St. Mary's GunadalaMatha Shrine Vijayawada

Name :  St. Mary's  Gunadala Matha Shrine 

Location :

Gundala Matha Shrine, or Mary Matha Shrine, known popularly as St Mary’s Church, is constructed on a hilly region Gunadala in Krishna district near Vijayawada. An iron cross, erected atop the hill, stands as a rare distinction of the shrine.

Shrine History :

Mother Mary is said to have appeared on this hill as on 11th Feb.1858.

Description :

One of the most popular churches and pilgrim places for Christians in Andhra Pradesh, A shrine for the Christians situated in Gunadala, a hilly region of district Krishna at Vijayawada is the Mary Matha Shrine or Gunadala Matha Shrine and its more popular name, St Mary's Church. It has the rare distinction of having an iron cross set up on the hill top. 

It houses a museum having a collection of ancient holy relics and precious gifts of the followers. The shrine is filled on Sundays and other important festivals and occasions. The annual feast for Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated with devotion and gaiety.its a famous pilgrimage place where people take the help of Mother Mary's prayers and lakhs of people come from all over places to worship, every February 9,10&11 more than 5 lakh people come to visit at the hill top.there are only steps way to go up the hill,and on the top there is a huge Jesus crucified statue

Annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes attracts many devotees and is celebrated with much enthusiasm and devotion. After getting their heads tonsured and breaking coconuts at the shrine, the devotees lined up to the grotto on the hillock to light candles.

The other side of extended gunadala hills haves historically important mogalrajapuram caves and a large statue of lord Shiva a top.

Gunadala Matha Festival

Gunadala Matha Festival was successful , more than 10 Lakh devotees attend this festival every year. Of those 10 Lakhs only 60% were Catholics means 4 lakh remaining people are mixed people from different religions ( Hindus, Muslims) and of course Protestants.

Ever year the Festival startes with Holy mass on 9th Feb at 6.30 AM and around 8.30 AM Adoration Started and will end on 11th Feb late night.

Many Religious ( Sisters , Priests, Deacons, Brothers, Seminary & Convent students) , General devotees from Vijayawada and other parts of AP also took part in this Adoration along with Jesus Youth of Vijayawada Diocese.

Contact : +91 9948695979, 0866-2450244

Websites :  http://www.gunadalamathashrine.com/

Chetti Thambiran Temple & Konganar Siddhar Samadhi (Karur - Tamil Nadu)

 

Name : Chetti Thambiran Temple & Konganar Siddhar Samadhi (Karur - Tamil Nadu)

Location :

From Trichy: 73km via Kangeyam. Break journey via Kangeyam via Vellakovil.
From Tiruppur: 40km via Kangeyam. Break journey via Kangeyam.
From Dharapuram: 19km towards Kangeyam. Frequent buses are available.
From Kangeyam: 14km towards Dharapuram. Frequent buses are available.
Nearest Bus Stop: Uthiyur aka Pon Uthiyur

Legend :

When the great Ramayana war happened between Rama and Ravana in Ceylon, Rama’s brother Lakshmanan was attacked by an arrow sent by Ravana which made him almost dead. So to cure him, Jambavan asked Hanuman to get a Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayan range in between the peaks of Rishabam and Kailasa. And Hanuman followed suit. But in the specified location in the hill between the 2 peaks he couldn’t find the herb. So frustrated he felt like breaking the hill into pieces. But he suddenly came up with the idea of lifting the whole hill and taking it to Jambavan and he did it. When he flew across the whole length of India from Himalayas to Ceylon a few pieces of the hill fell in several places along the length. One of it was in Uthiyur, where the sage Konganar Sithar meditated in a small cave at the top of the hill. Once Hanuman reached, Jambavan took the Sanjeevani herb from the hill and gave its juice to the whole battalion and saved everyone's lives.

Description :

It was a pretty small village with a hillock at one side. Not just a hillock, there were atleast 3-4. There was a little temple after a flight of 100 steps from the ground, which is the base temple ‘Uthanda Velayudhasamy Thirukoil’ with a huge water-well as well and the little path with few rocky steps beside the temple lead us to the base of a hillock and the steps ended there as well. There were few more little mandapams in a dilapidated condition.

 

This hill, till date, is considered to have all those medicinal plants including Sanjeevani. Though the program didn’t give any details about the medicinal plants in this it gave a decent coverage about the place on a whole with interviews from several locals. Though the program said that the place is near Kangeyam, I had no clue where in Kangeyam is this place. After searching the net for pretty long time, I found some details about this place. It was spelt Uthiyoor by some other site and atleast I got the info that its midway to Dharapuram from Kangeyam. We started off and were there at Uthiyur shortly.

