Pazhamuthircholai (Pazhamudhir Cholai) Murugan Temple

 

Pazhamuthircholai (Pazhamudhir Cholai) Murugan Temple

Subrahmanya Swamy temple, Pazhamuthir cholai is located in the outskirts of Madurai city. This is one of the Lord Murugans six sacred abodes. This beautiful Pazhamuthircholai temple is situated about 19 kilometres from Madurai and 4 Kms above the Azhagar temple. It is an incredible site to visit. It is situated on a place which is covered by dense forests.

 We visited this temple on Thaipoosam Day. Thaipusam/Thaipoosam is a ceremony of celebrating the victory of Lord Muruga over the vicious Soorapadman. The name itself is an amalgamation of two words Thai signifies the Tamil month of celebration which falls between mid of January and February and Poosam denotes the brightest star of the month. The legend has it that this is the very day when Goddess Parvati endow Lord Muruga with the incredible Spear (Vel) to conquer the Soorapadman’s tyranny.  Be it any legend, Thaipoosam is a day for Lord Muruga and the right day to see his arduous devotees from across the globe. This year Thaipoosam is celebrated on 5th February 2023, with great pomp in all the shrines of Lord Muruga.

This temple was praised in sangam literatures Silapathikaram, Pathupattu and Ettuthogai. The 15th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple. Since Arunagirinathar praised both Nupura Gangai /Silambaru and Solai malai, this is considered as the 6th padai veedu of 6 padai veedu / Six abodes of Sri Murugan. Basically, Padai veedu is that one related to war, where the Soldiers used to stay and weapons will be kept.

 

This temple, on the solaimalai hill also known by the names Vrishabhadri or Idabagiri, is one among the six abodes of Lord Murugan. Here Murugan is worshiped along with his companions Valli as Iccha Shakti and Devayani as Kriya Shakti and he himself is worshiped as Jnana Shakti. The idol of the lord in the standing posture with a single face and four hands is kept between the statues of his consorts. The Vel of the lord made up of stone is of special significance and is worshipped with a great veneration by devotees.

The Silambar River that flows near by the temple gives an atmosphere of calmness and privacy. The Jumbu fruit tree by which Avvayar had an encounter with Lord Murugan is still found near the temple. In the temple premise, there is a rose apple tree (sthala vriksha) and the fruits of the tree will ripe only during Skanda Sashti festival.

Puranic Significance:

According to the legends, Lord Muruga tested the great Tamil poet and saint Avvaiyar here. One day while travelling Avvaiyar became tired, so she decided to rest under a fruit tree. A boy who was sitting on the tree asked Avvaiyar whether she want fruits. When Avvaiyar told that she wanted fruit, the boy asked whether she wanted roasted or unroasted fruit. Avvaiyar decided that the boy didn't have any knowledge about fruits. 

 

Due to her tiredness, she didn't want to argue with the boy. Avvaiyar asked the boy to give her unroasted fruit. Several fruits fell out of the tree and Avvaiyar picked them up,blowing on them to remove the sand. Smiling, the boy asked Avvaiyar if she was blowing on his "roasted fruits" to cool them down.Avvaiyar was astonished as to how a small village cowboy could have played such an intelligent drama. Blowing on the fruit to remove the sand was indeed poetically comparable to an attempt to cool "roasted fruits". Avvaiyar begged the boy to reveal his true identity, unable to reconcile herself with the fact that a simple cowherd could have such profound thoughts. The boy then disappeared and in his place, Lord Muruga appeared. Avvaiyar, stunned to find herself in Divine Company, prayed to Lord Muruga to bless her and continue bestowing his Infinite Grace on her to aid her virtually endless quest for knowledge.

Some of the important features of this temple:

The 3 tier Rajagopuram is at front and the same was constructed during recent years. There are three sanctums, they are  Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar  ( In Arupadai Veedu temples this is the only temple where Lord Muruga is with Sri Valli and Devasena ) and Gnanavel ( This Vel / spear is made of stone and worshiped from ancient times, considered as moolavar ). The idol of Lord Murugan in a standing posture has a single face with Goddesses Valli and Deivanai on his both sides. The Legend has it that, this is the place where Lord Muruga entered into the wedlock with Lord Indran’s daughter Deivanai as a gratitude for the historic victory of Lord Muruga over the demon King Surapadman. This shrine is praised by great saints like Arunagirinathar and Nakeerar. Lord Shiva here is known by the name of Parangirinathar.

ARCHITECTURE:

 

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. In the mandapam Gold plated Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Palliyarai. Vahana mandapam and rest halls are in the outer prakaram. The architecture of this temple is truly noteworthy, as it’s a rock-cut shrine with intricately carved pillars and beautifully painted ceilings.

