Sri Valeeswarar (Koyyamalarnathar) Temple, Kuranganilmuttam, Tiruvannamalai

 

Moolavar: Sri Valeeswarar

Amman: Sri Irayarvalai Ammbal

A padal petra sthalam and is the sixth temple on the banks of Cauvery in Thondai Mandalam region praised in Thevaram hymns. Gnansambandar has referred to the moolavar here as the one showering his grace from Kuranganilmuttam surrounded by fragrant gardens. Ganasambandar had praised the Ambal in his hymns.

Sage Markandeya who was destined to die at the age of sixteen ventured on a pilgrimage to all Shive sthalams. When he attained the age of sixteen, Yama the Lord of Death appeared before him and threw the rope around his neck which also  fell on Lord Shiva. Shiva was raged with anger and  cursed Yama and dismissed him from the post for waging the rope while his divotee was worshiping. Markandeya was saved from his untimely death and when Yama pleaded for mercy, shiva told him he would have his darshan on Earth at an appropriate time when he would be restored to his post. Yama came to earth in the form a crow and worshipped Shiva in all temples. And a crow know as Muttam in tamil worshiped the lord in this tenple as well.

Indira, on the other hand once cast his eyes  wrongly on the wife of Sage Gautama. As he cast his eyes wrongly on a married woman, he was cursed by the Rishi to have eyes all over his body. Indira came to Lord Shiva pleaded  relief from the sin committed by him. He was also advised to undertake pilgrimage in Earth and that He would grace him at an appropriate time. Indira came to earth in the form Anil – Squirrel and worshipped the moolavar of this tenple simultaneously along with Yana as a crow.

Vali, the king of monkeys also came here to worship Lord Shiva at the same time. Vali was a great Shiva Bhakta. Yama and Indira worshipped Shiva along with Vali at the same time and  Lord Shiva gave Darshan to the three together and relieved Yama and Indira from the sins. 

As prayed by them, He stayed in this place as a Swayambumurthy. The place came to be known as Kurangu Anil Muttam, Kurangu-Monkey, Anil- squirrel, Muttam-crow. You can see the  sculptures of the three on the pillars of the temple depicting their worships

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Koyyamalar Nather: Lord Valeeswarar graces in the form of Swayambulinga facing west. The rays of Sun fall at His fee on certain days in the month of Chithirai (April-May). When the monkey king Vali came to worship the Lord, he did not want to pick the flowers by hand but shook the tree making the flowers fall on the Lord. Koyya-not picked, Malar-flowers. As the Lord was worshipped with such direct flowers, He got the name Koyyamalar Nathar.

Sugarcane juice is used for abhishekam in the belief that our life would be as sweet as sugarcane. It is also said that birds and animals having just five senses also worshipped Lord Valeeswara and gained six senses. Devotees are relieved of sins, gifted with wisdom and knowledge.

Ambal with bangles- Mother Irayarvalai Ammai graces from a separate shrine facing west. Vali, Indira and Yama the God of Death worshiped Mother before worshipping the Lord seeking her recommendation to Lord to grace them. Valai means yielding in this context. That the Mother yields to the devotees, brought Her the name Irayar Valai Ammai. Saint Valai also means bangles. Married and pregnant women offer the bangles to the Mother before they wear them hoping that they will be blessed with children and their deliveries would be safe.

Contact: The temple opens by 7 am and kurukal Natarajan can be reached on +919943295467

Location: Sri Valeeswarar (Koyyamalarnathar) Temple, Kuranganilmuttam, Tiruvannamalai

Sri Bhuthapureeswarar Temple, Sivanthangal, Sriperumbudur

 

Moolavar: Sri Bhuthapureeswarar

Amman: Sri Puthathamman

A beautiful temple off the main road and very beautifully constructed temple. It is said that the sivalingam was found here amidst of lots of plants and bushes and a siddhar named ‘Panaimarathu Siddhar’ has worshipped this moolavar here. There is a separate Sannidhi for him below a palm tree here.

The moolavar is facing east and Ambal Puthathamman is facing south. The uniqueness of this Ambal is that you can see her in a seated position unlike all other shiva temples where you see Ambal in a standing position. It is said that her vigraham was found few meters away near a small water body.

