Most Powerful AshtaDasha Shakthi Peetam Temples of Goddess Shakthi

The Puranas and other Hindu scriptures describe that Mother Goddess Shakti was consecrated in Asta Dasha Shakti Peethas (18 prominent temples). The origin or the story of Asta Dasha Shakti Peetha temples goes like this…..

Sri Lanka - Shakthi Temple

 Once, King Daksha Prajapathi wanted to perform a Yagna. Except Lord Shiva he invited all the Gods and Sages. Despite her fathers recklessness towards her husband, Goddess Dakshayani went to the Yagna and got insulted. With anger and shame, she jumped into the Yagnagunda (the sacred spot of Yagna) and sacrificed her life.

By knowing this Lord Shiva became very ferocious and carried Dakshayanis dead body on his arms. He performed ‘Ugrathandava or ‘Rudrathandava (a dance form of Lord Shiva when he is angry). Lord Shivas rudrathandava created a bit of deluge in all lokas.

To solve this great problem, Lord Vishnu slashed Goddess Dakshayanis dead body partswqith his Sudrashana Chakra (the sacred discus). And the parts were fallen all over the places. The places where her body pars were fallen are worshipped as Astadasha Shakti Peethas (18 prominent temples of Mother Goddess – Shakti).

According to some Hindu Mythology books, the total number of Shakti Peethams is 108. And some more sacred texts describe that there are 51 prominet Goddess Shakti temples. But most people believe that the 18 Shakti temples are most auspicious Shakti Peethams, which are also referred as Astadasha Shakti Peethas.

The list of 18 important places of Ashtadasa Shakti peethas is collected from a Shloka written by Great Spiritual Guru Adi Shankaracharya shakthi peetams are depicted in this small sloka- learn this and memorize this and visit if your time permits.

Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure /
Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane //

Alampure Jogulamba, Sri shaile Bhramarambika /
Kolha pure Maha lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika //

Ujjainyam Maha kali, Peethikayam Puruhutika /
Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike //

Hari kshetre Kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari /
Jwalayam Vishnavi devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika //

Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati /
Ashtadasha Shakti peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham //

Sayamkale pathennityam, Sarva shatri vinashanam /
Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham //

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Sabarimala Ayyappan Importance of the place

Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is one of the most ancient and prominent Sastha temples in the country. Located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is one of the few Hindu temples in India that is open to all faiths. The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Surrounded by mountains and dense forest Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated. Perhaps the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is Sabarimala. Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa.



The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of India, but also from other parts of the country and abroad. The shrine gets thronged with devotees especially during the main pilgrim season from November to January. Mandala pooja (November16,2009) and Makaravilakku(Jan.14th) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).


Certain customs are to be strictly observed if one has to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe austerities for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non vegetarian food and carnal pleasures. Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed. The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women who have either passed their fertility age and those before reaching the stage of puberty. The easiest route is via Chalakkayam, by which one can reach the banks of the river Pamba by vehicle. Pamba is the main halting point on the way to Sabarimala. From here one has to trek 4 to 5 kms to reach the temple.
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Know the Details Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
Temple Name: Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Kshetram.
Renovated In: 1733 AD.
Alias Name: AnantaPuri.
God Name: Sri Anantha PadmanabhaSwamy.
Goddess Name: Sri Hari Lakshmi Thayaar.
Dedicated To: Lord Vishnu.
Pushkarni: Matsya Theertham alias Padma Theertham.
Vimanam: Hemakoota Vimanam.
Renovated By: Raja Marthanda Varma.
Location: Trivandrum(Kerala).
State: Kerala.
Country:India.

Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.Inside the temple dress regulations are strictly enforced.
The Temple Open:
(04.15-05.15hrs,06.45-07.30hrs,08.30-10.30hrs,11.30-11.45hrs,17.15-19.30hrs).
Dress Code:
Men – Dhoti.
Women – Saree and Blouse.
Temple Location:
It is found 3/4 miles away from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. (inside the East Fort).

The history of the temple dates back to the 8th Century CE, when Thiruvananthapuram was ruled by the Chera Dynasty. The Divya Prabandha canon of literature by the Alvars glorifies this shrine as one of 11 Divya Desams in Kerala. It is said that there are references to this temple in four puranas; namely Brahma, Vayu, Varaha, Padma. The 8th century Alvar poet Nammalvar created four slokas and one phalasruthi about this temple.
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Gopuram

The foundation of the present gopuram was laid in 1566.The temple has a 100-foot, seven-tier gopuram made in the Pandyan style.The temple stands by the side of a tank, named Padma Theertham (meaning the lotus spring). The temple has a corridor with 365 and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with elaborate carvings. This corridor extends from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum. An eighty-foot flag-staff stands in front of the main entry from the 'prakaram' (corridor). The ground floor under the gopuram (main entrance in the eastern side) is known as the 'Nataka Sala' where the famous temple art Kathakali was staged in the night during the ten-day uthsavam (festival) conducted twice a year, during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam.

Mythology:
Padmanabha Swamy Temple stands at a place considered as one of the seven Parasurama Kshetras,texts including the Puranas,particularly the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana,have references for this shrine.Tradition states that in this place,the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu gave darshan to Indian sages like Divakarmuni and Vilvamangalam Swami.Another story tells of an pulaya couple seeing Vishnu in the form of a child.The child took morsels of rice from the hands of the couple.Also it is believed that Divakaramuni,when he saw the deity he took the first food item he saw which was an Unripe Mango and a coconut shell as an offering plate and performed primary pooja.In memory of this legend,naivedyam or offering prepared from rice is offered to the deity here in a coconut shell.

Thiruvannamalai - A Great Place of Lord Shiva

Thiruvannamalai, a town of about 1.5 lakh people and a district head quarters is one of the numerous temple towns in Tamilnadu. Even in this state filled with many such places, Thiruvannamalai stands out. The gigantic Arunachaleshwara temple complex set against the backdrop of the majestic Arunachala (red mountain) hill attracts devotees and tourists in thousands. The whitewashed Raja gopuram at 218 feet is one of the tallest temple towers in the state. It may not be as colourful as the Madurai one, but is every bit as impressive with its scale.

The temple complex as seen in Google Earth

While the temple, impressive as it is, is just a part of what makes Thiruvannamalai special. It is the holy Arunachala mountain, considered an embodiment of Lord Shiva himself that adds to the flavor of the town. It has been and continuing to attract countless saints / sadhus over the centuries . The more famous of the sadhus, Ramana Maharishi amongst the earliest, with their international followers brought a different dimension to TVmalai. Crisscrossing foreigners in their cycles and sundry sadhus (real and fake) jostling for space with the devotees give a unique feel to the town. A massive afforestation effort has even managed to green this grey mountain and climb up the hill is a nice trek.

Where it is Situated ?

