Pullamangai Temple near Kumbakonam

22-1-2014: Pullamangai is located on the outskirts of Pasupathi Koil, Papanasam Taluk, Thanjavore District, Tamilnadu, South India. It is easily accessible by vehicles from Thanjavore and Kumbakonam.
The Chola temple is located on the western corner of the main street here.Going by the inscriptions and other archeological evidences,this temple might have been built during the early years of Chola king Parantaka Choladeva-I (907-953 AD). This is a Thevara sthalam and Saint Gnanasambandar has sung hymns of Lord Siva here.This temple is located in the banks of Kudamuruti River. Since this temple's Sthala Vriksham is “Ala Maram” ( Banyan Tree) hence it is also referred to as “Alandhurai”.Also there is a legend that Parvati is said to have taken the form of a Chakravaha bird and worshiped Shiva here, hence the name Pullamangai.(pulla means bird).
The temple is in a state of complete neglect. There is growth of wild weeds and plants on the precious vimanam which is full of exquisite sculptures.Government needs to take some fast action to prevent further deterioration and restore the temple to good shape. Otherwise this precious and priceless jewel of a temple will be lost soon !(The matter has since been reported to Archeological Survey of India and positive action is expected soon)

Pullamangai -multi armed Durgai also called Mahisasuramardini - holding umbrella-standing on buffalo's head-hands holding Conch-wheel-sword-bow-mace-trident-shield-ankusham

Pullamangai vimanam- poorly maintained - see the growth of wild grass & plants above & below

Exquisite sculptures - an artists delight. The Ganesha is amazingly beautiful

Beautiful niche image of Lingodbhavar

Exquisite Bas Reliefs on stone

Teen Devian emerging after an exhilarating visit to Pullamangai Temple

Pullamangai Village

22-3-2014: We motored towards Pullamangai located around 5 Kms from Kumbakonam to see the Tiruvalanthurai Mahadevar Temple. We reached around 9.30 am but the priest had not arrived. We had to wait for nearly one hour for him. Meanwhile we stretched our limbs and meandered around for a while. We befriended the village kids and took a few pictures.They looked happy and healthy. We asked them if they went to school and they said no.That was sad to learn. We were given to understand that in a nearby house a family owned two looms and produced Kanchivaram pattu (silk) saris.When we evinced interest we were invited to see the saris. We had a nice interaction with the village folk and saw a nice collection of beautifully woven saris. By this time the temple priest had arrived and opened the temple doors. We bid good bye to the kids. It was a beautiful experience:

Someswarar Temple-Kumbakonam

22-1-2014: We got up early showered had coffee and visited the nearby Someswarar Temple. It was so early that even the priest had not arrived and the doors to the main sanctums were locked. While we peeped through the iron bars to get a darshan of the deities the priest arrived and unlocked the doors.
Kumbakonam is a temple town with many Hindu Temples located in and around it. Majority of the temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Someswara Temple is a Shiva Temple around 1000-2000 years old. The Goddess is known as Thenar Mozhial Somasundari.This is a Thevara Sthalam and Saint Tirugnana Sambandar has sung hymns in praise of the Lord here.The Shiva Lingam is Swambhu or self formed.
Temple Legend: Lord Brahma was much annoyed when the great flood or Pralayam took place and was in a dilemma as to from where he had to begin creation again.  He surrendered to Lord Shiva for guidance.  Lord Shiva said, “Gather sand from as many holy places as possible and mix it with nectar and make a Mayakumbam-pot.  Fill this pot with nectar and keep the creation seed "Srushti Beeja".  Place a coconut on the pot and decorate with mango leaves.  Cover the pot with threads.  Keep it on an Uri or pot holder so that it does not fall on sides.  This pot would float on the Pralayam or great flood.  I will come there.”
 Kumba the pot fell from the Uri and floated in the pralayam. A Lingam appeared at the place.  Moon(Soma) worshiped the Lord here, hence, Lord is praised as Someswarar.

