PARVATI HILL - PUNE

Location : Pune

Steps : Parvati hill is the daily visiting place for a number of citizens and for many people, going to Parvati (103 steps) forms a part of their daily exercise regimen. A special black quarry stone has been used for all these steps. It is weather-resistant and except for a few places, the stone has survived for over two hundred and fifty years even after being fully exposed to sun, wind and water. The steps are so wide that an elephant can easily walk with all pomp and gaiety towards the temple. They are not too steep and even old people can climb with ease.

Altitude : 2100 feet above sea level and 260 feet from the city level.

Description : The temples on Parvati hill are the oldest heritagestructures in Pune and reminiscent of the Peshwa dynasty.

There is one Devdeveshwar temple on the hill and other temples of Lord Kartikeya (Murugan), Vishnu and Vitthal. Every temple has a place in the history of the Maratha empire.

Located on this hill is an interesting museum that commemorates the Peshwa rule. It is from this museum that we come to know that the Parvati Hill and Temple of Pune bore an idol which was carved out of gold by a craftsman from Karnataka; but it was stolen and replaced by a golden plated silver idol.

Timings : Parvati gates open at 5.00 am and close at 8.00 pm.

Website : More information on http://www.parvatidarshan.in

PHNOM BAYON

Description : The remainders of a temple dating from the 7th century in Kirivong district in Takeo province at the beginning of the Mekong delta (near the Vietnamese town of Chau Doc) is certainly worth a visit to admire its design and ancient wall carvings. It was built on top of the 314 metres high Bayang mountain by king Pavavarman and it is 12 metres high. In front of the sanctuary there used to be a 2 metres high statue of Shiva. Eight small towers surrounded the sanctuary and at the end of the 11th century, a library was added.

Constructed with laterite, bricks and other stones, it is heavily damaged and pieces of the temple lay shattered over the ground. The roof has collapsed and the laterite rampart has been wrecked. It is a large brick temple with laterite outbuildings. Inside the tower is a second brick shrine and lots of bats overhead.

The Hindu statues were removed in times when Buddhism had taken roots in Cambodia. The temple is now inhabited by a Buddhist hermit and some old nuns who take care of the maintenance of the temple and surrounding gardens.

Legend: According to Cambodian legends, king Preah Bat Bayang Kaur lived on this mountain with his wife Neang Sak Kra'op, which means lady with the beautiful perfumed hair. When the king of Siam heard of the beauty of Neang Sak Kra'op, he borded a ship and sailed to the foot of the mountain. He invited the queen on board and entertained her with music and games. The ship sailed away and was far from the shore before any of the guests noticed.

Legend has that the king's son, prince Dey Khley went to search for his mother. During his search he met a very beautiful woman which he married. Little did he know that he had married his mother, but when he came home with his wife, the king recognised his former wife. The king sentenced his sons to build 12 ponds and decreed that his son could only be reincarnated when the ponds turned dry.

The prince is up to this day still waiting for reincarnation at the other side of life, as there is still water in the ponds.

Other attractions : In addition to the Bayang temple, there are four other temples on the Bayang mountain: the Preah Kor temple (in a ruinous state and almost consumed by vegetation), the North Kanang temple, the East Kanang temple and the Kampoul Kanang temple. All four temples were built for worship of Lord Brahman and contain a Silva lingam.

PHNOM BANAN

Location : 25km from Battambang.

Phnom Banan is a 400m high limestone hill. As you approach you will see the distinctive five towers of Temple pointing skyward, like a smaller version of Angkor Wat. At the base of the mountain you are faced with a steep laterite staircase flanked by nagas. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting. Phnom Banan is an 11th century temple begun by King Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066)(son of Suryavarman I), and completed by King Jarvarman VII (1181-1219).

Several delightfully carved lintels remain above some of the towers doorways, others are now housed in the Battambang Museum.From the mountaintop are superb views across the surrounding countryside, with small villages dotting the endless rice paddies which are punctuated with the characteristic sugar palm trees. To the south you will see Crocodile Mountain, and to the north west Phnom Sampeau. Towards the base of the mountain is a cave called L’Ang But Meas, it is quite a scramble down the mountainside to reach it, but worth it. After squeezing through an easy to miss fissure in a small rocky outcrop and after a couple of short squatted crawls the cave opens into two magical large airy caverns, with a shaft of light penetrating from above. Here you will see a large stalactite hanging from the ceiling with sacred sparkling water dripped from it into a bowl below. Local legend says that drinking this water leads to knowledge of the past, present, and future. The short walk around the base of the mountain back to the car park passes through a peaceful stretch of countryside where you can listen to the birds, skirt a small pond, and pass a very old traditional pagoda.

