In my mind...: Spiritual Outing Dec 2019

This is to record the temple visits during the India vacation in Dec 2019 – Jan 2020.

The temples are the Energy Centers with heaps of positive vibrations. The temples are like modern day Power Sockets for me, my device (body and mind) feel much more energized after spending quality time in them. Like plugging in the mobile phone charger to power, just have to tune in my brain frequency to receive the positive energy flow all around.

Dec 25, 2019 – Thiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar trip

Priya and I started in the morning around 7 am from Mogappair in Vijay’s car. Did not take the kutties to make the trip light and easy. Reached Thiruvannamalai 11ish. The temple closes around 12 pm to be opened in the evening around 4 pm. So we decided to do the Girivalam walk first before the temple visit. The walk around the hill is 14 kms and estimated walking time is 3 hours. We decided to walk barefoot and it was a big challenge and I had developed two big blisters when we finished around 5 pm. Of course we covered the Ashtalingams (8 lingams) and a brief visit to Ramana Ashrama during the walk.

It was a Pradosham day so the crowd was in the higher side. We stood in the queue for around an hour to get the Annamalaiyar darisanam.

Jan 1, 2020 – Madambakkam Dhenupureesvarar temple

Priya, Sakthi, and I visited the Madambakkam temple near Selaiyur, Chennai in the morning around 9 am. Sathya was sleeping at home so didn't want to disturb her. Being the new year day, the temple was a bit crowded. Seems to be a well maintained temple as ASI (Archaelogical Survey of India) is involved.

The temple was built during the reign of the Chola king, Parantaka Chola II, father of Raja Raja Chola I, who constructed the famous Peruvudayar Temple aka Periya Kovil in Thanjavur.

Jan 7,8, 2020 – Kumbakonam temple belt

Thiruvengadu, Vaitheeswaran Kovil, Pateeswaram, Darasuram, Tanjore Periya Kovil

Priya, Sakthi, Sathya, Athai and I visited the Kumbakonam temples. Started from Mogappair in the morning around 7 am. Visited Reddichavadi Kumar home and finished the lunch at Cuddalore OT Bal mama home on the way.

Started from OT around 3 pm and reached Thiruvengadu around 6 pm. Had tender coconuts on the temple entrance to reduce the heat a bit. Nice temple with two temple tanks namely Agni Theertham and Chandra Theertham inside the temple. It is the Bhudan (Mercury) stalam. Also enjoyed the milagai bajji with tea in the temple entrance J.

Reached Vaitheeswaran kovil around 8 pm and the temple was a bit busy. The town market was lined up with lot of commercialised Nadi Joshiyam providers. After the darisanam, we had two choices for the night stay either in Mayiladudurai which is 30 minutes away or Kumbakonam which is 90 minutes away. We opted for the latter. Hit the bed at MP Temple Inn Hotel around 11 pm. Rooms were not bad, for 1850 INR we all were able to squeeze into the AC room.

Woke up a bit late in the morning, finished the breakfast in the attached restaurant and got ready by 10.30 am. Reached the Patteswaram within 10 minutes and visited two temples which were not that far. One is a Sivan (Thenupuriswarar) temple and another is Durgambikai. The Durgambikai temple deserves special mention as it is well maintained in terms of cleanliness and paintings. The temple has a tank with lots of fishes and swans that kept the little ones excited.

Darasuram is just 5 minutes away from Patteswaram and we reached the Airavateswarar temple complex with rich green grasses around that looked more like a temple and park, thanks to the ASI again. Time was around 12 pm and the sastrigal was preparing to close for afternoon break. Asked for a guide and the sastrigal called a ex-ASI person from his mobile. The guide was very informative as he took us through the temple sculptures and explained various aspects of the story and history behind them. The Darasuram temple speciality is its minute workmanship in sculptures. For example, a pillayar sculpture in 2 inch height granite stone. Also a few sculptures in black basalt stone were so shiny and thought provoking.

Optical Illusions:

Reached Tanjore after couple of hours drive. Finished the lunch and entered the Peruvudayar kovil around 4.30 pm. Pradosham day so the crowd was more than usual I guess. The grandeur of the vimanam was astonishing. We were immersed in the history and the architectural excellence for a while and started the trip back to Chennai around 6 pm.