"The Arunachaleswar Shiva temple in Tiruvanamalai situated at the foot of the Arunachala hill, is one of the largest (25 acres) and oldest temples in all of south India. The era of its founding is unknown; the complex grew over several millenia; and the large towers, called gopurams, were erected between the 10th and 16th centuries. The tallest gopuram is over 60 meters tall and has 13 stories..."

* "The hill temple Arunachaleswara temple is one of the largest shrines in South India, sprawling 25 acres. It is dedicated to Lord Siva and one of the 12 Jothilingams in India. The giant 200 ft Gopuram towers over the giant gateway..."

* "The ancient and vast Arunachaleswarar Temple as it stands today is the result of several centuries of building, alteration and extension. A Nandi faces the main shrine in each of its five prakarams. The outermost prakaram houses the thousand pillared hall and the Shiva Ganga tank and is pierced on four sides with colossal Gopurams..."

* "...When we observe the general structure of the temple, we notice that there are five small gopurams on the inner boundary and four big gopurams on the outer boundary. The inner gopurams are known as Kitti gopurams. There are two gopurams in the East and one gopuram each for the other three directions. The first of the two Eastern gopurams is called Kili gopuram. There are indications that this was built in the 11th century. The gopurams built during this period have no more than five stories. The Kili gopuram was built by Veera Rajendra Chozhan around 1063 A.D. He is referred to as Maharaja Thiribuvana Chakravarthigal in the inscription.This name was also given to the gopuram. The Kitti (smaller) gopurams, except the top of the western one, were built by the Hoysala King Vallala Maharaja III. His name is given to the biggest Kitti gopuram which is in the East..."

An interesting legend...

In India there are three major categories of pilgrimage temples dedicated to the god Shiva: the Jyotir Lingams; the Svayambhu Lingams, and the Bhuta Lingams. Located in five south Indian temples, the Bhuta Lingams are sa to be places where Shiva manifested himself as the natural elements. The temples and their respective elements are Chambaram: ether, Sri Kalahasti: wind, Tiruvanaikka/Jambunath: water, Kanchipuram: earth, and Tiruvanamalai: fire. Chambaram is also associated with the heart, Tiruvanaikka with the stomach, and Tiruvanamalai with the chest.

An interesting legend, told in the excellent book Pilgrimage in the Hindu Tradition by Alan Morinis, tells how the sacred hill of Arunachala came to be associated with the fire Lingam of Shiva. Mourning the loss of his wife Sati, Shiva was wandering nude in the forests of Daruvana and was seen by the wives of certain sages. The women were aroused at the sight and desired to unite with him. The jealous sages cursed the god's linga (phallus) to fall off. As it touched the earth it grew to immense size like a great shining column. The gods Brahma and Vishnu saw it when its top had reached upwards beyond the clouds and its lower end was buried deep in the earth. They deced to investigate. Taking the form of a boar Vishnu dived into the depths of the primeval ocean to reach the base of the column, and Brahma taking the form of a swan flew up to its top. When they returned Vishnu honestly confessed that he could not find the foundations, while Brahma boasted that he had reached the summit. At this moment Shiva appeared, denounced Brahma as a liar, praised Vishnu for his honesty, and declared that the column could not be measured because it was his Linga. At the request of Vishnu, Shiva left part of his Linga in its 'tejas', or fire form, on the Arunachala hill.

The Arunachaleswar Shiva temple in Tiruvanamalai (Tiruvanamalai is the Tamil word for the Sanskrit Arunachala), situated at the foot of the Arunachala hill, is one of the largest (25 acres) and oldest temples in all of south India. The era of its founding is unknown; the complex grew over several millenia; and the large towers, called gopurams, were erected between the 10th and 16th centuries. The tallest gopuram is over 60 meters tall and has 13 stories. The central temple enshrines images of Shiva as Lord Annamalai and his consort as Unnamalai. Every year during the Hindu month of Kartikai (November-December), the great Deepam festival is held to celebrate Shiva's manifestation as the light of Arunachala. For ten days the whole city of Tiruvanamalai is alive with celebration, processions, dancing and singing. On the final day of the festival, the eve of the full moon, a huge beacon fire is lighted atop the hill in commemoration of the fire left by Shiva. Many thousands of pilgrims flock to this exciting festival from all over southern India. Arunachala hill is consered a miraculous healing place, especially for ailments of the lungs and barrenness in women. The hill of Arunachala is also a symbol of spiritual knowledge and several great sages have lived here, including Arunagirinathar, the author of the Tiruppugal, and Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950).

Access
Thiruvannamalai is 107 km from Kumbakonam and 185 km from Chennai.The nearest Airport from Tiruvannamalai is Chennai which is 182 k.m. Tiruvannamalai is situated in between Katpadi and Viluppuram Junctions on the railway line. It is well connected by road with various parts of country.

The Rameshwaram - one of 12 jyothirlingas

Apart from being a Pilgrimage centre, Rameshawaram is one of the major marine food centres in the south, much of its fish and prawn catch being exported. Known as the Varanasi of the south, Rameswaram is a major pilgrimage centre for both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites, as it was here where Lord Rama worshipped Lord Siva after the war against Ravana. At the heart of the town is the Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the most important temples in southern India.

Rameswaram lies on an island in the Gulf of Mannar, connected to the mainland at Mandapam by rail and by one of India's engineering wonders, the Indira Gandhi Bridge. The bridge took 14 years to build and was opened by Rajiv Gandhi late in 1988.

Sightseeing at Rameshwaram : Rameshwaram temple
Ramanathaswamy Temple : A remarkable example of late Dravidian architecture, this temple is most noted for its excellent corridors lined with massive sculptured pillars with their elaborate design, style and rich carving. Legend has it that Rama sanctified this place by worshipping Siva here after the battle of Sri Lanka. The construction work commenced in the 12th century AD and further developments were made over the centuries by successive rulers, and hence, today its gopuram is 53 m high. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the inner sanctorum.

Kothandaraswamy Temple & Dhanushkodi : 12 km from town, this temple was the sole structure to withstand the 1964 cyclone which washed the rest of the village away. Legend states that Vibishana, brother of Sita's kidnapper Ravana, surrendered to Rama at this spot.

Adam's Bridge : Adam's Bridge is the name given to the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connects Sri Lanka with India. According to legend, this is the series of stepping stones used by the monkey army, lead by Hanuman to cross the ocean in a bid to rescue Sita from the clutch of Ravana.

Gandhamadana Parvatam : The stepped mandapam or hall, about a mile and a half west of the Ramanathaswamy Temple offers an excellent view of the countryside. There is a footprint here believed to be of Lord Rama.

Dhanushkodi Beach : Dhanushkodi beach is the best place for a laid back leisure hours.

Best Season to Visit : Through out the year.

