Pillayarpatti
Pillayarpatti is around 16 kms from Karaikudi. This place hosts the very ancient and popular rock cut cave shrine of Lord Vinayaga - known as Lord Karpaga Vinayagar. This temple was built by Pandyas and the cave is believed to be carved out in 4th century AD. Other sanctums in the temple include Lingams Thiruveesar, Marudheesar and Senchadeswarar and respective Goddesses, Kathyayini, Laxmi, Saraswathi and Durga. We had a very good dharshan as there was no crowd then. The temple timings are 6 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 8.30 PM.
Morning 4:30, and we are starting to the Rameswaram temple. The Spatika Lingam dharshan happens between 5 AM to 6 AM. Spatika Lingam dharshan is one of the popular events of the temple - where the main deity would be behind the screens and a Spatika Lingam - 1 feet tall. The Abhishekams and pujas would be done for the Spatika Lingam for 1 hour - 5 AM to 6 AM and then the dharshan shall move on to the main deity. People throng to see the Spatika Lingam to get special blessings.
By 6 AM, we had bath at Agni Theertham - the banks of the sea. The visit to Ramanathaswamy temple is done in this order. Perform the Spatika Lingam dharshan early in the morning. Then, goto Angi Theertham and perform ocean bath during sunrise. Agni Theertham is the most prominent Theerthams of 22 Theerthams to visit before offering prayers to Lord Ramanathaswamy. Agni Theerthan is the ghat on the ocean where it is believed that the Agni (fire) is in form of water and shall wash away one's sins. We then continued to the rest of the 22 Theerthams as well. More info about this is available in my earlier blog:
http://karthikwander.blogspot.com/2017/07/rameswaram-and-around.html
Post holy bath and dharshan of the main deity, followed by the dharshan of other prominent sanctums of Goddess Parvathavardhini, Lord Natarajar in Rudra mandap, Athmalingam, Kasi Viswanathar and Lord Hanuman. There is also the Jeeva Samadhi of Siddhar - Pathanjali. Sri Pathanjali is considered the first siddhar.
We had breakfast at Murugan mess, which is located in the adjacent narrow street from the main temple. It is around 10 minutes walk from the temple and worth it. The pooris, pongal, idlies, vada were all good. The Murugan mess is locatable by Google maps.
We came out by 7:30 and had breakfast at a local restaurant in Pillayarpatti - Ganapathi Vilas on the temple road. The tiffen items were fairly good - homely - pongal, idlies, vada and dosas. Our next destination was Thirukoshtiyur. Thirukoshtiyur is around 16 kms from Pillayarpatti.
Thirukoshtiyur - Divya Desam
Thirukoshtiyur is one of the 108 divya desams and the presiding deity is Sri Sowmya Narayana Perumal. The temple timings are from 7 am – 12.30pm and 4.30pm-8.30pm. History says this is place where Brahma, Shiva, all devas, Saptha Rishis assembled to plan the death of Asura Hiranyakashipu. As they came as a group and hence Thirukoshtiyur, koshti meaning a group. The temple is of 3 tiers and Lord Vishnu poses as Nindran (standing posture), Kidanthan (sleeping posture), Aadinan (dancing posture). One has to climb narrow steep steps to reach the top tier on the gopuram to see all 3 levels. Elders and physically challenged people might find it difficult to reach to the top. One gets to also know that this is the place was the one where, Ramanuja was advised by Thirukachi Nambigal about a manthra and asked to keep it secret. But Ramanuja felt that sharing this mantra with the public as it should be useful to all of them. He went straight to the temple of Sowmya Narayana perumal and stood on the top of Gopuram and loudly shouted the Mantram. Then, Thirukachi Nambigal understands that it is natural for everyone to benefit and change.
Kundrakudi Murugan temple
Kundrakudi Murugan temple is around 5 kms from Pillayarpatti and 20 kms from Thirukoshtiyur. This temple is setup on top of a small hillock with steps carved out on the rocks. Lord Shanmuga is the presiding deity with Valli and Deivanai. Kundrakudi is also known locally as Kunnakudi. This temple is also one of the rock-cut temples built during Pandyas. Temple timings are 6 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM.
Day-2
Morning 4:30, and we are starting to the Rameswaram temple. The Spatika Lingam dharshan happens between 5 AM to 6 AM. Spatika Lingam dharshan is one of the popular events of the temple - where the main deity would be behind the screens and a Spatika Lingam - 1 feet tall. The Abhishekams and pujas would be done for the Spatika Lingam for 1 hour - 5 AM to 6 AM and then the dharshan shall move on to the main deity. People throng to see the Spatika Lingam to get special blessings.
By 6 AM, we had bath at Agni Theertham - the banks of the sea. The visit to Ramanathaswamy temple is done in this order. Perform the Spatika Lingam dharshan early in the morning. Then, goto Angi Theertham and perform ocean bath during sunrise. Agni Theertham is the most prominent Theerthams of 22 Theerthams to visit before offering prayers to Lord Ramanathaswamy. Agni Theerthan is the ghat on the ocean where it is believed that the Agni (fire) is in form of water and shall wash away one's sins. We then continued to the rest of the 22 Theerthams as well. More info about this is available in my earlier blog:
http://karthikwander.blogspot.com/2017/07/rameswaram-and-around.html
Post holy bath and dharshan of the main deity, followed by the dharshan of other prominent sanctums of Goddess Parvathavardhini, Lord Natarajar in Rudra mandap, Athmalingam, Kasi Viswanathar and Lord Hanuman. There is also the Jeeva Samadhi of Siddhar - Pathanjali. Sri Pathanjali is considered the first siddhar.
We had breakfast at Murugan mess, which is located in the adjacent narrow street from the main temple. It is around 10 minutes walk from the temple and worth it. The pooris, pongal, idlies, vada were all good. The Murugan mess is locatable by Google maps.
