Venugopala Swamy Temple – A 12th Century Marvel in Mysore District Karnataka - Our Visit in Jan 2024

 The Venugopala Swamy temple, bearing the Hoysala style of architecture was built in the 12th century CE at a place called Kannambadi Village near Mysuru.

It was built around the same time as the Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura was built, in the Mysuru district. 

The huge temple complex was submerged while building a dam – Krishnaraja Sagara dam in 1930, along with Kannambadi village. 

The dam was built at the new kannambadi village, which stores the Kaveri river and helps in irrigating millions of agricultural land. 

How to reach there?

The Venugopala Swamy temple is a must-see place for all, and it is located at Hosakannambadi Village – 9 km by road from Brindavan Gardens and 30 km from Mysuru city. One has to spend at least couple of hours to observe and relishing the beauty of the temple. Taxis can be hired to visit the place from Mysuru city.

About the Temple Main Shrines circled by smaller shrines

Venugopala Swamy Temple is a beautiful and serene spot which is not known to many. Venugopala Swamy Temple was originally a 12th-century temple built by the Hoysalas.

However, it was submerged when the KRS Dam was built. It used to resurface whenever the water level in the dam used to drop.

Mesmerizing beauty with the deities touched my soul.  The main deity of Sri Venugopala Swamy has a divine pull that you can feel inside the temple.  

The main sanctum is circled by smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha,  followed by Goddess Andal, Rukmini and Satyabama and smaller shrines for rivers like Godavari, Thungabadra, Kaveri, Bhramaputra, and others,  followed by Astha Lakshmies,  Sri Adi Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Danya Lakshmi, Dana Lakshmi, Dyraya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi.    

The smaller shines also include Nava Grahas’ including sun (Surya), moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Brihaspati), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), Rahu (north node of the moon), and Ketu (south node of the moon)

Further to this, there are shrines for Dasavatharams  that include Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Budha and Kalki.

The temple also has photographs of the originally built temple that was submerged in the river and later on with the help of local artisans and public, the now standing beautiful temple is in place

Outside the main temple, you will find a beautiful Ratha (Chariot) on the banks of River Cauveri.   The backwaters of River Cauveri and Krishnaraja Sagar Dam is a sight of beauty and picturesque.   You will find many tourists enjoying the breeze and the beauty of this place.

Must visit if you are visiting Brindavan Gardens in Mysuru.  We loved being there and I hope you will also find this place interesting and enjoyable. 

Important Information

·       Open for Devotees/Tourists between 9AM to 6 PM

·       Videography / Photography / Drone cameras are strictly prohibited. You can use mobile phone outside the temple (Inside temple premises strictly prohibited)

·       Devotees/Tourists are suggested to maintain cleanliness, sanctity and serenity of the temple

·       Though there are a few shops selling bottled mineral water and light snacks nearby, it is better to carry water and other light snacks/ drinks for consumption outside the temple premises.

·       Consumption of any kind of food and beverages are strictly prohibited in and around the temple premises

·       Tourists/Devotees are strictly advised not to litter the place

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venugopala_Swamy_Temple

Few pictures from our trip:

 

#Enchanting Tamilnadu #Temple Visits: Azhagu Muthu Ayyanar Kovil, near Cuddalore - A Unique way of prayers and fullfilling wishes.

Thanks to my doctor-friend Dr Republica, who introduced me to Thennampakkam Muthiah Ayyanar Temple popularly known as Azaghu Muthu Ayyanar Temple. (AZAGHAR MUTHAIAH AYYANAR TEMPLE- also called as SUBBAIH SIDDHAR TEMPLE.   We visited this temple on 28 Dec 2022 (Wednesday) and thankfully it was not crowded.

Few snippets taken from Internet about this temple:

·      Thennampakkam is around 16 Kms from Cuddalore on the Villianoor road. Alternatively, it could be reached from Puducherry (18 Kms).

·      Visiting the Shri Poorna Pushkala sametha Shri Ayyanar (Muthayyanar/Muthiah Ayyanar). The temple is open from 7 am to noon and from 6 to 9 pm. The contact telephone number is 094887 34873.

