SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

JAMBUKESHWAR TEMPLE - THIRUVANAIKAVAL  Jambukeswarar Temple is a famous Shiva temple in Thiruvanaikaval near Trichy. The temple was built by Kocengannan (Kochenga Chola),one of the Early Chola, around 1,800 years ago. Thiruvanaikal is one of the five major Panchabhoota Sthalams (5 Elements of creation) representing the element of Water. The sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water spring & it is always wet. Parvathi (cursed by shiva) in the form of Akilandeswari found Jambu forest  in Thiruvanaikoil to conduct her penance. She made a Lingam (Appu Lingam) out of water of river Cauvery (Ponni) under the Jambul or Jambu tree (Eugenia Jambolana, the rose-apple tree) and commenced her worship. Pleased with her devotion Siva taught her Siva Gnana. 'Malyavan' and 'Pushpadanta'. The Siva Ganas always quarreled with each other. 'Malyavan' cursed 'Pushpadanta' to become an elephant and the latter cursed the former to become a spider. The elephant and t

 ERUMBEESHWARAR TEMPLE - TIRUVERUMBUR Erumbeeswarar Temple  in Tiruverumbur,(13 KM’s from Trichy  junction) is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It is built on top of a small hillock of 60 FT, The access is through a few number of steps with intermittent resting places in between. Two Prahrams, the two tiered Rajagopuram, including the sanctum is on top of the hill, while the large temple tank ( Teppa Kolam) and a hall (Mandapam) are situated at the foot of the hill. Another mandapam on top of the hill adjascent to the temple is in ruins. The Shivalingam (East facing) is tilted to its left and the surface of the lingam is rough making it easier for the Ants to climb up and worship the lord.The gurukkal told me that the back side of the lingam is bent forward. The name of the lord Erumbeeswarar ( Erumbu = Ants) ( Eswarar = Lord) aptly defines the legend attached to it. Lord Indra & the Devas took the form of ants in order to avoid the persecution of the Asura Tharakasuran. On lord Bramha

IMPORTANCE OF VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM  In the famous Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, a long line of devotees would patiently wait for the delicious Prasadam, even a few centuries ago. A poor Vaishnavite used to be the first one in the line and was notorious for demanding prasadam not only for himself, but for his entire family consisting of sixteen children! Everyday he would fight with the temple authorities for a huge amount of Prasadam, even as the devotees standing behind him had to make do with a tiny quantity. Exasperated, the authorities resorted to pushing him out of the temple. He would wail, “ My sixteen children would starve if they do not get this Prasadam, please have pity on me!”. One day, he decided to bring all his malnourished children to stand in the line. As usual, the fight with the temple authorities started on that day also. Sri Ramanuja, who happened to be at the temple at that time, asked the authorities what the commotion was all about. They

SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE - THIRUVARANGAM   Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple or Thiruvarangam is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in a reclining form, built in the island of Srirangam in between Kollidam & Ponni(Kaveri) rivers. It is one of the most illustrious Vaishnava temple in South India. The temple has been a place,from where Vaishnavism has flourished and many vaishnava saints have associated themselves with this temple including 11th-century saint Ramanjacharya and his predecessors Nathamuni and Yamunacharya. The temple was looted and destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate armies in early 14th century.In 1311m the golden image of the Lord was taken to delhi, inconsistent theories suggest the idol was brought back by the sultans daughter, who is enshrined as Thuluka Nachiar & in 1323 the second sultanate invasion could not lay their hand on the Idol as it was taken away from srirangam.The temple was rebuilt in late 14th century(1371), the site fortified and expanded with many more

Brahmapureeswarar Temple – Thirupattur - Trichy   The  Brahmapureeswarar Temple  is located in Thirupattur in  Manachanallur Taluka 33 KMs away from the Trichy. The temple has mention in scriptures written in the 8th century & is older than the Brihadeeshwa Temple in Tanjore. The temple has seen generations of  Pallavas, pandyas,Cholas taking care of its maintenance.   Lord Shiva has advised Lord Bramha to bless & change the fate of Worshippers who   seek the blessings of Lord Bramha at this temple.     Overwhelming pride as the Creator of the Universe, Lord Brahma felt that He was omnipotent than Lord Shiva This sense of pride provoked Lord Shiva, who Cut off Bramha"s Fifth Head, and cursed Him to lose His power of creation.   To propitiate, Lord Shiva , Brahma visited this temple and installed 12 Shiva Lingams & worshipped the Lord here for exoneration. Moved by Lord Brahma's prayers, Lord Shiva, on the appeal of his consort Bramha Sampath Gowri

GRAND ANICUT – KALLANAI DAM - Tiruchirapally   Kallanai Dam   Bhagiratha Prayed to Lord Shiva to reduce the force (break her fall) of Ganges when she descends from the Heaven to the Earth. Her turbulent force could shatter the earth, and Only Lord Shiva could contain her force. Ganga while descending thought she will sweep the lord along with her to the Patala or netherworld. Lord Shiva who envisioned this thought of Ganga, imprisoned her in his Matt or Jata, and released her only after the tapas of Bhagiratha, for the well-being of his ancestors and the earth. Shiva is the 1 st builder of a Dam with his Jata. Hence he is also known as “ Gangadhara   “, The Lord of Ganga”.   There are very many claims to the first ever man made Dams across the world including Dholavira in India, Egyptian’s, Roman’s and Mongolian’s. It does not make a difference, what makes the difference is the thought behind the dam and the purpose and long sustenance of such structure still functioning o

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur Brihadishvara Temple,  also called  Rajarajesvaram   or Peruvudaiyar Koyil , is a temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur.  Built by Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD. The original monuments of this 11th century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures predominantly related to Shaivism, but also of Vaishanvism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. Built out of granite, the vimana tower above the sanctum is one of the tallest in South India. It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance, in 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi, Parvati, Karthikeya, Ganesha, Sabhapati, Dakshinamurthi, Chandiswarar, Varahi and others.  Brihadishvara  is a Sanskrit composite word composed of  Brihat  which means "big, great, lofty, vast", and  Is

Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur Varaguna Pandya the Pandyan King who, was being haunted by a Bramharakshasa (Bramahaththi)(Evil spirit) because he had trampled & killed a Brahmin boy with his horse by accident.Varaguna Pandya, entered the Mahalingeswarar Temple and prayed to God Shiva for relief from the clutches of the spirit of the dead Brahmin or brahmaraksha.( since the Bramharakshasa could not enter the temple, it waited in the threshold outside the eastern gateway or Gopuram).  A divine voice asked the king to leave through another entrance to save himself. The bramhahaththi is still waiting on the eastern entrance for the king to come back. People take the second entrance to exit the premises after worship. There is a sculpture of Chola period, brahmaharaksha on the eastern premises in one of the inner Gopurams (tower gateway). Shiva is believed to have appeared as a flame to please sage Agastya. Shiva is said to have emanated from the heart of Parvathi. It is