Lalithambigai Temple :: Thirumeyachur

This place is about 20 kms from Mayavaram near Peralam on the Mayavaram Thiruvarur Road.  The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Meghanatha.  The consort of Lord Meghanatha is Goddess Lalithambigai.


As per legend, Arunan the charioteer of Surya Bhagavan wanted to go to Kailasam to worship Lord Shiva.  Surya Bhagavandid not allow him to go.  Hence Arunan took the form of a girl and was on his way to Kailasam.  On the way Surya saw this girl and outraged her modesty.  Lord Shiva was very angry with Surya Bhagavan for such misbehaviour and cursed him to get darkened.  The whole world plunged into darkness.  A repentant Surya Bhagavan pleaded for mercy and as per His advice came to Thirumeiyachur and worshiped the Lord here. Surayan is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva seated on an Elephant.  To signify this you can see a Vimana (gajaprishta vimanam) in the temple resembling the back of an elephant.  Even after severe penance, the Lord did not show mercy and Surya Bhagavan shouted in anguish.  The Goddess was angered by this and almost cursed Surya Bhagavan, before being pacified by Lord Shiva.  He said that the World was already plunged in darkness because Surya was dark and that he was only looking for relief.  By His grace Surya Bhagavanattained papa vimochanam (absolution of sin).

Divya darshanam :: Thittai Guru Temple

The TempleVasishteswaraswamy temple, a very ancient one is situated in the village "Thittai" near Thanjavur. As the village is situated south of river Cauvery, its also called "Thenkudi Thittai".

The presiding diety is Swayambootheswarar and the Godess, Ulaganayaki. As the main diety is a Swayambu Lingam he got the name "Swayambootheswarar".

The main diety is also called as Vasishteswarar as he was worshipped here by Saint Vasishtar.

"Thittai", the name of the village means "Thittu" in Tamil, (i-e) a Mound. When the whole world was surrounded by water because of "Pralayam", Brahma & Vishnu worshipped the Lord Maheshara for protection. After wandering much for a safe place, they found this only mound, which did not drown in the Pralaya waters, where there was a Shiva Lingam.

They performed Pooja to the Lingam and worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared before them and deligated their duties of Creation and Protection. Its beleived that this is the only place, which was not destroyed even during Pralayam.

Unlike many other temples, here the complete temple is built using the stone. Not only for the main dieties, but also all other Sannidhi's are constructed using stones, right from floors, pillars, walls and roof.

An unique feature of this temple is a drop of water falls on the Lingam (Main Diety) exactly every twenty four minutes (1 Naazhigai) from the roof. But for a small hole, there is no source of water or anything, on the Vimana of the main diety.

Two stones "Suryagaanthakkal" and "Chandragaanthakkal" which are placed at strategic points above the Vimana are the reasons for the droplets of water which falls on the diety.

These 2 stones absorb moisture from the atmosphere, convert into 1 water droplet, performing a natural Abhishegam to the diety, every 24 minutes (1 Naazhigai), be it the day or night.

A small piece of yellow cloth (Dhothi) which covers the Lingam is always wet because of this. If one can wait patiently, they can view this amazing act.

That shows the scientific and architechtural brilliance of our ancestors who have made this temple.

The temple tank situated opposite the temple is called "Chakra Theertham" which is believed that it was created by the Chakra from the hands of Mahavishnu.

Another special here is that the "Guru Bhagavan" has a temple inside this temple itself. Even in the Gurusthalam Aalangudi, one can see that Dhakshinamurthy facing South in the Praakaaram is worshipped as Guru.

But this is probably the only place in the world where Guru Bhagavan has a separate Sannidhi and separate Vimana between Vasishteswarar and Loganayaki Sannidhis. This is the only place where you can see Guru Bhagavan who is the Raja Guru, in standing posture with 4 hands holding his weapons and a book. Chitra Pournami & Guru Peyarchi are most important festivals here.

Thittai Guru Temple

There are four Lingas in the four corners and the fifth linga is the main deity, hence this is a pancha linga kshetram. This is also called the Pancha Bhootha Kshetra.  The temple tank here is Chakra Theertham, believed to have been created by Lord Vishnu’s chakra.

This is a Parihara sthalam for Guru. Lord Guru is seen in a separate shrine between swami and ambal. Guru here is Raja Guru and is in standing posture, with 4 hands holding his weapons and a book. (In Alangudi, the main Guru Parihara sthalam, Lord Dakshinamurthy is worshipped as Guru.) He is believed to have given upadesam to Vasishta muni. Worshiping the Guru here and subsequently worshiping Chandran at Thingalur, on the same day, is supposed to bring the Guru Chandra Yogam in ones horoscope. This is supposed to be very good for the inmate of the horoscope.

