Kolaru Pathigam-Thevaram hymn composed by ThiruGnana Sambandar- #Thread

In Tamil Kol means planets,Aru means cut- set of songs in Kolaru Pathigam addresses all Navagrahas& last 2 lines of every song with end a plea to Bhagwan Shiva to reduce/erase the ill effects of Navagrahas

கோளறு பதிகம் - This pathigam was sung by Thirugnana Sambandar at Thirumaraikadu Kshetram -Vedaranyam,Tamilnadu

Thirugnana Sambandar & Appar(Thirunavukkarasar) travelled together to various Shiva Alayam to spread shivam & bhakti among people.They both reached Thirumaraikadu.

Thirumaraikadu(Vedaranyam) -
Appar & Sambandar were asked to enter the temple through side entrance.The main door was locked by Vedas many years ago.Appar&Sambandar sang devotional hymns praising Shiva, after which the gates opened & closed.After which main door opened for all.

After darshan of Bhagwan Shiva at Thirumaraikkadu,Sambandar received a message to travel to Madurai.
During that time, Samanam was on the rise in the Pandya Kingdom.The Pandya King converted to Samanam.The Queen Mangaiyarkkarasi was a staunch Shiva devotee and was upset.

Kularchirai Nayanar ,Chief Minister of Pandya kingdom was in agony by the turn of events.Queen requested Kulachirai Nayanar to escort Thiru gnana Sambandar to Madurai.Kularchirai Nayanar met Thiru gnana Sambandar at Thirumaraikkadu & requested him to visit Madurai.

Andhakasuravadha Samharamurti -#story #Thread
Sculpture of Bhagwan Shiva as the destroyer of the Asura Andhaka - Cave 29,Ellora caves

Asura Andhaka hangs on to a trishula held by 6-armed Shiva.

Once Parvathi & Shiva were relaxing in the pleasant gardens of Mount Mandhara.

Bhagwan Shiva sat down there to enjoy the happiness.Parvati closed the eyes of Shiva playfully & darkness covered the whole universe.Parvati was perplexed & her palms were wet with perspiration.A few drops of her sweat mixed with sweat from Shiva’s body& fell to the ground.

From this sweat,a fierce creature was born,it started to roar.Child was born blind as Shiva's eyes were closed so was named as Andaka.Andha means darkness&also ignorance.Around the same time Asura Hiranyaksha was performing rigorous tapas Shiva for a boon of powerful son.

Bhagwan Shiva was pleased by tapas of Hiranyaksha & blessed him with darshan.Hiranyaksha asked for a powerful son,Shiva told him that he cannot have his own son,but can adopt a blind child who would become very powerful later.Shiva gave child Andaka to Hiranyaksha.

Hiranyaksha returned to his kingdom with Andaka.Later after the vadh of Hiranyaksha, Andaka is said to have lived with his cousins.He was ridiculed,so dejected Andaka went to forest.He did severe tapas for over many years towards Brahma Dev. Brahma dev appeared before him.

Sri Sanjeevi Rayar Temple located in Ayyangar Kulam,near Kanchipuram,TN

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Ancient but beautiful temple dedicated to Hanuman. This temple is a legendary one. According to the Sthala Puranam of Sanjeevi Rayar temple,it is associated with an episode from Ramayana.

Legend story -Hanuman was flying from Himalayas to Lanka bearing Sanjeevi hill to revive Lakshmana during battle between Rama& Ravana, a piece of the Sanjeevi Parvat fell at this place.Many believe this legendary story & even today that no one here dies of any kind of poisoning.

From historical background of the temple it is known that temple was originally built by a great scholar &administrator Kotikanyadanam Lakshmikumara Tatacharya. Temple itself&village were named following name of great scholar Tatacharya, who was then popularly known as Ayyangar.

He was the royal preceptor of Vijayanagara emperor Venkata Raya who had his capital at Chandragiri in AP.Upon returning from a pilgrimage,robbers tried to attack Tatacharya at this place. Being a great devotee of Hanuman,he instantly composed a poem in Sanskrit praising Hanuman.

The bandits immediately ran away &Tatacharya decided to build a temple dedicated to Anjaneya at that very place.This Sanskrit poem is called Hanumad Vimshati, has been inscribed in Grantha script inside this temple.The huge temple tank called Tatasamudram, in honor of Tatacharya.

Krishna & Paarijaata apaharana #sculpture #story #Thread

Parijata tree was in Indraloka which was one of gifts he received from churning of Ocean to obtain Amrit.

This beautiful #sculpture depicts Indra Dev chasing Shri Krishna for stealing parijatha tree branch from Indralok

📸- sculpture on outer walls of Hoysaleswara temple, Halebeedu,Karnataka

Krishna has 4hands with Shankha,Chakra,Mace&Lotus holding Satyabhama tightly,mounted on Garuda. Garuda has a beautifully carved Parijata tree trunk in left hand& a weapon in his right hand, attacking Indra.

Other side is Indra,riding on Airavata.Indra can be seen attacking Krishna with his Vajrayutham.Airavata is charging towards Garuda.Wife of Indra can be seen in pillion seat.Just look at the Detailing of Garuda & Airavat sculptures.

So what led Krishna to steal parijatha tree👇

Narada Rishi once returning from Indralok collected few Parijatha flowers&reached Dwaraka.There he met Bhagwan Krishna&gave the heavenly flowers to him.Narada explained the greatness of Parijatha flowers & also said that these flowers must be given to the most loved ones.