Reaching Rameshwaram :
Rail : The are many train to Chennai daily. It is connected directly to Manamadurai and Trichy. The passenger trains run at regular interval from Madurai.
Road : The city is well connected to Madurai, Kanyakumari, Chennai and Trichy. It is also connected to Pondicherry and Thanjavur via Madurai.

STD/ISD Codes :
If dialing from India -------04573 (number)
If dialing from abroad -------++91-4573 (number)

Shopping in Rameshwaram :
Rameswaram is famous for variety of exquisite handicraft and decorative items. There are several shops near the temples, where you can find different items made from palm leaf, beads and seashells. Khadicraft is the place from where you can purchase your handicraft items. Rameswaram silk sarees are very popular among the ladies.

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In short
Rameshwaram, Southeast of Madurai, on an island in the Palk Straits, is the temple town of Rameswaram, a sacred place for Hindus. According to the Ramayana, this is the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva, to absolve himself of the sin of killing Ravana. Every nook and corner of Rameswaram is steeped in episodes from the Ramayana. Rameswaram is the Varanasi of the south, and is a major pilgrimage centre for Vaishnavites and Shaivites.

Place of importance :- one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Legend says that Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands where Lord Rama performed worship of a Sand Lingam made by Sita. Lunch at Rameshwaram. Return to Madurai.

Ramanathaswamy, The 17th century temple close to the sea, on the eastern side of the island, is ,renowned for its magnificent pillar corridor, running to a length of 1200 metres, and flanked by ornate pillars.

Agnitheertham, 100 metres away from the temple is Agnitheertham, where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva, to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana.

Gandamadana Parvatham, Situated on the highest point in the island, 2 km north of Rameswaram town centre, is the venerable shrine, housing the imprint of Lord Rama's feet placed on a chakra.

Access by Air:
Rameshwaram doesn’t have its own airport: the nearest airport is Madurai, which is 173 kms away.

Access by Rail:
Rameshwaram is connected with all major cities like Madras, Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Tanjavur.

Access by Road:
Connected by road to all important towns.

more...
After Morning breakfast check out hotel and proceed to Kanyakumari it is the place were Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meets and it is very important pilgrimage center for Hindu's on arrival Kanyakumari check in hotel later on proceed for a local tour visit Vevakananda rock, Gandhi Museum, Kumari Amman Temple etc evening after sun set return back to hotel and over night stay at hotel .

titbit : Rameshwaram is the birth place of THE GREAT PRESIDENT OF INDIA A.P.J ABDUL KALAM

Guruvayur - The Gods own city

Guruvayur is a small town in Thrissur District not far from the sea. There is no sea breeze, the sand has long been hidden under paving stones, and we can’t hear the roar of the ocean. All eyes, ears and hearts are drawn inward, to what is for many of us the centre of the universe. Life here revolves around the Sri Krishna or Guruvayurappan Temple.



The small idol, made of black bismuth, a magnetic stone, represents Mahavishnu carrying his conch, discus, lotus and mace. The pujas conducted here are said to be laid down by Adi Shankara. They are performed by celibate priests who, for the duration of their tenure (six months at a time), do not leave the premises. Much of this worship is carried out behind closed doors, and the silence and mystery enhances the effect of the sudden, radiant glimpses of the deity.

The temple is crowded nearly all year round and is a favourite stop on the way to Sabarimala. All this makes a good darshan quite an achievement, but the long, hot wait, the cutters-in, the unholy jostling, the confused stumble at the last, are all forgot­ten in one timeless moment that leaves everyone with beaming faces.
In short
-------------------------
Dedicated to the deity Lord Guruvayurappan, the temple at Guruvayur is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Kerala, South India. Come and experience a special form of happiness as you get a darshan of Lord Guruvayurappan or Lord Krishna at the temple at Guruvayur, Kerala, and South India. The Guruvayur Temple is said to be the second Dwarka and according to a very popular local legend when the real Dwarka got submerged under the sea, a devotee of Lord Krishna saved this idol from drowning and this idol of Lord Krishna was established at the Guruvayur temple.

Another legend propagates the fact that the idol of Lord Guruvayurappan mirrors the form in which the deity appeared to the mortal parents of Lord Krishna just before he took birth. Locals believe that Lord Brahma prayed at the Guruvayur Temple and the tradition of serpent worship is very rampant here. The popular festivals that are celebrated at the Guruvayur Temple are Astami Rohini, Chembai music festival, Ekadsi and Ulsavam.
How to Reach Guruvayoor Temple

By Air
The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport located at a distance of 80 kilometers.

By Rail
Guruvayoor has an independent railway station just a few kilometers from the temple. Else, one can access the temple from the Thrissur railway station, which is just an hour's drive from here.

By Roads
Guruvayoor is well connected by a wide network of roads to all major towns and cities of Kerala and is easily accessible.

Mantralaym - A Place where great saint burried himself.

About Mantralaya Raghavendra Swamy - 
Mantralaya Acharya Sri Raghavendra Swamy

Madhwa(it is a sub sect of brahmins in indian caste system) Saint Sri Raghavendra attained his Jeeva Samadhi (burried himself when alive) at Mantralayam near Kurnool some 300 years ago.

A large number of followers and devotees of all religious sects throng this little town located on the banks of river Tungabhadra all through the year. The mutt, called the Raghavendra brindavanam, houses the jeeva samadhi of Swamy Raghavendra, a great saint of the sixteenth century who was an exponent of the Dwaita School.

01-SREE RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY BHAJANALU1

• Aadal Kalaiye.mp3
• Azhaikkiran.mp3
• Kathiravan.mp3
• Mazhaikku.mp3

He entered alive into the samadhi on Bidagi day on shravana bahula in Vasodhikritanama sanvatsara. On that day the saint completed all the morning rituals and granted final benediction to the assembled devotees and said, "Though I cast off my mortal frame, I shall always be here and protect the sanatana dharma according to the command of Shri Hari.

I will abide here in my subtle body and protect all my devotees". So saying the saint directed his tearful devotees to raise a structure of holy stones and seal it with 1200 Laxminarayana Saligrams. The life of Saint Raghavendra is a source of great inspiration and strength to his myriad devotees. Called Venkatanath in his purvashrama days, Swami Raghavendra was a grahastha.

When his Guru Sudhindra Tirtha wanted to make him the head of his Peetha, Venkatnath politely refused saying that he could not abandon his duties as a grahastha to his wife and his son. However, as per divine design he had a vision that convinced him that he should enter sanyasa and assume the mantle of the peetha. Thus began the story of saint Raghavendra.

Throughout his life Swami Raghavendra worked tirelessly to spread the worship of Hari and with the blessings of his lord performed many a miracle. The Devotees are allowed to do the ’arathi’ themselves to the sanctum sanctorum.

Listen Raghavendra Swamy Bhajans. SREE RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY BHAJANALU.
The mutt also undertakes the feeding of the devotees once a day during lunchtime. The drive back to the railway station to catch the Chennai mail is pleasant. Thousand sunflowers bid you farewell on the way.

