Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Weekend Darshan - 12

Hot summer coupled with other important work, had forced us to take a break from our Weekend Darshans. Sometime in May we went to the 11 Divyadesams in Thirunangur near Chidambaram. We didn't put up a post, as there was nothing much to write about it. Most of the temples had been renovated recently.

However this weekend we managed to visit a couple of places.

Thakkolam:
Thakkolam is a place of historical importance. Its about 15kms from Arakkonam. Thakkolam also has a railway station, but its 6 kms from the actual town itself.

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Gangadheeswarar temple here, is very beautiful and has lots to offer to History enthusiasts. The temple has been rebuilt several times and this is evident from the different stones one can observe on the walls and the compound. Even the inner and outer prakarams seems to have been constructed during different periods. There are quite a few interesting idols on the gopuram also. But I didn't have a good camera to capture them.

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Dried up tank

There are lots of inscriptions on the walls, but nothing much could be grasped from them using our limited experience in reading inscriptions. The inscriptions on the inner walls have been whitewashed and the ones on the outerwalls have weathered.

Other striking features of the temple are unique idols of Dakshinamoorthy and Durgai. They are much different from what we get to see in other temples. In addition to that, the sivalingam here is on Navapashanam.

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I am seeing this kind of Pillar for the first time

Route:
On the Chennai-Bangalore highway, go beyond Kanchipuram. You will come across a flyover. Go beneath it and turn right. Proceed further for another 10-11 kms until you reach Thakkolam railway station. Turn right there and proceed for another 6kms to reach Thakkolam

Thanks to Pooniyinselvan yahoogroups. We got the route from a thread there.

Thiruparkadal:
Thiruparkadal is also off the Chennai - Bangalore highway.

Both these temples are very old. It is said that this place can be considered to be the 107th Divyadesam. There is a massive renovation work going on in these two temples, which have erased all traces to their original constructors. Nevertheless the location of the temples is awesome.

Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple:

This temple is considered to be testimony for the unity of Shaivism and Vaishanavism. The Lord here, stands on "Aavudaiyaar" (base of Lingam")

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Main Gopuram

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The gopuram of the "Moola Sthaanam"

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Tank and a small mandapam in front of the temple

Ranganathar Temple:

The main deity in this temple is made of wood from the tree of "Aththi". It is believed that Yama's assistant Chitraguptan was releaved of his diseases here and hence this place is said to have healing powers.

The main deities here are very beautiful. And the fact that commercialisation has not yet reached these temples is more than a reason to visit them.

Route:
From Kanchipuram proceed for another 30 kms approximately along the direction of Bangalore. You will come across a place called Kaveripakkam. Take left there and another 3 kms drive will take you to two beautiful Vaishnavite temples.

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very cool design! Useful information. Go on!
» » »

6:44 PM  
Blogger b a l a j i said...

anon,
thanks

1:35 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Nice one Balaji. Its great that you blog about the temples off the beaten track

12:20 AM  
Blogger b a l a j i said...

WA,
Thank you... I am alergic to the crowds in popular and commercialised temples

1:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MESSAGE

5:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Thanks for the information.

You have mentioned that Thiruparkadal is in bangalore highways and also it is part 108 divya desam. Thiruparkadal and Thiruparamapadham are vinnulaga temples, According to tradition it is saying that once you visited 106 divya desam you can visit thiruparkadal and thiruparamapadham with help of Lord perumal.

Thirupukuzhi ( comes in 108 divya desam) is the temple which is in bangalore highways road near kanchipuram white gate.

11:14 PM  
Blogger BHARATH said...

hi balaji ,
i'm really proud of you , i live in thakkolam only. continue highlighting such type of temples. by tye by where u live...

10:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi balaji
really proud of u,,, i am living in thirupparkadal,, keep give info about this kind of temples

4:12 AM  
Anonymous Narasimhan said...

Nice post. I came here via Thakkolam railway station search. I wanted to know if the road there is called Koottu road (cross road) or if it is just Koot road as written in the wikipedia. This is not of any great urgency.

7:26 AM  
Anonymous KARTHIKEYAN said...

very good spiritual place , OM NAMA SHIVA ...

6:21 PM  

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