The Sthala Vruksham Naaval tree will yield fruit in the month Aippasi, against the seasonal months of Aadi or Avani.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on important days like Panguni Uthiram in March, Kanda Sashti, Aadi Krithigai, Vaikasi Visakam, Tamil New year day, Avani Pooram, Thirukarthigai,  Fridays with special naivedyam etc,.

Temple Timings : 6 am to 7 pm.

Temple Festivals : Tamil New year; Vaikasi Vishakha; Aadi Krithikai; Aavani Pooram + annual Pradosham; Skanda Sashi; Mondays in the month of Karthikai; Day of Karthikai month when the krithika star occurs (thrukkarthikai); Painkuni Uthram.

Nearest Town :  Madurai

Address : Sri Subrahmanya Swami Thirukovil, Cholai Malai (Pazhamuthircholai), Azhakar kovil- 625301. Madurai District.

Telephone No : 0452-247 0228

 

SivaSailam Temple

Alwarkurichi is a small town 35 km or 45 Min travel from west of Tirunelveli town and 25 km from Tenkasi town and located near western ghats (Ambasamudram – Tenkasi highway) surrounded by paddy fields. Sivasailam is a small village located in Alwarkurichi.

 

 It is surrounded by Velli Malai (Siver Hill), in Western Ghats. a perennial river called Gadananathi River flows and makes the place greenish. Sivasailam is known for a famous temple Sivasailanathar Paramakalyani Amman Kovil  located 3 miles from Alwarkurichi.

 This temple is my Husband's family deity. So I've visited this place several times. Green fields on three sides and a river on the fourth, mountains in the distance and a wonderful breeze almost all the time. A calm and quiet temple; you can generally hear the only sounds of  the breeze and the birds chirping and the river quietly bubbling along.

Sivasailanathar and Paramakalyani Amman:

Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arul Migu Sivasaila Nadhar and his consort Parama Kalyani Amman. Teertham is known as Athri teertham. We see Dwajasthambam and Nandi facing towards the main sanctum. Nandi devar of this place is very famous for its beauty. I love this temple for its beauty and peaceful surroundings.

Appearance of Shivalingam

It is told that a landlord had many cows in his house. Usually, he made his labourers milk the cows, but one day all the cows refused to give milk. The labourers complained about this leading the owner to get angry and he chased all his cows and labourers from his house. All the cows gathered on a hill with a rock upon it and flooded their milk upon the rock. On the place of this flooding of milk a shivalingam appeared. He is known as Sivasailanathar. Sivasailanathar is the main God for the temple. The statue is said to have been made without any touch of chisel. The statue of Suyambuligam (Shivan) is said to have been formed naturally.

Sivasailanathar saved a priest

It is told that once a pandya king came to the temple and received prasadam from the priest. The priest gave him a garland in which there was a hair. The king got angry with the priest. However, as the priest was pure and truly devoted to Sivasailanathar, Sivasailanathar thought to save the priest Lord told the king I had a hair in back.The next king came to temple and saw jadamudi(long tresses) back of the lingam and The king became very happy and appreciated the priest bhakthi and gave him a vision of shivalingam.. the back of the statue, there are lines that appear like hair, so he is also called Sadaiappar.

This can be seen though a hole while circumambulating at the back of the main sanctum from where one can see the lines from top like hairs falling down at the back of Siva Lingam. This is visible only when the Archakar gives Aarathi at the back of Siva Lingam. There is a legend that to save his daily priest from death Siva did this. When my first visit to this temple My Father in law asked Archakar to show the hair of Sivan exclusively for me.

 

Other deities in the temple are Vinayakar, Murugan, 63 Nyanmars, Dakshina Moorthy, and Natarjar in different sanctums. Paramakalyani Amman with Emerald green cheek gives grace to Devotees.In the south of Mani mandapam, Nadaraja Perumal Statue is placed.

Structure of Nandhi:

Nandi in temple looks beautiful .Nandikeshvarar Statue looks like an Ox sitting by folding its tail. This statue shows the special of Tamil and artistic work of the artist. The speciality of the temple being the beautiful Nandhi. It is one of the most beautiful Nandhis I have ever seen. I am told that the Nandhi was created by the celestal sculptor as per the instructions of Vedas and as soon as the sculptor completed work, he used to get up to the surprise of the sculptor.

 

 More than once when this has happened, he was worried and the Lord Shiva came into his dream and advised him to make punch on the back of the Nandhi so that he will stay. The Nandhi is supposed to have been created many thousands years back but it looks perfect, beautiful and fresh as if was done with all the latest machinery just a few days back. I still can’t believe it.

The priest explains a lot of beautiful legends associated with this temple and its a pleasure to listen to them . The temple is huge with lot of madapam, pillars with sculpture(painted a bit garishly though) . whenever  we visit  to this temple I do meditation and chant Om namashivaya in front of Lord. I feel immense Peace It was a divine feeling and somehow I experienced a divine vibration all around inside this temple.

