The divine Dance stage-Chidambaram

                 After listening to the discourse of Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma garu named "Chidambara Rahasyam", Sreeram was very keen to visit Chidambaram. I don't know when The Lord had said "Tathastu", but, soon after finishing the series of those pravachanams, we had a blessing to touch that holy land. The 3rd day of the 3 day tour was that lucky day.
                             The temple has a very big complex and a very big tank named Shiva ganga. Before starting the trip, we felt like taking a dip in the holy water, but time didn't permit us. Anyways, this time we were satisfied with the sprinkling of water on the head.
                                         
There are many Upa-alayams in the very huge temple complex. We see few of them adorned with golden dome. That sanctum houses the Natraja Murthy, Amman and Chidambara rahasya sthanam. One can take ticket and go to the top stair to see the Lord from a lesser distance. There is Sphatika Lingam also receiving worship here which is believed to be brought by Adi Shankaracharya from Kailasam directly presented by Lord Shiva. The other Lingas brought along with this were placed and being worshipped at other temples.                                                     
                     
                       There are particular times of the day when they perform Aarathi to the Nataraja murthy. At the same times, they open the veil to bless with the Darshan of Aakasa Lingam. We find jut a Vilva mala hanging on the wall, which is also not clearly seen through the holes of the door. Legends say that as there is no limit to the sky, we can't limit the form of God thus indicating the Aakasa Tatwam of the Lord Shiva. Thus this is the one among the Pancha Bhoota Lingams. If a person is knowledged enough to witness the God in such a way spread all over the universe, then that is the correct way of living and that is believed to be the state of Moksha referred in the sloka which states "Darshanat Abhra Sadasi".
                              We were lucky to be present in the temple close to the time when the curtain was opened. Though we are not capable or eligible to understand the concept and pursue Darshan in that way, we just offered Pranam and proceeded further to cover the remaining part of the temple.
                                       The idol of Govinda Raja Swamy in the same complex tries to teach the devotees the oneness of Shiva and Kesava for the Sadhakas. If we stand at one point, we can see both Nataraja and Govinda raja at a time. This was explained to us by an elderly person in the temple, who patiently explained us a lot about the temple and it's history. We were lucky that he could speak English.
                      The back side of the sanctum of Nataraja hosts the actual Moolasthana lingam which is Swamyambhu. The 2 great devotees related to the sthala purnam of Chidambaram Patanjali and Vyaghra pada did penance here at Moolasthana linga to receive the grace of the Lord. Many divine souls did penance here at this place as per the directions of the almighty in their sadhana. If we request the Pujaris of the temple, they can take us to the top floor to have Darshan of Sthoola Aakasa Lingam. The Aagama Sastra of this temple is totally different from the other Shiva temples. So, the management of the temple is also separate and maintained by an individual trust. So the Pujaris keep asking us to subscribe for some sevas.
             There is a separate complex for Siva Kama Sundari and a very huge Vinayaka. There are many other prakaras hosting all the swaroopas that appear in the story behind this temple, like Thiru Jnana Sambandhar, Appar, Lord Subrahmanya and many more. There are actually 5 Sabhas mentioned in the puranam. If you are lucky to be a Telugu person, please do listen to Sri Samaedam Shanmuhkha Sarma garu's discourse before you visit this temple. That really keeps us on a truly happy and satisfactory note.
                    The temple of the Tillai Kali Amman is located in the outskirts of the village where the are 2 forms of the Goddess, one shanta murthy and the other being the roudra Murthy.
                             
                         We have to stay a longer time to actually get the total contended Darshan in Chidambaram. May god bless us to progress in sadhana to make Darshanam in the proper way in the Abhra sabha.

Thirukkarugavur, Thiruvarur and many more

                          Almighty is the only power that decides when, where and how things should happen. Though we came to know about the temple of Thirukkarugavur very long back, we were waiting for the Goddess's call for visiting the temple. At last the destined time arrived and we, along with our friend's family arrived at this holy place on 28th of May, 2016.
               We started early in the morning at home and on the way had the blessings of Sri Prasanna venkatachalapathy at Gunaseelam. The Perumal here is believed to be equally powerful as the Perumal of Thirupati.  Being Saturday, there was a little crowd, but the Darshan was very great. The next stop for us was at Thirukkarugavur.

