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Published: December 31st 2013
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Just back from a trip to Kumbakonam -Tanjore the Temple Town in Tamil Nadu.
This is my third trip to the place and every time it’s a new discovery a new dimension that gets added to what little I know about the place.
The Very fact that so many big temples are nearby each other heralds the Greatness of its rulers.
Each and every temple had a story to say, a story to see.
Let me start first with Tanjore Peria kovil.A place visited by lot of us and still we might not have seen the "Man with a Hat" (Might be a statement on the sculptures to state that our people had link to the Western World even before they came to conquer us).This temple built by Raja Raja Cholan ( only the main shrine) and later the Sarabojis Added the Murugan Sannidhi , has a see alike built by his followers Rajendra Cholan and Kulothunga Cholan . If any of you are Visiting Again Make sure you visit Dharasuram and Gangai Konda Cholapuram. These places have Similar construction to the Main Peria Kovil but still are unique. However I missed Gangai Konda Cholapuram, But will
go back for sure.I was always of the impression that the Shiva Followers (Saivaits) and Vishnu followers (Vaishnavites) where not co existing but the Gopurams on the Entrance had a different story to tell. One can see the Narasimha avatar , Krisha leela and Varaha avatar Depicted on the entry Gopuram showing the importance that they gave to each other.
Godhandaramaswamy temple - Situated near Tanjore Next to Punnai Nallore Mariamman Temple is a shrine dedicated to Ramar and has Pattabisheka Rama made of Saligrama Stone. A place to visit for the Calmness around the place and the Divine feeling that pours with it.
Kumbakonam was our next stop.This place has on offering a wide range of Hotels for all Budgets but when you are going in the peak period better get pre Booked.
A Big list of temples are available to visit.
You can decide based on your taste and there are some options like
1. Visiting the Heritage temples
2. Visiting All Navagraha Temples
3. Visiting Vaishnava Deviashetrams 2 in Tanore. 11 in Kumbakonam, 3 In Mayiladuthurai and Nagapatinam each.
4. Go on a Secular trip and Visit Nagore and
Veelankani
Or as I Did just Visit Temples Nearby and having a historic story attached with them.
If you are planning for visiting the temples in this Area Kumbakonam should be your place where you put your Tents on.
Giving an account on few places I have visited.
Dharasuram - Not many know about this place. If You are visiting as part of Pilgrimage people might not suggest this place. This Temple has Dance as a source of inspiration for the sculptures. The minute Faces on the Pillars still show so much of emotions. Thou ASI has taken lot of steps to renovate this place and UNESCO has added it in the list of Heritage sites, still the Grandeur of this place is still not recreated. The walls seems to have been painted as well when it was originally constructed. The Dancers the Swan which could still be seen in certain places showed that the Tamilians where not only masters of sculpture but Painting as well.The Sculptures on the wall are a kind of Embossed architecture and is Unique here(Or did I Miss it in other temples).The Sculptures are the best among the temples Ihave
visited. A must see that I will suggest.
Kumbakonam Temples within city -Sarangapani, Chakrapani, Ramaswamy and Kumbeshwarar Temple. Each had a history to tell and we where trying to cover as many temples and couldn’t Find time to go thru the details.
There is a Temple dedicated to "ThirumalZisai Alwar" Near to Chakrapani temple.It is said that Alwar was doing Penance and had controlled his Breath hence he was mistaken to be dead and samadhi was built.The temple was build With him still inside alive and doing penance. It is believed here that he will again come out During Kali Yugam to Sing Pasurams on Kalki Avatar once he is born.
The Ramasamy temple has Ram with all his 3 brothers, all made of Saligramam Stone. Sarangapani temple has 4 Narasimhas in the same Temple.
Nachiar Koil Situated around 10Km from Kumbakonam might not be known by many.The main attraction here is the Garudalwar Who is kept in a separate Garbagriham and is made of Stone. The same Statue is also taken out once a year on "Urvalam" outside also. This is the only temple where the Stone Mulavar of Garudalvar is taken out as Urchavar
also (Normally Metal or Wood is the choosan material for Urchavar). Its said that Initially only 4 People will be Enough to Lift the Stone Urchavar inside the Garbagriham but once outside the Garbagriham the Stone Urchavar gets so heavy that it will need 8 people to do the same. As the Urchavar Moves thru the 3 Praharams it starts getting heavier and takes 16 then 32 and then 64 People to Carry the Urchavar.
Alangudi- Guru Stalam
ThiruNageswaram - Raghu sthalam
Upiliappan temple ,
Shwetha Pilliar (Here Ganapathy is made of White Sea Coral and is a Swayabu).
Thirubhuvanam -Architecture and construction is similar to the Thanjai Peria Kovil and was built by Kulothunga Cholan.
SuriyanarKoil - Suriyan Sthalam
Kanchanur - Sukkiran Sthalam
Thanks to PLA Residency, Thanjaore and Rayas Annexe , Kumbakonam for the Excellent stay and a Neat Food.The Service was Good and to the requirement.
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