Kartika month, that time of the year when visiting Shivite temple is considered auspicious and hence decided to take a spiritual trip to Tanjore,Kumbakonam and Chidambaram ; the very famous temple districts of Tamil Nadu.Reached Kumbakonam on 20^th Nov morning via KSRTC from Bangalore .It was supposed to be a rainy day but luckily sunshine welcomed me with open arms.The hotel I stayed was very close to the bus stand . Freshened up with local breakfast nearby and headed towards the temples.

Day 1:

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar, and His consort Parvati is depicted as Visalakshi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The temple complex covers two acres and is located close to the Mahamaham tank. It houses two gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the western tower, with seven stories and a height of 72 feet (22 m). The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi and Navakanniyar being the most prominent.

                                

Kashi Vishwanathar temple

Ramaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. It is one of the prominent temples in the town and also one of the most prominent temples dedicated to Rama in India.  The temple has a 3-tiered gateway tower (gopuram) surrounded by walls. The central shrine houses the image of Rama in a seated posture with his consort Sita. The other images are of his brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and Chatruguna in standing posture and Hanuman in worship posture. The sixty-four pillars in the hall near the gopuram are sculpted with exquisite finesse depicting various episodes of the epic Ramayana.

 

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, where Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century-CE Tamil Saiva canonical, greatest work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The name of the town Kumbakonam is derived from the legend associated with Kumbeswarar Temple. The pot (kumbha) is said to be of Brahma that contained the seed of all living beings on earth. The kumbha is believed to have been displaced by a pralaya (dissolution of the universe) effected by Shiva's arrow and ultimately came to rest at the spot where the town of Kumbakonam now stands. The nectar is believed to have fallen in two places - the Mahamaham tank and the Potramarai tank. This event is now commemorated in the Mahamaham festival held every 12 years. Kumbakonam was also formerly known by the Tamil name of Kudamukku. Kumbakonam is also identified with the Sangam age settlement of Kudavayil.

Chakrapaani temple is located 2 km, away towards North West from the Kumbakonam Railway Station. Vishnu appears in the form of a discus or Chakra to put down the pride of Surya (the Sun), who subsequently became his devotee. Like Shiva, Lord Chakrapani has a third eye on His forehead. The temple is one of the prominent Vishnu temples in Kumbakonam. As per Hindu legend, Chakra (also called Sudarshana), the discus, is the most powerful weapon of god Vishnu. He once sent his weapon to nether world to kill king Jalandasura. The weapon is believed to have come out of the nether world through river Kaveri. God Brahma, who was taking bath in the river, got impressed and installed the image of Sudarshana in the place where the temple is now located. Surya, the Sun god, who was glowing in brilliance, had his brightness diminished by the effulgent Sudarshana. Surya worshipped Sudarshana and pleased by his devotion; Sudarshana restored all the powers of Surya. Vishnu attained the name Chakrapani from then on.

The Sarangapani Temple, Thirukudanthai, or Kumbakonam koyil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu.Sarangapani temple is the largest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and has the tallest temple tower in the town. The temple is enshrined within a huge wall and the complex enshrines all the water bodies of the temple except the Potramarai tank. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has eleven tiers and has a height of 173 ft (53 m). There are five other smaller gopurams in the temple. The rajagopuram has figures depicting various religious stories. The temple faces east and the Potramarai tank is located outside the western entrance. The central shrine of the temple is in the form of a chariot drawn by horses and elephants, with openings on either side, showing the descent of Sarangapani from heaven in the chariot. The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram where the goddess Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi- the daughter of Maharishi Bhrigu.

Also, not to forget the very famous degree coffee of Kumbakonam.I was lucky enough to walk to Mangalambika tiffin centre to taste the degree coffee and snacks.

Day 2:

Thillai Nataraja Temple, also referred as the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja, the form of Shiva as the lord of dance (cosmic dancer). This temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. This temple has ancient roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Chidambaram, the name of the city literally means "stage of consciousness". The temple architecture symbolizes the connection between the arts and spirituality, creative activity and the divine. The temple wall carvings display all the 108 karanas from the Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni, and these postures form a foundation of Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance. it is the only Shiva temple common to both the Pancha Sabha Thalam and the Pancha Bhuta Thalam.

The main Devi shrine in the Nataraja temple complex is offset towards the north of the sanctum inside the third prakara, and found to the west of the Shivaganga pool. It is called the Shivakama Sundari shrine, dedicated to Parvati. 

The Nataraja temple complex incorporates Vaishnava themes and images like many Hindu temples in South India. A Vishnu shrine is found inside the sanctum of the temple in its southwest corner. According to George Michell and others, Chola kings revered Shiva, with Tyagaraja and Nataraja as their family deity. Yet, their urban Shaiva centers "echo a very strong substratum of Vaishnava traditions". This historic inclusiveness is reflected in Chidambaram with Vishnu Govindaraja in the same sanctum home by the side of Nataraja.

Chidambara Rahasiyam is a Hindu belief that there is a secret message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in the Chidambaram Temple.

