Heard about a Marathan run that is conducted as part of Maha Shivarathri celebrations -Shivalaya Oottam

Marathan run by devotees covering 12 Shiva Alayams/ Temples chanting Govinda..Gopala...

This practice is related to an legend #story of #Mahabharata

Do read this #Thread

Devotees dressed in khawi/safforn cloths,will run /walk to one Shiva Alayam to other,covering 12 Shiva Alayams in Kanyakumari district by foot & total distance is abt 88 Km.
First temple is Thirumalai Mahadevar Temple,Munchirai
During the run,they take holy dips in temple tanks.
Devotees who cover the distance by foot observe Vriddham for a week.During fasting they eat tender coconut,Nungu &Tulsi water.Those who cannot run this distance,visit all 12 temples in vehicles.
After darshan in Thirumalai temple,they go to 2nd temple Tikkurichi Mahadeva Temple.
Followed by darshan at Thirunandikarai Shiva Temple,Ponmanai Thimbilankudi Mahadevar Temple,Thiruppanri Bhagam Shiva Temple,Kalkulam Neelakanda Mahadevar Temple, Melangode Shiva Temple, Thiruvidaikodu Mahadevar Temple.Lastly to Thirunattalam Sankara Narayan Temple.
All these shiva temples,have separate sannathi for Vishnu.
Interestingly,in each of these temples,prasad is Vibuthi or bhasma & at Thirunattalam Sankara Narayan Temple the prasad is sandal paste/Chandan symbolic of unity of Shiva &Vishnu.

Legend #story 👇
Yudhishthira was in preparations to conduct Rajasuya Yagna.For this,he needed milk of PurushaMirugham.And was a staunch believer of Bhagwan Shiva,disliked Bhagwan Vishnu & Vishnu devotees. Krishna asked Bhima to bring PurushaMirugham to Yagna.
Bhima was given 12 Rudhraksha beads by Krishna.Krishna asked Bhima to chant Govinda...Gopala to make PurushaMirugham chase him & in case if it comes near,he asked Bhima to drop the bead.Bhima did as advised by Krishna.Rudhraksha bead when dropped instantly became Shiva Lingams.
PurushaMirugam,a Shiva devotee,would do puja to Shiva Lingam before moving forward, giving Bhima some time to run a little ahead.Bhima chanted Govinda.. Gopala as he ran.Finally he had dropped all 12 beads,was nearing him kingdom.Purusha Mirugam was about to catch Bhima.
Bhima placed his one leg in their kingdom the Purusha-Mirugam caught him.Bhima told that he is in his kingdom & should be left free. PurushaMirugam argued that one leg was outside so he should become his food.They went to Yudhishthira to resolve their dispute.
Yudhishthira heard their claims.
Yudhishtra said that the body of Bhima be split into two halves & one half be given to Purusha Mirugham as one leg was outside kingdom.PurushaMirugam was overvelmed to hear the judgment At that moment,Shiva gave Darshan as Sankara Narayan.
Purusha Mirugham understood that Hari& Haran are one and the same.Also PurushaMirugam willingly gave his milk for the Rajasuya Yagna.

Shivalaya Oottam is conducted to re-emphasis the fact Hari &Haran are same.
Unique thing-chanting name of Vishnu & visiting Shiva temples
All 📸 in this thread credit to resp.owners
Source text - based articles about Shivaya oottam in various news articles/blogs

There a beautiful article about Shivaya Oottam in Swarajya 👇
https://t.co/jugsGSvkj9
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Margatha Natarajar murthi - Uthirakosamangai temple near Ramanathapuram,TN
#ArudraDarisanam
Unique Natarajar made of emerlad is abt 6 feet tall.
It is always covered with sandal paste.Only on Thriuvadhirai Star in month Margazhi-Nataraja can be worshipped without sandal paste.


After removing the sandal paste,day long rituals & various abhishekam will be
https://t.co/e1Ye8DrNWb day Maragatha Nataraja sannandhi will be closed after anointing the murthi with fresh sandal paste.Maragatha Natarajar is covered with sandal paste throughout the year


as Emerald has scientific property of its molecules getting disturbed when exposed to light/water/sound.This is an ancient Shiva temple considered to be 3000 years old -believed to be where Bhagwan Shiva gave Veda gyaana to Parvati Devi.This temple has some stunning sculptures.
A #story from #Thiruvilayadal puranam-one of divine leelas of Bhagwan Shiva

#threadseries #madurai

Story 14- it is about how Ukkirapandian shattered the crown of Indra Dev using Valai( curved ring type bangle)

இந்திரன் முடிமேல் வளையெறிந்த படலம்


Due to the wrath of Indra Dev there was no rain in the kingdoms.There was a severe drought & people suffered a lot. Not only Pandya kingdom,but also Chera,Chola kingdoms were also facing famine.All 3 Rajas - Chera,Chola & Pandya raja decided to seek the advice of Agasthiya Rishi.

They travelled to pothigai malai to meet him.They explained the present situation on their kingdoms due to failure of monsoon.Agathisya Rishi analyzed &told them that due to planetary positions there will be no rains for another 12
https://t.co/3XzBe9GuBs he advised to meet Indra

They asked Agasthiya Rishi on how they can go to Indralok. Agasthiya Rishi advised them to take up -Somavara Vratham to get blessings of Bhagwan Shiva that will help them reach Indralok.Rishi shared on how one should perform this vrat.3 Rajas thanked Agasthiya Rishi for guidance.

They went back to their kingdoms & observed several Somavara Vrata.Later it reaped with benefits, they were able to travel to indralok.Knowing their intentions, Indra arranged 3 seats at a lower level than his throne in the court.He showed then seats & asked them to be seated.

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