There were few sculptures here and there, and also some hero-stones. But I couldn’t make out the era it could have been from. Must be Chola period with regards to its location, but which Chola king or which century, I had no clue.

From that point there was no proper path as well. The little temple like structure at the peak of one of the hillocks is destination. There is a little muddy pathway that is rocky at most of the places. Also there are several smaller pathways that lead to the hillock. The route is rocky and the hill is pretty vertical. Many places the muddy pathway will be missing. Filled with several plants that formed a decently thick forest-like area, several among these huge number of plants must be medicinal which would include the Sanjivani as well.

A route will be divided into 2 and there is a little board that shows an arrow to a route that reads “Route to Chetti Thambiran Temple”. A little more trek and will lead to the Chetti Thambiran Temple. This is a small temple formed by the space in between 2 rocks. The sounds heard here were freaky at times, thanks to the several rocks and boulders and heavy winds that blow through them. A little more climb from there will take us to the hill top and there was a little temple of Lord Ganesh.( Uchi Pillayar Temple)

 To reach Kongana sithar cave, we have to climb another hill with boulders atop (as you see in the picture below).

 

  To go there we have to use the other pathway where we were directed to Chetti Thambiran Temple. The other path leads to the peak of the hill to go to the Konganar Caves. Care had to be taken not to go to the edges of the boulders there. A fall from there could definitely prove fatal. Here again there is a little room created by the space between 2 boulders. It was here that Sage Konganar Sithar meditated and lost his physical self. Sithar’s are yogists who are in the high meditative state and lose their physical state and attain divinity.

There is a pathway to enter this cave from the rear as well. It could be entered from the rear side through a small tunnel like opening and crawled down into the cave. Else in a simpler way you could enter it from the huge front opening.

Food: There are a few local messes here. Nearest place for good restaurants and hotel is Kangeyam.

Contact number of Konganar cave Priest : +91 99425 32193

Websites : https://travel.bhushavali.com/2010/05/uthiyur-hills-aka-pon-uthiyur-konganar.html

Malikappurathamma Temple, Sabarimala

Name : Malikappurathamma Temple

Location : Malikappurathamma Devi temple alias Malikapuram Temple is situated on a small hill just 100 meters away from Sabarimala right side of Sabarimala main Temple.

Legends :

1. The Maalikappuram Temple, is dedicated to Malikappurathamma, the Devi who was dedicated to Ayyappa and wished to marry him. One of the stories about Malikappurathamma is related with the Kalari School, Cheerappanchira .The Pandalam Raja admitted Ayyappa in this school to study Martial arts (Kalari) from the Guru, Kalari Panicker. Leela, his daughter fell in love with the Prince. But being a Brahmachari, Ayyappa couldn’t accept her passion. But he gave her a word that, he will marry her certainly, if there is no Kanni Ayyappas at Sabarimala.

2.  It is said that the Malikappurathamma is Madhura Meenakshi, the Kula Paradevatha of Pandalam Royal Family which has conections with Pandya Dynasty.

3.  The legend of Malikapurathamma is closely connected to that of Lord Ayyappa. The incarnation of Lord Ayyappa was for the destruction of “Mahishi”, sister of Mahishasura. The Upanishads declare that it is Dharma that sustains the world. Like how Shiva’s son Ganapathy is worshipped as Vignahartha, Shiva’s son Dharmasastha is the ruler and protector of the world. When the Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – took up human form to establish dharma in the world, there emerged from them a Shakti or force which they named Dattatreya. Simultaneously the consorts of the Trinity – Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati – together took birth as the daughter of sage Galava. The sage named her Leela and in due course gave her in marriage to Dattatreya. The couple fulfilled their grahasthasrama for a long time. Later when Dattatreya tried to convince Leela that the purpose of human birth is ‘Self realisation’ she was not ready to accept the same. She challenged him by saying that she being his Patta-mahishi does not accept it. Dattatreya got angry and cursed her to become a Mahishi (She Buffalo) in asuras family. Leela was also enraged and she too cursed her husband to become a Mahisha .