·      This temple is is believed to be in existence for the past 400 years.

·      Stala Puranam:  (Story behind the temple).  The temple’s origin is linked to that of Shri Azhagar Siddhar. The poorvasrama (the early part of his life) of this Mahan were not known. There was a well and a banyan tree in the midst of a grove of Vilva trees.

o   He sat there and was meditating. For bath, he used to enter the well and slept below the banyan tree.  Though the villagers requested him to come and stay in the village, he politely refused and stayed only in the grove.

o   He never used to talk and most of the time, was meditating.

o   However, whenever the villagers approached him with their problems-financial, health or social- he used to offer them the holy ash and the villagers got relief from their problems.

o   When the villagers brought food, he used to take out the same items from a bag by his side! The villagers had also seen a number of snakes crawling over his body when he was sleeping under the banyan tree.

o   When he realised that his end was nearing, he had invited the villagers to join him in a pooja on the first Monday in the Chithirai month (Apl).

o   The entire party went with the accompanying Mangala Isai (Nadaswaram). He asked them to stop before the well, entered the well and did not come out for hours.

o   Though some of the villagers claimed to have seen a light going out of the place towards the sky, the other villagers did not believe it. Some of them entered the well and could not find either the Siddhar or his body!

o   They decided to close the well so that the waters of the holy well are not mis-utilised.

o   However all their efforts to cover it with a slab were in vain- either they developed cracks or collapsed.

·      It is also believed that the Siddhar came in the dream of a devotee and advised him to cover the well with a brass lid and construct his samadhi nearby. Hence his adhistanam came above the well.

·      The entire area is covered except an opening created above the brass lid so that sunlight falls on it. Still, the wet Vibhuthi applied on the lid, remains wet. Local people believe that if anyone attempts to close the ceiling, it would create problems for the village.

·      His arathana is being performed every year to the accompaniment of at least 100 Nadaswara parties (100 Nadaswara+100 Thavil Vidwans)! I have not come across any such mass congregation of Nadaswara troupes in any other place.

·      All the Mondays see a large number of devotees who also prepare Pongal and offer it as Neyvedhyam. While the female devotees can worship in the temple, they are not allowed inside the Samadhi sthalam.

Another Story about  the Muthaiyannar temple (Ayyanar). As readers may be aware, Ayyappan is called Ayyanar in TN.

·      The sthala puranam of this temple is slightly different from the regular Ayyappan legend we are familiar with. Ayyappan was born as the son of Shiva and Vishnu, when the latter came as Mohini.

·      They gave the child to a Rishi who called Him Azhagar (handsome person).

·      He also taught Him all the skills. Rishi also had two daughters, Poorna and Pushkala ( called as Porkodi Amman by the locals).

·      At that time, there was a practitioner of witchcraft who was harassing the local people. Rishi asked Azhgar to fight with him. Azhagar fought with him and killed him.

·      Along with the local people, the Rishi was also happy. He asked Azhagar about what he wanted from him (Rishi).

·      Azhgar wanted to marry both the girls and wanted an elderly but strong bodyguard for Him. The Rishi invoked his powers and asked Veerabhadrar to be the guard.

·      He also performed Azhagar’s marriage with his daughters with a condition that at no point of time, He should discriminate one against another.

·      One day Azhagar was talking to Pushkala. Poorna who came that side, did not want to disturb them and she went to a nearby place, spreading her wet hair for drying.

·      The rishi who saw her from a distance thought that she was crying as Azhagar had ignored her. In anger, he cursed Azhagar to be without a wife in the next birth.

·      Azhagar was re-born as Manikantan and remained a bachelor at Sabarimalai. This is the first time we are hearing this legend.

 Combining Azhagar and Siddhar, this temple is called Azhagar Siddhar Temple. It is a small one with the shrine of Muthiah Ayyanar with Poorna and Pushkala. There is a spear in His hand. 

