Dhandeeswarar Temple, Velachery

Sthala Puranam:  During Thretha Yuga, the Four Vedas were snatched away ffrom Lord Brahmma by ther demon Somasura.  Lord Vishnu recovered them from the demon.  As the Vedas remained with the demon for some time, their sanctity was lost as they had acquired an asura dosha.  They prayed to Lord Shiva at this place to become pure and holy again.  Lord Shiva purified the Vedas here and restored them to their original glory.  The place where the four Vedas prayed was known as Vedasreni, which got changed in the later yugas and now called as Velachery.

The legend also has it that during Dwapara Yuga, when Yama came to snatch away the life of Markandeya, the Pasakkayiru fell on the Siva Lingam which Markandeya was hugging.  Angered over this act, Lord Shiva snatched the Dandam of Yama. On the advice of Sage Narada, Yama created a temple pond here and woshipped the Lord  Shiva and got back his Dandam. Hence the God here is known as Dandeeswarar and the Goddess as Karunambigai.  The temple pond created by Yama is called Yama Theertham.

Importance:   The rays of the sun fall on Shri Dandeeswarar on Makara Sankaranthi (Pongal).  Many people celebrate their 60th  / 80th birthday at this temple by offering their prayers and performing longevity homas.   From the notice board displayed in the outer praharam,  we could find that devotees have volunteered for Nithya Annadhanam expenses till the end of May 2013.

Shri Aadalarasan, Executive in a bank is a most respected personality in the Uzhavarappani circles.  His  group,  Thirukkovil Uzhavarappani Mandram, Velachery,  has around 1000 volunteers on their rolls.  This group did an excellent  sprucing up work of Shri Dandeeswarar Kovil at Velachery in connection with the forthcoming  Shiv-Raathri festival on 10.03.2012, as part of their Uzhavarappani.  We had the privilege of joining them to contribute our mite.

It was really amazing to see them, working with perfect coordination, erecting make-shift scaffolding and climbing atop the Temple's Rajagopuram to clean and paint it, unmindful of the hot sun..  By evening, they had completed their work and the newlook that they gave the Rajagopuram is seen to be believed.

Readying the scaffolding - These guys can  scale any height without fear

The painting work in progress

The Finishing Touch

In all, more than 100 volunteers from Thirukkovil Uzhavarappani Mandram participated in the temple cleaning work, which besides the Rajagopuram painting, also included cleaning the terrace of the temple.    Our group numbering around 40 volunteers did the cleaning job inside the temple.

Click Here to view more photos.

புஷ்பரதேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில் - ஞாயிறு கிராமம்

More than 60 volunteers  reached the Gnayiru gramam in three vans on 10.03.2013 for doing Uzhavarappani at அருள்மிகு ஸ்வர்ணாம்பிகை சமேத புஷ்பரதேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்.  The temple is situated at a distance of about 15 km beyond Red Hills, which itself is on the outskirts of Chennai.  Buses are available from Red Hills, but without much of a frequency. 

The presiding deity is called Lord Pushparatheswarar because, Lord Siva emerged from a lotus flower in the form of Sivalingam, when the Sun God Surya came down to this place to pray.  Even today, during the Tamil month of Chithirai, on the first seven days,  the Sun God does Paatha Pooja to Ambaal & Sivan.  This can be seen every year in the mornings, when the Sun's rays fall at Their Feet.

The temple was in a dilapidated condition for several decades. Surya Trust took up the renovation work for three years and the consecration was done in June-July 2006.

One can see a big throng of devotees  every sunday, as the Sun God here is famed for curing the eye related problems.  Rest of the days, the temple wears a deserted look.  We were told by the temple care-takers, that since most of the villagers in the neighbourhood have converted their religious faith,  there is not much of a local support.

