Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavneswarar Temple, Thiru Chotru thurai, Tanjoore Dt.

Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavneswarar Temple:




The place is about 15 kms from Tanjavoore and 4 kms from Kandiyoor.
This temple of Chotuthurai is one of the Devara Sthalam, on the south bank of River Cauvery. This is third temple of the Ezhur (Seven) sthalams, where Lord fed is devotees.









Main Raja Gopuram is of three tiers




The temple has single prakaram only. As we go around the prakaram, Sanctum of Annapoorani Amman is in the south east, Lord Arumugan facing east is seen in a shrine facing south.








Lord Maha Vishnu sanctum is seen facing east. We get to see Gautama Muni worshiping Lord Vishnu here.









Lord Vinayakar and Lord Murugan are seen near the temple entrance to either side.









We see a mandapam and Adigara Nandi is seen in front of the mandapam. We see Natarajar in the mandapam which leads to the Artha mandapam and main sanctum of Lord Oudhavaneswarar.




Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam. Teertham is River Cauvery and Soorya teertham.










Main deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavaneswarar with his consort known as Annpoorani Amman facing east. She is seen in a separate sanctum in SE while go around the prakaram.










Brahma, Vishnu, Sooryan, Indran and Sage Gautama worshiped Lord Siva in this place. Sage Gautama attained Mukthi in this place.










Sthala Purana: Once due to severe famine people were starving. The temple was not taken care off at that time. A devotee of Lord Siva named Arulalan worshiped Lord Siva to overcome the severe famine. He banged his heads to the steps and cried out for help from Lord Siva. There was heavy down pour and the place was flooded. There was a bowl floating in the water which was picked by Arulalan. He heard a voice announcing, the bowl is Akshya Patra which gives food always without any bounds. It will never go dry and it can help in feeding the people to get rid of their hunger.




Since the Lord here has helped to get rid of famine and gave Akshya Patra which gave food, Lord is praised and named as Thiru Chotru Thurai Nadhar. (Chotru means food).





Saints Sundarar, Thiru Navakkuarasar and Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Siva of this temple. Arunagirinadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan here. Thiru Ramalinga Vallalaar has praised and worshiped Lord here.

Pasupathy Koil, Pasupathy Nadhar Temple, Tanjavoore.

Pasupathy Koil: Pasupathy Nadhar Temple.



The place is about 14 kms from Kumbakonam to Tanjavoore and 2 kms from Iyempettai. The temple tower is of five tiers, and there is only one prakaram in the temple.







This is one of the Devara Sthalam of Tanjavoore and one of the Saptha Sthana Sthalam. (Chakkra Mangai, Soola Mangai, Ariya Mangai, Nandi Mangai Thazha Mangai, Pulla Mangai and Pasu Mangai are Saptha Sthana temples.







The temple is constructed by Cochengat Cholan as Maadak Koil. In the base Nandi is seen in the mandapam Ancient name of the temple is Thiru Pullamangai.



Main Deity in the temple is Swayambu Lingam known as Arulmigu Pasupathy Nadhar / Brahma pureeswarar and His consort known as Soundara Nayaki / Alliyang kodai.




Sthala Vruksham is Baniyan Tree and Teertham is River Cauvery, River Kudamuruti, Kamadenu Teertham and Siva Teertham








Agasthiyar








Dakshina Moorthy




Other deities seen in the temple as Koshta Moortham are Vinayakar, Dakshina Moorthy, Lingothbavar with Brahma and Vishnu, Nalwar, Brahma and Durgai Amman. Nandi is seen among Navagraham. Durgai Amman is like Mahishasura Mardhini with weapons in her hand. Durgai of Thiru Nageswaram Temple, Patteswaram Temple and Thiru Pullanga Managi temple are sculptured by same person in all these three places. Durgai is considered very powerful in all the three temples.









Bairavar










Kamadenu worshiped Lord Siva in this place.





Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Pasupatheeswarar of this temple.

Sri Sangameswarar temple. Bhavani, Erode.

Sangameswarar Temple / Thiru Nanaa :



The temple is situated at confluence spot of River Bhavani and River Cauvery. This is one of 275 Siva Devara sthalam. The place is about 60kms from Salem.










