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Monday, April 8, 2013

koothanur saraswathy


We can be proud that people the world over, when they get in search of theism, ancient arts, culture and spiritual knowledge, go now where else than our sacred nation-Bharat. It is because of the blessings of Goddess Saraswathi. Also known as ‘ Kalaimagal ’, the goddess of the total of 64 art forms that our nation is praised as the nation for spiritual knowledge or even,for that matter, any knowledge.

The rivers, Ganges, Yamuna, Indus, Narmadha, Godhavari, Krishna and Kaveri are given prominence when we hear praises of our nation. Kaveri, who spread out from the water container (kamandalam)of stage Agasthya, has brought about many famed places and incidents to the Chola region of Tamilnadu. There are many branches of the river Kaveri which run like blood vessels across the Chola region.

Among these, the very beautiful broad “Harisol” rivulet branches off from the Kaveri at Kumbakonam. There are quite a few holy shrines on the banks of Harisol.Of these, as if to symbolize her flow from the heavens to earth, Harisol flows the north to the south in Koothanur.

Many sages and savants chose the banks of the river in Koothanur to perform their penance in absolute peace. Right near the river, Harinatheswarar temple confers an absolutely peaceful for doing penance. A few feet away,Goddess Durga is found as the village protective deity.which is a rarity A nearby place known as ”Poonthottam” must have been a beautiful park full of lovely flowers in ancient times. People of the past, would have had their bath in river Harisol, and taken flowers from Poonthottam for worship of the Lord.

It is learnt, that this place was known as “Ambalpuri”, about a 1000years ago, even before poet Ottakoothan was born. So history has it it that Goddess Saraswathi did her penance towards Lord Brahma and conferred her blessings on her devotees for ages. Devotees offer their puja with lovely flowers that are known to be acceptable to the Goddess.
In a similar manner, ottakoothan, an ordinary mortal, earnestly sought the blessings of the Goddess Saraswathi and Lord Pillayar (Arul Gnana Vinayakar) to grant him the gift of the ability to compose poems. Bathing in the river Harisol daily and by offering floral tributes to the Goddess, he got his boon fulfilled when the Goddess, came in a very beautiful boat in the river,in the form of a lovely woman and gave him to wish.

Along with Goddess Saraswathi, Goddesses Lakshmi and parvathi too came by in this river and hence we can get the blessings of the basic grace of them all-Adhisakthi. Blessed with the beningn looks of Goddess Kalaimagal, and the betel mouth Blessings of “Then Kani vagadevi”, Ottakoothar became a poet with the ability to compose rhythmic poems.

The populace were enamoured of his ability to compose.His fame reached the ears of King Vikrama Chola,who invited him to his court and witnessed the blessed ability of Ottakoothar.

From the day King Rajaraja Chola (grandson of King Vikrama Chola), gifted this land to Ottakoothar. This Ambalpuri has come to be known as Koothanur.

It is learnt, that this place was known as “Ambalpuri”, about a 1000years ago, even before poet Ottakoothan was born. So history has it that Goddess Saraswathi did her penance towards Lord Brahma and conferred her blessings on her devotees for ages. Devotees offer their puja with lovely flowers that are known to be acceptable to the Goddess.

THE FAME OF KOOTHANUR


Ottakoothar and his grandson Ovathakoothar, established the beautiful temple for Goddess Maha Saraswathi.

Goddess Saraswathi, in a penance performing posture, confers Her blessings on this world as the prime deity, only in this temple. A beautiful three eyed form, with one leg folded in a yogasana pattern, is afeast for the eyes. Another special feature is that there is no veena in Ambal’s hands in the prime deity.

She is a seated on a white lotus,attired in white silk. She symbolizes her inherent Presence in studies, having a palm script in her hands. The other hand has the ‘Chinmudra’, blessing devotees.Another hand has the ‘Akshamala’, signifying penance. The fourth palm has the nectar pot, conferring happiness and spiritual bliss to devotees. With Her benevolent smile and eyes, she has Her third eye giving us the highest form of spiritual knowledge. In short she gives all who worship Her absolute bliss while giving us education, knowledge, intellingence and welfare.

