Periyanayaki sametha Tiru Valeeswarar temple, Koliyanur
- The temple is associated with the legend of Goddess Ambica and her divine act to protect the Devas from the demon Mahishasura.
- Demon Mahishasura had a boon that he could not be killed by a woman born from a mother. With this strength, he tormented the Devas.
- In response to the Devas’ plea for protection, Lord Shiva instructed Goddess Ambica to take action. She created seven divine beings known as the Saptha Kannikas, who were Brahmmi, Maaheswari, Koumari, Vaishnavi, Vaarahi, Indrani, and Chamundi.
- These divine beings, with the assistance of Lord Shiva, defeated and destroyed the demon Mahishasura. However, they sought relief from the dosha (sin) incurred by killing the demon.
- Lord Shiva instructed them to worship Him on Earth and granted them relief, making them security deities for Shakti (Goddess Ambica) in Shiva temples.
- The Saptha Kannikas, based on Lord Dakshinamurthi’s guidance, act as security deities in this temple, which is a unique feature.
- Lord Dakshinamurthy is venerated in the temple as Kanni Guru and the presence of Saptha Kannikas near Dhakshinamurthy, is a special aspect of this shrine.
- Vali of the Ramayana, was a great Shiva bhakta and had the habit of worshipping 1000 Shiva temples, in a day. Ravana, jealous of Vali’s Shiva bhakthi, tried to hold him back from worshipping in any Shiva temple. However, he overpowered Ravana and hung him on top of his child’s cradle to entertain his child. Then Mandodhari begged Vali for mercy and saved Ravana.
- However, to prevent any harm to his descendants by Ravana, Vali installed a Sani Bhagwan idol here, facing South, with his Gnana Shakthi. This Sani bhagwan is said to be powerful and called Koormaanga Sanishwarar.
Adhishtanam of Viswadhikendra Atma Bodhendra Swamigal (58th Peethadhipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham), Vadavambalam
- Sri Atma Bodhendra Saraswati, the 58th Acharya of Sri Kanchi kamakoti Peetam, was a native of Vruddhachalam, Tamilandu and born in the year 1586.
- His pre-sanyasa name was Visvesvara.
- He toured extensively and stayed at Benares for a long time and wrote a Bhashya on the Sri Rudram.
- It was Atma Bodha who directed Sadasiva Brahmendra to write the Gururatna Malika.
- Atma Bodhendra was the Guru of Bhagavan Nama Bhodhendra who instructed Bodhendral to spread Bhagavan Namam.
- Sri Atma Bodhendra Saraswathi Swamiji attained mukti on the banks of the river South Pinakini, known in Tamil as Then Pennai on Krishna Ashtami in the month of Tula of the cyclic year Eswara (1638 AD).
- In the year 1926 while on padayatra Mahaperiyava was crossing Vizhupuram. Periyava got a divine call and suddenly entered a Village called “Vadavambalam” along with his sishyas. Mahaperiyava then enquired the elderly people in that village whether they know about any Sannyasi who lived in that village. Unfortunately, no one was aware of any such sannyasi. However one old person in the crowd came forward and told Periyava that he heard that some few hundred years back there lived a Sannyasi who later attained samadhi in that Village but unfortunately there is no trace available currently about the exact place where the Sannyasi attained Samadhi. Paramachrya realized that is the place, where the 58th Pontiff of Kanchi Kama Koti Peetham Sri Atma Bodhendra Saraswati who was the Guru of Bodhendra Saraswati Swamigal of Govindapuram, must have attained samadhi. He then wandered the entire village and while crossing a plantain field he sensed something different and told one of his sishyas who accompanied him to dig one particular spot.