How to reach Mantralayam 

• Paarthalle......mp3
• Sri Rama Namam.mp3
• Unakkum Ennakkum.mp3

• Air: The nearest air port to Mantralayam is Hyderabad at a distance of 351 km.
• Rail: The nearest rail head is Mantralayam Road on Madras - Raichur route at a distance of 15 km from Mantralayam.
• Bus: A.P. Tourism conducts a package tour from Hyderabad, Buses are available to Mantralayam from Kurnool to Hyderabad.

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial bus station (Gawliguda):

• Reservation 040-24734158
• Enquiries 040-24618685, 24614406
• Alighting Point 040-24601919

Jubilee Bus Station:

• Enquiries & Reservations: 040-27802203

Sabarimala- Swamiyaee Saranam Ayyappaa

The south Indian state of Kerala, only 10 degrees above the equator, is a land of steep mountains thickly covered with splendid tropical forests. The early people of this region, of a Dravidian ancestral stock, lived amongst the trackless valleys and roaring streams in small tribal groups. Farming little, they hunted in the teeming forests, and their primary deity, Ayappa, was a youthful forest god. Various legends explain the birth of Ayappa (also known as Dharmasasta).

 One begins with Shiva roaming the mountain kingdoms of the Himalayas. There he sees a lovely maiden and, overcome with desire, he makes passionate love with her. But the maiden is married to another man, a tribal chieftain who vows revenge on the god. The tribal chieftain retires to an ice cave in the high mountains and practices austerities for a thousand years. Through these austerities he gains great psychic powers and finally goes forth to punish Shiva. From the heights of Mt. Kailash, Shiva sees the tribal chieftain approaching.

The chieftain looks like a terrible demon and Shiva, overcome with fear, calls on the god Vishnu for assistance and protection. Vishnu manifests himself as a beautiful damsel, seduces the demon chieftain, and destroys him. But then Shiva, once again overcome with sexual desire, sees the radiant damsel (who is merely Vishnu in another form) and mates with her. Out of this union comes a baby boy named Ayappa.

Embodying the qualities of both Vishnu and Shiva, Ayappa is an avatar (divinity in human form) born into the world to battle the demons of the hill tribes of Kerala. Shiva tells the magical child of his dharma-life (a life of service), and leaves him upon the bank of a mountain stream where he is discovered by a childless tribal king. Brought up by the king, Ayappa does many miracles, is a great healer and a defeater of demons. After fulfilling the purpose of his incarnation Ayappa entered the inner sanctum of the ancient temple upon sacred Mt. Sabari and disappeared.

During his mythical life, Ayappa kept the company of tigers and leopards. Mystics living in the deep forests surrounding the Sabarimala Mountains have for a thousand years reported seeing Ayappa riding through the jungles upon a majestic tiger.


The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Before beginning the multi-day walk through the mountain jungles to get to Sabarimala, the pilgrims prepare themselves with 41 days of rigorous fasting, celibacy, meditation and prayer. Finally arriving at the shrine, the pilgrims will wait in line for hours, even days, to have one or two seconds in front of the image of Ayappa.

After seeing the deity, many pilgrims will complete a vow called Shayana Pradikshanam. In the Malayalam language of Kerala, Shayana means “body” and Pradakshinam means “revolution,” so Shayana Pradakshinam means “revolution with the Body.” This devotional practice is done not only in Sabarimala but also in other temples in Kerala.
The Sabarimala shrine is only open a few times each year: the Mandalam festival covering 41 days from November 15 to December 26; the Makaravilakku from January 1-14; on Vishu, the day of the vernal equinox in April; and during smaller festivals in May/June and August/September. The shrine, unlike many in southern India is open to persons of all religious callings, and there are no caste restrictions during the pilgrimage. However, women - unless they are younger than six or older than sixty - are not allowed to come to Sabarimala.

This is explained by referring to the celibacy of Ayappa and the concern that he might be lured away from his shrine by a woman his age (if certain readers find this somewhat sexist, they are informed that there are particular goddess shrines in south India which men are forbidden to enter). It is said that during the pilgrimage periods no tigers are found along the forest trails leading to Sabarimala. This is explained as resulting from Ayappa’s power over tigers. Other holy places associated with Ayappa are Kulattupuzha, Aryankavu, Accankovil, and Kantamala.

Mandalam means 41 days
Deeksha - Strictly following divine principles

Tiruvannamalai - Lord shiva temple

Tiruvannamalai the home of Annamalayaar or Arunachaleswarar (Shiva worshipped as a Shiva Lingam) and Unnamulaiyaal (Apitakuchambaal - Parvati), is one of the largest temples in India. It occupies a special place in the Saivite realm and is regarded as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams (one of the five grand temples associated with the five basic elements) – associated with the element Fire, the other four being Tiruvanaikkaval (Water), Chidambaram (Space), Kanchipuram (Earth) and Sri Kalahasti (Wind) respectively. Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet, Bhramma and Vishnu attempted in vain to reach. A celebration of this manifestation is seen today in the age old traditions observed in the Shivaratri and the Kartikai Deepam Utsavams held here.

Architecture: The ancient and vast Arunachaleswarar Temple as it stands today is the result of several centuries of building, alteration and extension. A Nandi faces the main shrine in each of its five prakarams. The outermost prakaram houses the thousand pillared hall and the Shiva Ganga tank and is pierced on four sides with colossal Gopurams. . The fourth prakaram includes the Bhramma Tirtham, and its eastern gateway Vallala Gopuram holds a statue of King Ballala. The third prakaram which dates back to the 12^th century AD has several Linga Shrines, and the Kili Gopura Entrance. In the East side of the prakaram stands the Flag Staff while the Northern side is home to the massive shrine of Unnamulai Amman. The 3^rd prakaram surrounds the roofed 2^nd prakaram which houses the pantheon of deities associated with Shiva, which in turn surrounds the shrine of Annamalaiyar.

Worship and Services:

An elaborate protocol of worship services marks each day at the Tiruvannamalai temple where about a hundred and fifty people are attached to the temple including priests, musicians, singers, carpenters, potters, washermen, palanquin bearers, garland makers, administrators, guards etc.

The day begins with the ceremonial arrival of Ganga to the shrine, from a tank in the Southern part of the town on an elephant through the Southern, Tirumanjana Gopuram. This water cleanses the entrance to the second prakaram, and then the next ritual involving the waking up of Shiva and Parvati in the bedchamber. The Shiva-Meru returns to the Annamalaiyaar shrine while the image of Parvati returns to the Unnamulaiamman shrine.

Six other pujas are offered at the temple, the first one at 6 am, and the last one at night where the Shiva Meru and the image of Parvati are processionally brought into the bed chamber. Each service is accompanied by chants of invocation, dedication and praise. In the south west corner of the prakaram, the sacrificial fire ritual takes place, ending with the consecration of vessels of water which are used in the ablution of Annamalaiyaar and Unnamulai Amman.

