108 Divya Desam - 2

CHOLA NAATU

DIVYA DESAM - 40 TEMPLES

CHOLA DYNASITY

Tamil Nadu, India's southernmost state, was home to the Chola Dynasty. The lower reaches and delta of the Cauveri River served as the cultural and political stronghold of the Chola Dynasty, which ruled vast portions of South India and Sri Lanka from the 9th to the 13th centuries CE.

The early Chola capital was Uraiyur (now Tiruchirapalli), then the mediaeval Cholas moved to Thanjavur, and lastly, Chola ruler Rajendra Chola I moved the capital to Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur in the 11th century CE.

Chola Naatu Divya Desam refers to the temples found inside the Chola dynasty.

6 TEMPLES - TIRUCHIRAPPALLI

14 TEMPLES - THANJAVUR AND KUMBAKONAM

7 TEMPLES - MAYILADUDURAI

13 TEMPLES - SEERKAZHI 

 TIRUCHIRAPPALLI - 6 TEMPLES

1) THIRU ARANGAM - SRIRANGAM

2) THIRU KOOZHI - URAYUR - NACHIYAR KOVIL
3) THIRUKARAMBANUR - UTTAMAR KOVIL
4) THIRUVELLARAI
5) THIRU ANBIL
6) THIRUPPER NAGAR

1) THIRUVARANGAM – SRIRANGAM

Location

Srirangam is a town located in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamilnadu, India.

It is situated between two water bodies, the Cauveri River and the Kollidam River. It is an island in Tiruchirappalli. It is located about 12 kms from Tiruchirappalli-Central Bus Stand, 7 kms from Tiruchirappalli-Chithiram Bus Stand, and 325 kms from Chennai.

About Temple

Around this temple, there are seven large walls that run parallel to each other. The seven barriers are known as the seven worlds.

The 7th wall is the visible outer wall, measuring 3072 feet in length and 2521 feet in width. Seven thiruveedhi (streets) are found for each of the seven prakaarams.

The seventh thiruveedhi is known as "Chitthirai Thiruveedhi," and it is here that big houses and bungalows may be found.

The sixth veedhi, found in the sixth prakaaram, is known as "Thiru vikraman thiruveedhi." The fifth veedhi, located in the fifth prakaram, is known as the "Agalangan Thiru veedhi."

"Aalinaadan Thiruveedhi" is the fourth veedhi in the fourth prakaram. "Kulasekaran Thiruveedhi" is the third veedhi in the third prakaram. "Raja Mahendran" is the second veedhi in the second prakaram.

Emperumaan Sri Ranganathan in Kidantha Kolam performs seva in the first prakaram, which is known as "Dharma Varman Thiru chuttru" (circle).

The whole size of this temple is approximately 155.5 acres, or 6 miles. In this temple, there are a total of 21 gopurams. The Gopuram weighs 24,880 tonnes and has a width of 11.75 feet and a height of 24.75 feet.

The Gopuram of Sri Rangam is known as "Raja Gopuram" and it is the largest gopuram in the Asian Subcontinent.

The Gopuram took over seven years to finish. All four entrances of the Gopura Vaasal are visible when exiting the 7th Veedhi.

The Gopuram stands 236 feet tall and has 13 nilays. On the pinnacle of the Gopuram, 12 kalasams are kept. Temple dating back 1000–2000 years

Specialities

Ø Asia's tallest and largest Gopuram

Ø Here, all 11 Alwars performed Mangalasasanam.

Ø Guru Periyanambigal Udayavar (Ramanujar), Buttar Vadakuthiruveethi Pillai, Pillai Lokachariyar - Birth Place

Ø Udayavar (Ramanujar) Thirupaanalwar, Kulasekaraalwar, Thondaradipodialwar, Soodikodutha Naachiyar Sri Aandal, Thuluka Naachiyaar, Udayavar (Ramanujar).

The Srirangam Temple became Sri Ramanujacarya's headquarters. His samadhi (tomb) is located within the Srirangam Temple grounds.

The deity depicted is Sri Ramanuja's genuine body, which may be found at the Udayavar/Yadhirajar/Ramanujar shrine within Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam. Preservative herbs have been applied to his mortal body. In the Sannidhi, his physical form is still intact in a sitting posture (Sanctum Sanctorum). Pachai Karpuram (Camphor) and Kumkum are applied to the body twice a year (Vermillon).

Ø Sri Rangam is more special than Paarkadal and Vaikundam. It is called "Bhooloka Vaikundam".

Perumal - Moolavar

Sri Ranganathar - Sri Periya Perumal - Sri Azagiya Manavala Perumal - Kidantha Kolam (Sleeping Position) facing south direction

Urchavar

Sri Nam Perumal

Thaayaar

Sri Ranganayaki Thaayaar

Pushkarani

1.   Chandra Pushkarani

2.   Cauveri River

3.   Kollidam River

4.   Vedacchurangam.

Vimaanam

Pranavaakruthi

The construction of this massive Vimaanam - Gopuram, Pranavaakruthi, took about 7 years and 6 months.

