Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – Festivals

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – Festivals

Aarattu Festival:

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple hosts the Aarattu festival celebrated on a grand scale on the Thiruvadhirai day in February–March every year. Lot of people come to this temple on the 8^th day of 10 days festival when seven and half elephants (in Malayalam: Ezharaponnana) made of gold (nearly 13 Kgs) will be held in public view. This statue was donated to the temple by a Travancore maharaja. The temple, one of the wealthiest Devaswams in Kerala, has many valuable possessions.

Ezharaponnana:

Ezhara Ponnana refers to the seven-and-a-half golden elephants which are kept in the temple vault and taken out once in an year for darshan by the devotees. The eight statuettes, seven having a height of two ft. each and the eighth one, half the size, (hence the name Ezhara (seven-and- a- half) Ponnana (Golden elephant) has a rich legacy behind it. According to legend, it was presented to the temple by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the founder of the Travancore kingdom.

According to another story, while Marthanda Varma had made the pledge to present the ‘Ponnana’ the offering was made during the reign of his successor, Maharaja Karthika Thirunal. There are also differing stories about the reason for the offering: some believe it was offered as a penalty for the damages suffered by the temple during the annexation of Thekkumcore with Travancore; some others believe it was the offering made when the marauding army of Tipu Sultan was hammering on the gates of Travancore.

The statues are made of jackfruit tree and covered with nearly 13 kg of gold plates. Ezhara Ponnana Darshan, is one of the high points of the temple festival which is being held in the midnight of the eighth day of the ten-day festival. Ezhara Ponnana Darshan begins with the ceremonial procession carrying the eight golden statues of elephants and they are later kept at the Asthana Mandapam for the annual darshan by the devotees.

Shivaratri:

This festival is also celebrated with great pomp and show at the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. The festival generally takes place during February or March. Thousands of devotees gather here to bath Lord Shiva with milk and offer flowers, fruits and sweets. All the other Shiva related festivals are also celebrated here.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – Legends

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – Legends

Ettumanoor:

According to legend, an Asura called Khara worshipped Shiva at Chidambaram and got three Shivalingas from Lord Shiva himself. He took them with him to Kerala, holding one by his teeth and one each in his right and left hand. While the Lingam held by his teeth was consecrated in Kaduthuruthi, the one held in his right hand was consecrated in Vaikom (Vaikom Mahadeva Temple) and the one held in his left hand was consecrated in Ettumanoor. After consecrating the Lingas in these 3 divine places in the same day, Khara is believed to have become a deer and started worshiping the Gods.

It is believed that the God in Ettumanoor took the deer in his hand and held it there. Because of that, this place was called Udhruthaina Puram, which means Ettumanoor in Malayalam (The place where the deer was lifted). Legend also has it that Khara installed an image of Krishna in the north western corner of this temple. It is believed that visiting these triad of temples in a single day is of great significance.

Maanoor:

Legend has it that Shiva created a deer and set it to play in an island; when Parasurama reclaimed land from the sea, this island is said to have become part of Kerala now. The isle of the deer is referred to as Harinadweepa. The Malayalam word for deer is Maan, and hence this place came to be known as Maanoor.

Lomharsha Curse:

Another myth states that Saint Lomharsha came to offer prayers at the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple and fell in the tank while bathing. People laughed at him and he cursed that the place will turn into a jungle. It gradually became a jungle until Vilwamangalathu Swamiyar discovered the Siva Linga within the forest. He also reconstructed the temple and established the rituals that are performed at this temple.

Dwarapalakas:

There are two Dwarapalakas at the Sree Kovil sanctum. They are the guards of the temple. It is said that these guards used to beat the devotees who came to the temple. Hence to stop them, holes have been placed on their hand and feet.

Goddess Parvati Residence:

Another myth states that Goddess Parvati stays at the eastern end of Sree Kovil. Hence this door is never opened.

Nandi Statues:

There are two large Nandi statues at the Muhamandapam. One statue is made of wood and the other is made of bronze. As per legends, the bronze statue was gifted by the King of Chempakassery after he was cured of stomach pain. This statue was filled with paddy. There is a belief if a grain from this statue is eaten it can cure stomach ache. There is also a hole in the belly of the statue for this purpose.

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Pandavas and the sage Vyasa worshipped the Lord at this temple.