Festivals:

Several festivals dot the Tiruvannamalai temple town's calendar. IEach occurrence of the full moon is a celebration in itself, as hundreds of thousands throng to circumambulate the Annamalai Hill, considered to be a reperesentationof Annamalaiyar himself. The festivals of the temple are remarkably intertwined with the life of the locals, marking the so called subtle transcendence between the human and the divine states. In addition to the various festivals, Tiruvannamalai celebrates four annual Bhrammotsavams (10 day festivals) the most famous of which is the Kartikai Bhrammotsavam (in the Tamil month of Kartikai Nov 15 - Dec 15).

The Arudra Darisanam in the month of Margazhi (Dec 15 through Jan 15) is a celebration of the cosmic dance of Shiva. The Tai Poosam festival which occurs in the month of Tai (Jan 15 through Feb 15) is also of great significance. The Tiruvoodal festival, enacting a mock quarrel between Annamalaiyaar and Unnamulai Amman is enacted in the presence of Sundaramoorthy Nayanaar in the Tiruvoodal Street, a street that has been earmarked for this annual event. During this quarrel, Parvati enters the temple alone by herself, leaving Shiva outside, and Shiva (Annamalaiyaar) circumambulates the Annamalai hill (himself), and during his trip, grants liberation to the rishi Bhringi. His jewels get stolen in the West side of the town and he then recovers stolen jewellery in the eastern side of the town, and then returns to the temple the folowing morning.

In the month of Maasi, (Feb 15 through March 15) Shiva is crowned as the King in the absence of a royal heir to King Ballala of the Hoysala dynasty (an early 14th century ruler) whose statue adorns the Vallala Gopuram. Interestingly Ballala's death is announced as an element of the festival tradition during the Tai Poosam celebration season. Associated with these events, Annamalaiyaar visits Pallikondapattu, one of the villages to the east of Tiruvannamalai, where the King's palace is said to have stood.

The Parivettai (Royal Hunt) festival is a part of the two Bhrammotsavams celebrated during the winter and summer solstices. This festival represents a royal hunt on the borders of the town.

The celebration of Kartikai Deepam marks the conclusion of the ten day Bhrammotsavam in the month of Kartikai (Scorpio , Nov 15 through December 15). Each of these festival days is marked by the procession of the Pancha Murthys (Somaskandar (Annamalayar), Unnamulaiyaal, Ganapati, Subramanyar and Chandikeswarar) in gaily decorated mounts. Most noteworthy among these are the Rishabha Vahana Utsavam celebrated on the fifth evening of the festival and the Rathotsavam, celebrated on the seventh day of the festival.

Kartikai Deepam is preceeded by the Bharani Deepam celebration when a lamp is lit in the main shrine of the temple following a fire sacrifice before the shrine of Surya. A small bowl of ghee lighted at this fire is used to light five other lamps representing the five aspects of Shiva. Preparations begin for the Kartikai Deepam which is to be celebrated in the afternoon. A group of fishermen carry a portion of this fire inside a container of baked earth to the summit of the mountain where a large copper utensil filled with offerings of ghee and pieces of cloth has been placed.

Crowds begin to throng the temple complex, and a discernible order prevails among the crowd as the tens of thousands gathered begin their patient wait for the auspicious moment when the Deepam celebration would reach its peak.

In the meanwhile, preparations go on for the afternoon’s climax. Four of the five decorated Pancha Murthys are are brought out from the main shrine of the temple and housed in Vimanams in the 3^rd prakaram of the temple, facing the flag staff and the Annamalai Hill. The last to arrive is Annamalaiyar who comes out of the second prakaram, dancing with his consort.

The crowd waits to catch a glimpse of the deepam which is then brought out of the inner shrine towards the Utsavar Annamalayaar. The anticipation of the lakhs gathered there can only be experienced, not described in words. The deepam is brought out in a gait by the bearers and a deeparadanai is offered to the Utsavar, and at this very instant, the lamp on the hill is lighted as the crowd breaks into a frenzied devout cheer, yet retaining the order that was there when it was just beginning to assemble. The human mass gathered within and around the precincts of the temple, along with the residents of the town and neighboring towns catch sight of the flame atop the Annamalai hill, cherishing the age old belief that it is a representation of Shiva himself, who appeared in the form of a flame whose origins could not be deciphered by the other two of the Trinity namely Bhramma and Vishnu. Keeping with tradition, the inner sanctum doors close, with the arrival of the deepam outside, and it is believed Annamalaiyaar is to be worshipped only as the beacon until the next morning when the shrine is reopened.

Access and Accomodation: Tiruvannamali (located in the erstwhile North Arcot district of Tamilnadu) has several hotels and ashrams and it attracts visitors from all over the world Ramanashramam and Seshadri Swami ashram being examples. Each occurrence of a full moon attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. The Kartikai Deepam celebration also attracts lakhs (hundreds of thousands) to the extent that all incoming traffic is halted at the boundary of the town on the day of the festival. The government of Tamilnadu runs special bus and train services during the occasion. By car, it is a four to five hour drive from Chennai, and there are several 'point to point' non-stop bus services. Tiruvannamalai is located on the railway line linking Villuppuram and Katpadi, and is therefore connected conveniently by rail to centers such as Tirupati and Thanjavur. Tirukkoilur with the Trivikrama temple and the Veeratteswarar temple, Saathanur Dam, and Vellore with its Jalakanteswarar Fort Temple are some of the nearby attractions.

India - At a Glance

Introduction to Indian Tourist Attractions


India is actually a ‘Jewel in the Crown’ as far as tourism is concerned. The country is a hot-spot tourist destination for tourists from all over the world. India is synonymous with great culture, unique civilization, glorious history and ancient traditions. India is a paradise for travelers and has many cultural, architectural, historical, culinary, adventure, religious, spiritual, sports, and more wonderful opportunities for travelers. There is a lot to see and do in India. India is a vast country with people of many different ethnic backgrounds, religions, customs, languages, lifestyles and cuisines.

A visit to this great country offers a wonderful opportunity to see the interesting mix of various religions, festivals, customs, sounds and sights. The whole of India encompasses numerous tourist attractions from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, Gujarat in the east to Arunachal Pradesh in the east. Some of the more magnificent tourist attractions that can be found in India come in the form of beautiful natural places – the mighty Himalayan Mountains and other mountain ranges like Sahyadris, Shivaliks, Nilgiris, Aravallis etc. and majestic rivers likes Ganges, Yamuna, Jhelum, Narmada etc. and beaches, coastlines, deserts, forests, sanctuaries and national parks and so on. Other tourist attractions include the exquisite temples, palaces, forts, museums, historical monuments and so on. The famous tourist places are Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra, Goa, Kashmir, Kerala, Kovalam, Alleppey, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Aurangabad and many more.

