SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

Kampahareswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam Lord Shiva removed the shivering (  Kampa ) of the king Varaguna Pandyan, who was being haunted by a Bramharakshasa (Evil spirit) because the king had trampled   & killed a Brahmin boy with his horse by accident. In spite of leaving the Bramhahaththi (evil spirit) in the eastern gate of Thiruvidaimaruthur, the   king shivered thinking that the evil spirit, will catch up with him. Lord Shiva relieved him of this shaking which led to the name of Kampaharesvara.    The  Kampahareswarar Temple  is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva. It is situated in the town of Thirubuvanam. Shiva is worshipped as "Kampahareswarar" Kampa (Shaking) Hara (relief) Iswara( Lord   The main deity is that of Lord Shiva, in the form of a Lingam called Kampahareswara. His consort Parvathi is called Dhramasamvardhini. There is a separate shrine for Sarabeswarar and a metal icon of the same deity within the sanctum. Sarabeshwarar a fusion of man,

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam   The name of the town Kumbakonam is derived from the legend associated with Kumbeswarar Temple. "Kumbakonam", means Kumbha (Pot) Konam (Angle). The lingam is in the form of a Pot which is conical on top. It is also tilted to the left. This is a unique lingam in the world. During cosmic dissolution, a pot containing nectar (Amrita) was floating and lord Shiva came in the disguise of a hunter and pierced the pot with an arrow, thereby making the nectar to flow through it’s mouth on all sides . Hence this place is named Kudamooku(muham) (kudam – pot; Muham – mouth or tip). The mythical pot (kumbha) of Brahma that contained the seed of all living beings on earth. The kumbha is believed to have been displaced by a Pralaya (dissolution of the universe). Shiva's arrow peirced the pot and the seeds dispersed for evolution. The town of Kumbakonam was also known in Tamil as Kudamukku or Kudavayil.   Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam   is

Airavatesvara Temple - Darasuram Lord Indra’s mount Airavata (the Elephant) became white in colour after taking a dip in the temple tank and hence the name of the Deity is Airavateswavara.   Airavatesvara Temple  is a Hindu temple of Chola architecture located in the town of Darasuram, near Kumbakonam. This temple, built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE has a Mukhamandapam or Vimanam which is taller than the Rajagopuram, as in Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram & Kampahareshwara temple at Tirubuvanam. These 4 temples are referred to as the Great Living Chola Temples. The Airavatesvarar temple is dedicated to Shiva. It also enshrines Vaishnavism and Shaktism cults of Hinduism, along with the legends of Nayanars – the Bhakti movement saints of Shaivism. The stone temple is in the structure of a chariot drawn by horses & elephants. Shiva's consort has a dedicated shrine called the Periya Nayaki Am

Dharbharanyeswarar Temple,Tirunallar –Shani(Saturn) Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple  or  Dharbharanyeswarar Temple  is a Shiva temple dedicated to Lord Dharbharanyeswar. There is a shrine dedicated to Shani (saturn) located in the Temple in Tirunallar town in Karaikal district of Pondicherry. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, ( Dharbaranyeswar)  and the place Tirunallar  was historically called Dharbaranyam. The presiding deity, Lord Shiva in the form of   a swayambhu lingam coming out of Darbha grass hence known as Dharbaranyeswarar. His consort is Praneshwari. The worship is also centered around the icon of planet saturn, called Shani, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. According to Hinduism, saturn resides in each  rasi (zodiac) for two and half years. The tradition is to worship Shani before entering the inner sanctum of Lord Siva. Kings in the past had donated milch cows for the upkeep of the temple. From the cowherd community a cowherd(Idayan) was selected

Naganathar Temple, Kizhaperumpallam- Kethu(South Lunar Node – Shadow planet)   Kizhaperumpallam  is a village panchayat situated on the south bank of the  Kaveri  River in Nagai district, Tamil Nadu. The village name is a combination of three Tamil words: the first  Kizha  denote east side to MelaPerumPallam, the second part  Perum denotes  big , and the last part  Pallam  means  pit .   Another story is related to the ValamPuriNathar  Shiva . Shiva have a one small V-shaped pit on his head so these two adjacent villages are called with pallam. The Naganathar Shiva temple is famous for Navagraha worship of Kethu. It is located on the south bank of Cauvery River near the bay of Bengal. The almighty Shiva is called Naganatha and goddess, Soundaryanayaki.   The shiva temple is also called Kizhaperumpallam Kethu temple. The shrine of the deity Kethu is located north-east of this shiva temple.     Devas(Gods) and Asuras( Demons) churned the ocean of milk to derive nectar.

Swetharanyeswarar Temple – Tiruvenkadam, Budhan (Mercury) Swetharanyeswarar Temple   is a Hindu temple located in the town of Thiruvenkadam near Sirkazhi. The main deity is  Swetharanyeswarar , Shiva in the form of a lingam and  Brahmavidya Ambal  as the consort. There is a separate  Sannidhi  for Budhan(Mercury). Swetha (White) Aranya (forest) Eswara (Lord). The lord of white flower forest. This temple is especially known for its unique incarnation of Shiva called "Agora Murthi" or Rudra. Thiruvenkadu village is also famous for its unique structure of pools in the temples. This temple has 3 pools, 3 Gods. Swetharanyeswarar is the main God in this temple. It is said that Agora Murthi is an incarnation of fury of Lord Shiva (Rudra murthi). There was a demon named "Maruthuvasuran" in Thiruvengadu. He meditated on Lord Bramha for power’s. Pleased with his devotion Lord Bramha offered him super powers. The asura used the powers for evil by torturing   the saints

Suryanar Kovil -   Suriyan (Sun)   Suryanar Kovil  (also called  Suryanar Temple ) is a temple dedicated to the deity Surya Sun-God, located in Suryanar Kovil village near the Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities The temple is the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities. The present masonry structure was built during the reign of Kullothunga Chola (AD 1060-1118) in the 11th century with later additions from the Vijaynagara Period. The temple has a five-tiered Rajagopuram, the gateway tower and a granite wall enclosing all the shrines of the temple. As per Hindu legend, Sage Kalava was suffering from serious ailments along with leprosy. He prayed to the  Navagrahas , the nine planet deities. The planets were pleased by his devotion and offered cure to the sage. Bramha, the god of creation, was angered as he