Mahalakshmi temple - Karur, Tamil Nadu

Mahalakshmi temple is situated in Mahadanapuram,23 Kms. from Karur town. This temple is in a remote  village and  very few vehicles ply on the road. The motorable road is well canopied on either side by coconut trees. when we  reached the  temple , it was closed  as the priest had taken French leave. But the kind lady sitting outside,  allowed us inside the temple and that helped me to get over the disappointment.

This temple is about 800 years old and this temple becomes a beehive of activity during the  Aadi  (Tamil calender month) festival. Devotees participate in a bizarre festival of breaking coconuts on their  heads in return for fulfillment of their wishes. The priest of the temple  breaks the coconut on the heads of devotees. This ritual has drawn a lot of  flak from many agencies but devotees in the name of faith   do not deter from this.

Check the video of the ritual .Click here. for the video

My clicks of the temple
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMaSks_aX1MPg79fzdMZkH92YCal8ZaNXDF0r3u

How to reach- Karur town is well connected by rail  and road, the nearest airport is at Trichy 
Accommodation- There are good hotels in Karur town.
But one may have to hire a cab to reach this temple as it is in a very remote place.

Appakudathan temple- Tiru Koviladi, Tamil Nadu

8 th divya desam Of Vishnu
The temple is situated in a tiny village of Koviladi on the banks of river Kaveri. The Moolavar , in a reclining pose is known as Appa Kudathan and  here we find Markendaya muni near the Lord.  This temple is considered to be older than Srirangam temple.  There is a huge silver pot , the appa kudam  (A  sweet made of rice) near the Lord's right hand and it is believed to be full of appam as this Lord is fond of the same.

The Utsavar here is known as Azhagiya Manvalan , Namperumal and Appala Rangan.. He is flanked by Boodevi and Sree devi thayar.There is also a Santhana Gopala here and  the belief is that a childless couple would be blessed with progeny if they offer their worship to the Lord here.

Legend is  that a king was cursed by sage Dhurvasa when he accidently killed a Brahmin during a hunting expedition. To get liberation he was asked to feed 1000 hungry Brahmins. During the feast the Lord Srinivasa, disguised as a Brahmin consumed all the food meant for the 1000 people. Not satisfied with that, Lord asked the king to feed Him a pot of Appam ( sweet) The moment he ate the appam the king was liberated.  Since then he came to be called as Appa Kudathan and here for daily Pooja appam is offered to the Lord.

The temple was in a dilapidated stage when I visited and the renovation work was in progress. Very few people visit this temple  but the sanctum dazzles with all its brightness as it houses the Lord and his family.The priest Srinivasa Bhattar enthusiastically explained about the history and legend connected with the temple. As it is erroneously reported in many sites that the Lord is holding the appa kudam in his right hand. he specifically asked me to write clearly that the kudam is 2 feet away from the moolavar.
Kamalavalli thayar has a separate sannidhi here.
This is one of the  Pancha Ranga Kshetrams Others are  at Srirangam,  Kumbakonam,  Tiru Indalur in Tamilnadu and  Sri Ranga Patinam near Mysore in Karnataka

The temple timings are 7.30 am to 1 pm., 4.30pm -8.15p.m

To reach Koviladi, one can take Tiruchi- Kallanai- Tirukattuppalli route. It's located 25 Kms east of Trichy.
Buses ply from Tiruchi central and Chathiram bus stand with a frequency of 1/2 hr,.
Cabs charge around Rs. 400 for the up and down trip from Trichi to Koviladi.
Accommodation - Good hotels are available in Trichy.

PHOTOS
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMfZVTMwRYlEF88cptTyqjO6xmvCpV6huNLrT6s

Parimala Ranganatha Thirukoil- Tiru indalur, Mayiladuthurai Tamil Nadu

Parimala Ranganadhar Koil in  TiruIndalur is  one of the Pancha Ranga Kshetrams( temple) and is an important divyadesam of Vishnu. 