POOJA


On all nine days navrathiri festival, ambal is bedecked specially and special poojas performed. Maha Ganapathi procession place in all directions of town.

On saraswathi Pooja Day and Vijayathasami Day, Maha Saraswathi is taken out in procession on the swan. In particular, devotees perform pooja directly to the beautifully decorated extended feet of the goddess on saraswathi pooja Day.

On each full moon day, special poojas are done for her. For growing children especially, she confers Her benevolence that day to gain in intelligence. Life can be journey of happiness and worships Her on Her Birth star day-Moolam .

Though one can worship Here on all days of the week, Wednesdays are specify chosen for excellence in education and knowledge. Devotees throng the temple on Vijaya Dasami Day with their children and begin their studies with a pooja at the feet of the Goddess others, who are not able to come in Day, choose some other auspicious day to start their children’s education. It is indeed a wonderful sight to see hundreds of children seeking Her blessings by placing their text books, note books, pencils and pens at her feet daily, and gain excellence in education and knowledge, the prime base for improvement in life.

Many schools and college students place their hall tickets at the feet of the goddess to pray for success in their exams. In fact, some students go to the extent of leaving their names, addresses and exam roll numbers written on paper and dropping them in the Hundial of temple. Children wanting to excel in the fields of music, dance and drama, inaugurate and continue to perform here on vijaya thasami Day and other auspicious days on their instruments. The sight of devotees with dump children praying for them scan indeed be soul stirring.

Children wanting to excel in the fields of music, dance and drama, inaugurate and continue to perform here on vijaya thasami Day and other auspicious days on their instruments. The sight of devotees with dump children praying for them scan indeed be soul stirring. Devotees within and abroad, who have had Her munificent blessings, have narrated wonderfully blissful experiences, because people now fully realize that a good education has a special value worldwide.

Her grace extending beyond age,wealth and religion or castle is well known throughout the world. By worshipping Her here at Koothanur, it has been established that children can do well in studies, reaching top ranks, improve in education and knowledge and be gift to their parents.

TEMPLES IN KOOTHANUR


1. Temple for the goddess of learning, Maha Saraswathi
2. Temple for Rama, God Protecting Dharma.
3. Temple for Harinatheswara, to perform penance.
4. Temple for Durga, the benevolent and town protecting goddess.
5. Temple for Draupathi.
6. Temple for Malaysia Sastha,Iyyanar,the family deity of people of this town.
7. The temple of Maha Ganapathi,(known as’Moola Vinayaka’ or, colloquialy ‘Moolai Vinayaga’)who is supposed to be the     root of koothanur.the deity here is the favourite of youth of this own,and they celebrate festivals for him regularly.




srivanjiyam


Vaanchinathar Temple, Tiruvaanchiyam

Location of the templeTiruvaanchiyam
Lord Shiva known asVaanchinathar, Vanchi Lingeswarar
Female deity known asMangalanayagi
PathigamThriunavukarasar, Sambandar and sundarar
How to reachThis temple is located 35 Kms from Kumbakonam. This sthalam is located near Achutamangalam which is located on the Kumbakonam - Natchiarkovil - Nannilam bus route. Srivanjiyam is about 2 kms. from Achutamangalam. Nearest town is Nannilam. It can also be reached from Tiruvarur.