Trekking Attractions : Thai cave, Buddha cave, Scorpion cave

Website : http://www.taxivantha.com/1_Cambodia/1507.htm

Phnom Sampeau - Cambodia

Name : Phnom Sampeau, Phnom Sampeou means 'Ship mountain' because its peculiar shape reminds of a ship.

Location : 15km away from Battambang, Cambodia

Legend : Phnom Sampeau is well-known to all Cambodians because of the legend of Rumsay Sok - local legend says that the outcrop is the broken hull of a ship, sunk by a crocodile whose love for Rumsay Sok was unrequited; when she and a prince, her fiancé, took to the sea, they were attacked by the crocodile and drowned. To punish the crocodile the local villages drained the sea until the crocodile died, its body being represented by the nearby Crocodile Mountain.

No of Steps : 700+

Temple : The temple on the hill top is a Beautiful Pagaoda named "Wat Phnom Sampeau"



It has a lot of paintings depicting the legend as the one below.


During the Khmer Rouge era, some of the pagoda buildings were used as a prison and interrogation centre – victims were then pushed through a hole in the roof of a cave to fall to their deaths. A narrow rocky path behind the pagoda leads to the bottom of this cave where the remains have been placed in a shrine.

Trekking attractions : Diamond cave, Killing cave and other numerous caves. U can see the details of cave and pics on http://ee.usyd.edu.au/suss/Bulls/46(2)/herriescambodia.html

Website & photos : http://jinja.apsara.org/travels/2005_03_battambang/phnom_sampow.htm

CHENNIMALAI

Name : This hill is also called Sigaragiri, Pushpagiri and Siragiri.

Location : This temple is located in the city of Chennimalai of Perundurai, Erode District. Chennimalai is 26 kilometres from Erode and 13 kilometres from Perunthurai. The nearest railway station is Ingoor and can be reached by road from Perundurai also. The Devasthanam has provided special buses to reach the hilltop.

Hill : This temple is situated at about 600 meters above sea level and this hill is noted for its natural flora and fauna. This hill also has rare medicinal herbs in its lush green forests.

Deity : The moolavar here is popularly known as Siragiri Dandayudhapani. This deity as per Sthala Puranam gave Dharsan to Saravana Munivar as single faced Murugan after appearing as the six faced Arumugam in the first instance. The utsava murti is Muttukumara Subramaniyar with his two consorts Valli and Teyvannai. Murugan is highly praised and sung with reference to this abode in Kundruthoradal. Chennimalai is one of them and abounds in natural beauty and splendor.

Special Features : The most famous temple of Lord Muruga in Coimbatore District is Chennimalai. This world famous temple of Lord Muruga is where Lord Arunagirinathar was blessed with "Padikasu", wealth of coins. This is where an unusual phenomenon, rather a miracle took place in the year 1984 on 12th February. A bullock cart with two bulls climbed the 1320 steps on their own on this eventful day. Saravana Munivar wrote the most popular Chennimalai Sthalapuranam before 700 years. Milk and curds are used as special offerings to Lord Muruga in Chennimalai and it is the general belief that curds do not become sour here.

Temple : The temple of Chennimalai is situated on the banks of Noyal also called Kanchima Nadhi. The Sanctum Sanctorum faces the east. Just in front of the temple we find the Puliyadi Vinayagar. Inside the temple to the right of Moolavar we find the Srines of Markandeswarar and to the left Umayavalli. On the left side we find the Srines of Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi.

If we take the steps found just behind the Moolavar Sannidhi, we reach the Valli Teyvannai Temple. The two consorts enshrined in a separate temple are a very unique phenomenon. On the top of the hill we find the Pinnakau Siddhar cave with the front yard filled with Vel of different sizes and shapes. This Siddhar is one of the popular 18 Siddhar known to the world for their Siddha yoga. Near this cave we find the Saravana Mamunivar's Tomb. There is also another very ancient cave near this temple.

Speciality of this temple : The main deity Murugan is equated to the Sevvai graham or planet Mars and all the rest of the eight planets encircle the Lord in perfect harmony. If one circumambulates the main deity he is believed to get the benefit of circumambulating the navagrahas and worshipping them.

Kanda Shasti Kavacham offering : Another most important feature here is that the popular daily prayer of Murugan Devotees, Kanda Shasti Kavacham was first offered to the world in this temple by Balan Devaraya Swamigal. From that day onwards till today many devotees keep chanting this prayer every day.

Sirasuppu Utharavu Kettal : Asking for the Lord's permission before taking up any task like building a new house or getting their children married or any other issue is customary in this temple. Devotees offer an Archnai and perform Sirasappu offering. If the reply is positive they whole-heartedly perform that action or event. Traditionally if the answer is negative the Devotees do not venture further.

The holy water for Abishekam is being brought everyday by the temple bulls, which are being maintained by the Devasthanam. This procedure is also a very unique one not found in other temples.