Delhi


Delhi is India’s capital city and is a well developed and modernized city with a pulsating and happening lifestyle. Most of the tourists start their tour of the country from this city. Delhi has always been the home of the highest seat of power and administration since long ago. Even today, it is the political and administrative nerve center of India and is home to the highest offices of the government. Delhi was the capital of Mughal Empire and thus has many Mughal buildings with typical Mughal architecture. The places of tourist interest in Delhi are the Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Chandani Chowk, Hauz Khas, Safdarjung’s Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Old Fort, Zoo, Nehru Planetarium, Pragati Maidan, Doll’s Museum, Birla Mandir, Jantar Mantar Lotus Temple, Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhawan etc. All the Mughal buildings are impressive structures made of red sandstone with marvelous carvings. The places for shopping are the Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place, South Extension and Sarojini Nagar Market and so on.

Rajasthan



Rajasthan is the desert state of India and is famed for the glorious history of the Rajput kings and warriors. It is home to magnificent forts, palaces, temples, lakes, lake palaces, shrines and mausoleums. The places worth visiting in Rajasthan include Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Ranthambore and Jaisalmer etc. Jaipur, the Pink City is home to the famous Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal etc. The tourist attractions of Jodhpur are Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh Fort along with many more. Udaipur is famous as the Lake City and the major tourist attractions include City Palace, Lake Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari, Lake Pichola and Jagdish Palace etc. Rajasthan has many tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries like Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur Bird sanctuary and so on. The heritage hotels in Rajasthan are wonderful places and they also form perfect venues for lavish weddings. Ajmer is famed for the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Agra



Agra is famous for being the home of the world famous and world heritage site the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Other tourist attractions in Agra include the Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Sikandara, Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb and Fatehpur Sikri. Taj Mahal is a magnificent building made of white marble, built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Kashmir

Kashmir is rightfully called a Paradise on Earth and is renowned for its lovely valleys, mountains, and lakes. The places interest for tourists in Kashmir are Srinagar, the capital city, Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, ChasmeShahi, Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden, Hazratbal Shrine, Gulmarg, Khillanmarg and Pahalgam.

Goa



Goa is famous all over the world for its dazzling beaches and beautiful coastline. The major tourist destinations in Goa are Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Ponda, Bicholim, Mormugao, Tiracol etc. The tourist attractions in Goa include the St Francis Church, Mangeshi Temple, Miramar Beach, Dona Paul, Colva and Calangute Beach in addition to many more.

Kerala

Kerala is home to some of the best beaches and backwaters in the world. It is also the home of beautiful temples like the Swami Ayyappa Temple, various churches, synagogues etc. in Kerala. Kovalam Beach is a very popular beach of untold beauty. Kerala is well known for its ayurvedic treatments and spas. Alleppey is full of lagoons, backwaters, canals, coir factories and lovely nature with lush green plantations.

Mumbai

Mumbai is Maharashtra’s capital city and is considered to be India’s financial capital. Mumbai is famed for its Elephanta Caves, Malabar Hill, Mahalaxmi Temple, Hanging Gardens, Haji Ali Shrine, Siddhivinayak Temple, Kamala Nehru Park, Taraporewala Aquarium, Gateway of India and Marine Drive.

Bangalore

Bangalore is Karnataka’s capital city and is also known as the ‘Garden City of India’. The well known tourist attractions of Bangalore are Lal Bagh, Bangalore Palace, Bull Temple, Vidhana Soudha, ISKCON, Cubbon Park and Venkatappa Art Gallery etc. There are many more attractions in the state of Karnataka like Mysore City, Vrindavan Gardens, and Vijayanagara.

Chennai

Chennai is Tamil Nadu’s capital city and houses many forts, palaces, temples and shrines. The popular tourist places in Chennai are Kapeeleswarar Temple, Fort St. George, Government Museum, Marina Beach, George Town, National Art Gallery, Corporation Complex and the High Court Complex.

Kolkata



Kolkata is West Bengal’s capital and the tourist attractions here include Howrah Bridge, Belur Math, Kali Temple, Victoria Memorial, Alipore Zoo, Millennium Park and Birla Planetarium etc.

There are many more world heritage sites in India like the Ajanta and Ellora Caves of Aurangabad, Khajuraho Temples, Bodh Gaya, Varanasi etc.

HYDERABAD

Udipi - Lord Krishna

About Udupi Tourism

Sixty kilometers from Mangalore, is the temple
town of Udupi, famous for its Krishna temple
established in the 13th century by the great
Sanskrit philosopher, Madhavacharya. The
temple attracts pilgrims from all over India and
is also a centre for the Dvaita philosophy. Udipi
is also the district headquarters and is the third
-most important city of Karnataka, after
Bangalore and Mangalore. The economy is
based on agriculture and fishing, as well as
small scale industries such as food processing,
dairy and cashew production. It is also
developing into a hub for the software industry.

Udipi is synonymous with the world-famous
Udipi cuisine, which is served all over India in
the efficiently-run Udipi restaurants, famous for
dosas, idlis and other snacks. The tradition of
this cuisine started in the great kitchens of the
Krishna Temple which serve meals in the form
of prasada to the thousands of devotees

Sightseeing Highlights:



Sri Krishna Temple

This is Udipi's most famous attraction and
draws thousands of pilgrims, especially during
the Paraya festival in January. The great
composer Kanakadasa is believed to have seen
the Lord here and there is a window called
Kanakana Kindi commemorating this fact. The
Madhava Sarovar is the holy tank in which
devotees take a dip.


Sri Anathesvara Temple

This is another famous temple right in the
middle of the temple square and is dedicated to
Vishnu. It has intricate carvings in wood and
stone, especially in the alter.


Chandramauleshvara Temple

This temple is in the busy market area of
Temple Square. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva
and has a towering pyramidal roof.



Around Udipi:


Manipal, 3km away from Udipi, is the famous
educational centre with its well-known Medical
College. You can also visit a small museum
established by Vijayanath Shenoy and
displaying his private collection of artifacts.



Malpe is a port town 6 km from Udipi. It draws
many tourists for its beautiful natural
surroundings. There is a secluded beach at the
estuary of the Malpe River and the St. Mary's
Island, with stunning rock formations of basalt.



Brahmavar, 13 kms north of Udupi, draws
pilgrims to its three famous temples: the 9th
century Mahalinga temple, the Gopinatha
temple a fine example of Hoysala architecture,
and the Janardhana temple.



Shopping & Food:

Udipi has a bustling shopping area in Car Street
which is in the heart of town. You will find all
the branded shops, along with supermarkets and
malls here. Udupi is also a famous jewellery
making centre and you can shop here for
traditional designs. As mentioned earlier, Udipi
is the original destination for the famous

vegetarian South Indian cuisine and tiffin items,
now so popular all over India. Naturally you
have to eat the real stuff in the restaurants here.
A sit-down meal at the temple is a great
experience too.


