Kadayanallur Anjaneya temple

One finds reference to this place in Kishkinda Kandam
Anjaneya is said to have stayed here for a week along with the Vanara army

Located 150kms South West of Madurai and about 20kms East of Tenkasi on the Madurai-Tenkasi Highway is the Anjaneya temple in Krishnapuram near Kadayanallur.

The Story
In the search for Goddess Sita, Anjaneya is said to have come here along with the Vanara army. Thirsty after a long search, they saw wet swans, cranes and other birds in this place and wondered if there was water around. Going closer led them to two caves where they found Swayamprabha uttering, repeatedly, the name of Rama.

Anjaneya was surprised to find a huge palace inside the cave with fruits all around. Swayamprabha shared with Anjaneya the story of Indra getting liberated from Brahmma Doshamm, having rescued her from Asura Mayan and how she was assigned the task of taking care of this palace, until she could hand it over to Anjaneya.

Having waited these many years, she requested him to stay here so she could get moksham and go back to Indra Logam. However, Anjaneya refused saying he had to complete his task of finding Goddess Sita and that he would come back once he had done that.

Swayamprabha is said to have directed him in the direction further South in his search for Sita.

Having killed the Lankan King Ravana, Rama was on his way in his Pushpaka Vimana when he found a river following him. On enquiry, Anjaneya narrated the story of his meeting with Swayamprabha and his promise to return to this place, which was called Kishkinda Puram.

On coronation, Rama is said to have come here with Sita and Anjaneya and stayed at this place.

Reference in Kishkinda Kandam

One finds reference to Swayam Prabha Theertham in Kishkinda Kandam. In centuries gone by, this place was called Kishkinda Puram which over a period of time me became Krishnapuram (Kadayanallur).

Anjaneya in One Stone

The Anjaneya idol is made out of a single stone and is seen to be going down below the earth.

Two Caves

There are two caves inside the temple – one leads to the Anjaneya Sannidhi and the other one is said to have led one to Rameswaram Kodi Theertham.


Prarthana Sthalam
Belief is that bathing in the temple tank relieves one of Brahmma Hathi Dosham. Also, Lord Anjaneya is said to fulfill within 5 weeks the wishes of devotees who offer their lsincere prayers at this temple.

Festivals

Hanuman Jayanthi – Laksha Archanai
Puratasi Saturday special
Rama Navami Utsavam

Quick Facts

Moolavar : Veera Anjaneya
Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya Sannidhi to the West of Moolavar Anjaneya
Temple Time : 830am-1130am and 430pm-7pm
Contact : Ramachandra Bhattar @ 99657 22693 / 98429 40464
Address : 57/29 Gopala Krishna Swamy Koil Street
Krishnapuram Kadayanallur
Tenkasi Taluk Tirunelveli District 627 759

How to reach Kadayanallur
Chennai-Sengottai Express stops at Kadaiyanallur station
Daily passenger trains between Madurai and Tenkasi
Buses every 15minutes from Madurai on the Tenkasi road (about 3 hours from Madurai)

Madanagopal temple Madurai

Lord Krishna seen playing the flute


Located in the heart of Madurai half a kilometre East of Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam is the Madana Gopala Perumal Koil where the Lord is seen with four hands- providing darshan as Perumal holding a Conch and Chakra and as Krishna playing the flute with his other two hands. The Lord is also known as Deivika Vasudevan.

Said to have been installed by the rishis thousands of years ago, the Madana Gopalan temple was later renovated in the 7th Century AD. Several Ramayana sculptures are seen at this temple.