In course of time Leela was born as Mahishi, the daughter of Karambaasura , she had a grouse against Devas for their role in her cousin Mahisasura’s death. Mahishi undertook severe penance and propitiated Lord Brahma and obtained a boon from him that an incarnation born to Hari and Hara can only kill her. Blessed by the boon Mahishi deposed Indra and oppressed the Devas. They turned to the Trinity for redress. Dattatreya was made to take the form of a Buffalo named Sundara Mahisha. Thus Leela’s curse on Dattatreya took effect. Lord Vishnu asked Sundara Mahisha to lure Mahishi and take her down to earth. When Sundara Mahisha went to Deva Loka to fetch Mahishi, she was so enamoured that she forgot herself and all about the revenge, she blindly left her throne and followed Mahisha to earth. To kill Mahishi, Shri Dharmasastha the son of Shiva (Hara) and Mohini (Hari) took an avatar as Manikantan, the foster son of King Rajasekharan of Pandalam kingdom in Kerala. When the Devas prayed to him for achieving the aim of his avatara, Manikantan blessed them and fought Mahishi. Having been blessed with several boons she gave a tough fight to Manikantan who at last caught hold of her horns and killed her. Mahishi fell dead on the banks of the river Alasa (Azhutha) in Kerala. The Devas praised Shree Dharmasastha as Mahishi was killed by him. Lord Shiva came down to the world to witness the destruction of the evil. The place where the body of Mahishi fell is known as Kallidumkunnu and according to some legends the place where Lord Shiva tethered his bull when he came to witness the destruction of Mahishi is now known as Kalaketti.

As the Lord danced on the fallen body of Mahishi, Leela emerged, redeemed from her curse and prayed that she be taken as his consort. The Lord declined her request since he was a bramhachari for the purpose of Dharma Sasan, but agreed that she being the avatar of Saraswati, Laxmi and Parvathi combined would be worshipped at a special shrine. From then onwards she was known as Malikapurthuamma.

After fulfilling the purpose of his avatar, Lord Manikantan agreed to the wishes of King Rajasekharan of Pandalam and agreed to remain at Holly Sabrimala for the purpose of Dharma sasan in the world. Thus two adjacent temples were made by the King at Sabarimala, one for Shree Dharmasastha and the other for Malikapurthuamma.

Description : 

Maalikapurathamma is the goddess who is worshipped in a subsidiary shrine at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Maalikapurathamma Temple is visited after having darshan of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.Malikappurathamma is also called Manchambika and Mancha mathavu (Mancha matha). The value of Bhakthi is reflected in owns own faith and hope. Malikappurathamma teaches this lesson to every devotee who wishes to go to see Lord Ayyappa. After visiting her shrine the devotee should  get awareness of the ultimate fact “ It’s You” (Tatwamasi) ( self realisation )

The temple complex houses the shrines of the Devi and Kaduthaswamy and also the the shrines of the snake god, Nagaraja and goddess, Nagayakshi. On the way to the temple, there is a temple tank called as Bhasma Kulam where the devotees can take a holy bath in memory of the tapaswini Sabari, who had committed her mortal life by entering the fire. After this incident the hill was named Sabarimala.

Offerings : Of the two coconuts in the "Pin Kettu" of the Irumudi kettu, One is broken at the Pampa River and another coconut is to offer to the Malikapurathamma.The turmeric powder in the Irumudi kettu is also offered to the Malikapurathamma. Here coconuts are offered only after rolling them on the ground. Other main offerings to Goddess Malikapurathu Amma are Saffron powder (Kumkumam podi), Manjal podi (Turmeric powder), Plantain (Kadali Pazham), Jhagri (Sharkara), red silk and Honey. The other main rituals at Maalikappuram temple are Pattudayada, Pottu, Chandu, Kanmashi, Vala and Bhagavati Seva.

Festivals :
Malikappuram Ezhunnelathu (Malikappuram Procession)
Beginning with Makara Vilakku festival, Malikapurathamma leaves her shrine on three successive nights to inspect if the time has come for Ayyappan to fulfill his promise. A procession from the Malikapurathamma temple goes to Sharamkutti, where the first-time pilgrims leave an arrow to announce their presence. Every year, a crestfallen Malikapurathamma returns to continue her eternal wait. The idol of the Devi will be carried on the back of a caparisoned elephant with traditional music including pandy melam. The same procession will return to Malikappuram in a silent manner which symbolizes the grief of Devi who sees thousands of arrows at Saramkuthy.

