Monday, April 30, 2012

Nava Narasimha temple, Avaniyapuram

Five Lords of a hill temple


Lord Ranganatha with His Consort Ranganayaki.

THIS IS a temple with a difference. Located at Avaniyapuram, 25 km from Wandavasi, en route Arani and Cheyyar Dam in North Arcot District, it is a hill abode of two deities. One has to climb 70 steps to reach the first deity, Lord Narasimha, and ascend another 114 to have a darshan of Lord Venkateswara. (Not actually a difficult task compared to Sholingur or the Rock Fort Uchi Pillaiyar of Tiruchi.)
At Avaniyapuram, Lord Narasimha is found in a small cave (technically known as kudavarai koil). A three-tier Rajagopuram welcomes beckons one with its grace and grandeur. We first pay obeisance to Anjaneya before entering the shrine of Lord Narasimha. There is Yoga Narasimha in the same hill at a higher altitude where Lord Venkateswara is housed. Here Lord Narasimha is in a sitting posture, Mahalakshmi Thayar seated on his left thigh. His left arm is around His Consort and His right hand is in abyaha hasta position. His upper hands are holding the chakra and the conch. The unique feature in this temple is that Mahalakshmi Thayar has the face of a lioness. The utsava idol of Lord Narasimha also has the face of a lion. He has four hands and is in standing position flanked on either side by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. Besides there is a tiny Narasimha Moorthy in the shrine making it three images of the deity.



The hill temple at Aavaniyapuram — unique in several ways. — Pics. by K. V. Srinivasan

There is a separate shrine for Alarmelmangai Thayar near the Narasimha temple. Lord Venkateswara is atop at the hill. There are five Narasimha moorthies in all looking alike next to the Thayar sannidhi. Thus we have eight Narasimha idols and it makes a total of nine including the Yoga Narasimha atop the hill.
We also find idols of Adhi Sesha and Kalinga Nardana Krishna in Pancha Narasimhar sannidhi. The utsava moorthy of Lord Venkateswara blesses us in an astonishing position in the Narasimha Sannidhi itself.



Sri Perundevi Thayar sametha Sri Varadaraja Perumal.

Now we proceed to the abode of Lord Venkateswara at the top. We find Lord Srinivasa standing armed with chakra and conch. There is a separate cave like enclosure in the prahara of Lord Venkateswara where we see Lord Varadaraja and Perundevi Thayar. Lord Ranganatha is seen on His serpentine bed with Ranganayaki Thayar. Yoga Narasimha is in a sitting position along with Amirdavalli Thayar.
Thus we see all the main pancha divya desa moorthies — Kanchi, Srirangam, Sholingur, Tirumala and Ahobilam. Avani means lion and the Lord is said to have obliged Brigu Maharishi by appearing before him in the forms of five divya desa deities.



Sri Yoga Narasimhar

The temple is believed to have been built during the Pallava regime. Popular festivals here are Srijayanti, Deepavali and Vaikunta Ekadasi. Lord Venkateswara Brahmotsavam is celebrated on a very grand scale in the Tamil month of Purattasi and Lord Narasimha has his parivettai utsavam in Panguni. It is heartening to note that all the shrines in the hill temple are well maintained, a testimony to the grace of Lord Narasimha and Venkateswara. 

Travel Information:

   1. Route no 148 CHENNAI to POLUR directly goes to temple. Stop Avaniyapuram koot Road. 2 km from arch walk to temple. Or From Chennai Route no 104 Chennai – Vandavasi and from Vandavasi to Arani road 26th Km.
   2. Chennai – Kanchipuram – Cheyar – Valebandh koot Road – Avaniyapuram coot Road.
   3. Route no 59 from Cheyar and 241 from Kanchipuram along with Private travelers Renukambal and Rangaswami Buses.

 Contact: Bhattarakar – Sri Mukundachar – 9486046206

 Temple Timings: 6 am to 12pm & 4 pm to 8 pm. (extends on Saturday depends on the people)


Thanks to 

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Thiruppullani 2012 Chaithrothsavam Day 2‏

adiyen dasasya vignaapanam.
On day 2 of the Chaithrothsavam, Sri Pattabi Raman had Thiruveethi purappadu in pallakku in the morning.



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In the evening after satrumurai, Raman enjoyed a Yali vahana thiruveethi purappadu.
Raman during satrumurai


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Thiruveethi purappadu
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After thiruveethi purappadu, at the templeInline image 6

adiyen,dasan,
T. Raguveeradayal
C/O SRIRANGAM SRIMAD
ANDAVAN ASHRAMAM,
THIRUPPULLANI 623532

Chitthirai Bruhmmothsavam at Thiruppullani‏

adiyen dasasya vignaapanam.

With dwajarohanam, the Chitthirai Bruhmmothsavam for Sri Pattabirama Swamy started today (28-4-2012) at Thiruppullani. In the night, after rakshabhandan and satrumurai, Sri Raman had a thiruveethi purappadu on Surya Prabhai, with Sri Adhi Jagannatha Perumal accompanying Him in a palanquin.

It may be noticed that Perumal is Present during Dwajarohanam in the morning. At Thiruppullani, Raman uthsavam commences only with the kadaksham and anugraham of Perumal. In the evening Satrumurai also Perumal Will be present with Raman and only after offering mariyadhais to Perumal, mariyadhais will be offered to Raman. And Perumal Will accompany Raman during thiruveethi purappadu also thereby extending His anugraham for the festival of Rama, Who was born only due to the Blessings of Perumal to King Dasaratha. adiyen do not know whether in any other temple, such practice is observed.

Some of the photos are here.


Dwajam coming round the village
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Perumal  and Sri Raman during dwajarohanam
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Inline image 6Sri Raman Lakshmanan and Seethai during evening saatrumurai
Thiruveethi purappadu
Sri Raman on Surya prabhai and Perumal on pallakku
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adiyen, dasan,T. Raguveeradayal
C/O SRIRANGAM SRIMAD
ANDAVAN ASHRAMAM,
THIRUPPULLANI 623532

THIRUKOSHTIYUR BRAMMOTHSAVA PATHRIKAI


Pallikonda peruma Aranganatha swamy temple Brahmothsavam Invitation



Invitation : Thanks to Sundarajan S


Route which leads to idigarai from coimbatore : Thudialur NGGO Colony n Idigarai.. Bus no. 27A, 87,62 from gandhipuram bus stand.

Sri Rangamudi utsavam at Srirangapatna, mysore

Photo courtesy : Vasudevan Chakravarthy

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Sudharshana homa at Srilakshmi Narasimha swamy temple, Krishnagiri


Friday, April 27, 2012

Rare Photo series: Kanchipuram Temples

Varadharajar Temple, Kancheepuram







Vaikunta perumal temple, Kancheepuram



Thursday, April 26, 2012

Sree Pallikonda Ranganathar Devasthanam, Idigarai, Coimbatore District

Sir,
I am sundararajan at idigarai village in coimbatore district.Here there is a temple Sree Pallikonda Ranganathar Devasthanam from the past 500years. Every year for chitra pournami we celebrate car festival in a grand manner. I would like to share our few photos taken in 2011 car festival. 

I m happy to inform you that this year our car festival commences on 5th May 2012.

Thanks & regards
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Sundararajan S
Narendhran Sheet Metals.
Coimbatore.