Sri Sarangapani temple - Kumbakonam - 12th Divya desam

	Moolavar	:	Sarangapani, Aravamudhan
	Urchavar	:	-
	Amman / Thayar	:	Komalavalli
	Thala Virutcham	:	-
	Theertham	:	Hemavalli Pushkarini, Cauvery and Arisil Rivers
	Agamam / Pooja	:	-
	Old year	:	1000-2000 years old
	Historical Name	:	Tirukudandhai
	City	:	Kumbakonam
	District	:	Thanjavur
	State	:	Tamil Nadu

Temple History:

Sage Brugu came to Vaikunda to test the patience and tolerance quality of Lord Vishnu by hitting on His chest.  Lord did not prevent the sage nor grew angry against him. But simply smiled.  Mother Lakshmi asked the Lord how He could allow other male to touch Her also while hitting Him as the chest of Lord is Her home.  The sage fell at the feet of Mother Lakshmi and said that he was given the job of finding a God so soft in nature for conducting a Yagna to whom it was to be dedicated.  I hit Lord for this test and meant no motives.  He also begged Mother that she should be born his daughter.  Mother Lakshmi happily blessed the sage.  She promised the sage to leave Lord for him and advised him to take on penance to realize his wish.   The sage performed penance in Kumbakonam and found Mother on the Hema Pushkarini Theertha on a Lotus.  He took the child and named Her Komalavalli.  He gave his daughter to Perumal in a grand wedding.  Perumal came to wed Mother holding a bow-Sarnga, hence is praised as Lord Sarangapani.  The place, thus is revered as the Avatara Sthala-birth place of Mother Komalavalli-Lakshmi. 


Temple's Speciality:

Lord Sarangapani blesses the devotees in His reclining form under the Vaideeka Vimana – tower above the sanctum sanctorum. This is one of the 108 Divya Desas of Lord Vishnu.


Festival

Chithirai Utsav in April-May; Thai Sankaraman Utsav in January-February; Vaikasi Vasantha Utsav in May-June; Masi float festival in February-March, Margazhi Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January are the important festivals celebrated in the temple.

General Information

Lord graces from the sanctum sanctorum along with Mother Koamalavalli daughter of Sage Hemarishi and Mother Mahalakshmi.  Lord Brahmma is above His naval and Sun on the head side.  The sculptures of Narasimha Avatar are beautifully set around the sanctum sanctorum.  As Lord came here in a Rath to wed Mother, the temple is constructed in the shape of a rath.  The two entrances of the
Rahth is called Dakshinayana and Uthirayana.  The wheels of the Rath are of giant size.  Beautiful sculptures adore the surrounding walls.
The Rajagopurams of the temples of Tamilnadu are noted for their height.  Srirangam tower is 236 feet tall and that of Srivilliputhur is 165 feet.  Kumbakonam Lord Sarangapani temple is the third 11 tier 150 feet tall.  The car-rath of the temple also is famous for its high artistic beauty – called Chithira Ther.  Saint Tirumangai Azhwar calls this as Rathabandham.

  
Opening Time
The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 and from 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Address
Sri Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam – 612 001, Thanjavur district.

Phone
+91-435 - 243 0349, 94435 - 24529.

Location :
The temple is at the heart of Kumbakonam linked by rail and road from all corners of state.

Near By Railway Station :
Kumbakonam  

Sri Valvil Raman temple - (Tiruppullampudangudi ) - Kumbakonam - 10th Divya desam Temple

Moolavar	Valvil Raman, Chakravarthi Tirumagan
Urchavar	-
Amman / Thayar	Porraamaraiyaal, Hemaambujavalli
Thala Virutcham	Punnai (Mast Wood)
Theertham	Jadaayu Theertham
Agamam / Pooja	-
Old year	1000-2000 years old
Historical Name	Bhudappuri
City	Tiruppullampudangudi
District	Thanjavur
State	Tamil Nadu

Temple's Speciality

Generally, Sri Rama graces us in the standing posture. But, in this holy place, He appears in the lying posture.

Temple History

When Ravana abducted Seetha and carried her,  the King of the eagles Jataayu fought with him.  Ravana smashed him with his sword and Jataayu lay half-dead moaning ‘Rama, Rama’. Hearing this feeble moaning, Rama and Lakshmana who were crossing that area went near and saw the dying bird.  Jataayu breathed his last after informing them about Ravana’s abduction of Seetha.  The sorrow-stricken Rama wanted to perform the funeral rites to Jataayu.  The rule is, when such rites are performed, the wife should be present.  Since Seetha was not there, Rama wholeheartedly thought of her.  At once, Bhooma Devi, Seetha’s image appeared to help Rama.  Rama with Her help conducted the funeral rites for Jataayu. Reminiscent of this incident, this temple was erected.