Websites :
http://www.vaikhari.org/malikappurathamma.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maalikapurathamma

Senjerimalai Manthiragiri Velayuthasamy Murugan Temple

Name : Senjerimalai Manthiragiri Velayuthasamy Murugan Temple

Location :

The temple is located at Senjerimalai in Palladam Taluk which is 45kms. from Coimbatore.

Legend : 

The 'Thenserigiri Sthalapuranam' relates: As Lord Muruga set out with his battalion to subdue the demon Surapadma, Lord Shiva summoned him to the Thenserigiri hills and, initiating him to certain mantras, endowed him with invincible powers to route and destroy the demon and his retinue. Since then Lord Muruga came to be worshipped as Manthragiri and Sri Velayudhaswami. This is the legendary origin of this temple.

Description :

This temple was originally built by Karikala Chola and renovated by veera ballala III dates back to 13th Century. A holy spring called 'Gnanatheertha Sunai' and a sacred tree known as 'Karunochi' can be seen.

Festivals : 
Tamil New year
Shasti
Ayppasi annabishekam
Kirutthigai
Thaipoosam
Car festival

Websites :


http://senjerimalaivelayuthaswamy.hrce.in/index.html

http://www.dinamalar.com/koil/129_MandiragiriSwamy_Chensary.asp

Amaragiri Malekal Tirupathi, Hassan

Name : Malekal Tirupathi aka., Mavinakere Sri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy


Location :

The Sri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy Temple is situated in the Holenarasipura Taluk, of the Hassan District in Karnataka. It is 20 kilometers away from Hassan, and about 165 kilometers from Bangalore. It is well connected by road and rail, hence getting there is easy.

When driving on the Holenarasipura highway, the Sri Lakshmi Venkatarmanaswamy temple is about 1.5 kilometers after Hassan. It offers a pleasant break from the city for those who want to get away from the concrete jungles of Bangalore for a weekend, amidst the lush greenery of the surrounding countryside and the hills.


Legend :

The name Malekal and the installation of Lord Venkataramanaswamy here has got a legendary story. Devaguru Shri Vashishta lived here and went to penance worshiping Lord Venkataramanswamy for over 800 years, who in turn gave his darshan on the day of Ashada Shuddha Dwadashi. To mark this event Maharathothsava is being held every year even now. After getting Tapasiddhi with the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara left the place. As a result there was nobody to perform pooja to Lord Venkataramanaswamy installed by Devaguru Vashishta. As the days passed the ashrama built by him has perished and the statue (Vigraha) of Lord Venkataramana Swamy installed by him submerged in the earth. After lapse of thousands of year the palegar of Chithradurga who were ruling the area 800 years back. They were the devotees of Thirupathi Thimmappa i.e. Venkataramana Swamy. On one occasion Shri Thimmappa Nayaka one of the Palegar of Chithradurga had a dream of getting the darshan of Lord Venkataramana and had a direction of the lord to construct a temple for him and can have his darshan instead of Thirupathi. Thimmappa Nayaka was in fix to know the geneusness of his dream. Then lord Venkateshwara again appeared in his dream and told that he can be found on top of the hill. If the palegar follow the route along with Tulasi (Basil) male which can be found at the bottom of the hill.

Accordingly Thimmappa Nayaka found the Venkateshwara statue (Vigraha) on the top of the hill following The Thulasi male. As such the place has named after male as Malekallu and with a result the Palegaras can have the Darshan of Lord Venkataramana instead of at Thirupathi. Hence that has been named as Malekallu Thirupathi. The temple is on the top of the hill and it has got over 1200 steps.

Description :


Malekallu Malekal Tirupathi hill has 1300 steps and its beleived that lord Rama had visited this place. Its the only place you can see a standing Venkateshwara idol other than famous Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh. Its the only place you can see a standing Venkateshwara idol other than famous Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh.

At the down hill of the temple Lord Govindarajaswamy live. The utsava murthy's (festival deities) of main deity (Lord Vekataramana Swamy) is housed at Govindarajaswamy temple itself. In view of inconvenience on top of the hill for performing Rathothsava and other similar type of Uthsavas.The Govindaraja Swamy temple was built by Palegar Thimmappanayaka as he has found the Govindaraja Swamy statue (Vigraha) while constructing a lake to solve the drought problem.

As such the temple on top of the hill was called as Amaragiri Tirupathi and the temple at the down hill has been called as Govindaraja Pattana (town).