Festivals
Gokulashtami is special at this temple
Big festival on Rohini Nakshatram in Aavani
Chitrai annual festival
9 day festival in Aadi

Quick Facts
Moolavar : Venugopalan, Rukmani, Satyabhama
Goddess : Madana Mayuravalli
Utsavar : Madanagopalan
Temple Time: 7am-12noon and 430pm-9pm
Contact : Soundara Raja Bhattar @ 94431 81793 or 0452 234 9363

How to reach
Veera Raghava Perumal is ½ km East of this temple
Auto from Madurai Junction will cost Rs. 30/-

Veda Narayana Rajagopalaswamy Palayamkottai

A Handsome Azhagiya Mannaar displays his standing beauty in Tier 1 of this ancient Pandya Period temple


Located on the Tamaraibarani banks in the Shenbagaranya Kshetram in Palayamkottai, 4kms East of Tirunelveli Junction is the East Facing Azhagiya Mannaar Rajagopalaswamy temple, one that dates back to the Pandya period. This Vaikanasa Agamam temple serves as a good example of following the processes laid down in the scriptures.

History

Mana Vallabha Pandyan is believed to have constructed the temple and big walls surrounding the 2.5acre temple.

Name

This place was earlier called Thirumangai Nagar. The temple is referred to as a ‘Thuvi Sthalam’- with the two tier structure below the Ashtanga Vimanam (similar to Thiru Koshtiyur/Uthira Merur/Koodal Azhagar) - the Varna Kala (idol) Veda Narayanan seen in a Grand sitting posture with four hands flanked by Veda Valli and Kumudavalli Thaayar.

With one hand, Veda Narayanan seems to be inviting the devotees to come to him, with the other he is seen blessing those who come to offer their prayers. He is seen with a Conch and Chakra in his other two hands.

There is no abhishekam for this Varna Kala Moolavar.

Also, in the Sannidhi are Brigu and Markandeya Rishis, who undertook penance at this place and had darshan of Veda Narayanan. Urvashi and Thilothama idols are also seen inside the Sannidhi alongside Veda Narayanan.

The Story

Brahmma is believed to have undertaken penance invoking Lord Vishnu to help recover the Vedic Scriptures that had been taken away by the asuras. Hence the name Veda Narayanan.

The Rajagopalan Utsava Idol is said to have been one that was with Arjuna who performed his daily poojas at the end of the Mahabaratha war. This idol is believed to have been brought from the banks of the Ganges and installed by a Pandya King at this temple.


Azhagiya Mannaar turns girl child into a boy
A devotee offered prayers to this Lord for a boy child. When despite his sincere prayers a girl child was born, he threw the plate at the Lord who suffered an injury in the nose.

On his return home, he found to his pleasant surprise a boy. Azhagiya Mannaar had granted the devotee's wish and had turned the girl into a boy. Hence, this Lord is known as Pennai Aanaakiya Azhagiya Mannaar. The Lord is seen with a scratch in his nose.

Mooligai Sculptures

Inside the Maha Mandapam on the walls, one finds exquisite mooligai paintings sketching the Ramayana story. Inside this mandapam, one sees fish shaped sculptures on most of the pillars, another indication of the construction of the temple during the Pandya rule.

50 feet high Kodi Maram (temple flag) along with the 5 tier Raja Gopuram that can be seen from the Tirunelveli Bye Pass road gives this temple a majestic look. The Raja Gopuram also has sculptures relating to Vishnu and Shiva Puranam.


Madapalli has a Gopuram

An interesting feature at this temple is that the madapalli has a gopuram.

There are no Andal and NamAzhvaar Sannidhis in this temple.

Festivals

Vaikasi –Annual abhishekam

Panguni Brahmotsavam

Puratasi Saturday- Garuda Sevai

Margazhi - Every day early morning Thirupalli Yezhuchi recital from 430am

The Samprokshanam took place in July last year, the first in several centuries.


Quick Facts

Moolavar : Veda Narayanan Sitting Posture
Goddess : Veda Valli, Kumuda Valli

Utsavar : Rajagopalan with Rukmani and Satyabhama

Tier 1 : Azhagiya Mannaar Standing Posture with Bhoo and Sri Devi (with exquisite paintings on all the four walls)

Temple Time : 630am-1030am and 530pm-9pm

Contact  : Neela Mani Raju Bhattar @ 0462 2572097

How to reach
An auto from Tirunelveli Junction will cost Rs.40/-.

One can get down at Market stop (Tirunelveli Town/Junction to Samathanapuram bus) and walk 5 minutes to reach the temple.