Sthala Theertham :
1. Mamanga Theertham - This spring is on the southwestern slope of Chennimalai just opposite the Vinayagar Srine.
2. Kandu Kanach Sunai - This spring can be seen only by yogis and saints (reference Verse 27 Siragiri Manmiyam)
3. Subramanya Theertham - This is found on the northern side of foothill. This is also called Saravanapoigai, Kumara Theertham. Saravana Munivar established this city on banks of this spring (Alayam Kanda Manmiyam verse 11).

Sthala Vriksham : Tamarind tree and is found in front of the temple where there is a Shrine for Puliamarathadi Vinayagar.

Website : http://murugan.org/temples/chennimalai.htm

Odhi malai Sri Kumara Subramaniar Temple

Name : The Odhimalai Sri Kumara Subramanyar temple

Location :

The Sri Kumara Subramanyar temple is situated at Odhi malai (hill) near Sirumugai, Mettupaalayam, Kovai.
Bus: Mini Bus from Puliam Patti & Bus from Mettupalayam to Puliam Patti Town Buses and Private bus. Bus stop Name is “Irumbarai”. There are buses from Kovai, Mettupalayam, Tiruppur and Avinasi to Annur. Kovai to Annur is around 35kms. Odhimali is situated around 16kms from Annur.

Legend :

1. Why the hill is known as "Odhi Malai" ?
There is a belief that Lord Muruga revealed, recited (odhinaar) the meaning of the Pranavam "OM" to his father Lord Siva on this hill & hence the name "Odhi Malai". Among the arupadai veedus of Muruga, Swamimalai is said to be the sthalam where Lord Muruga revealed the meaning of Pranavam to his father. But, there are locations near Odhimalai, which makes the locals believe this story.

2. Once Lord Brahma, the God of Creation walked past Lord Muruga without greeting him. The angered Muruga wanted to teach Brahma a lesson & asked him to tell him the secret of Creation & when Brahma answered that the Pranavam "OM" was the basis for all creation, Muruga asked him to explain the meaning of "OM". The angry Muruga gave a knock on Brahma's head & put him in a prison at Irumbarai. Irumbarai is about 3kms from Odhimalai. (Irumbu + arai means an iron room). Lord Siva pacified Muruga & released Brahma from the prison. There is a temple for Lord Siva at Irumbarai, where He gives darshan as Kailasanathar.

The reason for the 5 faces & 8 arms :
Originally Lord Muruga at Odhimalai is said to have had 6 faces & 12 arms. Bhogar, one of the 18 siddhars was performing yagna at a location about 1 km from Odhimalai. Lord Muruga gave darshan to Bhogar after he had completed three yagas. Bhogar wanted to reach Pazhani but was not sure of the way. Muruga took a form with one face & four arms and led Bhogar towards Pazhani. He stopped at a place about 4kms from Odhimalai & gave further directions to Bhogar to reach Pazhani and vanished from the scene. This location is Kumaarapaalayam. The Murugar idol in this temple at Kumarapalayam is seen with 1 face & 4 arms. And the Lord resides at Odhimalai with the remaining 5 faces & eight arms.
 

Description :

Lord Muruga is said to reside on hills and it is believed that this hill is the highest of all Murugan Temples. The Lord gives darshan with 5 faces and eight arms. The five faces indicate that he is identical with Siva. The Lord of this temple is hence also known as Sivakumaran and Kumarasivam.

There are around 1,880 steps to reach the temple situated on the hill. Vehicles cannot go up to the temple. Along the way is a sannadhi for Lord Ganesha. There are also separate sannadhis for Naagar, Idumban, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Rajarajeswari, Sapthamathas. Lord Muruga gives darshan in standing posture with 5 faces & 8 arms facing east. Since Muruga of this temple is a young lad before the Soorasamharam, the vahanam behind the idol is considered to be Indran in the form of the peacock. (After the Soorasamharam, Lord Muruga transformed a portion of Suran into his vahanam, the peacock and another portion into the cock on his flag.) He has one foot forward, as if he is ready to rush to assist his devotees. The right lower arm is in abhaya mudra & the left lower arm is in varada mudra. In his right upper arms he holds the sword, arrow and vajram. In this left upper arms he holds the shield, bow and paasam.

For every 300 steps there is a resting mandapam till 850steps. After that there is no resting place till the temple. There is another hill by the name Odhi malai near Sholingar. The Odhimalai mentioned by Arunagirinathar in his Thirupugazh is the hill - Gnanamalai near Sholingar.

The temple is open for darshan only on Mondays, Fridays, full moon & new moon days, Krithigai and on other special pooja days.

Websites : http://www.indian-heritage.org/temple/odhimlai.html