Advertisement
Published: January 19th 2020
DSC01715
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil28th Dec 2019
I started from Tirunelveli by 7.45 am by car and reached Sankaran Koil by 8.45 am. I have to visit multiple places and temples where buses don't ply that often hence decided to go by car
Arulmigu Sankaranarayanaswamy Temple Sankarankovil, Tirunelveli District (http://sankarankoviltemple.tnhrce.in/)
Sanknarankovil is home to the Sankara Nayanar temple, which was built by Ugra Pandiyan BC 900 and houses the deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Shiva and the other half Vishnu. According to folklore, the devotees of Hari (Vishnu) and Shiva once quarreled with each other to determine which god was more powerful, until Shiva appeared as Sankaranarayanar to show his devotees that Hari and Shiva were one and the same. Thus, it is held sacred by Saivites and those Hindus who believe that Shiva and Vishnu are a single deity. Srivaishnavites of Tamil Nadu who worship Vishnu only do not accept this and hence reject the temple. The deities of the temple are Sri Sankareswarar, Gomathi Amman and Sri Sankara Narayanar. Sankarankovil is also said to be home to the deity named Avudai Ambal.
In older times, the city was called as Sankaranayinarkoil. It is also noted
DSC01716
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil for the "Adi Thabasu" festival.
The general belief is that the Holy Sand "Puttrumann" (Puttru = Ant Hill, Mann = Sand) that one gets from this temple is capable of curing all the diseases. Devotees believe that Sankarankovil's Nagachunai (sacred tank) have been dug by serpent kings named Paduman and Sangam which has a miraculous power to heal those who bath there. Once, a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was cursed by the goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the snake tail was also cut. He found a Sivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this to his king "Ugra Pandiyan". The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay there and constructed the temple and a city around it.
The snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam" . Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingar is also called "Vanmeeganadhar"
Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Tenkasi From Sankarankoil it took 1 & 1/2 hour (45 Kms) by car.
Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi, a city in Tenkasi district in the South Indian state
DSC01717
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler Parakkirama Pandian during the 13th century, with later additions from Madurai Nayaks. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagamman.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and 4 - 8:30 pm on all days except during new moon days when it is open the full day. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Maasi Maham festival during the Tamil month of Maasi (February - March) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Legend As per Hindu legend, a Pandya king Parakkirama Pandian wanted to construct a temple for Hindu god Shiva at Tenkasi and went to Kasi to bring a lingam, an iconic representation of Shiva in South India. Shiva appeared in his dream and asked him to follow the army of ants. The next day he
DSC01718
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil found that there was an army of ants. The king realized that it was because of the divine intervention that he was prevented from going to Varanasi. He built the temple in the place where the anthill ended.
History Tenkasi was established during the early 13th century AD. There are inscriptions in the temple dated 1384 AD from the period of Vira Pandiya mentioning the gift of houses and villages to Brahmanas to recite Vedas and Purana in the temple. Between 1428 and 1460, a Pandya king Parakkirama Pandian ruled the southern part of Madurai region, comprising the modern day Tenkasi and it surroundings. There was contrasting dates on the rule of Parakkirama Pandya, with some mentioning the year as 1309, while the inscription in the temple indicating as 1309. Tenkasi was a part of Madurai region during the 16th century. Madurai became independent from Vijayanagar Empire in 1559 under the Nayaks and the temple started receiving gifts from the rulers of the dynasty. The temple had a flat tower till 1967, when a 180-foot artistically built temple tower was initiated and completed in 1990
Thirukutralam /Thiru Kutrala Natha Swamy Temple (http://www.findmytemple.com/en/sivan-temple/t116-kutrala-nadha-swamy-kutralam)
From
DSC01719
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil Tenkasi Thirukutralam is just 5 KM
Kutralam is a popular tourist resort in Southern Tamil Nadu known for its waterfalls, amidst picturesque surroundings - and is a source of inspiration of many a literary work. Thousands visit this town when the waterfalls are in season. Kutralam represents one of the 5 Pancha Sabhas of Nataraja - Chitra Sabhai. The five dance halls of Shiva are Chidambaram, Madurai, Thiruvalangadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam. Kutralam is also known as Trikootaachalam.
Mythology
The sage Agastyar, at Shiva's request, proceeded southward to stabilize the balance of the earth, and relieve the instability caused by the multitude of entities at Shiva's and Parvati's wedding in the Himalayas, to wait for a glimpse of the divine couple. There he is said to have created the Shivalingam here by shrinking an image of Vishnu, hence the name Kutralam.