"Raja Gopuram" is another name for it. The Raja Gopuram stands 236 feet tall, with 13 Nilais (Partitions) and 12 Kalasams on top.

Sthala Vriksham - Holy Tree

Punnai tree - Alexandrian laurel tree

Mangalasasanam - Total - 246 Paasurams - songs

Except Mathirakavi Alwar, all the other eleven Alwars have done Mangalasasanam here.

Periyalwar - 31 Paasurams

Sri Andal - 10 Paasurams

Kulasekara Alwar - 31 Paasurams

Thirumazhisai Alwar - 14 Paasurams

Thondaradipodi Alwar - 55 Paasurams

Thirupaan Alwar - 10 Paasurams

Thirumangai Alwar - 72 Paasurams

Poigai Alwar - 1 Paasuram

Boothathalwar - 4 Paasurams

Pei Alwar - 2 Paasurams

Nammalwar -11 Paasurams

How to reach:-

By Air

14 kms from Tiruchirappalli International Airport

By Train

13 kms from Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction

By Road

14 kms from Tiruchirappalli Central Bus stand.

4.8 kms from Tiruchirappalli Chathiram Bus stand.

 

2) THIRU KOOZHI - WORAIYUR - NACHIYAR KOIL

Location

Thirukoozhi - Woraiyur is located in Tiuchirappalli city, Tamilnadu - India. The area is 6 kms from Tiruchirappalli main. Woraiyur is early capital of Chola kingdom.

About Temple

The temple is surrounded by a granite wall that encloses all of its shrines and bodies of water. The temple's gateway tower, the Rajagopuram, is a five-tiered structure. Temple dating back 1000–2000 years

Specialities

Periya Pirattiyar is performing seva in two ways in this sthalam. Irundha seva - sitting position and Kidantha seva - sleeping position are the two types of seva. She is performing seva as "Urayum" seva (from sitting seva to sleeping seva), thus this temple is known as "Thiru Urayoor."

The birth place of the saint Thiruppanalwar. 

Perumal - Moolavar

Sri Azhagiyamanavaala perumal - standing position

Thaayaar

Sri Kamalavalli Naachiyar

Pushkarani

Kalyana Theertham, Kudamourutti River

Vimaanam

Kalyana Vimaanam

Mangalasasanam - Total 2 Paasurams - songs

Thirumangai Alwar - 1 Paasuram - song

Kulasekara Alwar - 1 Paasuram - song

How to reach:-

By Air

9 kms from Tiruchirappalli International Airport

By Train

7 kms from Tiruchirappalli Junction 

By Road

7 kms from Trichy Central Bus stand.

3) THIRUKARAMBANUR - UTTHAMAR KOVIL -

BIKSHAANDAR KOVIL

Location

Uthamar Kovil is located in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamilnadu - India. It is located 6 kms from Tiruchirappalli city in the route of Manachanallur - Thuraiyur road. Frequent buses available from Trichy. It is in Manachanallur District, Trichy.

About Temple

The temple is surrounded by a stone wall that encloses all of its shrines. Purushottamar (Vishnu), Bhikshadanar (Shiva), Brahma, and their consorts, Poornavalli (Lakshmi), Soundaraya Parvati, and Saraswati, have distinct shrines in the temple.

The Hindu Trimurti, along with their consorts, is worshipped in six separate shrines within the same temple complex, making it one of the few historical Hindu temples in the world. Temple dating back 1000–2000 years

Specialities

This temple is claimed to house Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma, together known as "Moum Murthy."

Nagalinga Poo (flower), a well-known and uncommon flower, can be found here, and it is the specific flower used to perform poojas in this temple.

Perumal - Moolavar

Sri Purushothama perumal - Bhujanga sayanam - Sleeping position

Thaayaar

Sri Poorna Valli Thaayaar

Pushkarani

Kadhamba Theertham

Vimaanam

Uthiyoga Vimaanam

Sthala Vriksham - Holy Tree

Vaazhai maram - Banana tree

Mangalasasanam - Total - 1 Paasuram - song

Thirumangai Alwar - 1 Paasuram

How to reach:-

By Air

18 kms Tiruchirappalli International Airport

By Train

13 kms from Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction

By Road

13 kms from Trichy Central Bus stand.

6 kms from Chathiram Bus stand, Trichy.

4) THIRUVELLARAI

Location

Thiruvellarai is located in Tiruchirappalli district, Tamilnadu - India. It is located 20 km away in Tiruchirappalli on Thuraiyur Road.

About Temple

Vellarai translates to "white rock." This sthalam is known as "Thiru Vellarai" because it is located 100 feet above sea level on the summit of a small white mountain.

The wall around this temple is exceptionally large, enclosing the entire temple area and containing all seven theerthams.

When we produce a sound in front of a large pillar in his temple, it repeats and echoes throughout the temple. As a result, some paasurams in the Divyapprabhandhams are repeated two or three times. Temple dating back 1000–2000 years

Specialities

The temple is built as a fort. There are rooms built of stones on the south side with high echo powers.