Tourism info:

Regional Tourist Office

Krishna Building, Car Street, Udupi - 576 101
Phone: 91 8252 29718



Karnataka Tourism Information Centre
Triveni Lodge Building, Hampanakatta,
Mangalore
Phone: 91 824 442926

SriSailam - Temple around the forest

Srisailam Temple
Srisailam TemplePlace : Srisailam in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Location : 232 km south of Hyderabad, on the banks of the river Krishna.
Significance : The Pilgrimage Centre.

Peaceful Srisailam, 232 km south of Hyderabad is situated on the banks of river Krishna. The 512 mtrs long Srisailam dam located here is abundant with natural beauty. Situated on the border of the ancient sacred hill of Srigiri on the south bank of the Krishna river, in the Nallamalai range of Andhra Pradesh, is the magnificent temple of Srisailam. The temple complex, whose existing buildings date from the 2nd century AD, is the Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, it is one of the 12 'Jyotirlingas' in India as well as one of the eighteen most sacred goddess shrines, or Shakti Pithas. This outstanding collection of major Gods and Goddesses shrines at the same location makes Srisailam one of India's most venerated sites. Shiva is worshipped here in his form of Lord Mallikarjuna, and Shakti, his consort, as Sri Bharamaramba Devi.

The temple is the site of Mahakali in the form of Bhramaramba. It is believed, the Vrishabha, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva performed penance here. Lord Shiva appeared before him, with his consort Parvati in the forms of Mallikarjuna and Bharamaramba. A gigantic fort, with 6 mtr high wall encloses the temple.

Lord Shiva - Srisailam Temple The images of these deities, both extremely old, are enshrined in the more recent temple built by the Vijayanagar king Harihara Raya around 1404 AD. The temple, whose popular name is Sriparvata, is bounded by a great fortress-like wall that is 20 ft high, 6 ft wide and 2120 ft in circumference. Built in in 1520 AD, the wall has 3200 stones, each weighing over one ton, and is decorated with fine relief carvings displaying images from Hindu mythology.

A cluster of minor shrines within the temple enclosure include the Sahasra Linga, Panchapandava temples and Vata Vriksha. The most appealing feature of this temple is that anyone of any cast and creed, can touch the deity and worship here.
At Sikharam, the highest of the Srisailam hills, is Sikhareswara Swamy, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Another beautiful temple is Sri Ganapathi temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesh.

Besides, there is a Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers area in five adjoining districts, has tigers, panthers, spotted deer, giant squirrels, great lizards, pangolins, crocodiles, civets and a varieties of snake.

Reaching Srisailam
Air : The nearest airport is at Hyderabad (150 kms).
Rail : The nearest railhead is at Hyderabad (150 kms).

Note: The divine mantra which we should utterly spell here is "HARA HARA MAHA DEVA " -SHAMBHO SHANKARA..
WHICH GIVES 1000 ELEPHANTS STRENGTH..

Oldest temples in Chennai

Triplicane

Sri Parthasarathy Temple

This is one of the 108 Divya desams. The name of the place came from the term - Allikkeni, meaning the temple tank of Alli flowers called Kairavinisaras. Per Legend, Thiruvengadamudayan gave dharshan as Krishnan to Chola king Sumathirajan per his request and so the deity is called Venkatakrishnan and the vigraha was installed by Attreya maharishi. The main deity is in the form of charioteer and so has a big moustache and the whole family of Krishnar - consort Rukmani, elder brother Balaramar, younger brother Satyaki, son Pradhyumna and grandson Anirudha are present in main shrine which can not be seen anywhere else. Since Krishnar promised not to take any weapons in His hands during the Mahabharatha war, He is seen here with Sangu only (without the Chakra). The Utsava vigraham bears scars supposed to be from the arrows of Bheeshmar, when he was the charioteer to Arjuna in the Mahabharatha war.

The special significance of the temple being that the perumals of the 5 divya desams - Thirupathi Venkatesa Perumal, Srirangam Ranganathar, Kancheepuram Varadarajar, Ahobilam Narasimhar and Ayodhi Ramar - are present in separate shrines. As a rarity there are two dwajasthambams one for Sri Parathasarathy and the other for Sri Narasimhar. Also during Brahmosthavams, the temple car will run twice.

Ramanujar’s father AasuriKesavacharyar conducted an yagna here and got Ramanujar as his son. Thyagarajar, Muthuswamy Dhikshithar and Bharathiar lived here. ‘Bharathiar Illam’ is very nearby and all Bharathiar songs on Krishnar are based only on this deity. Viveknandhar also visited this temple.

More details on the temple here

Sri Thiruvetteeswaran Temple

This temple at Thiruvetteeswaranpet (part of Triplicane) is a 500 years old temple. When the forest in this area was cleared off to expand the Nawab’s Chepak palace, the axe fell on a Shivalinga by mistake and blood oozed out. This temple was then built. Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi are also present.

Mylapore

Sapthasthana Temples of Shiva:

There are seven Sapthasthana (Saptha meaning seven) temples for Shiva in Mylapore worshipped by the Saptha rishis - Adri, Brigu, Kutsa, Vashishta, Gautama, Kasyapa and Angirasa. Originally they were all part of a single temple but in due course they have become separate temples. It is highly powerful to worship all the seven deities in a single trip.

More details on the Sapthasthana temples here

1. Kapaleeswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Kasyapar, this is the most popular of the Sapthasthana temples. This is one of the 275 Thevara Padal Petra Sthalams; out of these, this is one of the 40 temples that have west facing Shiva shrines. The original temple was located near the sea but got submerged in the sea and the current temple was built around 350 years back. Parvathi Devi worshipped Shiva here in the form of Peacock. The 63 Nayanmar festival is highly popular.
2. Sri Velleeswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Angeerasa, this temple is located at the South Mada street very close to the Kapaleeswarar temple. The legend has it that Asura Guru Sukracharyar worshipped Shiva here in order to regain his vision.
3. Sri Valiswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Gautama, this 2000 years old temple is located at Gopathy Narayana Chetty Street opposite to Kolavizhiamman Temple. Vali got all his powers after his tapas towards Easwaran here. Pancha lingams came out from the earth as seen in a separate shrine which is an appropriate place for meditation. There are shrines for Vinayahar, Natarajar, Goddess Sivahami, Murugar with Valli and Deivanai, Chandeeswar, Anjaneyar, Vishnu, Durgai, and Ayyappan. Navagrahas with their respective vahanas and Saneeswarar separately are present in different shrines. In the Southwest of the outer praharam, a lizard has been carved out to indicate that this is a Parihara sthalam.
4. Sri Theerthapaleeswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Adri, this temple is located in the Dr.Natesan street of Krishnapet, Triplicane Mirsahib market area opposite to mosque. The temple has significance that when the seven deities of the Sapthasthana temples take bath in the sea during the Theerthavari festival in the tamil month of Masi, this deity takes the first place. Sage Agasthiar worshipped Shiva here.
5. Sri Karaneeswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Vasishta, this 12^th century temple is located in the Bazaar street of Karaneeswararpet. The Shivalingam here is in square shape as seen in only Thirukkadaiyur and Kalahasthi. Since Shiva is the ‘reason’ for everything, He is called Karaneeswarar (Karanam in Tamil means reason).
6. Sri Virupaksheeswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Kutsa, this is the oldest temple of Mylapore and is near Karaneeswara temple and Mundakkanni Amman temple. Sivanesan Chettiar, who built this temple, had a daughter called Poompavai and when she died, Thirugnana Sambandhar brought her back from her burnt bones. ‘Viroopam’ means ‘Contradicting the Nature’ and since Shiva’s third eye contradicts the nature, He is called Virupaksheeswarar.
7. Sri Malleeswarar Temple
   Worshipped by Sage Brigu, this temple is located near the Karaneeswara temple. This was once a forest of Jasmines and so the Easwaran here is called Malleeswarar. Prarthan, King of Ayodhya, was in tapas and conducted a Yagna here towards Shiva. Indhran tried to sabotage his tapas but could not. In praise of the intensity of his tapas, Shiva appeared before him along with his consort. Neem and Aswatha trees are grown together as a single tree.