Adjacent to the temple outer wall, we observed a make-shift shrine of Yoga Narasimhar and Aanjaneyar.  When enquired, we were told that the Vigrahams were found out while digging for the Shiva Temple renovation.  Presently under asbestos roofing, plans are in the offing for construction of a pucca temple.  Here too, on the second and fourth sundays of every month, Sudarsana Homam is conducted for which a lot of devotees turn up.  

Another exclusive feature of this Temple is that it has a  Thiruvodu Maram.  This tree bears the fruit, from the shell of which Thiruvodu (the begging bowl of sanyasis) is obtained.

Thiruvodu Fruit

Since most of the devotees turn up from Chennai, and due to the absence of proper outside eateries, the temple authorities themselves arrange Annadhanam to all the devotees, every Sunday.  Their service deserves a lot of appreciation and support.

This temple is one of the few better maintained temples in and around Chennai.  As a result, there was not much of a major work for us within the temple complex.  Outside the temple complex, about 400 yards away is the birth place of Sangili Nachiyar, wife of Sundaramurthy Nayanar.  This place is a big open ground that  has been fenced around, with a small shrine-like structure, that houses a large framed image of Sangili Nachiyar (Within the temple complex, there is a separate shrine for Sangili Nachiyar).

The Birth Place of Sangli Naachiyar.  

This open ground was full of wild growth of plants and thorny shrubs.  The temple authorities wanted us to spruce up this place, as they have decided to celebrate here the Sangili Nachiyar festival on 27.02.2013.  Majority of our volunteers were pressed into the task of clearing up this place.

Dried leaves that had fallen down within the temple complex were also removed.  The lady volunteers in our group cleaned the brass vessels, lamps and other artciles used in the Pooja.  In the afternoon, after 1.30pm, the crowd of devotees had thinned down and thereafter we cleaned the Sannadhis using our water jet.

The temple has a well maintained big tank called Surya Theertham.  We had the privilege of adding to the beauty of this tank, by writing  சிவ சிவ  on the inner walls of this tank. 

After finishing our work around 3.30pm, we had a darshan in the various Sannadhis and started our homeward journey back to Chennai.

Additional photos @ : Gnayiru Uzhavarappani

Thiruvaiyaru Kumbabishegam Photos

A section of the crowd looking forward to the auspicious moment

The Maha Kumbabishegam at Thiruvaiyaru Panchanadheeswara Kovil took place on 07 Feb.2013 in a grand manner.  Our group's co-ordinator witnessed this Mega Event and took a few snaps.  Here are some of them:

Perching on Tree Tops to Witness the Once-in-a life time Event

All the roads lead to The Aiyarappar Temple

 To view additional photos,  Click Here

One year of Blogging

With the Divine Grace of Arunachala, this blog has completed one full year today.   It all started with our Uzhavarappani programme for ThiruNandeeswarar Temple, Manavur. It was just some enthusiasm to start with and  without much knowledge of designing a blog.  Several templates were chosen and tried one after another.  Design and layout was also experimented several times adding something new at every attempt.  We believe, the Divine Guidance was there throughout  and still continues to guide us at each and every  step.

At the time of writing this, Google stats reveal a total of 2874 visits, which include:  326-USA, 83-Russia, 72-Israel , 58-UK , 27-Malaysia,  26-UAE , 24-Germany,  20-Netherlands , 20-Singapore 20-China and a few other countries.  The cluster map at the end of the blog-post was added as an additional gadget only in March 2012 (inspiration provided by Arvind Prabhu of Thirunandeeswarar blog, whom we befriended during the Manavur Kumbabishegam).  This indicates visitors from 25 different countries throughout the globe, besides various states in India.

For regular bloggers, our mention of these stats may appear childish.  But for novices like us without any idea about the concepts of SEO techniques, this is something remarkable and great.  An old song heard during the younger days suddenly comes to mind now:

நான் கண்டறியா நண்பர்தமை நன்கறியும் வகை நீ செய்தனை 

நான் சென்றறியா நாடெங்கும் நல் வரவு பெறவும் செய்தனை 

அருகில் இல்லா அன்பர்தமை நான் அணுகிட அண்டையில் கொணர்ந்தனை 

அறிமுகமே இல்லாத அயலானை அருமை சோதரன் என்றுறவாக்கினை 

That is precisely what has  happened to us also.  A global exposure and a lot of friends who visit the site frequently, thereby encouraging us to do more Uzhavarappani. Much to our surprise, support has poured in during the last one year from individuals and institutions. 