Unique Prayers

·      Devotees write their prayers and wishes in a piece of paper and put it on this spear. All reasonable requests are fulfilled.

·      After their wish is completed, the devotees come back with a doll which represents the devotee or his desire-could be a man, woman, child or an object.

·      These dolls come in different shapes and sizes with various decorations. We can see doctors, lawyers, priests (dolls) etc with their respective attires and instruments!

·      We can also see the images of objects like cars, houses etc. These dolls are either available ready made or made to order in the shops in front of the temple. The temple looks like a toy museum!

·      There is also a lingam installed with a Nandi ( Sundareswarar). Navagrahams are also installed.

·      The samadhi of the Siddhar is behind the temple. There is only an idol of Vinayakar by the side of the Samadhi. Veerabhadra is present on the right side of Ayyanar.

 Note: Inputs were collected from various websites. Photos are taken by me during my visit

 Reference:

http://wanderingtamil.blogspot.com/2020/04/thennampakkam-muthiah-ayyanar-temple.html?m=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD-snZR-RdE

Temples of Tamilnadu : Thennangur Perumal Temple- Kanchipuram District - Panduranga Temple

 Thennangur Panduranga Swamy Temple

Thennangur Panduranga Swamy Temple is a famous Sri Vishnu Temple in Thennangur Village, Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu State. The temple was built with a combination of northern and southern architectural styles. The main temple resembles the Puri Jagannath temple in Orissa and the front gopurams are built in the Pallava architectural style. The temple structure resembles the Pandaripuram temple in Maharashtra too. The town is also known as the birthplace of the goddess Meenakshi. The presiding deity is Sri Panduranga in standing posture and his consort Rukmayee/Raghumayee.

The Panduranga idol was installed by Swami Haridas Giri, who had brought it from Pandharpur about 500 years ago. The main deity is made of Shaligrama and is twelve feet tall. Lord Pandurangan adorns King Madura’s Alankara on Sunday, a very simple Alankara on Thursday where you can see his divine feet, the Alankara with silver kavacha and ornaments on Friday and in the form of Lord Venkateswara on Saturday.

Near the main deity, an idol of Lord Varadharaja Swamy and his wives can be seen. Another rare element of this temple is the presence of a historical idol Achutharaya Perumal, which was brought from Tirumala Tirupathi.

Deities related to Sri Chakra are present in the temple they are Maha Shodasi, Sri Rajarajeshwari, Saraswathi Devi, Sri Lakshmi, Lord Brahma, Sri Vishnu, Rudra, Easwara, Lord Vinayaka, Bala, Annapoorani Devi, Ashwaruda, Rajamadhangi, Varahi, Prathyangira, Sarabeswara, Chakrathaazhwar, Brahmi, Yoga Narasimha Swamy, Agoramurthy, Vanadurga, Parasaraswathi, Medha Dakshinamurthy, Subramanya Swamy, Chandi Mahalakshmi, Goddess Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi Devi, Mahendri, Chamunda, Sri Mahalakshmi.

Nitya Kalyana Utsavam is performed every day between 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on the weekdays and between 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sundays. Devotees visit this temple in seek of the good alliance for marriage, for a blissful married life, and a boon for progeny.

The Lord appears on the fruit Alankara on Tamil New Year’s Day: Vishu Kani Utsav. On the day of Gokhulashtami, Vaishnava Muthangi Sevai is followed. The Lord appears in many beautiful forms like Rajagopala, Giridhari holding the hill of Govardhana, like Geethacharya, like Parthasarathy and Radhakrishna. It is said that the Lord played his flute under the Thamala tree (the temple sacred tree) in the Dwapara Yuga, which attracted Radha to him. It should be noted that this Thamala tree is carried towards the south. Dwarapalaka idols are made from Panchaloka, a mixture of five metals.

References:

Tamilnadu Tourism: Search results for thennangur (tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com)

Thennangur Panduranga Swamy Temple Timings, History (templesinindiainfo.com)

#ClickArtMuseum Chennai - A Fun Trick visit in Chennai -celebrate the child in you

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, when my daughter and I wanted a day out for ourselves and then we gathered another set of mother and sons and drove down on the ECR Road, in Chennai towards VGP Golden beach.