Six Shivasthalams on the banks of river Cauvery are said to be the most sacred and on par with Varanasi (Benares). They are Tiruvenkaadu, Tiruvaiyaru, Chaayaavanam, Mayiladuthurai,Tiruvidaimarudur and Tiruvanchiam. Out of these, Tiruvanchiam is "one-sixteenth" more sacred than Varanasi. Lord Shiva is said to have told Parvati that he loves this place the most. The presiding deity of this sacred temple Vanchinathar is a Swayambu Lingam and the oldest among the 64 in the world.
This is one of the largest temples in Tanjavur district measuring 558 feet in length and 320 feet in breadth, with 3 gopurams (towers), three prakarams and a 5 tier main gopuram. A prominent feature of this temple is that Yama, the God of Death is having s separate shrine for Him and is given preference in the daily worship. There is a separate shrine for Bhairavar also in this temple in the inner prakaram. Bhairavar is in yoga posture, without his usual mount, the dog, is another rare feature of this temple. Next to the shrine of Bhairavar is the shrine for Rahu-kethu, both carved out in one composite sculpture which is another unique feature of this temple. Milk poured over this Rahu-Kethu sculpture turns blue. Performing prayers and worship at this shrine are said to bless devotees with marriage and progeny and cure nervour disorders.
There is no Navagraha shrine in this temple and Saneeswaran (Saturn) is housed in a separate niche.
The inner prakarams houses the images of 63 saivite saints (Nayanmars), a separate shrine for Goddess Mahalakshmi and another shrine for Goddess Mahishasuramardhini, standing beside her simha vahana. Worshipping Her with 108 lotus flowers during Rahu kalam is considered special.
The 3 sacred tanks at Tiruvanchiam temple - Lakshmi Theeratham, Naga Theertham and Chakra Theertham - were created by Lakshmi, Adiseshan and Chakrathazhwar. A holy dip in Lakshmi Theertham is said to reunite a person with his estranged family. A holy dip in Naga Theertham is said to liberate one of all Naga Doshas. It is said that by taking a holy dip in Chakra Theertham, one is absolved of Brahmahatti dosham.
Devotees are cured of illnesses after a bath in the Gupta Ganga, on the northern side of the outer prakaram. According to Puranas, a holy dip in Gupta Ganga is equivalent to one in Varanasi, Rameswaram and the Maha Maham tank in Kumbakonam. Lord Vinayakar on the banks of Gupta Ganga is to be worshipped first before taking the holy dip.
God of Death, Yama (who decides Heaven or Hell for the human beings according to their good and bad deeds) was pretty worried about Himself. He was wary and heavy with all the sins (or so, He thought) of taking away lives and wondered what he could do to atone for this. Well, Brahma allayed Yama's fears and sorrow and asked Him to scan the earth, saying, "Go ahead and see if you can spot a place by the banks of the Cauvery, where you find Sandal Trees growing in abundance; that is the holy place where you should sit for penance. Meditate on Lord Shiva and He will give you the answer."
So, Yama went and found this place called Gandhaaranyam (the fragrant forest) and sat there to do His penance. True, Lord Shiva appeared to Yama and asked Him to build a Temple . Yama built the Temple (Purana has it that Mayan built this.) and also stayed on as the vehicle for the Lord here. Lord Vanchinatha or Vancheeswarar is a Swayambu Lingam, the most ancient of the 64 Swayambhu Siva Lingams in the country. The Lord also told Yama that there will be a Temple for Him also here and that the people who visit the Lord should first offer prayers to Yama. So, we have the Temple or a Sannidhi to the Lord Yama in the first Prakaram. As you enter through the Raja Gopuram, there is the Gupta Ganga Temple Tank on your right and the Temple for the God of Death to your left. A dip in the tank is supposed to be a blessing and clears you of all the sins and a rebirth. The Sthala Vriksham is the Sandalwood tree. And the deities are worshipped with Sandal leaves and not Vilva.
The shrine for Yama is a small one where He is seated facing the South. There is a Moorthy of Kubera, in a standing posture near Him. We worship Him and enter the second prakaram. This has Vinayaka and Bala Muruga. As we enter the inner court we can see among other structures, the Sannidhi for Goddess Sugandha Kundalaambikai. There is the Kodi Maram, Bali Peetha and Nandhikeswara. In the third gopuram entrance, there are the Twin Ganeshas and Adhikara Nandhi. Inside, in the Garbha Graha the Lord Vanchinaatha gives us His darshan. There is a relief sculpture in a pillar in the first prakara; He is called the Vennai (butter) Pillayar and people with stomach ailments smear butter on His bulging stomach. One has to visit the Temple here to experience the spirituality and enjoy the beauty of the Sculptures and architecture. The style of architecture ranges from the Chola to the Nayakkar era. The Sundays of the month of Karthikai are supposed to be very blessed.
This Temple is supposed to be a very important one and the main Moorthy-Lingam is supposed to be a thousand times greater than the Holy Kasi. Here, even a Death in this small place does not have any impact on the routine Poojas conducted in the Temple. (In most other places, if there is a death in the village, the Temple remains closed until the Last Rites are conducted) .