அனைத்துத் திருப்பணிகளிலும் பங்கேற்று உதவிய சிவனடியார்களுக்கும், ஆன்மீகச் செம்மல்களுக்கும் எங்கள் பணிவான நன்றியை வணக்கத்துடன் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறோம்.

அகத்தியர்.org வலை தளத்தில் காணப்படும் ஒரு வாக்கியம் : " எதுவும் எங்களுடையது அல்ல.  எல்லாம் உனது திருவருளே .  அருளாளா!!! , அருணாச்சலா !!!   இது எங்களுக்கும் மிகவும் பொருந்தும்.

ஸ்வர்ணாம்பிகை ஸமேத புஷ்பரதேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில்

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்
அண்ணாமலையார் அறப்பணிக் குழுவின்  அடுத்த உழவாரப்பணி விவரம்:

நாள் :  10.2.13 ஞாயிற்றுக் கிழமை

கோயில்: அருள்மிகு ஸ்வர்ணாம்பிகை ஸமேத புஷ்பரதேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில்,                          ஞாயிறு,  சென்னை 600067

சூரியன் வழி பட்ட ஸ்தலம்.

சுந்தரமூர்த்தி நாயனாரின் மனைவி சங்கிலி நாச்சியார் பிறந்த ஸ்தலம்.

கண்வ மகரிஷி இங்குள்ள சிவபெருமானை வழிபட்டு முக்தி அடைந்த ஸ்தலம்.

கண் சம்பந்தப் பட்ட நோய்கள் நிவர்த்திக்கு பிரார்த்தனை ஸ்தலம்.

இக்கோவிலில் நவக்ரஹ சன்னதி கிடையாது.

நேரம் : காலை  8 மணி முதல்

வழி: சென்னை சென்குன்றத்திலிருந்து (Redhills), 20 கி.மீ. தொலைவில் உள்ளது.  சென்குன்றத்திலிருந்து கும்மிடிப்பூண்டி செல்லும் தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையில்  Toll Plaza விலிருந்து 1.5 கி மீ சென்றவுடன், வலது பக்கம் திரும்பி, காரனோடையில்,   சோழாவரம் பாதையில் சென்று, அருமந்தை என்னும் இடத்தில் இடது புறம் 4 கி மீ   சென்றால் கோவிலை அடையலாம்.

பேருந்து எண்கள்:     சென்குன்றத்திலிருந்து 57C, 58A, T57.

                                               CMBT  யிலிருந்து - M 114C.

Speciality of the Temple:  

The rays of Sun fall on Lord and Mother during the first 7 days of Chithirai  Month (Tamil New Year).  It is believed that Sun performs the Shiva Puja on these days, hence the midday puja is not performed in the temple during that period.

Agasthiya Maharishi is also said to have stayed here and worshipped the God here.

Chennai also has its share of Navagraha Sthalams.  This temple is considered as the Surya Sthalam.  Just for the info of all, the details of Navagraha Sthalams are mentioned below:

