Monday, September 30, 2013

Vengadampettai temple Lord Rama in a reclining posture and Garuda in Padmasana.


வேறு எங்கும் காண முடியாத ஒரு திருக்கோலம் . ஆனந்த சயன ராமர். இந்த ஆலயம் 1400 ஆண்டுகள் மிகப் பழமையான ஆலயமாகும் . இராமபிரான் ஆதிசேஷன் மீது சயனித்திருக்கிறார் உடன் சீதா தேவியும் இருக்கிறார் அவரது திருவடியின் அருகில் மாருதியும் அருளபாளிகிறார் . அமைவிடம் : கடலூர் மாவட்டம். குருஞ்சிப்பாடி தாலுகாவில் இருந்து 8 கி.மீ தொலைவில் இந்த ஆலயம் உள்ளது







The seven-tier rajagopuram of Vengadampettai temple. Photo: Special Arrangement

 


Article from

The Vengadampettai temple is unique in many aspects such as Lord Rama in a reclining posture and Garuda in Padmasana.

 

The car driver was clueless about the Vengadampettai temple. He said he had passed by the village many times and had even seen a run-down gopuram, but he didn’t know anything about the temple. When we arrived, we found only the priest there. Later a couple of village children joined us. Entry into the temple is not through the seven-tiered rajagopuram, for there is the possibility that it might collapse on some hapless devotee.
The temple is believed to have been built by a woman named Venkatamma, who was the sister of a ruler of Gingee, who hailed from this village. One of the Mac Kenzie manuscripts says that Venkatapathi, who ruled Gingee about 1478 A.D., was from the village of Vengadampettai. So maybe Venkatammal was his sister. The earliest inscription in the temple is dated 1776 A.D. It talks of the building of a rest house by Muthu Vijaya Anandaranga Thiruvengada Pillai of Puducherry.
Although the presiding deity is Venugopalan, there is also a sannidhi for a 19-feet long Lord Rama, in a reclining pose, with a reposeful smile. Around 200 years ago, this idol was discovered in a pond called Senkuttai, which is to the West of the temple, and the Rama idol was also installed in the temple. Here Rama is seen reclining on a seven hooded snake, with Sita and Veera Anjaneya at His feet.

The view of the Unjal Mandapam with the seven-tier rajagopuram of Vengadampettai temple. Photo: Special Arrangement

Unique Garuda

The Garuda in this temple is unique, as he is seen seated in Padmasana pose, with a snake draped around his left arm, its stretched hood resting on his thigh.
Opposite the temple entrance is the unjal madapam, which has 16 pillars, each 50 ft high. It is dangerous to get too close to this mandapam, because it is in danger of disintegration. Besides, the path to it is blocked by bushes.
A little away from this unjal mandapam is the huge temple tank, which is about an acre in extent. The sthapathy, who designed and built the temple, was buried close to this tank, and a small mandapam marks the place. There is also a shed that was once used for the temple elephants - there were three or four once upon a time. The temple chariot has disintegrated due to lack of attention, but plans are afoot to have one built again and to celebrate all the festivals once again with the same fervour. The ‘ther mutti,’ and the shed of the chariot can still be salvaged. A huge wall - 236 ft in length and 129 ft in breadth runs around the temple. This is yet to be repaired.
The main temple has been repaired, and the collapsed walls reconstructed painstakingly. Plans are afoot to restore the unjal mandapam and the rajagopuram too. The temple is under the control of the HR and CE, but repair work has been largely through the initiative of Arumuga Bhaskara Gurukkal, of the Kamakshi temple in Germany. That the period look of the temple has not in any way been spoilt is a feather in the cap of those who have taken up the restoration work. But village children, despite exhortations to them not to spoil the spruced up walls, insist on putting down their names and hall ticket numbers on the walls! This only goes to show, that for conservation efforts to succeed, we need to educate the public on the value of heritage, and that such education should begin in schools.


How to get there: If you are travelling from Panruti, proceed towards the Neyveli arch gate. Vengadampettai is five kms from there. If you are travelling from Chidambaram, take the Cuddalore–Vridhachalam road, and ask for Kurinjippadi town, from where Vengadampettai is three kms.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Melkote Pavithrothsavam 2013

Thanks to Narasimhapriyan Nachi for sharing the photos.



DAY 6 HANUMANTHA VAHANAM


DAY 3 MORNING MANTAPA VAHANAM


DAY 7 NIGHT PUSHPA PALLAKKI


DAY 5 CHANDRA MANADALA VAHANAM


DAY 7 NIGHT AFTER PAVITRA VISARJANAM
.


