Sukreswar Temple, Guwahati

Name : Sukreswar Temple, Guwahati

Location :

Sukreswar Temple is perched on top of the Itakhuri hills at Guwahati in the state of Assam.

Legend :

Legend has it that, that Sage Sukra had his hermitage on this hillock and he used to worship his Lord Shiva in this temple.

Description :

The Kalika Purana identifies the hillock as Hastigiri hills due to its shape like the hump of an elephant. Constructed by the Ahom ruler Pramatta Singha in 1744 AD, the Sukreswar temple is located on the southern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra. Originally dating back to the 18th century, the temple is believed to have the largest Shiva lingam or phallic emblem in India.

The adjacent embankment is used for holy bathing and performing rituals. It is believed that the dead gain peaces if the post - death rituals are performed here. A flight of steps lead down from the temple complex to the river. Sitting on the steps of Sukreswar ghat one can enjoy the scenery of sun setting on the river, boats moving across the river.

Speciality :

According to the Hindu legends, if one performs death rituals and rites in honour of their relatives at this temple than the dead person would attain moksha or salvation.

Websites :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukreswar_Temple

http://blessingsonthenet.com/indian-temple/article/239/sukreswar-temple

Maragathaleswaraswami Temple - Thiruengoimalai

Name :  Thiruengoimalai Arulmigu Maragathaleswaraswami Temple

Lacation : 

This Temple lies 40 km from Tiruchirappalli and 5 kms from Musiri, Taluk headquarters in Tiruchirappalli District. Thiruengoimalai lies between Musiri and Thottiam.

Legend :

The name of the place is said to be derived from Thiru-i-ongaimalai (‘i’ meaning bee in Tamil) and to have been so called because the sage Agasthiar, finding the gates of the temple closed one evening, took the form of a bee and entered the temple to perform his worship.

Ambal worshipped Shiva here and so the hill is also called Sivasakthi malai.

Description : 

Moolavar : Maragadachaleswarar, (Trinajyotheeswarar), Eengoinathar
Amman / Thayar : Maragadambikai
Thala Virutcham : Tamarind tree
Year : 1000-2000 years old

The hillock is otherwise called Maragathamalai /Thenkailayam /Sivasakthimalai /Malaikovil /
Erattimalai. Name of the Goddess is Maragathambigai / Maragathavalli. God is also named as Aragathasalanathar/ Malaikozhnthar / Achutheeswarar / Birameswarar / Indreekarar / Threethar.

The river cauvery passes nearby the hillock. The river 'Surpanathi' passes adjoining the hillock. The river is otherwise called Kondayurumarai or Kondamarai.

The lingam of the temple is said to be transparent and also to throw a green shadow when camphor is burned. It is therefore called the 'emerald' (marakata) lingam. The god is connected with the deities of kadambarkovil and Ratnagiri. At all three temples special poojas are performed in Kartigai and the Taipusam day. Devaram songs will be sung in temple. At the base of the temple lies Bogar Sidhatemple. 500 vertical steps leads to the temple at the top of the hillock. Poet Nakkeerar has sung a booklet named Engoi-Elupathu ( 70 Engoi songs).

Temple's Speciality :

The rays of Sun fall on the presiding deity for three days during the Masi Shivrathri festival. The Linga changes colour during this time. Only a few Shiva temples are on hills and one such is in Eengoimalai in Tiruchi district.

There are three important sacred shiva temples in this region glorified by the Thevara hymns and Agathiar used to worship all the three in a single day. Agasthiar was not satisfied even after worshipping so many temples in south and finally got satisfaction after worshipping these three temples. He worshipped Kadamba nadhar at Kadambar koil in the morning, Rathnagreeswarar temple at Ayyarmalai (Thiruvatpokki) in the noon, and the Thiruvengi nadhar at Thiru-engoi-malai in the evening. It is considered that worshipping all of them in a single day will get us salvation.