Another important aspect of the place is that while at Thirupathi Lord Venkataramana is installed ALONE on the hill top and the Govindaraja Swamy at the down hill, At Malekallu Lord venkataramana and goddess Padmavathi are installed TOGETHER on top of the hill. Newly wedded couples visit the temple to seek the blessing from Lord Venkatramana and Goddess Padmavathi.  Kalyanotsava is a major performance of ritual happening here witnessed by thousands of devotees. There will be pooja performance in the temple every day from morning 7 AM to night 8 PM.

The temple serves as a family deity for surrounding villages and enjoys the patronage of the locals. The two festivals celebrated with great pomp and splendor is Hanuman Jayanthi and Vaikunta Yekadashi. No one knows when and how this deity was formed though it is rumored to have been consecrated by the great Vasishta. This temple can be visited throughout the year, and an ideal time to go would be during September to March, as the weather will be pleasant.

Festivals :

Ugadi festival, Shriramanavami, Dodda Garudotsava, Asahada Shuddha Dwadasi, Ashada Shuddha Triyodasi and many more festivals are conducted here with great grandeur. The annual Brahmotsavam is held every year and it is celebrated with great pomp and splendour.

Websites :

http://rcmysore-portal.kar.nic.in/temples/malekaltirupathitemple/about.html

Chandi mata Kashmir / Machel mata

Name : Chandi Mata Temple / Machel yatra

Location :

Machel Mata is a Goddess Durga shrine popularly known as Machail Mata being located in the village Machel, from where it derives its name, in Kishtwar District of Jammu region in India. It may be noted that Goddess Durga is also known by the name Kaali or Chandi.

Legend :

The temple history is entwined with the conquests of Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who in 1834 sought blessings of Machelmata, before crossing the mountains and Suru River (Indus), with 5000 men for vanquishing an army of local Botis of Ladakh. He became a faithful devotee after the successful mission.

Description :

Machelmata Sthan as the shrine is popularly known, has a landscape of unblemished beauty with hills, glaciers and tributaries of the Chenab River (Chadrabhaga). Paddar valley, nearby is famous for its world-famous sapphire mines, and is a cool place for hiking, cannoning and holy hot springs. The area is home to bhot community and the Thakur community who are serpent worshipers, and was merged with Kishtwar tehsil, by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. Thousands of people visit the shrine every year mainly from Jammu region.

The Pilgrimage / Machel Yatra :

The pilgrimage happens in the month of August only every year. The shrine was visited in 1981 by Thakur Kulveer Singh of Bhaderwah, Jammu region. From 1987 onwards, Thakur Kulveer SIngh started 'Chandi Yatra' that happens every year and thousands of people visit the shrine every year during 'Chandi Yatra', which starts from Chinote in Bhaderwah to Machail in Paddar. There are lot of supernatural happenings that the pilgrims experience and report.


To reach the shrine, lot of travel agents arrange buses from Jammu, Udhampur, Ramnagar, Bhaderwah. One can also hire a cab as well. It takes approximately 10 hours by road from Jammu to Gulabgarh, as the distance is 290 km.

The Gulabgarh is the base camp.
From Gulabgarh, the foot journey starts, that is 32 km.
People take 2 days to reach the shrine by foot.
On the way there are many villages, where one can stay in the night.
The chaddi takes three days to reach Machel.
Many people organizes roadside 'langers' (free food points) on the way to the Gulabgarh.
Devotees are welcomed at various villages with them offering free Langars at Gulabgarh, Massu, Kundhail, Chishoti, Hamori and Machail.
Government of Jammu & Kashmir also arranges basic amenities for the pilgrims. The shrine is inaccessible during the winter months of December, January and February.
Other mean of reaching the shrine is by helicopter from Jammu and Gulabgarh.

The helipad is only 100 meters from the shrine. But if someone goes by helicopter, he will be missing many scenic beauties of the nature. Helicopter takes at least 7-8min to reach the Mata's darwar.

Websites :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machel_Mata

Arittapatti Caves - rockcut Shiva Temple

Name :  Arittapatti Rockcut Shiva Temple

Location : 

Arittapatti is a small village located in Melur taluk of Madurai district. It is 25Kms from Madurai Town.

Description :
 
The hillock which looks like a pack of rocks is steeped in 2300 years old history. On one side of the hill are natural Jain caves called Pandava Padukkai and on the other side, a rock -cut Siva temple. Pandava Padukkai has got nothing to do with the Pandavas of Mahabharatham. Yet people assume the stone beds might have been used by Pandavas during their exile. These are actually the beds used by Jain saints.