AFTER VAHANAM


RAMANUJAR WEARING PRASADA PAVITRAM OF SHELVAPPLLAI


DAY 7 GARUDA VAHANAM

DAY 2 PAVITRA DHARANAM (SRIDEVI BHOODEVI)


DAY 4 MORNING SHESHA VAHANAM


DAY 7 NIGHT AFTER PAVITRA VISARJANAM


AFTER MANTAPA VAHANAM


MADAL GHOSHTI ON DAY 7


AFTER SHASHA VAHANAM


MADAL GHOSHTI ON DAY 7


MADAL GHOSHTI ON DAY 7


DAY 2 PAVITRA DHARANAM (PARANKUSHA PARAKALA YATHIRAJA KOORESHARGAL)


AFTER VAHANAM


DAY 2 PAVITRA DHARANAM (RAMANUJAR)

DAY 2 PAVITRA DHARANAM (SHELVAPPILLAI)

RAMANUJAR

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Thirumalai Anathazhwan avathara sthalam

This is located on the srirangapatna-pandavapura road. one can see this sthalam after crossing the cauvery river from Srirangapatna to Bangalore highway.

Thanks to Anand Govindarajan swami for sharing the photos.

Phone number of the bhattar swami (Ananthachar swami) 09448836913.







Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Trip to Tirumala 2013


Trip Diary to tirumala.

I visit tirumala twice a year. As usual the planning starts 3 months back by blocking the leaves in office, Seva ticket availability at tirumala, Accommodation at TTD guest house and finally train tickets. All the bookings are done from my computer.

I visited tirupati-tirumala along with my family last week for my son's tonsure. We reached tirupati by 6.00am and we were welcomed by heavy thunder showers and strong winds.  There was a knee deep water outside the station. We managed to reach the vishnu nivasam rest house outside the railway station. We waited for 20 minutes and got a Non Ac Room for 300 rs. Rooms are alloted based on availability. AC rooms are easily available and the rent is 800. Along with the room rent you need to pay caution deposit of 350(for 300 rs room) and 800(for 800rs room). 4 persons are allowed in each room. only when the rooms are available you will be given a form to fill. Till then you need to wait in the queue.

We waited in the room for 3hrs and once the rain stopped we went to alamelu managapuram in the local private bus. we took 100rs ticket and had a wonderful dharsan. We also enjoyed the kalyana utsavam. There was no crowd at all. we reached tirupati railway station and proceeded to Govindaraja perumal temple. Again there was no crowd and we had a peaceful dharsan and had prasadam at the temple.

We then had lunch and vacated the room, collected the caution deposit. There were no goverment buses in tirupati. we took a private jeep and paid 70 per person to reach tirumala. We had already called uttradhi mutt and booked for tonsure for my son. we reached tirumala and we got room easily at uttradhi mutt. Rested for 1hr and went to varahaswamy temple in the evening. we had dharsan in less than 10 mins as there was very less people in tirumala. we then enjoyed the sahasra deepalankara seva and went along with perumal and thayars in mada veedhis. then we went to srirangam srimadh andavan ashramam, Raghavendra swamy mutt Parakala mutt and finally S.V. Museum.

I didt carry my phone or camera into the museum and I was shocked to see beautiful sculptures from 13th century to 18th centuries. My favourite was 6ft tirumangai azhwar.  there were also bronze statue of azhwars.  the museum is huge and need atleast 90 minutes to enjoy all the display items. Entry is free. open from 8am to 8pm all days.

we came back to uttaradhi mutt at 7.30pm and had theertha prasadha.

We got ready by 7am next morning and punyavarchanai was conducted and tonsure was performed at the mutt.  then we rested till 10am. I already booked the sudharsanam tickets for 11am dharsan. we reached the queue by 11am. The was less people and we had Nethradharsan and came out of temple by 1.30pm. Though I visit tirumala regularly I had nethra dharsan for the first time.

We then reached our room for afternoon prasadam and rested till 4pm. then we did some shopping and reached tirupati railway station by taxi. Swift car charged us 80 per person. we then took 9pm train and reached bangalore safely.

The laddus are sold separately by TTD directly in denominations of 50rs(2 laddus) and 100rs(4 laddus).  one person eligible for one ticket only. these laddus have to be collected within 3hrs from the time of purchasing the ticket.

Finally I thank all the members for their valuable suggestion and making the journey very peacful for my family.
                              


Govindaraja swamy temple. Photo taken from Vishnu nivasam guesthouse







Srirangam srimadh andavan asharamam














Please forgive me for the picture quality as I was not carrying my digital camera and the photos were shot from my mobile phone.