Adi Shankaracharya wrote Soundarya Lahiri here:

Adi Shankaracharya wrote Soundarya Lahiri on his visit to Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. He is a famous Indian philosopher.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – The Temple

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – The Temple

The present temple building, with its gopuram and the fortress around it, was reconstructed in 717 ME (1542 AD). The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style. The main gopura is at the western side. The west facing temple here has a circular sanctum covered with a conical copper plated roof crowned with a kalasam. The idol of Lord Shiva is 3 feet tall. Lord Shiva is worshipped in three forms. In the morning, he is worshipped as Ardhanareeshwara. In the afternoon, he is worshipped as Kirathamurthy and in the evening, he is worshipped as Samhararudra.

The sanctum bears wood carvings of superior workmanship portraying legends from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata Puranam. Some of the carvings found were Ashtaaavakra Maharshi, Lord Ganesha with his wife, Raasaleela, Aditya, Vamana, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva in Tandava pose and Sree Rama’s coronation ceremony. Though the Utsava idol of Shiva is an eight handed figure and is in a Rudra Bhava (appearing in a very angry posture) the devotees only see him as a merciful form.

The temple roofs are covered with copper sheets and it has 14 ornamental tops. The Muhamandapam in front of the temple bears two images of Nandi, one of stone and another of metal. Although there is no shrine to Parvati, the rear of the sanctum is revered as Parvati's shrine. A rectangular circumambulatory passage surrounds the sanctum. There is a golden flag staff inside the temple. On the top of it is the idol of a bull surrounded by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree.

Valiyavilakku:

A unique feature of this temple is the eternal flame lamp called Valiyavilakku (big lamp) that can be seen at the entrance to sanctum. It has a little story behind it. When the Ettumanoor Siva Temple was rebuilt in 1540 CE, one evening an unknown devotee brought a big oil lamp to the temple. Somebody had doubts about how such a large Iamp could be lit as it would need lots of oil. The devotee replied that even if there was no oil in the lamp, it would remain alight.

He disappeared after placing the lamp in its present position in the area called Balickalpura (a sacrificial platform where food offerings are placed). It is believed that when this lamp was fixed, there was a streak of lightning that lit the lamp for the first time. This lamp has always been burning since then. A main offering by devotees here is sesame oil. The soot that accumulates on the under surface of the shade over the lamp is believed to cure many eye diseases. 

Akhoramoorthi:

The temple has a golden idol of Akhoramoorthi. This idol is placed before Lord Shiva every morning and is removed from the place the next day, after Nirmalya Pooja. The idol of Akhoramoorthi is two and a half feet tall.

Mural Paintings:

There are Dravidian mural paintings on the walls inside and outside of the main entrance. Also, of great workmanship are the murals on the western entrance to the temple; mention must be made of the painting of the dance of Shiva. The Ezharaponnana painting is also famous. This painting shows seven and half elephants finished in gold. The other mural paintings of the temple exhibit Anantasayana on the northern wall. The Agoramurthi and Pradosha Thandava paintings decorate the southern part of the sanctum. The fresco of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is one of the finest Wall painting in India.

The Thandava painting represents Lord Shiva in a dancing pose. This mural represents Lord Shiva with River Ganges and crescent moon on his coppery, matted hair. He also holds a bow and drum in the right hand. While the bow is known as Pinaka, the attached drum is named as Udukkai. There is a sword and arrow in another hand. The sword is Khatwanga in local language and the arrow is Varunapaasa. There are bells, fire and a blazing mace in the other hands. This idol depicts the courageous and angry Lord Shiva. This painting is present in the main sanctum.

Other Shrines:

There are shrines for Bhagavati, Sastha, Dakshinamurthy (very rare in Kerala), Ganapathy and Yakshi in the Temple premises. There is a separate temple for Lord Krishna in the Temple premises.

Holy Tank:

There is also a holy tank on the northern side of the shrine which is oval in shape.

Mula Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, Karnataka

Mula Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, Karnataka

Mula Virupaksha Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on Hemakuta Hill in Hampi in Bellary District of Karnataka. Moola Virupaksha is situated towards the northern side of the slope of Hemakuta Hill that overlooks the Virupaksha Temple complex. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.