The Siva temple is a fine example of the early Pandya rock-cut temple architecture. This simple but beautiful edifice, which belongs to the 7^th-8^th century CE, has a garbhagriha and a front mandapa. Now the local people call this temple as Idaichchi mandapam.  The Siva linga of this temple has been chiseled in the centre of the same rock. The bas-relief sculptures of the Vinayaka and Siva as Lagulisa adorn the two niches of the exterior wall of the front Mandapa. This is one among the rare Lagulisa sculptures found in Tamil Nadu. 

Websites :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNV3q59COr8

http://www.tnarch.gov.in/cons/temple/temple33.htm 

Sivagiri Balasubramania Swamy Temple

Name : Balasubramania Swamy Temple

Location :


Siva giri is 108 km from Madurai on the Kuttralam route. The temple is 1 km from the bus stop. Auto facility is available.

Moolavar :  Balasubramaniar
Urchavar  :  Muthukumarar
Theertham : Saravana Poigai

Legends :

Lord Muruga, after destroying demon Soorapanma, was returning to Tiruparankundram to wed Mother Deivanai.  Sage Agasthya was performing penance in the place seeking the darshan of Muruga.  Lord, on His way granted darshan to the sage and stayed in this place as wished by the sage.  The temple was built later.  As the Lord appears here as a little child – Bala – He is praised as Balasubramania.


The Pada Mandapam of the temple is at the place where Lord granted Darshan to Sage Agasthya. The Shivalinga is nearby.

Description :

There are shrines for Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Mahavishnu, Mother Chandikeswari, Bhairava, Navagrahas the nine planets, Sani Bhagwan, Mother Ashtabuja Durga and Idumban.  There is also a separate shrine for Lingodhbava in the ghoshta wall with Brahmma and Chandikeswara nearby opposite to each other.  There is a shrine for Mother Kali in the middle of the hill.  The first puja is offered to Her at morning and evening Sayaraksha.  Special pujas are dedicated to Her on full moon days.  Lord Muruga in the temple is praised as Navagraha Muruga.  Vinayaka is known as Anugnai Vinayaka.


Those facing adverse planetary aspects, to children in particulars and those suffering from paralysis pray here for relief.

Speciality of the Temple :


1. Lord Muruga grants darshan with his turf mated up as a crown. 

2. A metal piece – thagadu – is placed at His feet with zodiac symbols as He assures relief to the devotees from planetary problems.  This is a rare form of Lord Muruga, The NavaGraha Muruga.  Those facing problems, pray to the Lord on the day attributed to the particular planet.  Pujas are performed in the temple as per Tiruchendur procedures. 

3. Skanda Sashti in Murugan temples are celebrated for 6 days or 7 days with the wedding festivals.  Here the festival is celebrated for 11 days.  Soorasamharam-killing demon Soora-is celebrated on the 6th day, Muruga on the horse vahan,  The wedding festivals takes place the next day.  The coronation festival to the Lord is celebrated on the 11th day placing the Lord on the throne with gold crown and the Sengole the stick representing the royal authority.  He comes then in procession in His royal robe known as Pattina Pravesam – entering the city.  This is a famous festival of the temple. 

4. Among the Saivite saints, Tirugnanasambandar was graced with the wisdom milk fed by Mother Parvathi.  He is considered as the incarnation of Lord Muruga.  This festival is celebrated in the temple on the 6th day of Panguni Brahmmotsavam when the Lord is fed with milk remembering this event.  During this festival, Lord Muruga appears with red in the morning puja (Sivappu Sathi) with Lord Shiva attribute, in white in the midday with Brahmma attribute (Vellai Sathi), in green dress as Vishnu (Pachai Sathi) on the third puja in the next morning.  He goes for the river bath (theerthavari) on Panguni Uthiram day.

5. Somaskanda:  The shrine is situated in an environment of scenic beauty surrounded by hills and water resources.  The temple is on Sakthi Malai, Sakthi-Mother.  Shiva hill is on the left.  The temple is in Somaskanda – Lord Muruga with Shiva and Shakti on both sides. On the right of Muruga shrine is Lord Sundareswarar and Mother Meenakshi on the left.  Procession deity here is Shanmugar used in Panguni Brahmmotsavam.  The procession darshan is available to the devotees only for three days during the festivals. Darshan during other days can be had only within the temple.

Festivals :

Panguni Brahammotsavam in March-April, Aipasi Skanda Sashti in October-November, Vaikasi Visakam in May-June and Masi Magam in February-March are the festivals observed in the temple.

Websites :

http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=190