Someswarar Temple

The SomeswararTemple Tank -Kumbeswarar Temple Gopuram can be seen in the background

Someswara Temple Tank

Mango Tree in Bloom at Someswara Temple- amazing that the mango tree has bloomed in January

Udalayur Agraharam (Village)

On day 3 of our trip we left Thanjavur for Kumbakonam by the 3.30 passenger train. The train was crowded. Though we did not have any reserved seats we managed to edge ourselves into some seating space. The journey lasted around one hour. We were picked up at Kumbakonam by a Toyota Innova and driven to Udayalur Agraharam (village) where we were scheduled to spend the night.at Chandras newly acquired heritage house. It was a beautiful village and simple house with bare essentials. Renovation was under way and many basic facilities had not yet been created. Water had to be drawn from an open well and toilets were outside in the back yard. There were no fans and there were mosquitoes flying around. Since facility was inadequate we did not stay there but went off to Kumbakonam and checked into Hotel Atithi.

Thanjavur Railway Platform & Railway tracks

Agraharam house

The Agraharam Houses - observe the neatness,brightness & cleanliness.

Wooden Pillars and wooden roof beams & rafters

Resting on a wooden cot - tired but happy

Sitting on the porch and cheerfully posing for a picture

Music Fest at Tiruvaiyar - 20-1-2014

After Papanasam Temple we returned to Hotel Tamilnadu for lunch and a bit of rest & sleep.We left for Tiruvaiyar in the evening and reach the Saint Thiagaraja Music Fest pandal around 6.00 pm. The place was thronging with music lovers. We managed some vantage space up front from where we could comfortably watch and listen to the maestros.Some of the most reputed names in Carnatic Music marked their presence: Kadri Gopal - Saxophone, Kanya Kumari-Violin, Srinivas & Rajesh-Mandolin,Yesudas-Vocal,Sudha Raghunath-Vocal,Mahathi-Vocal, Haridwaramangalam Palanivel-Thavil and a host of others. The performances were enchanting & enthralling.It was an evening of pure magic and the crowds were totally mesmerized.An unforgettable experience:

Illuminated Neon Sign at entrance

Huge crowds thronging the pandal

Vantage Point from we watched the live performances

Kadri Gopal thrilling the audience on Saxophone

Kadri & Kanyakumari - made a good combo

Kanyakumari on Violin

Srinivas & Rajesh - were scintillating on the Mandolin

Haridwaramangalam Palanivel on Thavil gave a strong and superb performance

Pappanasam Ramalingaswamy Temple

20-1-2014: Next we reached the town of Pappanasam around lunch time.The temple here is also known as  Keezhai Rameswaram and possibly the only (ancient) place in the world where 108 big separate lingams are present in one place. One of the 275 Thevara Padal petra sthalams It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva in this temple would remove all our sins and worshiping in this one temple is equivalent to worshiping in 108 temples. This is how this town of Pappanasam gets its name: Pappa (sins) + Vinasham (destruction).There are 106 Shivalingas arranged equally in three rows in a separate mandapam and it is a wonderful sight to see so many lingams in one place. The presiding deity in the sanctum is Sri Ramalingaswany since it was worshiped by Sri Rama. Hanumantha lingam, the huge lingam brought by Hanumar from Kasi is kept in a separate annexe to the temple on the southern side.
After praying at all sanctums we were offered "lunch" prasadam. We were delighted at this unexpected windfall blessing. The lunch was simple but sumptuously satisfying.

106 stone lingams of Siva arranged in three rows of 35 each and one large central lingam - Above & below

Blissfully enjoying lunch prasadam

Garbharakshambigai Temple - Turukarugavur

Got back to Coimbatore after a hectic action packed 15 day tour of the State of Gujarat in Western India bordering Pakistan. It was exciting, enchanting,enthralling filled with adventure and involved extensive travel. It included visits to places of religious importance, heritage,history,architecture,deserts,lakes,safari,hill climbing etc etc. Returned about 10 days back but it took all this while to rid myself of the physical and mental aches and pains - while we were away the refrigerator had failed, the bore well pump packed up, the washing machine malfunctioned and a host of other irritants had cropped up. It has taken all of 10 days to resolve the issues.
Before I commence my posts on Gujarat I still have a few posts left over from my previous trip to Thanjavur & Kumbakonam which I am now resuming . I have already posted earlier on this Garbharakshambigai temple and you can find it here: Garbharakshambigai Temple ,Tirukarugavoor
I am just posting a few more pictures clicked during this visit: