaaram:
Hey Sankara Smarahara Pramaadhi Naatha
Mannadha Saamba SashiSooda Hara Trishoolin
Shambho SukhaPrasavakrut BhavaMe Dayaalo
Shri MaathruBhootha Shiva Paalayamaam Namaste

Woraiyur Nachiyar

Woraiyur is about 4 kms from Trichy. There are a few Perumal temples in this small town and the one we visited is locally referred to as the Nachiyar temple - also the second of 108 Divya Desam.

The main deities of this temple are Azhagiya Manavaala Perumal and Kamalavalli Nachiyaar. The Perumal is in the Nindran pose and in Kalyana Kolam with the Thayar in the same Sannidhi. The Perumal's chakram is in the ready-to-use position and hence there is no Utsava murthy for this Perumal.

People born in the stars Aayilyam, Kaettai and Moolam having difficulty in getting married can perform Archanai for the Thayar in this Sthalam as Pariharam. Couples are supposed to obtain marital happiness by praying to the Thayar in this temple. On Vaikunta Ekadasi, only the Utsava Murthy of the Thayar crosses the Swarga Vaasal. 

The temple timings are from 6.45 am - 12 pm and from 5 pm - 8 pm.

Koviladi Appakudathan

Location:

The town of Koviladi is about 12 kms from Lalgudi in the direction of Anbil. The town of Koviladi can also be accessed from Trichy on the route to Kallanai. Koviladi is about 8 kms from Kallanai. On the drive to the temple in Koviladi, one can see farmlands and banana plantations making the scenery very picturesque. The temple is in Thirupernagar in the town of Koviladi.

Appakudathan Temple:

The main deity of this ancient temple is Appalaranganathar (or Appakudathan) and his consort Kamalavalli Thayar. This temple is said to have been established even before the Srirangam temple and hence called Adirangam. Praises of this deity have been sung by Nammazhwar about 5500 years ago and by Thirumazhisaiazhwar in Dwaparayuga.

The Perumal is in the Kidandhan (lying down) pose on Adiseshan with left hand blessing Lord Indra and Chandra. The right hand blesses Markandeya Maharishi. Bhoomi Devi is seated at the feet of Perumal. Saligramam garland adorns the deity. There is a Kudam (Pot) near the right hand of the deity in which the Neivedyam of Appam (Sweet) is offered every evening around 5 pm. The Perumal is supposed to have protected all the oceans, lands and universe in his stomach during the Pralaya  Kaalam. The Utsava murthy and Santhana Gopala murthy are also in the Garba griham itself.

Five temples are said to constitute "Pancharangam". Appalaranganathar temple is called the Madhyarangam. Panguni Uthram festival is special for this deity as Appakudathan is said to have originated in Uthram star. Similarly, Sri Ranganathar arose in Revathi star, Parimala Ranganathar in Uthram star and Saranganathar in Chitra star.

The temple timings are from 7.30 am - 1 pm and from 4 pm - 8.15 pm. Eating the Appam that was offered as Neivedyam to Appakudathan is said to be beneficial for those seeking to have children.

Appakudathan Temple Entrance