The temple has been newly built during the covid time and Kumbhabhishekam was just performed last year during the month of April, Chithirai month of tamil.

All the Sannidhis around have the name starting with Bhuthupuri. There is separate Sannidhi for Pillayar, Valli Deivayanai Samedha Subramanian, Ayyappan, Govindharaja perumal and a Sannidhi for Ramanujar is also found here.

Very serene and calm place and well maintained temple. 

Daily the temple is opened in the morning by 7 am and closed by 12. Evening again it opens by 4 and closes by 8. 

Contact: Sri Yuvaraj who takes care of the daily puja can be reached on 9884587507

Location: Sri Bhuthapureeswarar Temple, Sivanthangal, Sriperumbudur

Sri Visveswaraswamy Temple, Kovilpalayam, Coimbatore

 

Moolavar: Sri Visveswaraswamy

Amman: Sri Vishalakshi Amman

A very old temple reconstructed again in 1916 without damaging the old structure. 

Very small sivalingam facing east and elegant ambal in a 3d structure. Vinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, Bramha, and Sandhikeswarar and murugan idols placed in the prakaram.

Old pillars and stone structure temple, nicely maintained by locals. 2 Kaala poojai happening on a daily basis. Big Vilvam tree is appearing as sthala viruksham.

Location: Sri Visveswaraswamy Temple, Kovilpalayam, Coimbatore

Sri Muktheeswarar Temple, Edamachi, Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram

 

Moolavar: Sri Muktheeswarar

Amman: Sri Kamakshi Ambal

A good 650 years old temple which apparently been built by the Vinayagar king called Thiruvarangan. May be it was earlier built by Pandya kings as we see the fish symbol on the walls. It’s a beautiful temple completely built in granite stone completely in the Vijayanagar Architecture. 

The temple is facing east with a beautiful backdrop of a hill which locally is called as Annamalai. There is shiva temple on top of the hill but there is no moolavar there. Apparently the moolavar was brought down long ago due to sone superstition and now they are planning to reinstall that sivalingam.

The ghosta vighrahams are very beautiful and there is a separate Sannidhi for Pillayar called Selva Ganapathy and Sri Valli Deivayanai Samedha Sri Arumugan which is very beautiful to see.

The Muktheeswarar temple is due for Kumbhabhishekam. The temple is taken care by local young boys and daily one kala pujai is performed. The temple opens by 6 am.

Contact: Sri Vimalraj can be reached on 93619 44051

Location: Sri Muktheeswarar Temple, Edamachi, Uthiramerur, Kanchipuram 

Sri Kaaraneshwarar Temple, Kakkalur, Thiruvallur

 

Moolavar:Sri Kaaraneshwarar

Amman:Sri Shenbagavalli Ambal

A beautiful huge shivalingam which is says to be over 1000 plus years was found buried on the banks of the temple tank, this was taken out and was kept in a temporary make shift shed for few years. During that period a huge snake had come and removed its skin on top of the sivalingam. This skin has been framed and kept in the temple. 

With the support of the villagers and many donors, a beautiful temple was built for him. The moolavar Sri Kaarneeshwarar is on a huge square Avudayar signifying that it just have been installed and worshiped by sidhars thousand years ago. The Nandhi and Byravar are also belonging to the same era and the archeological department is in the process of finding its antiquity.

The moolavar’s alangaram is done in a such a way that it looks like he is facing the North East or Eshanya corner. Shani Bhagwan has a separate Sannidhi here and also a separate temple itself for Sri Ayyappan can be found in the outer praharam. Ambal Shenbagavalli faces south and has a Nandhi in front of her like we see on temple of the Chola and Pandya period.

The temple’s entrance is in the west but the main shrine faces the east and overseen by the big temple tank. It is said that when Ajaneyar was carrying Sanjeevani parvatham a piece of rock fell in this temple tank, a small piece of which they have kept in front of the Nandhi Mandapam.

Very beautiful temple and a must visit for everyone. Daily one kala puja happens but the temple is open both in the morning as well as evenings. Weekdays it’s opened by 6:30 am and closes early but weekends it’s opened by 7 am. 

Contact: Sri Rajesh who is the care taker can be reached on 9894528333

Location: Sri Kaaraneshwarar Temple, Kakkalur, Thiruvallur