The temple is sung in Devaram also. At the base of the temple lies Bogar Sidha temple. 500 vertical steps lead to the temple at the top of the hillock. Poet Nakkeerar has sung a booklet named Eengoi-Ezhupathu ( 70 Eengoi songs)

Bhogar Gennma Nakshatram is Bharani. So Abhishegam, Aaradhanai, Annadhanam @ 9AM onwards. Contact: Mr. Sundhar, 9095102695 & 9095102696

Festivals :

Brahmmotsavam in Panguni (March-April), Masi Magam in February-March, Thai Poosam in January-February and Pujas on all Full Moon days – Poornimas – are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Websites :

https://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/trichy/

http://www.trichy.com/placesofworship/maragathal.htm

Kathitha Malai Vetri Velayutha Sami, oothukuli

Name : Kathitha malai Vetri Velayutha Swamy Temple

Location :

This temple is situated at oothukuli at a distance of 15 kms from thiruppur on the way to erode.

Description :

The famous place for Butter. Uttukuli is also famous for its temple. Uttukuli name came because Once the famous saint Agastiyar came to this place for meditation but was not able to find water. He prayed to Lord Murugan to help him. Soon Lord Murugan appeared before him and thrust His lance (Vel) in the sand. Soon water spring came from the spot. That place is called "Utrukuli." ( ie., in tamil meaning : water from spring ) Later only it came to be called Uttukuli. This  water source is now above the hill near the temple which offers water at all times.

No one knows when the temple was build here, just they have the history. But only 200 years before some rural kings build the temple and five years before with the help of some donors the temple was rebuild and now it is the important spiritual place in Erode, Coimbatore Districts. Daily more than 200 people visit Uttukuli Murugan Temple and on special occasions like Thaipoosam more than 100,000 devotees come.

Specialities :

1) Mayuragiri siddhar samadhi is here in south east direction of the temple as snake temple.People who are having problems in birth of a child and separated couples worship lord muruga for their wellness. Milk abhisegam with new clothes is offered to lord muruga after fulfillment of wishes.

2) The important thing is that only in Kaithamalai the temple car is in the hill and devotees pull the temple car in the slopes so that no place in the world where a temple car is pulled in the hill.

Websites :

http://astrologicalscience.blogspot.in/2013/07/vetri-velayutha-swamy-temple-mayuragiri.html

Thindal Malai Velayuthaswamy Temple

Name : Thindal Malai Velayuthaswamy Temple

Location :


Thindal Malai is the small hill rock located in the Municipal corporation Erode, Tamilnadu. This Thindal malai hill rock is situated 8 Km away from Erode Bus stand and Railway station towards Perundurai and Coimbatore road.

Description :

Erode is well known city in Tamilnadu for its woven garments and turmeric business. The places around the hill rock is called as Thindal. The places above the this rock is called as Maelthindal or Thindalmedu. The eastern side of the hill rock is called as Keel Thindal. Thindal is the one of the costliest residential area in Erode city. The main deity in the thindal hill rock is Lord Murugan favorite god for tamils.

Lord Murugan is called here as Velayuthaswamy or Kuzhanthai velayuthaswamy or Kumara Velayuthaswamy. After entering into the temple arch near highway, we can see separate shrine for vinayagar. This vinayagar temple is located left side of the footsteps to the hill. Vinayagar is surrounded with Naagar (A snake God) in bottom of the Arasamaram (Peepal tree). This Thindal hill rock consists of 150 footsteps with 60m height. Before entering into the footsteps we can find another Sithi Vinayagar shrine surrounded with two nagars. Few steps away from the entrance we can find separate sannidhi for Idumban.

Above this hill rock Sri Velayuthaswamy shrine is located. Separate sanctum for urchavar  is situated left side of the main deity. In this urchavar sanctum lord Murugan is with Valli and Deivanai. Thannasi siddhar cave is located north west of the main shrine. Only on Karthikai festival special poojas are performed in this Thannasi siddhar cave.

North east side of this hill rock we can find temple water tank. This water is used for abishakam purpose and drinking purposes. Every year there are many festivals are celeberated in this Thindal malai temple. Kandhar Shasti,Thirukkarthigai,Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram are the major festivals celebrated here. Tamil poet Arunagirinathar written a poet about this temple in his Thirupugal.

Thindal Malai Murugan Temple Timings

Morning  – 6am to 12.30Pm
Evening  – 4pm to 8.30Pm

This temple remains open from 6am to 8.30pm on all festival days. Daily annadhanam will be provided 12.30 pm on every day. Erode is best place to get quality accommodation for staying.