Structure
The temple has a conch shaped temple(prakaram(closed precincts of a temple)) plan and is referred to as Sangakkovil. In the shrine, Shiva showed himself as Bhrama and Vishnu. The presiding deity lord Shiva is called as Kuttralanathar and the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Kuzhalvoi Mozhiammai. The Tirikootamandapam here is the
DSC01720
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil site of festivities here. Parvati's shrine is also of significance here and is regarded as one of the 64 Shakti Peethams. The Chitra Sabhai or the hall of pictures is located in a picturesque locale away from the main temple. Architecturally the Chitrasabha resembles that of the other Nataraja Sabhas elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, and its interior is decked with hundreds of murals, depicting images from the Indian epics. Natarajar is brought here during festivals from the Kurumpalaveesar temple. The sthala vriksham is Kurum Palaa and the Theertham is Chitranadhi. Nataraja is sported with Nritya Thandavam posturePapanasanathar temple
Kutralam Falls/Coutrallam Falls Coutrallam Falls (also called Kutralam/Kuttalam Falls) is located in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu bordering to Kollam district, Kerala. The falls is located on the Western Ghats on the river Chittar and is considered a "medical spa" on account of the medical smell in the waters. It is located 7 km from the nearest city Tenkasi. There are a total of nine falls of which Peraruvi, Aintharuvi and Puli Aruvi being the most prominent. As per Hindu legend, sage Agasthya is believed to have got the grace of Shiva to set it
DSC01721
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil as his abode and create the medicinal falls to cure his headache.
The Tirunelveli district administration organises Saral Vizha, an eight-day festival every year during the Tamil month of Aadi (July - August). The falls is the most prominent tourist destination in the region and usually frequented by devotees of the Papanasanathar Temple and Sabarimala. The season starts with the South West monsoon from July to September. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has a boat house that operates boating during season. Kuttalam palace is Travancore monument situated near to Waterfalls. Before 1956 kuttalam was also a part of Travancore state.
Kutralam Five Falls,Courtallam This is 6 KM away from main fall
The Kutralam Five Falls (or Coutrallam Five Falls) was one of the cluster of about nine waterfalls collectively known as the Courtallam Falls as they were all near the town of Courtallam . The thing that all of these waterfalls had in common was that they apparently had Ayurvedic healing properties since their streams were said to pass through groves of naturally growing herbs with medicinal properties.
Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam, a village in Tirunelveli district in
DSC01724
Wind mills on the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. It is located 60 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple has three precincts. Shiva is worshipped as Papanasanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagammai.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a seven-tiered gateway tower. The temple was originally built by Chandrakula Pandya, with further additions by the Vijayanagar and Nayak kings during the 16th century. The temple has artistic sculptures representative of Nayak art.
The temple is open from 5.30 am - 12 pm and 4.30-7:30 pm on all days except during festival days when it is open the full day. Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavam festival during the Tamil months of Chittirai (April - May) and Thaipoosam during Thai (January - February) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu
Agasthiyar Falls/Papanasam Falls Agasthiyar Falls (also called Papanasam Falls) is located close to Papanasam in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian
DSC01728
On the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil state of Tamil Nadu. The falls is located on the Western Ghats and to the south of Papanasam lower, the lake from where Tamiraparani River originates. It is located 42 km from the nearest city Tirunelveli. As per Hindu legend, it is the place where sage Agasthya got a view of Shiva in his marriage costume.
The Tirunelveli district administration organises Chittirai Vishnu festival every year during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May), during the Tamil New Year day. The falls is a prominent tourist destination in the region and usually frequented by devotees of the Papanasanathar Temple and Sabarimala.
Legend As per Hindu legend, during the divine wedding of Shiva and Parvathi, there was heavy crowd at Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Sage Agasthya could not view event and prayed to Shiva at this place to get him a view of the event. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared to the sage and his wife Lopamundra along with Parvathi in his marriage attire. Shiva made the place his abode and came to be called Papansanathar and the falls nearby the temple got the name of Agasthiyar as Agasthiyar Falls. Tamiraparani River reaches is descent
DSC01729
On the way to Tirunelveli to Sankaran Koil in flat land at this place. As per another legend, sage Urosamar floated a set of flowers in the river and the first flower reached the shore at this place. The sage established a temple for Papanasanathar and worshipped the deity here.
As per another legend, the king of celestial deities, Indra slayed a demon Dwastha, the son of Sukracharya (the Guru of Asuras, the demons) as he was performing a penance to seek superior powers against the Devas. Indra incurred Brahmatti Dosha, a sin attained for slaying the Brahmin. He roamed around a lot of places for doing penance and finally on the advise of Brihaspathi, he landed at Papanasam. Since his sin (Papam locally) was expiated in this place, it came to be known as Papanasam.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.119s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 9; qc: 50; dbt: 0.0535s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
