OUR TOUR EXPERIENCES DURING THE TOUR TO
CHIDAMBARAM, SRIRANGAM AND MADURAI IN TAMILNADU
I and my wife discussed with my sister and
brother-in-law and proposed a 4 day trip to visit five important combination of
places in Tamil Nadu immediately after Navratri Puja. These are as under:
1.
Chidambaram ,
which is also called as Bhooloka Kailasam where Akasha Linga ( Natarajeswara
Swamy) is situated and Jambukeswar near
Srirangam where Jala Linga is concecreted. These are two of the five sacred
Pancha Bhoota Lingas.
2.
Sacred Abhirami
and Amritkadeswar temple in Thirukadaiyur.
3.
Lord Ranganatha
Swamy and Ranga Naiki Thayar (Sree Mahalakshmi) at Srirangam.
4.
Devi Meenakshi
and Swamy Sudareswara at Madurai.
5.
Thiruppurakunram
and Pazhamudircholai- two of the six abodes opted by Lord Subramanya Swamy.
We
made all travel arrangements to and from Bangalore, Stay arrangements at above
places and travel arrangements for Local and Outstation journeys to cover the above
places.
Four
of us took a KSRTC AIRAVAT Bus at 9.00 p.m. on 15th October and
started our journey to Chidambaram.
Day 1 – ( 16.10.13) –
Bangalore to Chidambaram – 345 km:
 |
| Chidambaram Temple |
We
reached Chidambaram at 5.00 a.m. travelling via Hosur, Krishnagiri,
Thiruvannamalai, Thirukkovilur.
Our
Rooms for stay have been booked in Hotel Saradharam and we checked into the
hotel at 5.30 a.m.
Mr.
Meenakshi Sankara Sharma who is our well wisher and one of the main priests at
Chidambaram Temple, came to our room and explained us the arrangements made by
him for the morning Darshan at the temple.
We
finished our daily routines and proceeded to the temple in traditional attire,
at 7 a.m. We had a good Puja and Darshan and visited other deities within the
main Sanctorum of Natarajaswamy Temple. We then witnessed the “Kalasandhi Puja”
which includes “Homam”, Abhishekam to the sacred Shivlingam given by Lord
Shankara to Shankaracharya and Maha Mangala Harathi. We were out of the temple
by 10 a.m. and went back to our Hotel Room to refresh.
We
finished our breakfast and started our journey at 10.15 a.m., to the next place
“Thirukadaiyur” which is about 45 km from Chidambaram. We reached the place at
11.30 a.m., and had a good darshan of Lord Amritkadeswar (Shiva), Kalasamhara Murti and Lord Kalla Pillayar. We
performed Kumkumarchana at Devi Abhirami Temple.
 |
| Thirukadaiyur Temple |
Once
a staunch devotee of Goddess, by named Abhirama Bhat had to prove that it was a
“Pournami” on an “Amavasya Night” to the King Sri Sarabhoji. Abhirami Devi threw
her “Tatankam” into the sky to prove that her devotee was right and saved the
life from the King. Abhirama Bhat expressed his gratitude by reciting “
Abhirami Antyadi”.
There
is a story about Amrita Kadeswar. Once Suras and Asuras churned the
“Palakadali” and obtained “Amritam”. However they forgot to pray Lord Ganesha
before they attempted “Amrita Madhanam”. Lord Ganesha got angry with them and stole
the “Amrita Kalasam” kept in this temple. The drop from “Amrita Kalasam” which
fell here formed as lingam and is called “Amrita Kadeswar” and Ganesha who
stole the “Amrita kalasa” is called “ Kalla Pillayar”.
There
is a story about “Kala Samhara Murti”. Markandeya was born with short life span
of 16 years. He prayed Lord Shiva by reciting “Chandrashekhara Ashtakam”. Lord Shiva
appeared before him and blessed with immortality. Yama who came to take the
life of Markendeya was kicked and killed by Shiva to save his Devotee. He then
at the request of Markandeya gave Yama his life back.
These
are the mythological background facts of this temple.