Websites :

http://www.anupamablog.com/thindal-malai-murugan-temple-erode/
http://www.thindalmurugan.tnhrce.in/

Subramanya swamy Temple - Sivan Malai

Name : Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy Temple

Location :

Sivanmalai is located in the Tiruppur District, Tamilnadu. It is 5 kms away from Kangeyam town towards Tiruppur. This Sivanmalai is located in 25 Kms away from Tiruppur and 76 Kms away from Coimbatore.

Legend :

One of the well known myths associated with Siva is his conquest of Tripuram – the three celestial cities which the Asuras (demons) had taken over, and wreaked havoc over them. The Devas ( celestial gods) appealed to Siva for help and asked him to save them from the demons. Siva made mount Meru his bow, and Vasuki the serpent his bow-string and prepared to wage war against the Asuras. The very tip of Siva’s bow ( Mount Meru) fell on earth and that became Sivamalai according to legend. It is also known as Sakthimalai because Parvathi the goddess did penance once on this hill.

The sage Agastya came to this mountain and performed penance in order to gain knowledge about the Agamas. He also created a natural spring on this mountain from the waters of the Ganga which he brought in his Kamandalam. It is said this miracle took place on Karthigai Pournami day ( full moon in the month of Karthigai) and thus it is venerated by devotees as a special day.

Hanuman too prayed here after being directed to Sivamalai by the sage Vyasa. He was accorded as much power and strength as Vishnu-Narasimha after his penance in Sivamalai. Hanuman, it is believed, even carried flowers from the banks of the Ganga to worship at Sivamalai. Many miracles are said to have taken place in Sivamalai involving celestial beings like Indra whose kingdom was restored to him after a battle with the Asuras. Cursed by Agasthya, king Nakutan became a snake. Sage Dhurvasa asked him to pray to Sivamalai Murugan who restored his original form.

Murugan is said to have gone to Vallimalai on the advice of Narada and married Valli there and brought her to Sivamalai to make it their beloved abode. Like Parvathi in Kancipuram, Valli also did penance in Sivamalai, which included thirty two sacred duties. Later Murugan went to Tiruthani and brought his consort Devayanai also to reside with him in Sivamalai.

Innumerable Tamil Scholars have immortalized Sivamalai with their songs of praise. Sivamalai is featured in the Tiruppugazh, Sivamalai Puranam, Sivamalai Pillai Tamizh, Sivamalai Mayil Vidu Thoothu, Siva Thangaratha Sadakam and Thanipadal.

Description :

The other names of Sivanmalai are Sivachalam, Sivathri, Shakthi Sivamalai. This town Kangeyam is famous for business coconut products like oil, nutshell charcoal products etc. The main deity of the Sivanmalai is Lord Subramanya Swamy it is the another name of Lord Murugan. The favorite deity of the Tamil people is undoubtedly Murugan, the son of Siva and Parvathi. This temple was build by Sivavakkiyar a famous Sidhhar. It is believed that this temple may be constructed in 12th century.

The presiding deity in the sivanmalai is Lord Murugan,Valli and Deivayanai. This murugan temple located in a hill top which can be reached by 450 footsteps or by 2 Kms hill road. This temple premises is calm and clean, which provides soothing serenity to the mind and body. Sri Arunagirinathar a famous Tamil poet has sung the song about this Sivanmalai in his Tiruppugazh.

God’s order box is placed before entering mulavar sanctum. Devotees coming to the temple needs to check what object is placed in the order box. After checking this devotees needs to enter the main sanctum. Lord Muruga is appearing to the devotees dream and ask them to place one object in the order box. (Those objects may be Water, Cloth, Sand, Soil and Gold) That person will bring that object to the temple. To find out that information true or false, they will place the flower in Mulavar sannadhi. Once it is confirmed, that object will be placed inside the God’s order box until the arrival of next object. Pooja’s will be performed to that object on daily basis. This procedure is followed for several hundred years.