One Kumaramangalam Sambamoorthy Shastrigal was supervising the activity. When the digging was in progress suddenly there was a huge crying voice from Sambamoorthy Shastrigal “Don’t Dig…. Don’t Dig” and fell unconscious on the field. The sishya who was was digging was shocked and stopped digging. He then gave water to Shastrigal who woke up to reality after a long gap. Shastrigal then told the following which is breathtaking. “I saw one Sannyasi in front of me. He was standing from earth to sky wearing rudraksha, having kamandal in his hands, wearing saffron dress, with vibhuthi in his forehead and about thousands of vedic Brahmanas were chanting vedas, then that Sannyasi uttered “Don’t dig, Don’t Dig” and then that big figure reduced to a small size and vanished. Later I heard somebody chanting “Sadasivam! Sadasivam!”. Then I don’t know what happened to me”. Hearing the above Mahaperiyava confirmed his guess that is the place where Sri Atma Bodhendra Saraswati would have attained Samadhi. Later in the year 1927 on January 17th Periyava consecrated a Shivalinga on the Spot and constructed a Brindavana to Atma Bodhendral.
Tripurasundari sametha Pasupatheeswarar temple and House of birth of Tirunavukkarasar, Tiruvaamoor.
The Pasupatheeswarar Temple is believed to be around 2000 years old, and it holds historical and religious significance.- The temple was renovated during the reign of Kulothunga Chola III, indicating its continued importance and patronage over the centuries.
- It is located on the northern banks of the Kedilam River. Tiruvamur is also known as the Avathara Sthalam (birthplace) of Tirunavukkarasar, who is also known as Appar.
- There is no separate thevara pathigam on this Lord but Tirunavukkarasar’s “Pasupathi Tiru Virutham” hymn was sung on this Lord only.
- There are shrines for Mahalakshmi and Lakshmi Narayanar apart from others.
- The heritage house of Tirunavukkarasar is a few hundred metres away from the main Shiva temple and is now maintained as Tirunavukkarasar Matam or Koil.
- The temple complex also includes shrines for Tirunavukkarasar’s sister Thilakavathy, his father Pugazhanar, and his mother Mathiniyar.
- The descendants of Appar’s family live in nearby areas. They celebrate Appar’s birthday on Rohini star of Panguni (Mar-Apl) and Samadhi day (Gurupooja) on the Sadayam star of Chithirai (Apl-May).
- His elder sister Thilakavathiar was betrothed to one Kalipagayar. However, before the marriage took place, he was killed in one of the battles fought on behalf of the local king.
- After Thilagavathi’s marriage got cancelled, the locals stopped the practice of having any engagement ceremony much in advance. They have the Nischayathartham (engagement ceremony) only on the marriage day or the previous day.
- There is a rare tree called Kalari Vaagai (Tooth brush tree) in the temple, which is a combination of a plant, creeper and tree.
Periyanayaki sametha Aapathsahayeswarar temple, Senthamangalam.
- Sendhamangalam is important in Tamil history and heritage. During the final years of Kulothunga Chola III’sreign, Maravarman Sundara Pandyan defeated his son Raja Raja Chola III in 1231 CE, in what was effectively the last battle fought by the Cholas, here in Sendamangalam.
- Kopperunjinga, the Kadava king (and one of the later Pallavas) was related to the Cholas by marriage and an officer in the Chola administration. But taking advantage of the political turmoil, he consolidated his personal position by converting Sendamangalam into a military stronghold and garrison, where he imprisoned Raja Raja Chola III and his ministers.
- He later made Sendamangalam his capital also (previously, it was ruled by his father Ezhisai Mohana Manavala Perumal, till the early 13thcentury). In later periods, this place was ruled by the Vijayanagara dynasty and also the Nayaks.
- According to historical records, this place was called Jananatha Chaturvedi Mangalam, in addition to Sendamangalam. The suffix Chaturvedi Mangalam indicates that this place was occupied by brahmanas, ie, the ones who were well-versed in the four Vedas.
- The temple has a Mahabharatam connection. According to the sthala puranam here, the Pandavas worshipped Siva here during their period of exile.
- This massive temple is currently managed by the ASI, who have been engaged in a slow process of reconstructing the previously damaged and dilapidated temple. Even today, one can see several vigrahams, pillars and construction stones from the original temple, lying around here.
- Some truly unique sculptural aspects include Dakshinamurti seated on a rishabham (whose shrine has been constructed as an integral part of the main temple) and Murugan having six faces (which is normal) but also only six arms, and not the usual 12.
- Across the temple, by the temple tank, is an abandoned stone horse which resounds with different musical notes when struck on different parts.