History

The temple was constructed in 1119 A.D by Immadi Rachamalla of Sindhas of Kurugodu. The Moola Virupaksha temple, exists on the slopes of the Hemakuta Hills predates the Virupaksha Temple. The name itself (moola means origin or base) suggests of its antiquity.

The Temple

The temple is located near a small natural pond on the Hemakuta Hill, facing east. The temple consists of Garbhagriha, an antarala and a Sabha mandapa. The Garbhagriha is square in plan and enshrines a Shiva Linga. Its door way has three sakhas up to lintel, its door jambs depicted with Purnakumbhas. The Sikhara over the Garbhagriha is of Kadamba Nagara style having 4 stepped ties. The ceiling has 2 rotated squares and a flat slab which is decorated with lotus in centre.

The Antarala is square in plan, having Nandi. Its doorway has pancha sakhas, its door jambs depict Purnakumbhas and the Lalatabimba depicts Gajalakshmi. The ceiling has features like the Garbhagriha. The Sabha mandapa is square in plan and stands on four pillars in centre set on a raised floor; corresponding 12 pillars are on sides. The mandapa is partly covered and partly open at the front. It has niches at north and south which are empty now, once used for keeping sculptures.

The ceiling is similar to the Garbhagriha and the antarala, remaining ceilings are flat and plain. The outer walls of the Garbhagriha and antarala are plain. The Adhisthana and the Sikhara of Mula Virupaksha temple are similar to Kurugodu temples which belong to 12^th century A.D. There is a natural water spring (pond) right in front of this shrine.

Literary Mention

The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6^th Thirumurai in 71^st Patikam in 9^th Song and 6^th Thirumurai in 7^th Patikam in 8^th Song.

6-7-8:

தெள்ளும் புனற்கெடில வீரட்டமுந்

திண்டீச் சரமுந் திருப்புகலூர்

எள்ளும் படையான் இடைத்தானமும்

ஏயீச் சரமுநல் லேமங்கூடல்

கொள்ளு மிலயத்தார் கோடிகாவுங்

குரங்கணில் முட்டமுங் குறும்பலாவுங்

கள்ளருந்தத் தெள்ளியா ருள்கியேத்துங்

காரோணந் தம்முடைய காப்புக்களே.

6-71-9:

கந்தமா தனங்கயிலை மலை கேதாரங்

காளத்தி கழுக்குன்றங் கண்ணார் அண்ணா

மந்தமாம் பொழிற்சாரல் வடபர்ப் பதம்

மகேந்திரமா மலைநீலம் ஏம கூடம்

விந்தமா மலைவேதஞ் சைய மிக்க

வியன் பொதியின் மலைமேரு வுதய மத்தம்

இந்துசே கரனுறையும் மலைகள் மற்றும்

ஏத்துவோம் இடர்கெடநின் றேத்து வோமே.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Hampi Bus Stop, 12 Kms from Hosapete, 13 Kms from Hosapete Junction Railway Station, 62 Kms from Ballari, 138 Kms from Aihole, 140 Kms from Badami, 163 Kms from Hubli, 167 Kms from Hubli Airport, 342 Kms from Bengaluru and 350 Kms from Bengaluru Airport. Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka near the state border with Andhra Pradesh.

Location

Madangopal Jiu Temple, Mellock, Samta, West Bengal

Madangopal Jiu Temple, Mellock, Samta, West Bengal

Madangopal Jiu Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in the village of Mellock, near Samta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The temple is also locally known as Gopaler Mondir, the temple of Gopala. Madan Mohan Jiu temple is also one of the largest Achala (roof with 8 slopes) temple in Bengal.

History

It was built in 1651AD by a wrestler known as Mukundaprasad Roy Choudhury, who was a family member of the Roy Zamindars, who then ruled the village of Samta. Then, the Rup Narayan River used to flow alongside the temple. However, now the river has changed its course and moved farther away. Mukundaprasad was reputed to be very strong and muscular. In those days, the road to the temple was connected to the barrage of the village by a small wooden bridge.

Mukundaprasad would carry two heavy stone dumbbells in his arms and would carry it to the temple crossing the wooden bridge. Neither did he use to get tired nor did the wooden bridge ever break. One of the stones is kept in the vicinity of the temple. The temple is in ruins and reconstruction work was started in early 2010s. The idols of the deity are made of eight metals (ashtadhatu). But since the reconstruction started, the deities have been shifted to a nearby house.