This temple boasts the world's largest wall (Mathil sevar) and is where Bhakthar Uyyakondaar was born.

Situated on top of a 100-foot-high mountain with a fall of white rocks.

Perumal - Moolavar

Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal - Standing position

Urchavar

Sri Pangaya Selvi Thaayaar

Thaayaar

Sri Shenbhagavalli Thaayaar

Pushkarani

Divya Theertham, Varaha Theertham, Chandra pushkarani, Padma Theertham, Pushkala Theertham, Manikarnika Theertham, Kusa Theertham.

Vimaanam

Vimala krithi Vimaanam

Sthala Vriksham - Holy Tree

Vilwa tree - Stone Apple tree - Indian Bael tree

Mangalasasanam - Total - 24 Paasurams - Song

Periya Alwar - 24 Paasuram

How to reach:-

By Air

30 kms from Tiruchirappalli International Airport

By Train

23 kms from Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction

By Road

24 kms from Trichy Central Bus stand.

18 kms from Trichy Chathiram Bus stand.

5) THIRU ANBIL - ANBIL

Location

Anbil is located in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamilnadu - India. It is situated in the bus route of Tiruchirappalli -Kallanai - Kumbakonam. It is located 5 kms away from the east of Lalgudi, Trichy.

About Temple

The temple's main entrance faces east and features a three-tiered rajagopuram, or gateway tower. The roof over the sanctuary is built in the shape of a gopuram, which is a typical characteristic of entrance towers.

A standing shrine for Sri Andal and a seated bronze image of her can be found in the sanctum's front hall. The temple stands on the banks of the Kollidam River.

Perumal - Moolavar

Sri Sundararaja Perumal - Bhujanga Sayanam - Sleeping Position

Urchavar

Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal

Thaayaar

Sri Azhagiya Valli Naachiyar

Pushkarani

Mandooga Pushkarani, Kollidam River

Vimaanam

Thaaraga Vimaanam

Sthala Vriksham - Holy Tree

Thaazhampoo – Screw pine

Mangalasasanam - Total -1 Paasuram - Song

Thirumazhisai Alwar - 1 Paasuram - song.

How to reach:-

By Air

37 kms from Tiruchirappalli International Airport

By Train

8 kms fromLalgudi Railway station

30 kms from Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction   

By Road

7 kms from Lalgudi Bus stand

30 kms from Tiruchirappalli Central Bus stand

25 kms from Trichy Chathiram Bus stand.

6) THIRUPPER NAGAR - KOVILADI

Location

Koviladi is located in Thanjavur district, Tamilnadu - India. It is located 3 kms from Thiru Anbil to Kollidam, on the south bank river Kollidam. On the road to Kumbakonam, Tiruvaiyaaru, Thirukaattuppalli, and Kallanai, this sthalam can be found. Devotees to this sthalam need request "Koviladi" in order to visit this sthalam.

This sthalam is 15 kilometres from the Lalgudi - Boodhaloor Railway station when travelling by bus. There is no place to stay. We may reach this Sthalam by travelling 15 kms from Thanjavur.

It is 24 kms away from Tiruchirappalli and 23 kms from Thiruvaiyaaru. This Sthalam is in Thanjavur District.

About Temple

The rajagopuram (main entryway) has three tiers, and the sanctuary is surrounded by a precinct. The temple is situated on a raised platform and is reached via a flight of 21 steps. Temple dating back 1000–2000 years

Specialities

This is one of the temples called as Pancha rangam temples.The Pancha rangam (5 temples as equal as Rangam) temples are:

1. Aadhi rangam - Srirangapattinam - Mysore

2. Appala ranagam - Thirupernagar

3. Madhya rangam - Srirangam - Thiruvarangam

4. Chathur rangam - Kumbakonam

5. Pancha rangam - Thiru Indhaloor - Mayiladudurai

Perumal - Moolavar

Sri Appakudatha Perumal - Bhujanga Sayanam - Sleeping Position

Urchavar

Sri Appala Ranganatha Perumal

Thaayaar

Sri Indira Devi Thaayaar - Sri Kamalavalli Thaayaar

Pushkarani

Indira Pushkarani

Vimaanam

Indira Vimaanam

Sthala Vriksham - Holy Tree

Parasu Maram - Parasu tree - Butea monosperma tree

Mangalasasanam - Total - 33 Paasurams - Song

Nammaalwar - 11

Thirmangai Alwar - 19

Periyalwar - 2

Thirumazhisai Alwar - 1

How to reach:

By Air

37 kms from Tiruchirappalli International Airport

By Train

7 kms from Boodalur Railway station

23 kms from Lalgudi Railway station

30 kms from Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction

By Road

30 kms from Tiruchirappalli Central Bus stand

25 kms from Trichy Chathiram Bus stand.

 

OM NAMO NARAYANA

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THANJAVUR AND KUMBAKONAM DIVYA DESAM TEMPLES

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