The “Theerthas” (holy waters) of Sivamalai :

Once upon a time the Chola king Muchukunda was afflicted by leprosy. He heard from the sage Gautama that he would be cured if he took a dip in the holy theertha(waters) of Sivamalai. He did so and was miraculously cured, giving credence to the sanctity of Sivamalai. The various theerthas are : Agasthya, Anuma, Indra, Brahmananda, Mangala and Veera theertha.

Beautiful landscapes and seasons have always inspired great Tamil poetry and songs. One of the ancient forms of dramatic poetry is the Kuravanji Natakam. The Sivamalai Kuravanji describes the beauty of this place. It says that it is a mountain covered with medicinal and curative herbs and other fauna. Thus it is not surprising that it attracts important visitors like Nadi and Siddha medicine men (Vaidhiyars). They have found medicinal herbs for conceiving children, and also making the aged young. Many incurable wounds, and scars left by weapons have been cured by these herbal remedies. Some creepers grown here are even used to tame wild animals. There is a special type of grass called “jothi pullu” which lights up in the dark. Remedies are also found for prolonging one’s youthfulness, and fertility.

Sivanmalai Temple Timings and Festivals

This temple is opened for dharshan from morning 6am to 11am and in evening 4pm to 8pm. Kartikai asterism and new moon days in each month are considered to be of significance at Sivanmalai. Skandasashti is celebrated in great splendour as in other Murugan temples. Other festivals here include Thai Poosam, Aadi Kritikai and Pankuni Uthiram.

Website :

http://www.sivanmalaimurugan.tnhrce.in

http://www.anupamablog.com/sivanmalai-murugan-temple/

Umananda Temple, Guwahati

Name :  Umananda Temple

Location :

Umananda Devaloi is a Shiva temple located at the Peacock Island in the middle of river Brahmaputra just opposite the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup or the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati.

Legend :

Siva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. According to the Kalika Purana, in the beginning of the creation Siva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this place and imparted knowledge to Parvati (his consort). It is said that, when Siva was in meditation on this hillock, Kamadeva interrupted his yoga and was therefore burnt to ashes by the fire of Siva’s anger and hence the hillock got the name Bhasmacala.

This mountain is also called Bhasmakuta. The Kalika Purana states that Urvasikunda is situated here and here resides the goddess Urvasi who brings Amrit (nectar) for the enjoyment of Kamakhya and hence the island got the name Urvasi Island.

History :

The temple of Umananda was built in 1694 A.D. by the Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique by the order of King Gadadhar Singh (1681–1696), one of the ablest and strongest rulers of the Ahom dynasty,  who was a devout Shaivaite. The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devastating earthquake of 1897. Later, it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a Siva temple with Vaisnavite slogans.

Description :

The presiding deity of the temple is Umananda (Tatrasti bhagavan sambhu- ruma- nandakarah Prabhu). It is believed that, worship here on the Amavasya day when it falls on Monday brings the highest bliss. The Siva Chaturdasi is the most colourful festival that is held here annually. Many devotees come to the temple on this occasion for the worship of the deity.

The temple has inherited some rock-cut figures, which speak passionately of the masterly skill of the Assamese craftsmen. The sculptures here show that the worshippers there followed all the principal Hindu gods. Representations of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva and Devi (with a scorpion as emblem) in addition to those of Visnu and his ten incarnations (avatar) are found here. The main shrine is reached by a flight of steep steps.

Access :

The Peacock Island is known as smallest inhabited riverine island in the world. Country boats that are available on the bank of Brahmaputra take the visitors to the island.

It can also be accessed from Guwahati and North Guwahati by ferries and steamers. One can hire a ferry from Sukleshwar ghat or Fancy Bazar Ghat. This is expensive but one can get the feel of the river and its surroundings without any interventions. This is most ideal for couples and family trips. However, a much convenient and cheaper transport has been provided by Inland Water Transport, which connects the Peacock island to Guwahati from Uzanbazar Ferry Ghat.

Umananda island is home to few golden langur also. This one of the rarest species of monkeys found in Assam. A visit to Umananda will give you glimpse of this langur too.

Festivals :

Maha Shivaratri is the most celebrated hindu festival celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple and new moon brings bliss to the pilgrims.

Websites :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umananda_Temple