1. Suryan Sthalam -- Gnayiru Gramam & Agastheeswarar Kovil, Kolapakkam

2. Chandran Sthalam --  Somanatheswarar Temple - Somangalam

3. Angarahan Sthalam -- Vaitheeswaran Kovil, Poonamalle

4. Budhan Sthalam  -- Sundareswarar Kovil, Kover & Karaneeswarar Kovil, Saidapet.

5. Guru Sthalam -- Ramanatheeswara Kovil, Porur & Thiruvalidhayam (now known as Padi)

6. Sukkiran Sthlam -- Velleeswarar Koil , Mylapore

7. Saneeswara Sthalam -- Agastheeswarar Kovil, Pozhichalur

8. Rahu Sthalam -- Nageswarar Temple, Kundrathur

9. Ketu Sthalam -- Neelakanteswarar Kovil,  Gerugambakkam 

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

Thiruvaiyaru Uzhavarappani

Sri-La-Sri Kumaraswamy Thambiraan of Dharmpura Aadheenam provided us a once in a life time opportunity of participating in the ongoing renovation works connected with the Kumbabishegam of Dharmasamvardhini Samedha Panchanadheeswarar Temple in Thiruvaiyaru.

Various Uzhavarappani groups throughout Tamilnadu have come down to Thiruvaiyaru during the last one month to contribute their share in whatever manner possible.  During the course of our work, we could see atleast four other groups that were going ahead with different types of work like white-washing, painting etc.

We were allotted the work of painting various grill gates.  Our pilot group with 15 volunteers reached Thiruvaiyaru with the required materials on 19.01.2013 itself and started the work form 10.15am, which continued till 9.00pm in the night.  Their job involved scrapping the iron grills and collapsible gates with emery sheets and applying primer wherever necessary.  This was done for the 20' tall grill enclosure for the Dwajasthambam in the main shrine, besides eight frames of the 8' x 12' iron mesh in the  Vada Kayilayam area. 

               

Our second group of 45 volunteers reached Thiruvaiyaru on the night of 19.01.2013 by a special bus and we all started the work on the morning of Sunday,  20.01.2013 by 06.30am.  At this point of time, we were joined by 35 volunteers from Indhu Aalayam Suththam Seiyum Iraippani Mandram from Mambalam, Chennai.

                                             Aluminium paint coating was given to all the surfaces scrubbed on the previous day.  In addition, scrubbing and aluminium pant coating was done to all the 16' high  grills surrounding the huge Baladhandayuthapani Sannadhi, another additional 18 wiremesh frames, collapsibe gates in the Natarajar Sannadhi and other nearby Sannadhis,  VadaKayilayam gates and the remaining finishing touches in the wire-mesh surrounding the temple tank.  All this work was finished by 1.30pm and we packed up.

Shri Kumaran and Shri Sendhil of Thiruvaiyaru provided us excellent co-operation and help.  Besides, Shri Venkatesh, a professional well experienced in large scale industrial painting, remained with us on both the days and offered us his expert guidance and timely tips, but for which, we would not have been able to finish this huge work in a limited time.  Our sincere thanks to him.

Having added two more days of our life in the service of the Divine God, we returned with a great sense of satisfaction.

Photos of our Thiruvaiyaru  visit have been uploaded in the web.   Please Click Here to view them.

திருவையாறு பஞ்சநதீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்

Many of you might have already known about this temple or even blessed enough to visit and pray.  The temple is also called in Tamil as   ஐயாறப்பர் திருக்கோவில்.

Legends:  The birth place of Nandhi.  God Shiva performed the marriage of Nandhi here.  Appar had Kailasa Darshan at this abode.  Hence the place is also known as பூலோக கைலாசம்.  The Tiruvaiyaru temple has also a shrine for Aatkondar  also known as Kala Samharamoorthy.   A Homa Kundam  started by saint Aadi  Sankara  can be found outside the shrine of Aatkondar.  

The temple has a lot of interesting  sculptures and paintings.  The temple is built up in an area of more than 60000 square meters  with 5 different praharams and several mandapams. The last Kumbabishekam was performed in 1971.  The temple is presently under renovation from 2009 onwards and Kumbabishekam is scheduled on 07.02.2013 (Thursday).   Several Uzhavarappani  groups from the length and breadth of Tamilnadu have already descended on the scene and many of them are working round the clock.

Our group has been allotted 19th & 20th of January for doing Uzhavarappani. Our work will mostly consist of painting / white-washing.   For details, please contact our coordinator  Shri Ramachandran @ 98840 80543