Adjacent to the Golden beach is the VGP Snow Kingdom and inside this snow kingdom is India's first Trick Art Museum ...and the admission fee is Rs 150 per head.   It is worth for the amazing art and the way the whole museum is displayed though it is small in size and lacks air conditioning.   what matters once you reach there is the amazing work of art and the way you can start clicking pictures playing like a child wanting to pose more and more with each work of art.

Weekends usually get crowded and especially works well with teens who come in big groups.   So make it on a weekday for a free time to take all pictures of your choice and then if you want, you can spend time and money in the snow world as well.   This particular museum has limited art pieces but amazing one's and carry a good camera will add to your advantage with good friends to pose with you.   Here are the few pictures, we have taken.

A Visit to Prathyangira Devi Temple, Shollinganallur

Sri Maha Prathyangira Devi Temple is located in the area of Sholinganallur, Chennai, India, adjacent to the beach of Bay of Bengal. The Temple sits on the banks of the Buckingham Canal. This is a magnificent temple built for Goddess Prathyangira, in her incarnation of Shri Maha Prathyangira Devi. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated by witchcraft, and is said to have the power to punish Adharma. This is one of the few temples of Prathyangira and the only temple for Shri Maha Prathyangira Devi, the Shanta form.   Sri Prathyangira Devi is also associated with Sri Chakra. In Sri Chakra worship, she protects the devotees against all odds and guides him/her along the righteous path.

Location:
The temple is located close to the junction and halfway down the link road of East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road.

Few glimpses of the beautiful temple and its abode of Gods & Goddesses.

Few Mantras

 “Sarabeshan Rekkaiyaal Vandhavale Potri, Seeriya Simha mugam etravale Potri, Narasimhan Ugiram Thaniththavale Potri, Engal Annai Sri Prathyangira Potri”.
“Val Vinaigal Yaavaiyume Theerpavale Potri, Engal Annai Sri Prathyangira Potri”
Bhairavar Manam Niraindhai Potri
Ashta Nagam Konda Kali Thirisuli

Mantram chanted in Sri Maha Prathyangira Homam:

Om Ksham Krishna Vasase, Simha Vadhane, Maha Vadhane,
Maha Bhairavi, Sarva Shatru Karma Vidhdwamsini,
Paramanthra Chetini, Sarva Bhootha Dhamani,
Sarva Bhoothaam Pandha Pandha, Sarva Vignyaan Sindhi Sindhi,
Sarva Vyadhir Nikrindha Nikrindha, Sarva Dhushtaan Paksha Paksha,
Jwala Jihwe, Karaala Vakhtre, Karaala Dhamshtrey,
Prathyangire Hreem Swaaha.

Slokam – 1

Aparaajithaayaicha Vidhmahe
Shatru Nishoodhinyaicha Theemahi
Thanno Prathyangirayai Prachodhayaath :

Slokam – 2

Ugram Veeram Maha Shakthim
Jwalantham Sarvathomukham
Prathyangira Bheeshanam Pathram
Mrityum Mrithyum Namaamyaham

Slokam – 3

Amma Prathyangira, Devi Prathyangira
Sathyam Prathyangira, Sarvam Prathyangira
Shozinganalluril Vaazhum Prathyangira
Valvinaigal Theerkum Annaiye Prathyangira

Sri Prathyangira Gayatri Mantra:

Om Aparajeethaya Vidhmahey
Pratyangiraya Dheemahi
Thano Ugra Prachodhayaath…
Om Pratayangiraya Vidhmahey
Sathrunisoothiniya Dheemahi
Thano Devi Prajothayaath

For those who find this difficult, just chant “Jay Prathyangira, Jaya Jaya Prathyangira” as much as you can,   May the goddess shower her blessings on all of you and bring in peace, prosperity, happiness and good health and healing to your homes.