thirumeeyachoor the place where the Lalitha Sahasranamam was originally sung.

moolavar:    meganatha swamy,mihara aruneshwar,muyarchinathar,

uthsavar:     panchmurthy,lalithambiga 

 amman thayar  :soundharya nayaki   

 thala virutcham : :mantharai,vilvam  

 theertham   :surya pushkarani    

 history   :  2000 years old    

  name   : tirumeeyachur   

 district   :tiruvarur    state   : tamilnadu

The glory of Lord of the temple is praised by Saint Gnanasamabandar in his Thevaram hymns.  This is the 56th Shiva temple on the southern banks of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

Rathasapthami is grandly celebrated in the temple in January-February. All Shiva and Devi related festivals are also observed

Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the temple. Mother Lalithambika is seated on the Sri Chakra Raja Simhasana-throne with Her merciful Abhaya Hasatha Mudra-assuring all protection to devotees- with Her folded right leg placed on the left as an Empress. Mother Lalithambika is all powerful. They rays of Sun fall on the Lord from Chithirai 21 to 27 – April-May. Special Surya puja is performed during these days.

The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Devotees perform special pujas and Homas dedicated to Lord Meganathaswami on their birth star days for longevity.  60th and 80th birth days are celebrated in Lord’s shrine.  Women awaiting marriage pray to Lord Kalyana Sundarar with garlands for early happy results.  Those suffering from diseases offer Pirandai rice on lotus leaf as nivedhana and eat it as Lord’s Prasad for relief.

Lord Meganathaswami is a swayambulinga.  Those chanting Lalitha Sahasranama and Lalitha Navarathna Mala sitting in the Mother’s shrine are bestowed with all grace and prosperity in life.  This is the birth place of Garuda, Aruna the charioteer of Sun, Vali, Sugriva, Yama and Saneeswara.  Hence, people perform Ayush Homa and Mrutyunjaya Homa in this temple for longevity.  They also offer Pirandai Rice nivedhana placed on a lotus leaf to Lord and eat it for cure from diseases.
Sun worshipped in the temple for relief from a curse and got back His glittering power.  Mother Kali had worshipped Lord and Mother here.
Sage Kashyapa had two wives Vinatha and Karthru.  They prayed to Lord Shiva seeking child boon.  Lord gave them an egg each and asked them to keep it safe for a year.  Garuda was born from the egg of Vinatha.  Later Garuda became the Vahan of Lord Vishnu.  As nothing came out from her egg, Karthru hurriedly broke it only to find a disfigured child.  She sought the pardon of Lord Shiva for her hasty action.  Lord Shiva not only pardoned her and blessed the child to become the charioteer of Sun bearing the name Aruna and the Sun rise would be called Arunodhaya.  Aruna became a Shiva devotee and performed severe penance for His darshan.  Sun mocked at Aruna that one with physical defects cannot reach Kailash for Darshan.  Aruna did not give in his efforts and succeeded finally.  Lord Shiva granting darshan to Aruna, cursed Sun too to lose his shining.  Shocked Sun placed Lord Parameswara and Mother Parvathi on an elephant, worshipped them and got back his shining power.  That Lord Shiva is Lord Meganatha in this temple under the Gajabrushta Vimana designed as the back part of an elephant.  There are three Kalasas on the Vimana.  The name of the place Meeyachur has the story of Sun recovering his shining power. 
Presiding deity Meganatha Swami is facing east.  Mother Lalithambika, also praised as Soundarya Nayaki is seated on the Sri Chakra throne majestically as an empress.
As Mother Meenakshi in Madurai and Sri Andal in Srivilliputhur, Mother Durga in this Meeyachur temple is holding a parrot.  Durga with a parrot is rare in temples. 
Durga in Tirusuhula Nathar temple in Chennai Tirishulam and in Chinnamanur Manickavasagar Temple in Theni district have this feature.  Mother Durga with 8 hands in Tirumeeyachur temple is praised as Sukha Brahmma Durga Devi.  Proably, this name ought to have been derived after the name of Sukha Brahmma Rishi with a parrot nose, son of Sage of Veda Vyasa.  She looks all smiling though standing on demon Mahishasura – a Shanta Swarupini.  It is believed that this parrot is taking the message of the devotees to Mother Lalithambika through Durga Matha.  Even today, devotees can see a parrot flying from Durga shrine to Lalithambika shrine during evenings. 
Lord Hayagriva is the disciple of Mother Lalithambika.  He taught the greatness of Lalitha Sahasranama to Sage Agasthya.  Sage asked Hayagriva which was the suitable place to chant this great hymn.  Lord said that the sage should visit a place on earth where Mother graces in the name of Manonmani.  Sage, with his devout wife Lopamudra came to Tirumeeyachur and chanted Lalitha Sahasranama before Mother Lalithambika.  Pleased with his devotion, Mother appeared before the sage and his wife in the form of Navaratnas-nine precious stones.  Sage Agasthya worshipped Mother with his own hymn Lalitha Navaratna Mala.
There are two Shiva shrines in the temple. Lord is in Linga form.  Saint Tirugnana Sambandar had sung the glory of Lord in the shrine under the Rajagopuram and Saint Tirunavukkarasar had praised the Lord in the Ilankoil in the north prakara of the temple.  This is a temple of Mother importance. 
Yama the God of death and the deity of Sadhya Star worshipped Lord Shiva performing abishek with 1008 conches.  These conches have the power of granting longevity.  Yama brought the sacred plant Pirandai belonging to the creeper category to earth.  He offered rice nivedhana prepared with this pirandai to Lord.  This is followed now by devotees for relief from diseases and for longevity. 
Though Mother Lalithambika was dressed with all jewels as an Empress, one jewel,  anklets at Her feet were absent.  A devotee woman had a dream as if she was fixing the anklet to Mother. She immediately offered the anklets to mother.  Following this incident, now, devotees seeking wedding, child and education boons offer anklets to Mother Lalithambika.  
The devotee can have the darshan of the shrines of Lords Brahmma,Vishnu and Lingodhbava (Shiva) standing in between the two Vimanas.  Lord Chandikeswara graces with four faces.  The sculpture of Kshetra Puraneswara is very beautiful.  The Mother part of the sculpture appears angry from one side and smiling and soft from the other side.