Here River Cauveri, River Bhavani and River Amudha join together. River Amudha flow as Antharvahini, just like Sarasvathy at Triveni Sangamam of Allahabad. The place is also known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam.
This place is known as Padhuma Giri which is surrounded by Naga Giri, Veda giri, Sanga Giri and Mangala Giri.









It is good to have bath at Sangama Kshetram. They have provided rooms for changing wet cloths. Near the sangamam ghat there is a Aswattha tree under which Nagar is installed. This place is considered good for any type of pariharam. Rituals for ancestors are performed here. On the day we went here lot of devotees were performing rituals and pariharam.









There is a big Aswattha tree and a Siva Lingam known Koteeswarar is installed under it.









We see a small sanctum for Amirtha Lingeswrar.
Amirtha Lingeswarar is placed on an Avudai, which is mobile and it is removed and given in the hands of couple, who come here to perform pooja for sake of child. The couple should have bath in sangamam,and they carry Amritha linga in hand and go around the sanctum three times and place it back on Avudai.




Illandhai Tree is Sthala Vruksham of this temple.
The sweet fruit of illandhi from tree is offered to Lord Siva after pooja everyay. The fruit is given as prasadam for the couple who come and worship forsake of child. This fruit is consumed by ladies for fertility.











As we go further there is a separate sanctum for Sahasra Lingeswarar. Sthala purana says Ravana worshiped sahsralingeswarar here.










We see a small Gopuram leading inside the temple premises from west side.









Main Raja Gopuram is of five tiers facing North.
Here in this Kshetram we see Lord Siva, as well Perumal within the same premises.










As we enter from the main Raja Gopuram there is a sanctum for Perumal is seen to right. Main deity here is sri Adi Kesava Perumal in standing posture. There is another sanctum for Sri Venugopalan to the right side of sri Adi Kesava Perumal.









Next to Adi Kesava perumal we see seperate sanctum for Sri yoga Narashimar with Lakshmi as santha swaroopam.







Next to sri Yoga Narashimr we find Soundara Valli Thayar sannidhi.














There is small sanctum for Siddhi vinaykar.










Here the sanctum of Lord Siva, Ambal, and Subramanya is in the form of somaskandam. This is side entrance of sri sngameswarar temple.









Main sanctum of Sri Sangameswararis facing east side.
We find Dwajasthambam in front of the main dwaram of Sri Sangameswarar sanctum We find Vinayakar and Subramanian in small sannidhi, to either side of the main entrance.




Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Sri Sangameswarar / Alagesan.
Thiru Gyanasambandhar Sang Hymns on Lord Sri Sangameswarar.







As we go round we see Dakshina Moorthy. This is the picture of sri sangameswara sanctum gopuram.








Subramanya Swamy is seen in separate sanctum. This sanctum is seen in between Lord Siva and Ambal Sanctums. Arunagirindhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Subramnya of this temple.









There is a mandapam, in which where we see Stone pillar to the centre with Ganesha to a side and Cow with calf to other side which looks very attractive.















Next we come to Veda Nayaki Amman sannidhi.
Here in the main sanctum, we see Vedanayki Amman in standing posture.









There is a mandapam where, we see beautiful carvings to the pillars.









We see beautiful Carvings, to the inner ceiling hall in front of Ambal sannidhi.




Importance is during the month of February sun light falls for three days on Sri Sangameswarar, Vedanayki and Subramanian.














We see sanctum for Navagrahas.









We see separate Sanctum of Bairavar here.











There is a Separate sanctum for Saneeswarar here in this kshetram.




Sthala purana says once Kuberan was visiting places. When he was crossing this place, he saw lot of Rishi, and Muni penancing here. All animals were friendly with each other. He felt good vibration of this place and started penancing here. Lord Siva and Perumal were pleased with Kubera, and as a result swayambu Lingam came under the Sthala Vruksham.
Kubera heard a voice which said he can ask for a boon. Kubera wished the place to be known as Alagesan and the sthala should be a blessing place and fulfil the wishes of devotees. Vishnu also stayed in this place as Adi Kesava Perumal.