This temple is MUST SEE even for those who are not religiously inclined.Devotees are allowed right upto the entrance of the garbagraham. There is a small hole on the ceiling in the GarbaGraham, and a drop of water falls on the linga every 24 minutes ie 1 Nazhigai. If you are patient enough, you can actually witness this amazing phenomenon. TheChandragandham and the Suryagandham stones in the tower are supposed to be absorbing the moisture from the atmosphere and converting it to water. The amazing fact is that the interval of 24 minutes per drop is maintained irrespective of whether it is day or night, summer or winter.  This part is unexplained. The complete temple is built of stones, including the walls, pillars, roof and the floor. A real Architectural Marvel.

Thittai Guru Temple :: Architectural Marvel

Thittai, in Tamil means a Mound. It here during the Great Deluge (Pralayam) that Brahma & Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva for protection. This was the only place which had not submerged in the deluge. They worshiped the Lingam that they found here. Pleased with their Devotion, Lord Shiva delegated the duties of Creation & Protection to Brahma & Vishnu respectively.

The Lingam here is Swayambhu (Swayam – self & bhu – to be; Swayambhu means self manifest). Sage Vasishta is believed to have worshiped the Lord here and hence the name Vasishteswarar. He is also called Theerurnathar, Pasupathynathar, Radhapureeswarar or Dheenupureeswarar. Yama got rid of curse after worshiping this deity. The divine consort of Vasishteswarar is Ulaganayaki, Sugantha Kunthaleswari and Mangaleswari. The Goddess Ulaganayaki is known as Sugantha Kunthalambigai since a Vaisya girl by name Sugantha Kunthala got her deceased husband back to life after worshiping Ulaganayaki here. Therefore, Ulaganayaki is worshiped by the married women for the long life of their husband.

SHIVA MANTRA :: Video.

GURU PURNIMA

Observances by Buddhists and Hindus

Buddhists observe on this day uposatha i.e. to observe eight precepts. Vipassana meditators practice meditation on this day under the guidance of their teachers. Rainy season i.e. varsha vassa also starts with this day. During the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.

A sanyasi performing Vyasa pujatraditionally held on Guru Purnima day, as a part of Chaturmas rituals

The Hindu spiritual Gurus are revered on this day by remembering their life and teachings. Vyasa Puja is held at various temples, where floral offerings and symbolic gifts are given away in his honour and that of the cosmic satguru. The festivities are usually followed by feast for the disciples, shishya, where the prasad andcharnamrita literally nectar of the feet, the symbolic wash of Guru's feet, which represents his grace, kripa is distributed.

As a day of remembrance towards all gurus, through whom God grants the grace of knowledge (Jnana) to the disciples, special recitations of the Hindu scripturesespecially, the Guru Gita, a 216 verse ode to Guru, authored by the sage, Vyasa himself, are held all day; apart from singing of bhajans, religious hymns and organising of special kirtan session and havan at many places, where devotees from all over gather at the ashrams, matha or place where the seat of Guru, Guru Gaddi exists.This day also sees the ritual of padapuja, the worships of Guru's sandals, which represent his holy feet and is seen a way of rededicating to all that a Guru stands for.Disciples also recommit themselves on this day, towards following their teacher's guidance and teachings, for the coming year.

A mantra that is particularly used on this day is "Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Guru Veh Namah".

This day is also seen as an occasion when fellow devotees, Guru Bhai (disciple-brother), express their solidarity to one another in their spiritual journey.

GURU PURNIMA

Buddhist History

The Buddha went from Bodhgaya to Sarnath about 5 weeks after his enlightenment. Before Gautama (the Buddha-to-be) attained enlightenment, he gave up his austere penances and his friends, the Pañcavaggiya monks, left him and went to Isipatana.

After attaining Enlightenment the Buddha, leaving Uruvela, travelled to the Isipatana to join and teach them. He went to them because, using his spiritual powers, he had seen that his five former companions would be able to understand Dharma quickly. While travelling to Sarnath, Gautama Buddha had to cross the Ganges. Having no money with which to pay the ferryman, he crossed the Ganges through the air. When King Bimbisāra heard of this, he abolished the toll for ascetics. When Gautama Buddha found his five former companions, he taught them, they understood and as a result they also became enlightened. At that time the Sangha, the community of the enlightened ones, was founded. The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. It was given on the full-moon day of Asalha. Buddha subsequently also spent his first rainy season i.e. Varsha vassa at Sarnath at the Mulagandhakuti. The Sangha had grown to 60 in number (after Yasa and his fiends had become monks), and Buddha sent them out in all directions to travel alone and teach the Dharma. All 60 monks were Arahants.