The Temple

The temple is a terracotta ornamented temple and its roof has eight slopes. The main entrance with three arches faces the south. One additional entrance is on the east side. The east entrance leads to a small room, adjacent to the garbhagriha, or the main room. The temple is approximately 40 feet high. The temple has number of sculptures and designs on it. The deity worshipped in the temple is Radha and Madangopal. The idol of Radha is much shorter than the idol of Madangopal. However, now as the temple is in ruins the idols have been kept in a nearby house.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 06.00 am in the morning to 08.00 pm in the night.

Festivals

Local Holi and Dol Yatra in Samta is held every year a day after Dol Purnima (full moon day) and on the day of Holi the idols are carried to the nearby house of the Mukherjees by an ancient wooden palanquin. Special rituals are performed and at evening it is brought back to the temple following traditions, in which burning bonfires are placed alongside the whole road, starting from the house of the Mukherjees till the temple. The people must make their way through the road and carry the palanquin with idols to the temple. On the day of Janmashtami (the birthday of Lord Krishna) also special pujas are held.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Deulti Railway Station, 9 Kms from Kolaghat, 13 Kms from Bagnan, 53 Kms from Howrah, 68 Kms from Kolkata, 77 Kms from Kharagpur and 76 Kms from Kolkata Airport. The Temple is situated off Kolkata Mumbai National Highway between Kolkata and Kharagpur near Mellock Village.

Location

Ardhagiri Veera Anjaneya Temple, Aragonda, Andhra Pradesh

Ardhagiri Veera Anjaneya Temple, Aragonda, Andhra Pradesh

Veera Anjaneya Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, located on the hill of Ardhagiri in Aragonda Village of Chittoor district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is about 300 years old. The temple tank is called as Sanjeeviraya Pushkarini. It is believed that the water has the divine Sanjeevini elements infused into it.

Legends

The origin of the temple dates back to Treta Yuga and has an interesting legend that associates it with the Ramayana. During the battle with Ravana, Laxmana got injured and fell unconscious. Anjaneya, at the behest of Jambava, assumed a gigantic form and bounded for the Himalayas to procure herbs from the Sanjeevini Hill to revive an unconscious Lakshmana. Unable to identify the herbs in quick time, he uprooted the entire hill and flew back to Lanka, carrying it on his left shoulder.

It is believed that, a part of the Hill (carried by Hanuman) was dropped at this place and called as Ardhagiri (half hill). From then, people started worshipping hanuman in the name of Veera Anjaneya Swamy. Many people, till today, come from all the world to collect the medicated water in the pond, besides to the temple. The clay in the mountain contains many medicinal properties and has a power to cure many types of skin problems. The water in the pond comes from different place from the mountain, touching many roots of medicinal plants.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/07/ardhagiri-veera-anjaneya-temple-aragonda-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 05.30 am to 1.30 pm and 01.30 pm to 9.00 pm. On full moon days, it's open until 11.00 pm.

Festivals

Full moon day is special here as it was on this day that Anjaneya flew to get the Sanjeevini herb. Cultural programmes are held and the temple remains open at night. Hanuman Jayanthi is also celebrated in a grand manner.

Prayers

Devotees believe the water from Sanjeeviraya Pushkarini will heal diseases like cancer and asthma. They carry water from temple pond and distribute it to their kin. It's said that prayers offered in the dark on a full moon day provide immense power, peace and happiness. Garlands made from betel leaves, Marigolds, and Tulasi (Indian Basil), and different flowers are offered to Lord.

Contact

Ardhagiri Veera Anjaneya Swamy Temple, 

Aragonda Village, Thavanam Palli Mandal,

Chittoor District,

Andhra Pradesh – 517 129

Phone: +91 8573 283 687 / 283 689 / 283 690

Email: eo_ardhagiri@yahoo.co.in

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Aragonda, 14 Kms from Kanipakam, 23 Kms from Chittoor, 22 Kms from Chittoor Railway Station, 82 Kms from Tirupati, 97 Kms from Tirupati Airport, 184 Kms from Chennai and 175 Kms from Chennai Airport. There are direct buses from Chittoor and Kanipakkam to Aragonda.

Location | Photos