Balasubramanya Swami Temple-Ayikudi

The Ayikudi Balasubramanya Swami Temple is a small Hindu temple in the village of Ayikudi, near to my native village in Thirunelveli district on the banks of Hanuman River. Ariyar kudi or Arya Kuti – popularly known as Ayikudi, is this beautiful temple for Young Bala Muruga.

The main deity is a beautiful small mulavar murthy of Balasubramanya Swamy, also popularly known here as Rama Subramanya Swamy.He is believed to have been found by a villager in the nearby Mallapuram Eri (irrigation tank). A similar looking Utsavar Murthy of this temple is Muthukumaraswamy, standing next to a peacock on a Padma peetam. Both the Moolavar & Utsava Murthys are so beautiful that the darshan of Karunamurthi Bala Muruga is a treat to all the bhaktas who visit this temple.

 

On the way in search of Sita Devi, Hanuman was very thirsty. He did not want to go in search of water. It is believed that with the sharp edge of his tail he created a Nadi(stream or a small river) and quenched his thirst. Hence the Nadi here is called Hanuman Nadi. Sri Rama drank water from this Nadi and rested on its banks. Since this temple and the Nathi are devoted to Lord Subramania and Sri Rama, the nama Rama-subramanian is a popular name given to children born in this area. Rama Sita Anjaneya images are carved in the pillars of this temple Mandapam.

History                                                                                     

Once upon a time there lived a Bhakta in Ayikudi Agraharam, who become a saint and attained siddhi in this area. His Kaushika vamsa descendants made his Samadhi on the banks of the Hanuman Nadi, where he had propagated Hindu Dharmaand his Bhakthi for Sri Rama and Lord Subramanya, and planted the first Pipal tree there. The Balasubramania vigraha was later found and was installed on his Adhishtaanam with Subrahmanya Shadaksharikalpa Agama Sastra traditions and a small temple was built and pujas conducted by the descendant families.

Intially the roof of the temple was made by coconut & palm leaves. The Travancore Maharaja who happened to visit this area appreciated the devotion of the villagers and decided to help in completing this temple. In about mid 1800s the temple management was taken up by Travancore Samsthanam and they renovated the temple, building the roof and Gopuram, Mayil Mandapam, Mani Mandapam, Praharams and Padithurais around this with all the Pancha Vrukshas and the Pancha Devatas. Then the Utsava Murti was made and grand festivals were arranged by the government, which the villagers enjoyed and participated. Until 1947 the temple was under the Travancore government management.

Pancha Vruksha               

This Lord Muruga temple is on the banks of Hanuman Nadi, depicted under five trees. The main Sthala-Vruksha(sacred tree) is Arasa Maram or the Pipal tree. The other four are Vembu – Neem tree, Karuvepilai – Curry leaf tree, Madhulai- Pomegranate Tree .

Pancha Devas

The importance of this temple is that many Devatha are worshiped in this Sthala (holy site). On the right side of the Moola Vigraha (main deity) are Mahadeva, Mahavishnu, Ambikai, andGanesha and on the left side of the Moolavar is Aditya (Surya) and these are the Pancha-Devatas of this temple. The main Moolavar Sannadi is of Balasubramanya who is located under the Pancha-Vrukshas and in the middle of the Pancha Devathas. 

Sri Rama & Hanuman are always remembered on these riverbanks. The water was used for ceremonies and ritual cleansing by devotees. The sweet tasty water from this Nadi is believed to cure diseases and maladies and gives complete wisdom and long life to the Bhakta. The Padi Payasam Prasad used is made on the shores from this water. 
Festivals:

Skanda Shashti Soora Samhara festival, Chithirai Vishu, Vaigasi Vishakam, Masi Makam, Thaipusam are special festivals of this temple. Hanuman Nadi Padi Payasam, Palkudam, Kavadi are important forms of worship in this temple. This temple Arasa Elai Vibhudhi Prasadham that is the holy ashes given folded in a pipal leaf, is very popular and auspicious. This is one temple where several deities are adored and divine Balasubramanya bestows all boons to bhaktas who visit this shrine.

In past one year I visited this temple three times tohave Dharshan and offer  my prayers. The temple is known for attaining Karya Siddhi or success in endeavours and for bhaktas who visit and participate in the pujas and sponsor the special offering of 'Hanuman Nadi Padi-Payasam'. This is one temple where several deities are adored and divine Balasubramanya bestows all boons to bhaktas who visit this shrine.

Contact Address:

Ayikudi, Balasubramanya Swami Temple

Ayikudi P.O, Tenkasi Taluk

Tirunelveli District                  

Tamilnadu -627 852