    The Temple of Garbha Rakshambika here is famous for granting progeny as well as securing the infants when women face pregnancy related problems. The name of the Lord here is Mulaivana Nathar, which is Swayambhu. The temple reopens in the evening at 4PM, so we were waiting in the ousude Prakaram. There are separate tickets and puja kits for devotees depending the type of seva one wants to perform.  We took the one for granting progeny, which contained some oil lamps, a little container of ghee, flowers and other puja items. We were asked to lit some lamps at the Lord and the remaining in the presence of Goddess. The couple after having Amman's Darshan, wife should apply some ghee on the mahadwara in the Goddess' presence and should draw a small rangoli on that as per the priest's direction. After the puja gets finished, the couple will be given the ghee which should be consumed for 48 days continuously. The directions were given in the booklet given in the puja kit. 

      The Goddess Garbharakshambika is one of the most beautiful forms of all the Goddesses witnessed till date. It feels as if a very beautiful traditional housewife (muttaiduva) is standing before our eyes. The charm just left me spellbound. Even the Lord Mullaivana nathar murthy is a beautifully decorated swayambhu murthy bearing the sign of a jasmine's creep on Him. Thus the darshan of the Adi dampatulu left us in boundless joy. 

                                 
                             

          Thus finishing all the darshans in this temple, we headed towards Kumbhakonam for the night stay. As this was the 2nd time we were halting in Kumbhakonam, we could find a decent hotel quickly. By that time, all the temples were closed and as we decided to leave in the early hours of the next morning, we were not able to visit any temple in the town of temples this time.
                     Early in the next morning, we started and the first halt was at Swami malai for the blessings of Lord Subrahmanya swami. The darshan was very peaceful and heart-filling. We spent considerable time in the temple and took leave for the next glorious place Thiruvarur, Kamalalayam being its name in the spiritual terminology. As per the Shastra, taking birth in this place grants Moksha,the other 3 being, Death in Kasi, Smarana of Arunachalam (Thiruvannamalai) and Darshan of Chidambaram. (Jananat Kamalalaye)
                        This is a very big temple hosting Lord Shiva as Tyagarajeswara and the Goddess Kamalambika. The sangita trayam Tyagaraja, Shyama Sastry and Muttu swami Deexitar all 3 were born in this place indicating that they are the divine souls. We can spend minimum 2 hours to study the temple in detail. We were even blessed to touch the holy birth places of the sangita trayam now monumented in the same village. Out of the 3, we were explained in detail at the house of Sri Shyama Sastry garu and that in-charge person felt really happy that we turned up there even in such hot summer. But that was our luck that we could step on that holy land. The houses of the other 2 legends were locked. but we could go there , do pranam and proceeded further.
   The keys of the 3 houses were kept t the neighbor's places for the convenience of the visitors. So, though the door looks locked, one can inquire with the neighbors to get that opened.
             Thiruvarur is well known for its biggest chariot of the temple. We could see the dismantled Ratham in the streets that is going to be assembled during the Rathothsavam. The other unique feature I noticed was the posture in which the Gddess is seen. Goddess Kamalambika is found sitting cross legged like no where else.
                                      
                                       
 The next temple was Nachiyar Kala Garudan temple about which I mentioned in detail in a previous post of our Tamilnadu trip. Thirukkadayur was our next destination where the Lord and Goddess bless the devotees in the form of Amrutha Ghateswara and Abhirami amman respectively. We missed the darshan of teh Lord the previous time we visited this place, but this time we were so blessed to have great and divine time in this temple. Shiva is also found as Kala samhara murthy and anugraha murthy in the same premises indicating the story of Markandeya. According to some myths, this is the place where Markandeya was saved from the jaws of Yama to be blessed with Deerghaayu. So people come here to perform the Shashti purthi function to be blessed with a happy and healthy life further.
           The next place Sirkazhi was again a revisit. This is the abode of Sri Thiru Jnana sambandhar. The very huge temple complex has Lord Shiva and Parvathy and Hari Hara murthy on the top depicting the Shiva-Kesava abedha. Even we can find Lord Shiva in a big idol form here which is very rare. More details about Sirkazhi are available in my previous posts of Tamilnadu tour.
   The next unexpected destination was the abode of Ketu, Keezhaperumpallam. This is again a beautiful and divine place where we could attend the Aarathi and alankara seva by the grace of God.
                                          
Thus concluding the day's visits and darshans, we headed towards the most awaited "Darshanat Abhra sadasi'' place, Chidambaram for a night stay. Details of that kailasa in the next post......