A “kovil samprokshanam” is a very uniquely Hindu religious concept and grand ritual indeed. Although in the the past, I had witnessed (from only afar though) an event of a samprokshanam being conducted at a temple, I confess that like so many thousands of ordinary pilgrims or temple-goers in the country, I too was woefullyContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Vilanagar Varadaraja Perumal Temple (Part-11)”
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A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Thalacchanga Nanmathiyam Temple (Part-10)
The Naanmadhiya Perumal Temple (also called Thalachanga Nanmathiyam) is a Hindu temple situated in the village of Thalaichangadu, near Akkur in Mayiladuthurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshippedContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Thalacchanga Nanmathiyam Temple (Part-10)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Thalacchanga Nanmathiyam Temple (Part-9)
May 1, 2025: Early in the morning I prepared to travel from Mayavaram to attend the grand “kovil mahasamprokshanam” of Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Vilanagar. But then first, I wanted to complete my planned pilgrimage to the 6th and final “divya desam” viz. Thalacchanga Nanmathiyam Perumal Kovil in the tiny, virtually un-locatable village ofContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Thalacchanga Nanmathiyam Temple (Part-9)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Tirukannapuram (Part-7)
Early next day from my base-camp at Mayiladuthurai, my pilgrimage continued on to the holy temple town of Tirukannapuram. This visit of mine to this sacred Divya Desam was of very special significance to me personally, since it was precisely where the 5th and very last destination in a customary pilgrimage known in Sri VaishnavaContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Tirukannapuram (Part-7)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur Kambar Medu (Part-5)
Half a kilometre to the southern side of the Therezhundhur Temple, is the memorial to the great Tamil poet Kamban. It is called Kambar Medu . This spot, I was told by a local villageman there who was kind enough to give us a tour of the memorial, was once full of shabby encroachments andContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur Kambar Medu (Part-5)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur (Part-4)
At Terezhundur, the Perumal temple which is of the Sri Vaishnava Vadakalai sampradaya (to which I may add that I proudly belong), is apparently supported by Sri Ahobila Mutt). This I could recognize easily in the distinctive (Sri Sannidhi) shape of the “tirumann” forms that adorned the temple walls and concourses all around the precincts.Continue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Therezhundhur (Part-4)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” -Therezhundhur (Part-3)
In the previous blogpost of mine, I had written that it would be rather superflous to re-narrate the respective “sthala purana-s” of the 6 six divya-desams listed on my pilgrimage itinerary since there was already copious material available in the public domain and the worldwide internet. However Therezhundhur, I have to consider is a classContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” -Therezhundhur (Part-3)”
A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” (Part-1)
Last year in 2024, around the same time as end-April 2025, I undertook my customary annual pilgrimage of the Divya Desam temples, offering worship in the 9 famous temples in and around the town of Tirunelveli, and known popularly as “Nava Tirupati Divya Desa kshetrams“, besides at two other temples in Tirukurungudi and Vanamamalai. AndContinue reading “A memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” (Part-1)”
Distinguished (retd) civil servant M.R.Sivaraman’s wholehearted endorsement of my book, “The Tale of Two Cities: Outline of the History of the Sri Vaishnavas of Tamil Nadu that was never written”
The gentleman below Sri. M.R. Sivaraman I.A.S was very kind indeed to have taken the time out to send me a personal email this morning. He is so distinguished he needs no introduction really but nonetheless here below is his online profile: His email dt. 20 Feb 2025 is reproduced below ⬇️ and so isContinue reading “Distinguished (retd) civil servant M.R.Sivaraman’s wholehearted endorsement of my book, “The Tale of Two Cities: Outline of the History of the Sri Vaishnavas of Tamil Nadu that was never written””
Please leave the Tirukurungudi temple alone! For God’s sake, don’t desecrate its cloistered, sacred serenity by turning it into touristic pilgrimage spot!
Let me at the outset, make it clear that I don’t know who MLA Ruby Manoharan is and nor do I know why or what his interests are in the affairs of the holy and famous Sri Vaishnava Nambi Perumal Temple at Tirukurungudi . All I know about this Nanganuri Constituency MLA is that heContinue reading “Please leave the Tirukurungudi temple alone! For God’s sake, don’t desecrate its cloistered, sacred serenity by turning it into touristic pilgrimage spot!”