Dreaded demon Pandasura was harassing sages and Devas.  They surrendered at the feet of Mother Parasakthi for protection.  Responding to their appeal, Devi rose from a Yaga Gunda, mounted on the Sri Chakra Rath with the name Lalithambika, waged the war against the demon and destroyed him.  She was  very furious then.  Lord Shiva asked Mother to go to Earth, assume the name Manonmani and perform penance and shed her fury.   Mother came to this place and became soft and merciful.  She created Vak Devathas-deities ruling words- and asked them to sing Her praise with 1000 names.  This became the holy Lalitha Sahasraname beginning with the words, Sri Mathre meaning “Mother of prosperity”.

Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. Rays of Sun fall on Lord from Chithirai 21 to 27 in April-May. Surya Puja is performed during these days in the temple. 

History:

Karththuru, vinathai are the two wives of kashyapa maharishi. They had a fight in between them about the black spot on the tail of uchchaisiravas – indra’s horse. Repenting they came to thirumIyachchUr and worshiped the Lord. The Lord blessed then and gave them an egg each, asked to preserve for an year to get splendid sons. They got garudan, arunan respectively.
When arunan took the form of mohini (charming girl) sun despoilt her. When aruNan pleaded to the Lord, He cursed sun to get darkened. As per His advise, sun worshiped the Lord at thirumIyachchUr for seven months.

Surya Bhagavan is believed to have workshipped Lord Siva as Gajaaruda seated on an elephant among thick clouds. Hence the Gajruda Vimana Still as his darkness did not change, he cried in grief, ”he migura”.

Hayagrivar conveyed to sage agasthiyar lalita sahasranamam

The Goddess got angry at the sun for shouting in Their abode. The God pacified her saying sun was looking for relief.(This Pacifying scene is depicted by the sculpture ) One of the key attraction of this temple is this sculpture where Lord Shiva is holding parvati’s cheeks …its said that Lord is pacifying the mother of universe. In one angle the sculpture godess appears to be in anger on the other angle she looks romantic.By His Grace sun was cured. The pacified Goddess does austerities getting the name sha.ntanAyaki.

As told by him agasthiyar came to this temple and worshiped the God in the “Amla phalAdi krana puja” as done by the sun and saluted “srI lalitAmbika”. yama dharma rAja worshiped the Lord here.
Sage Agastya is believed to have sung Lalita Navaratnamala in praise of the Goddess. He has also composed a hymn named Rahasyanamasahasram. Saivite saints Tirugnana Sambandar and Tirunavukkarasar have sung in praise.

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 temple	Tiruvaanchiyam
Lord Shiva known as	Vaanchinathar, Vanchi Lingeswarar
Female deity known as	Mangalanayagi
Pathigam	Thriunavukarasar, Sambandar and sundarar
How to reach	This 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) .

thattaththimoolai,nannilam

THATTATHTHI MOOLAI

Thattaththimoolai is in the bus route of Tiruvarur and Nannilam. Get down
at Anaikkuppam and go 1 km towardswest. Can be reached by bus from
Kumbakonam to Nannilam also.

The main deity is KARUMBAYIRAM KONDA AYYANAR (thousand cane sugar god)
He is with Bushkalamba andPoornamba. A historical event happened 2000 years
back is the reason for that name. A farmerby name Sengodan has brought sugar
cane in a cart from Karaikkal to Needamangalam to crush it and make
jaggery. On the way as night settled he washes himself and take rest at the bank
of Varatharaja pushkarani near the border of Thadakanthapuram. Some boy
approaches him and ask some sugar cane to eat. He refuses and say that they
are only grasses. Let it be as it is say the boy and disappeared in the dark.

In the morning farmer goes to the mill and the crusher incharge tells why are you
cheating us by bringing grasses as sugar cane. He sees the cart and there is only
grasses. He weeps and returns to his village. In the next night in his dream the same
boy comes and asks how much you have got for your grasses. He tells that I am the
Thadakanthapuram chieftain "maha sastha". But you cheats me by saying there
are only grasses. Farmer weeps and Sastha advices him to put a big panthal
(tent like that) by 1000 sugar canes. Former does it and donate some lands for
the temple for maintaining oil expenditure for the lamps.

This is one among the famous Sastha temples in Tiruvarur District. Friday,
sunday and tuesday are auspicious. Give seven children I will tide one sound
producing bell in your temple is a famous prayer here. To get the theft articles
to return and to join again for the couples after separation application are written
and tied in the temple.

Sapthamathas (seven mothers), Madurai veeran, Muniswaran, Veeran,
Ganapathy are also in the temple. At the east side of the village Mariamman temple,
vishwanathar visalakshi temple, at west sridevi, poodevi, varadharaja perumal
temple are there. During Chithrai (April) month ten days festival will be celebarated.
Come and get the blessings of Karumbayeeram konda Iyen.