Travel Diary of Sriram and Soumya

  Pandiyanadu DivyaDesams - 3 of 18 Pandiyanadu Divyadesams - 3 of 18 Thirumayam, Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple திருமயம் சத்திய மூர்த்தி பெருமாள் கோவில் We traveled northeast of Madurai to the first two Divyadesams of Thirumohoor and Kallazhagar Kovil. We proceeded further on the route to Pudukottai to the abode of Sathyamurthi Perumal in Thirumayam. It is about 78 kilometers from Azhagar Kovil and 93 Kilometers from Madurai. I think the Azhagar malai itself is at the end of the broken eastern ghats. I also assume that the small hillocks which are in this region of Pudukottai should also be remnants of the eastern chain. As we drove into the small town of Thirumayam, we were greeted by the vast fort on top of a hillock. The Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple is beneath the Thirumayam fort and is a rock-cut temple. குடைவரைக் கோயில். The fortress, seen from the temple, is of great historical significance and was an important stronghold of rebel chieftains in the Polygar (Palayakkara) Wars. Th...

    Pandiyanadu DivyaDesams - 2 of 18 Thirumaliruncholai, Azhagar Temple (Kallazhagar) திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை - அழகர் கோயில் ( கள்ளழகர் ) Pandiyanadu Divyadesams - 2 of 18 Thirumaliruncholai, Azhagar Temple (Kallazhagar) திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை - அழகர் கோயில் (கள்ளழகர்) 21 Kilometers north-east of Madurai This is perhaps among the few temples where the Utsava Moorthy - the processional deity - is more famous than the Moolavar. Sundararaja Perumal here is Kallazhagar. There is something interesting and divine about him. We have heard about "பத்தரை மாத்து தங்கம்" which I read is half-part of Copper metal for every 10 parts of gold. Then there is "பத்து மாத்து தங்கம்" which is just Gold alone, otherwise called as Sokkathangam (சொக்கத்தங்கம்). And then there is a superlative to it called "ஆயிரத்தெட்டு மாத்து தங்கம்" - which is a very highly purified Gold called Aparanji - அபரஞ்சி பொன். The Sundararaja Perumal is made from the purest gold called Aparanji. Only two Utsa...

  Pandiyanadu DivyaDesams - 1 of 18 Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple திருமோகூர் காளமேகப் பெருமாள் ஆலயம் Pandiyanadu DivyaDesams - 1 of 18 Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple திருமோகூர் காளமேகப் பெருமாள் ஆலயம் 13 Kilometers east of Madurai on the route to Melur In 1970 the Pandiyan express from Chennai to Madurai took about 11 hours and today it takes less than 8 hours. The Tejas day Express takes slightly more than 6 hours and I thought it was a good speed to cover 500 kilometers. It is the most convenient train from city center to city center. Wherever we go, we prefer staying close to the focal landmark. The place around Meenakshi temple has several functional lodges and one such is the Sabarees Residency. Unassuming, small, with decent well-airconditioned rooms and with 24 hrs hot water for less than Rs.2000. It is less than 250 meters from the west tower and in close proximity to some low-cost, tasty, and hygienic food places. We arrived a day earlier than the start of the tou...

Pandiya Nadu Divyadesams   பல்லாண்டு பல்லாண்டு பல்லாயிரத்தாண்டு பலகோடி நூறாயிரம் மல்லாண்ட திண்தோள் மணிவண்ணா! உன் செவ்வடி செவ்வி திருக்காப்பு I have been to the Nava Tirupati temples decades ago. I remember going by a rickety Ambassador taxi with my amma, appa, maternal aunt and uncle. I remember the lush green landscape and usually empty temples, some with beautiful Nayak-styled pillars with numerous Yalis. We had the blessings of the cosmos to travel and have Dharshan at the Pandya Nadu Divyadesams and a few other important temples en route. Most temples were filled with devotees arriving from far away and I was happy to see the Vairagya in each one of them when they waited to see the various Swamis with Bhakthi. Unlike Kumbakonam which is peppered with important temples in close quarters, this route is far and wide. We traveled with a group called Tirtha Yatra, based in Bangalore whose motto is "PILGRIMAGE IS RECONNECTION WITH GOD". We arrived in Madurai and traveled by bus...