Since ancient times, it is believed that this is the place where Shiva and his consort Parvati are present, but invisible to most people. In the temple, Chidambara Ragasya is hidden behind a curtain (symbolic of Maya). Worship, or darshan is possible only when priests open the curtain for special pujas. Behind the curtain are golden leaves, as from the Aegle Marmelos tree, signifying the presence of Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that saints can see the gods in their physical form.

Top 12 Chidambaram Temple Scientific Facts

1.The temple’s architecture mirrors the human body, representing the ‘pancha koshas’ (five sheaths) of human existence as per yogic philosophy. Each sanctum corresponds to energy centres or chakras within the body, creating a spiritual resonance for visitors.

2.Like human body Chidambaram temple has nine entrances denoting nine openings of the body.

3.The main roof, he pointed out, is adorned with 21,600 gold sheets—symbolizing the 21,600 breaths a healthy human being takes in a day.

4.These sheets are fixed using 72,000 gold nails, corresponding to the 72,000 nadis (nerves) in the body.

5.The sanctum sanctorum, known as “Ponnambalam” (‘Pon’ meaning gold and ‘Ambalam’ meaning stage), is slightly tilted to the left to symbolize the human heart.

6.Accessing it involves climbing five steps called the ‘Panchatshara padi,’ representing the five syllables of the sacred mantra “Na Ma Shi Va Ya.”

7. Four pillars supporting the Kanaka Sabha represent the four Vedas

8.While 28 additional pillars signify the 28 ‘Agamas’ (sacred texts) and methods of worship.

9.The 64 cross beams symbolize the 64 arts, akin to the blood vessels in the human body.

10.Nine Kalashas on the golden roof: Representing the nine types of energies or ‘Sakthi.’

11. Artha Mantapa’s six pillars represent the six ‘Sastras.’

12. 18 pillars in the adjacent Mantapa signifies the 18 Puranas.

 

Thillai Kali Temple is on the outskirts of the city of Chidambaram. Legend says that the goddess Kali (a form of Parvati) moved here after losing to the god Shiva in the celestial dance contest.

It was an argument that who is superior, either Shiva or his wife Parvati. In order to resolve thus, they performed a dance program at Chidambaram in front of Vishnu, Brahma and other deities. While they were playing dance, Shiva was about to be defeated.

Shiva performed the Urdhva Tandava posture, i.e. raising one leg above his head and challenged Parvati to replicate it. Due to her modesty and shyness, Parvati refused and agreed her defeat.

Parvati in anger assumed her ferocious form Kali and left Chidambaram (Thillai) and settled outside the town borders. Thus, she is worshipped as Thillai Kali here. Her anger was pacified by Brahma by chanting the Veda and praising her.

Kali was pleased and assumed a benign form with four heads similar to Brahma and known as Thillai Amman (Mother of Thillai) or Brahma Chamundeeswari.

There are two main shrines in the temple. The west-facing shrine depicts the goddess in his benign four-faced form Brahma Chamundeeswari.

In the east-facing shrine, the goddess appears in her ferocious form called Thillai Kali.

Day 3 :

Brihadishvara Temple, called Rajarajesvaram (lit. 'Lord of Rajaraja') by its builder, and known locally as Thanjai Periya Kovil (lit. 'Thanjavur Big Temple') and Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Shaivite Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the south bank of the Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the largest Hindu temples and an exemplar of Tamil architecture. It is also called Dakshina Meru (Meru of the South). Built by Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", along with the Chola-era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, which are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively. Built using granite, the vimana tower above the shrine is one of the tallest in South India. The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva lingas in India. It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja, Shiva as the lord of dance, in the 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi , Parvati, Murugan, Ganesha, Sabhapati , Dakshinamurti, Chandeshvara, Varahi, Thiyagarajar of Thiruvarur, Siddhar Karuvoorar and others. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.

Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Chola architecture located in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This temple, built by Chola emperor Rajaraja II in the 12th century CE is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram that are referred to as the Great Living Chola Temples.

I also did shop an embossed Surya frame as a souvenir from Tanjore. 

The Airavatesvarar temple is one among a cluster of eighteen medieval era large Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam area, Thanjavur District.The temple is dedicated to Shiva. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism , along with the legends associated with Nayanmars – the Bhakti movement saints of Shaivism.

The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, and includes major Vedic and Puranic deities such    as   Indra , Agni , Varuna , Vayu , Brahma , Surya , Vishnu ,Saptamatrikas ,Durga ,Saraswati ,Sridevi(Lakshmi) , Ganga , Yamuna , Subrahmanya , Ganesha, Kama, Rati and others. Shiva's consort has a dedicated shrine called the Periya Nayaki Amman temple. This is a detached temple situated to the north of the Airavateshvarar temple. This might have been a part of the main temple when the outer courts were complete. At present, parts of the temple such as the gopuram is in ruins, and the main temple and associated shrines stand alone. It has two sun dials namely morning and evening sun dials which can be seen as wheels of the chariot. The temple continues to attract large gatherings of Hindu pilgrims every year during Magha, while some of the images such as those of Durga and Shiva are part of special pujas.

It was indeed a peaceful and spiritual encounter and thoroughly involved connected to all the Vaishnavism and Shaivism temples.