We
left the temple at 12.30 p.m to
Kumbakonam which is 60 km from Thirukadaiyur to do some shopping of Metal Puja
Items. We reached Kumbakonam at 2 p.m., and after finishing our lunch we went
out for shopping.
After
shopping, we started at 3.30 p.m and reached Vaitheeswaran Koil at 4.30 p.m. We
had a holy dip in the “Pushkarini” of
the temple and had good darshan of Lord Vaitheeswaran (Shiva), Lord Angarak (
Kuja or Mars) and Devi Thainayaki Ambal.
 |
Vaitheeswaran Koil Pushkarini Vaitheeswaran Temple
|
After
finishing the Darshans we proceeded back to Chidambaram at 6.30 p.m. Reached
Hotel Room at 6.45 p.m.
After
Dinner we had rest for the day.
Day 2 – ( 17.10.13) –
Chidambaram to Srirangam
We
finished our daily routines and went to Natraraja Swamy Temple and had Maha
Mangala Harathi Darshan and then went out for Breakfast. Had a good Breakfast
and checked out from the Hotel and started our second day journey at 10 a.m. to
Srirangam via Virudhachalam and reached Srirangam at 2.30 p.m. On the way we
had a small halt at a place called “Thirupattur” where the temple of “Brahma”
is situated. This is the second only temple of Lord Brahma on the earth. We had
a good darshan in the temple.
We have checked into Hotel
“Sooriya Guesthouse” near the temple. Had our Lunch and rested till 5 p.m. In
the evening we went to Sree Ranganatha Swamy Temple. Had Good Darshan of Lord Ranganatha Swamy and Ranganayaki Devi.
 |
| Srirangam Temple |
Retuned
to Hotel and rested for the day.
Day 3 – ( 18.10.13) – Srirangam
to Madurai
We
woke up at 4 a.m. and went to Kaveri Snan Ghat at “Ambamandapam” and had a good
holy dip in the river. After having holy bath, we went to temple to have one
more darshan of Lord Ranganatha Swamy and Devi Ranganayaki.
We
then proceeded to “Jambukeswar” which is about 3 k.ms from the Srirangam.
We
had good darshan of Lord Jambukeswar ( Jala Lingam) and Devi Akhilandeswari.
 |
| Jambukeswarar Temple |
After
Darshans at “Jambukeswar” we finished our early lunch at good Restaurant “
Sangeetha” in Tiruchirapalli and proceeded to Madurai at around 12 noon.
Reached Madurai at 2.30 and checked into Hotel “Khathir Place”.
At
5.00 p.m., we went to “ Thirupparakunram” which is about 8 kms from our place of stay. Had a good Darshan of Lord Subramanya Swamy,
along with Shiva, Amba, Ganesha. Thereafter at 6 p.m., we went to “
Pazhamudircholai” which is about 20 k.m., from here. We reached the Temple at about
7.00 p.m.,and had a good Darshan of Lord Murugan and also witnessed the
“pavalimpu Seva” done to “Srivalli, Devasena Sahita Lord Subramanyaswamy.
 |
| Thiruppurakunram Pazhamudircholai |
We
returned by to Madurai at around 8 p.m, and went to Madurai Temple to have
Darshan of Devi Meenakshi and Swamy Sundareswarar. After Darshan, we finished
our Dinner and returned to Hotel Room and rested for the day.
Day 4 – ( 19.10.13) – Madurai
 |
| Madurai Temple |
Morning
after finishing our routines and breakfast left for temple at 9.00 a.m., to
have Darshan. After Darshan we have done small shopping inside the temple
complex. After Lunch we had one more round of shopping of Sarees.
Evening
at around 6 p.m., we went for one more round of Darshan of “ Devi Meenakshi”
and went to Hotel to finish our early dinner.
At
9.30 p.m., on 19th, we took a KSRTC AIRAVAT bus and proceeded back
to Bangalore with the blessing of Devi Meenakshi and Swamy Sundareswar.
On
20th morning at 5.30 a.m., we reached Bangalore and are back at our
sweet home after a long tour for 4 days with sacred experiences and feelings in
our minds and thoughts.
