Every visit, every darshan, every thought, every feeling adds to the joy of pilgrimage. The spirit of bhakthi is the invisible dimension that inspires and moves us to action! It is the power which connects human beings like us to themselves and to others and is like a thread connected to higher purposes..
Here are detailed updates of some amazing temples I visited last month, in and around Trichy.
Thiruvanaikaval - Jambukeswarar- Akilandeshwari Temple
Sri Rangam, Shri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Gunaseelam – Prasanna Venkatachalpathy Temple
Thiruvanaikaval is also called as 'Jambukeswaram' and is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalas of Lord Shiva. Pancha Bhootha kshetras are the five abodes in which Lord Shiva stands glorified in the five elements of nature.
Thejo sthalam (Fire) - Tiruvannamalai
Prithvi sthalam (Earth) - Kanchipuram
Appu sthalam (Water) - Tiruvanaikaval
Vayu sthalam (Air) - Kalahasti
Akasa sthalam (Space) - Chidambaram
What an amazing temple!
The presiding deity is Sri Jambukeswara, also known as Appu (Water) Lingam. The sanctum, in a low level, is always damp with water. The deity is said to have been installed by Parvati, who made a lingam out of water and offered prayers to the Lord. To signify that the Devi is worshipping the Lord, even today the priest wears a red silk sari and performs puja during Uchhi Kaala puja at noon. This is a Upadesa Sthala, since she took Upadesa from the Lord.
The Devi of the temple, Sri Akilandeswari is a powerful deity and said to have worshipped Lord Shiva who is residing under the white “Naaval” tree. She was a “Ughara Deivam” earlier and people who went to have her darshan could not stand the fierceness of the Goddess. Adi sankarar created two sets of earrings in the form of Sri Chakram which are called "Tatankam" and presented these to the Goddess. The fierceness of the deity reduced. This tatankam, the earrings, has been maintained over time by the Acharyas of the Kanchi Mutt. He also created the sannathy of Lord Ganesha bang opposite her sannathy, so that when the Devi looks at her child, she just showers love.. And you can feel it!
Listen to my fave song, Akhilandeshwari, sung by MSS.
Sri Rangam – Shri Ranganatha Swamy temple
Srirangam is said to be the biggest functioning Hindu temple in Asia, (Angorwat is the biggest but non-functioning Hindu temple, by the way..). Lord Ranganathar, King of kings, is in reclining posture on Adisesha with his feet on lotus flower.. Ranganathar resides inside the Aranga Vimanam with His right hand kept under his head as a pillow and the left hand on his lap pointing to his feet. What a divine sight !
Lord Rama in his avatharam is said to have worshipped Sri Ranganathan, so He is also named as "Periya Perumal". No wonder it is called the Bhooloka Vaikuntham!
It is also a Sukra Sthalam (Venus) and to visit this temple on Fridays and offer white lotus to the Lord is supposed to be auspicious. Sukran is the planet which denotes all decorative or alangaram items used in our life. He is the brightest star next to the Sun and Moon and was the guru of the asuras. This Shethram is also called as Velliangudi – Velli meaning Sukra in tamil.
Sri Rangam is a huge temple, with 7 outer walls, referring to the 7 worlds. The Raja gopuram is the biggest temple tower in Asia and it is said that if we stand at the top of Srirangam Temple Gopuram, we can find that the eyes of Arangan as still seeing the south direction of Sri Lanka.
The Thaayar’s name is Sri Ranga Nayaki and this temple has the biggest and tallest Garudan, the bird which represents Sukran. There are separate sannidhis for Chakkarathazhwar and the Lord of medicine, Dhanvanthri.
Guna Seelam – Prasanna Venkatachalpathy Temple
The Moolavar is said to be the miniature version of Lord Balaji of Tirupathi. The Lord here is known as "Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal" and it is believed that those who are not able to visit Tirumala can obtain the grace of Venkatachalapathy here.
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An ancient rishi, Guna Seelar, went on a pilgrimage to Tirupathi to have a darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. He was so moved and pleaded the Lord to go with him to his Ashram on the banks of river Cauvery at Guna Seelam. The Lord told him that as he was in a state of debt, he cannot leave Tirupathi and told that he would appear as Shri Narayana at Gunaseelam. Guna Seelar performed penance and many years later in Krutha Yuga, Lord Prasanna Venkatachalapathy appeared as Swayambu on a Saturday in the month of Purattasi on the day of Sravana, the star of Venkatachalapathy.
The most important feature in this temple is the special grace that the lord bestows on the mentally unsound. The temple priests splash holy water to cure their problems. The etymology of the name derives from "Gunam" (Cure) and "Seelam" (Place), meaning the place in which all illnesses are cured.