The Utsavar here is known as Sugandha Nathar or  Parimala Nathar and his consort is Parimala Valli

There are seperate shrines for Suganda valli , Andal and Chakrathazhwar.

The pillars here are beautified with images from the epics Ramayana , Krishnavatara and Dashavatara.

This is the place where the Moon was liberated from curse by Lord Srinivsa, and here He is seen near the Lord. The temple sanctum is decked up well and the idol of Ranganathar is of bewitching beauty.

This temple is in Mayiladuthurai and is 35 Kms from Kumbakonam.
Other Pancha Ranga Kshetrams are in 1.SriRangam,2. ThiruKoviladi, 3.TiruKudanthai and 4.Srirangapattinam.

How to reach:  Nearest airport is Trichy and there is a rail station at Mayiladuthurai. 
Many buses ply to this town from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
Accommodation- Good hotels are available in Mayiladuthurai.

Photos

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMzBRWju0WrQxpuApVTa4RrwNpWc7MYrtYExA4P

Thiru Anbil Soundar Raja Perumal Or Vadivazhagiya Nambi temple- Tamil nadu

 Thiru Anbil, is the fourth Divyadesam of Vishnu.( one of the 108 Vishnu desams) The temple was built by the Cholas.

 This temple is situated on the banks of river Kaveri at Kollidam ( Coleroon) and has Ranganathar as the presiding deity known here as Thiru Vadivazhagiya Nambi in a reclining posture   and Soundaraja Perumal as the Utsavar. The idol, as the name mentions is of  exquisite beauty and  His consort is Azhagiya valli Nachiyar. Aandal is in the outside prakaram and Garudalwar is facing the sannidhi of the Lord. This temple  is believed to be  6000 years old and is considered to be the birth place of the poet saint Valmiki.

There are many inscriptions in this temple describing the history of those times.

 How to reach: Well connected. Airport is at Trichy . This temple is at a distance of 20 Kms from the town on the Tiruchi- Kumbakonam route.

The temple is just 5 kms.from the Lalgudi railway station.

Accommodation- Good hotels are available in Trichy .

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMH2kQPPf86TQiNhR1xdfGBjbcK9fK21nQUAL-w

Sarangapani temple - Kumbhakonam , Tamil Nadu

 This is  an important divya desam of Vishnu and is also known as Tiru Kudanthai. This is one of the  Pancha Ranga Khestras ;  Other four are  temple of  Sri Ranganatha; Sri Rangam,  ( near Trichy)  Appakudathan temple, Tirukoviladi- Trichy ,  Parimala Ranganathar at Tiru Indalur ( near Kumbakonam) and Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple at Srirangapatanam in Karnataka. I shall be writing on the remaining temples too.

Sarangapani temple is the biggest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and  it belongs to 13th century. The Moolavar is Sarangan ,and the thayar is Ranganayaki. The temple sanctum is designed like a chariot with wheels and is drawn by horses and elephants.

Lord's consort also known  as Kamala Valli Thayar has a separate sannidhi and there are Lord's paduka's(foot prints) in the outside prakaram where devotees offer worship. Opposite to that, there is a shrine for Patala  Srinivasa Perumal. Here one has to  climb down a few steps to reach the shrine .

The  main temple has a beautiful mandapam in front of the temple. The sanctum has  two entrances. One is known as the Uttarayana dwara and other one the Dakshinayana dwara as is in Tiruvellarai. The dakshinaya dwaram remains open from the Tamil month of Aadi to Marghazi ( mid August to mid January ) and the other door remains open from ( Mid January- mid July) Thai -Aani. This is in accordance with the movement of the Sun's path.

Temple timings are 6 am - 12 noon , 4 pm.8 pm.

How to reach: Kumbakonam is well connected by express trains from Chennai.Tamilnadu has excellent road transport systems and one  can easily get buses to all parts of Tamilnadu from Kumbakonam.The nearest airport is Trichy.
Accommodation: Good hotels suiting to all sections of society are available in Kumbakonam
PHOTOS
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPP2mVh0zOjFrhmqsD_Ih-wdzfaU7n3ViN_EW76