Sri Madhava Perumal Temple

Located to the east of Sanskrit College and north of Kapaleeswarar temple it is very near the Mundakkanni amman temple. The temple is amazingly clean, aesthetically painted, well lit and very well maintained. Peyazhwar was born near this temple and worshipped Madhava Perumal daily. Also Thirumazhisai Azhwar was enlightened by Madhava Perumal. The legend has it that Goddess Sridevi was brought up in Bruhu Maharishi Ashram here and Madhava Perumal married her. The temple tank Sandhana Pushkarani here is the erstwhile pond of Bruhu Maharishi’s Ashram.

More details on the temple here

Sri Adhikesava Perumal temple

This is one of the oldest temples of Mylapore. As a contrast to the Madhava Perumal Temple, this is being maintained poorly.

Sri Vedhantha Desikar Temple

This is located very near the Adhikesava Perumal temple. Initially there was only Vedhantha Desikar shrine but later Srinivasa Perumal shrine also came in.

More details on the temple here

Sri Mundakkanni Amman Temple

Located at about half a kilometer north of Kapaleeswarar Temple and at a few hundred meters to the east of Sanskrit College, this is a very popular and powerful Amman temple. Amman is a Swayambu putru.

Sri Kolavizhiamman Temple

Located at Gopathy Narayana Chetty Street opposite to Valiswarar temple and to the east of Mundakkanni Amman Temple, this is a 1000 years old temple. It is said that a British lost his vision after photographing the Firewalk festival and regained his vision only after worshipping this Goddess.

Sri Ramakrishna Math Temple

The place where the temple is located is the place where Thirugnana Sambandhar brought back the daughter of Sivanesan Chettiar, Poompavai, to life after she reduced to ashes. Also Mother Sharadha Devi stayed here for a month in 1910. The specialty of the temple being that it has the combined architectural styles of Buddha, Jaina and South Indian Temples. There is a big and beautiful prayer hall where Sri Ramakrishnar’s life size marble idol is present and is being decorated very neatly and beautifully. It is a pleasure to sit there for a meditation during the evening Aarthi. The bhajans set in vibrations that can not be explained by words. It could also be an enchanting experience if one sits in the outer praharam amidst the garden (a nice sound system is there) especially with family and relatives. A beautiful place for a peaceful evening - Experience it.

Just by the side, the old temple is also present.

More details on the temple here

Sri Gnanasundara Vinayahar Temple

This is a 400 years old popular temple. Located at the junction of the St Marry’s Road and Ramakrishna Math Road, this has the following legend: The main deity here was once lying along other stones at the Dharga in Ramakrishna Math road. When Arcot Nawab was going through this route, his horse was tied to this stone but the horse got the ‘Valippu’. When the horse was untied, it came back to normalcy but when it was tied again to the stone, it got the ‘Valippu’ again. They then identified the stone as the Vinayahar idol and this temple was built.

Sri Thiruvalluvar Temple

Located very near to the Mundakkanni amman temple, this is the birthplace of Thiruvalluvar and little known even to the locals. A more than 2000 years old Iluppai tree under which Thiruvalluvar is said to have born got damaged in 1935 and the base of the tree is being protected with a cover. There is a famous incident in Thiruvalluvar-Vasuki life in which, while Vasuki was fetching water in a pot from a well, Thiruvalluvar called her and she went leaving the pot as it was but incidentally the pot remained half way as it was. This historical well can be seen here.

Ekambareswarar and Kamatchi are the main deities along with Vinayahar, Murugar, Navagrahas and Saneeswarar shrines. The Ekambareswarar shrine is considered as the birth place of Thiruvalluvar by some researchers and as the Samadhi by others.

While Thiruvalluvar is considered as the Tamil God, it is surprising that his original birth place is being maintained so poorly. What’s the point in installing a 133 feet Thiruvalluvar status at Kanyakumari keeping this place so badly? How many Tamils know that there is a temple for Thiruvalluvar right at the heart of the city? This being a temple is the only reason for this neglect by both the Dravidian parties?

Sri ApparSwamigal Temple

Located just opposite Sanskrit College

Adayar

Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple at Besant Nagar

A very popular temple located right on the beach shore. The main deity here is 7 feet high Mahavishnu with Mahalakshmi. It has shrines for all the 8 Lakshmi Goddesses and is built based on the architecture of the Uthiramerur Perumal temple. Lakshmi shrines are located in the 2 tiers of the vimanam of the main Perumal shrine and is constructed in such a way that you will not come on top of any of the deities below while going over the 2 tiers.

Location: In the main Besant Nagar M.G.Road, while going towards Elliots Beach/ Velankanni church, just before the church, take the right turn to enter the Kalakshetra Colony (there is one Kalakshetra ‘Road’ at Thiruvanmiyur which is different). Go straight upto a Police booth and then take a left turn to reach the temple.

Another popular temple ‘Arupadai Murugan’ Temple is nearby.

More details in Vikatan Publication’s ‘Nimmadhi Tharum Sannidhi - part 2‘ book

Sri ArupadaiVeedu Murugan Temple at Besant Nagar

This new stone temple has shrines for all the six Padai veedu of Lord Muruga in the same direction as the original temples. The land for this was donated by MGR during his regime but the temple was built years later by NRI Chettiars. Popular temple and can be seen in many films and serials.

This is located near the Ashtalakshmi Temple. After entering the Kalakshetra Colony main road (Tiger Varadhachari Road), go straight till the T junction at the very end of the road and then turn left to reach the temple.

More details on the temple here