Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Thittai Navaneetha Krishnan Temple


Abhimana Sthalam
An ancient Perumal temple in between Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam and Punnai Nallur Rama temple

Lord Navaneetha Krishnan is seen in a dancing posture with a bent left leg and with his right leg on a lotus stalk
 Located about 5kms from Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam on the Northern banks of Vennar  is an ancient temple dedicated to Navaneetha Krishnan in a remote village in Thittai near Thanjavur. The temple is in the midst of lush greenery all around in a calm and peaceful village.

Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam on the Vennar Bank is about 5kms South West while Rama Temple in Punnai Nallur is about 5kms South of Thittai.
Agraharam
To the North East of the Navaneetha Krishnan temple is a Siva Temple that has been praised by the Nayanmars.

Special Dancing Posture
The moolavar deity, Lord Navaneetha Krishnan, is seen in a special dancing posture with his left leg slightly bent and placed on a pedestal with the right leg on a lotus stalk.

His left hand is seen stretched to balance the body weight, while in his right palm Lord Navaneetha Krishnan is seen holding a ball of fresh butter.

Reference by Swami Desigan

Swami Desigan has praised Lord Navaneetha Krishnan in his Gopala Vimasathy:

ஆவீர் பவத் வநிப்ருதா பரணம்  புரஸ்தாத்
ஆகுஞ்சிதைக சரணம் நிப்ருதாந்ய பாதம் 
தத்நா நிமந்த முகரேண நிபத்த தாலம்
நாதச்ய நந்தபவநே நவநீத நாட்யம் 

Presence of Anjaneya
Another feature at this temple is the presence of Anjaneya facing the North. The story goes that there have been several instances of Lord Anjaneya here answering the prayers of the devotees and fulfilling their wishes after they have offered their sincere prayers here and presented a coconut to him.He is referred to here as 'Kaarya Siddhi Anjaneya'.

Sacred Tank
There is an ancient Pushkarani to the West of the temple. Plans are on to build a Raja gopuram at this temple.

Thittai Sampath Iyengar’s family have been the hereditary trustees of the temple.

Festivals
Sri Jayanthi Utsavam
Thirumanjanam every month on Rohini Star
Hanuman Jayanthi
Panguni Uthiram Garuda Seva
Vaikunta Ekadesi Procession

On the full moon day in Chitrai, special donation from the Navaneetha Krishnan temple is handed to the Siva Temple  for the Thiru Kalyanam there that day.

Quick Facts                            
Moolavar: Navaneetha Krishnan with Rukmini and Satyabhama in an East facing Dancing Posture
Thaayar  : Hemambhuja Valli Thaayar
Separate Sannidhi: Kaarya Siddhi Anjaneya
Temple Time: 8am-12noon and 5pm-7pm

Contact: S Ramesh (Vijaya Raghava) Bhattar @ 04362 251885 or 99448 32653/ Mrs. Padmasini Sampath Iyengar @ 94870 28618

How to reach
Thittai Village is around 10kms from Thanjavur old bus stand on the Thanjavur- Papanasam-Kumbakonam rail route. The temple is about 1km West of the Thittai Railway Station. There are daily passenger trains from Thanjavur and Kumbakonam that stop at Thittai.

Bus Numbers 34, 48A, 45B and Rahat (private bus) ply every hour from Thanjavur. One can reach Thittai within half hour from Thanjavur.

Auto from Thanjavur will cost Rs. 100-150/-
                                   
Place to Stay

Retiring room at Thanjavur Railway Station or hotels opposite the Thanjavur Railway Station are good options to stay

If you want to enjoy the serene village atmosphere, it will be good to head directly to Thittai from Thanjavur and to have bath and stay here in the agraharam.