General Information
The Lord of this sacred place,  has been worshipped by Rama, Jatayu and others.  The Lord here is in ‘Bhujanga sayanam’ facing east under the ‘Sobhana Vimanam’ and bestows His blessings.
 

Greatness Of Temple

Sri Rama granted moksa to the bird Jataayu and performed funeral rites to him.  Since this sacred place points to this incident, the place came to be known as ‘Tiruppullam-pudangudi’.  In the Vishnava tradition there are two ‘pudapuris’ for the Vaishnavas – one is Sri Perumpudur near Kanchipuram.  Here was born Sri Ramanuja and the place is consecrated by the alvars.  The other one is Tiruppullampudangudi, near Thanjavur and the acharyas consecrated this place.  The most significant aspect is that Sri Rama appears in lying posture.  When Tirumangai Alvar came to this place, thinking that there was some other deity he went without taking notice of the deity. Suddenly there appeared a  bright effulgence and from it Sri Rama revealed Himself with Conch and Wheel (changu and chakram). Seeing this beatific vision Tirumangai Alvar sang 10 songs meaning, “ To know what it is I went without knowing it”. Sri Rama could not perform funeral rites to his father King Dasartha; but he felt happy and satisfied for having performed the rites for Jataayu.  Hence. Rama of this place is called ‘Valvil Raman’.


Special Features:
Miracle Based: Generally, Sri Rama graces us in the standing posture. But, in this holy place, He appears in the lying posture. 

Opening Time
The temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon and in the evening from 4.30 to 7.30.

Address
Arulmigu Valvil Raman Tirukkoil, Tiruppullampudangudi – Thanjavur District.

Phone
+91- 94435 25365      

Location :
Tiruppullampudangudi is about 4 kms in the route from Swamimalai to Tiruvaikaavur village.

Near By Railway Station :
Kumbakonam

Near By Airport :  
Trichy, Chennai 

Sri ThiruValanchuzhi Nathar temple - Kumbakonam

Moolavar	ThiruValanchuzhi Nathar
Urchavar	-
Amman / Thayar	Peria Nayaki
Thala Virutcham	Vilwa
Theertham	Cauvery, Arasalaru, Jada theertham
Agamam / Pooja	-
Old year	1000-2000 years old
Historical Name	Thiruvalanchuzhi
City	Thiruvalanchuzhi
District	Thanjavur
State	Tamil Nadu

Temple History

The story of churning the milk ocean to get nectar with Mandara mount as the churning stick (Mathu in Tamil) and Vasuki snake as the churning rope is popular among Hindu believers.  Unable to bear the speed and weight during this operation, Vasuki spit its venom threatening total destruction of all worlds.  Devas surrendered to Lord Shiva.  He said that they began the work without worshipping Lord Vinayaka and advised them to correct the error.  Devas returned to milk ocean, made an idol of Lord Vinayaka with ocean foam and prayed to him and succeeded, thus goes the Sthala Purana.  Vinayaka thus made of the foam is praised as Swetha Vinayaka.  He is the Ishta Devatha of the Devas.

Special Features

Miracle Based: Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. Lord Vinayaka is praised as Swetha Vinayaka as he is made of the ocean foam.

Temple's Speciality

Lord Valanchuzhi Nathar is a swayambumurthi. Lord Vinayaka idol is made of the foam of Milk ocean (Tiru Parkadal), hence praised as Swetha Vinayaka – Vellai Vinayaka. Vellai in Tamil means white.

General Information

The beautiful tower of the temple is facing east.  Ambica graces the devotees in Her wedding posture on the right side.  Mother Ashta Buja Kali, very furious earlier appears with a minute damage (in the idol) to calm down her anger, it is said.  There is a separate shrine for Sani Bhagwan

Festival

Maha Shivrathri in February-March; Tirukarthikai in November-December and Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September are the festivals celebrated in the temple

Singers

Ripe Saivite Saint Tirunavukkarasar had sung the glory of Lord of Tiru Valanchuzhi in his Thevaram hymns.  This is the 25th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

Opening Time

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m

Address

Sri Tiru Valanchuzhi Nathar Temple, Tiruvalanchuzi-612 302

Phone

+91 435 245 4421, 245 4026

Location : 

 Thiruvalanchuzhi is 4 km from Kumbakonam on the Thanjavur road and 1 km from Swamimalai. Bus facility is available.

Near By Railway Station :
Kumbakonam.