Despite knowing Satyabhama’s anger,Krishna gave it to Rukmani Devi.Narada Rishi then went to palace of Satyabhama. He narrated whole incident that had happened.Satyabhama turned furious on hearing that Krishna gave Parijatha to Rukmini.Then Satyabhama shows her anger to Krishna.

#DoYouKnow about Pallipadai (Memorial) Temple of Emperor Rajendra Chola I & his wife Veeramaadevi.

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This historically significant Chandramouleeswarar #Temple is in Brahmmadesam (Cheyyar) NearThiruvannamalai,TN

Restored by ASI.But no murthi,no worship & no festivals.

Treasure of inscriptions in walls of this temple belongs to Pallavas & Cholas period.About 77 valuable stone inscriptions are there in this temple that tells richness of the empire.Also mentions Rajendra Chola I died at Brahmadesam &it is recorded by his son Rajadhiraja Chola I

Initially this temple dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva was built in sand stone by Pallava King Vijaya Kampa Varman.Later it was converted to memorial temple in Chola period.Rajendra chola & his wife came to this place after his Ganges expedition but he suddenly he fell ill & died.

Rajendra chola I was one of the great emperor, he had powerful - mighty army ,naval force & had conquered many kingdoms in the Indian ocean.

Hope that we learn more about him & respect his memorial temple.Must Preserve and protect our temples.

All photos in this thread credit - to respective owners.
Source text - based on TamilNadu tourism blog and news article about this temple

Margabandhu Stotram - #Thread

"Shambho Mahadeva deva
Shiva Shambho Mahadeva devesha Shambho
Shambho Mahadeva deva...

By reciting this stotra one can have Bhagwan Shiva with them as Marga-bandhu(travel companion) written by Sri Appayya Dikshitar.

This stotra was written praising Sri Margabandheswarar, Virinjipuram,Near Vellore,TN - Magnificent &very ancient temple famous for its compound wall/ Madhil azhagu-has minute stone carvings all around.This place gets its name-Virinjipuram as Brahma(Virinchi)worshiped Siva here

It is said that ,Dhanabalan a pepper merchant lost his loads to thieves.He prayed to Shiva &,he came as a soldier on a horse & retrieved pepper loads but also accompanied Dhanabalan on his journey.Due to this he is called Vazhi Thunai Nathar in Tamil & Margabandu in Sanskrit.

As per sthala purana,Brahma was born as Shivasarma here in archaka family. When Shivsarma’s father died,he had to undertake pooja responsibilities as a small boy.Shivasarma’s mother prayed to Margabandeeswar.Shiva came as an elderly person & conducted Upanayanam Brahmopadhesam

Small boy was then paraded on an elephant with the holy water pot and the temple door opened automatically.While he attempted to do abhishek for Margabandheeswarar,as a small boy,he was unable to reach the head of the lingam,so he surrendered to Shiva stating his inability.

#Hanuman Chalisa - devotional hymn composed by Goswami Tulsidas in praise of Hanuman in Awadhi language.

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#DoYouKnow - Tulasidas was captured &jailed as he refused to bow down to Mugal Emperor Akbar.Tulasidas composed Hanuman Chalisa in 40 days in Jail.

Chalis means 40. There are 40 couplets,2 dohas in the Hanuman Chalisa that give it its name.

Akbar came know from his ministers about the miracle of reviving a dead man by Tulasi das.
So Akbar had summoned Tulsi Das to his court.He was asked to perform a miracle there.

Tulasi Das told he doesn't know to perform any miracle,he only knows Bhagwan Shri Ram. So,Akbar imprisoned Tulasi Das at Fatehpur Sikhri.He composed Hanuman Chalisa for forty days & on 40th day, suddenly an army of giant monkeys descended upon Fatehpur Sikhri.

Monkeys made a ruckus there. They entered each home as well as Akbar’s harem, scratching people and created a havoc in all nook & corner of the city.Guards informed Akbar about all the happenings.He immediately released Tulasi das ji & requested him to stop the monkey menace.

Tulasi Das stopped the menace of monkeys & told Akbar to leave the place.

It is believed that chanting Hanuman Chalisa helps remove negative vibrations. Many couplets in Hanuuman chalisa are said to help us stay safe from negative energies & thoughts.

Ganga Snan-Taking bath in sacred Ganga River.Will this act wash away our paap and lead to Moksha?#Thread

Lakhs of people perform Ganga Snan all around the year.

There is an interesting story which explains that mere Ganga Snan won’t wash away paap or help in achieving Moksha.

Once Bhagwan Shiva&Parvati Devi was traveling on earth.Parvati saw so many people heading towards River Ganga to take bath.Parvati wondered if all these people will attain Moksha by bathing in Ganga&asked to Shiva.If they get moksha then there would not be enough space in swarga.

Shiva laughed&said that only a few among them will get Moksha.Only a person who has come with firm belief,devotion& pious mind will get Moksha.

Most of these people who take ganga snan have come to perform it as a mere custom.Some are here to show off that they are religious.

Bhagwan Shiva also told Paravati that one who is really praying for Moksha will attain it on this earth itself&for such people taking ganga snan¬ taking it is of same value.
Devi argued that lakhs of people have come from far off places for ganga snan must be spiritual &good.

Shiva agreed to prove that he was right.Shiva disguised as a sick person with leprosy.Parvati devi as his beautiful wife&went to banks of Ganga.Parvati devi as wife started asking people to help her husband perform Ganga Snan so that he will be cured of leprosy,but in vain.