- Bangalore to Kumbakkonam
- Kumbakkonam to Tiruchchi
- Tiruchchi to Madurai
- Madurai to Tirunelveli
- Tirunelveli to Tiruvananthapuram
- Tiruvananthapuram to Guruvaayur
- Guruvaayur to Chennai
- Chennai to Bangalore
We, my parents and I left Bangalore on June 26, 2006, to Kumbakkonam to visit our kula deivam (Family Deity) at Uppiliappan Koil (U'Koil). U'Koil is situated about 7 Km from kumbakkonam. The moolavar is Oppiliappan along with the thaayaar, Bhoomaa Devi. The sanctum also has place for Maarkandeyar Muni who brought up Bhoomaa Devi after finding her. U'Koil is one of the 108 divya desams that - as a vaishnavite - Ihave have to visit. More about these 108 temples later.
At U'Koil we stayed at the Aandavan Ashramam. Sreemad Aandavar of Srirangam runs these ashramam at major pilgrimage centers for the benefit of pilgrims. The rooms are basic with bathing and toilet facilities common. These ashramams are maintained quite well with caretakers appointed to manage every one of them. For more information on Aandavar Aashramam, <Click Here>.
We had a great darshan of the Lord Oppillaa Appan during the morning. About facilities for food, there are a large number of messes around the temple praahaaram (the 4 main roads running along the temple wall) and our favourite is situated on the southern praahaaram. The food is generally homely and served on plantain leaf and eaten while sitting on the ground.
We travelled to Kumbakkonam and caught the passenger train to Tiruchi. I preferred this mode over the bus as it is more comfortable, though it takes a bit longer. Travel time by bus from Kumbakkonam to Tiruchi is about 2.5 hours, the train however takes about 3 hours to reach. The cost of a train ticket is Rs. 30. When we reached the station, we learnt that the train was about an hour late.
About Kumbakkonam. Kumbakkonam (K'Konam) is a town located in the heart of Tamil Nadu and is basically an agricultural town. The climate is generally HOT with temperatures reaching high 30 and lower 40s regularly. This town is very famous for a religious festival - Mahamaham - held every 12 years. It is believed that during the day the Mahamaham is held, all the holy rivers in India flow into this tank, and having a dip during this period, is taken as if you have had a dip in all these rivers.
Meanwhile, the news that we got was that the train is further delayed by half an hour. During this waiting period, the crowd at the station grew and there was hardly any seating space left. Railway stations in India are a great place to observer the natives of that area. Children, their harassed parents, the luggage and the different odds and ends are things that add color to the whole place. It must be experienced to actually enjoy the variety and vitality of people who inhabit a area. And no two areas are the same.
By the time the train arrived, most of the passengers were harassed, tired and hot. Unfortunately, as there was no breeze blowing, the whole place had a sticky feeling to it. Well, finally we got hold of places for us in a compartment.
The train that we travelled was a passenger train with 2nd Class Passenger seating. Seats in this class are like benches that we have a schools, no cushion, with slats of wood over supporting iron structure. We shamelessly occupied 2 seats completely (Seating capacity 6+) and my mother (who is kind of sick) had a great rest during the travel.
It was about 3 PM that we reached Tiruchi. We took up a room at the Railway Station itself. Indian Railways provides accommodation to passengers who stop over during a journey. The accommodations are generally quite well maintained and neat. The room that we occupied at Tiruchi railway station was massive to say the least. It was about 20 X 15 in size with a high roof of above 15 feet. The great thing about this room was that in spite of the external heat, it was really cool inside. Lodging facilities are not provided, however, you can most often than not find good food near railway stations.
After a brief rest, we hired a car to visit Srirangam and Samayapuram, two major temples near Tiruchi. There are other temples there, the Jambulingeshwarar / Akhilandeshwari temple at Tiruaanaikoil just outside Srirangam, Uchchi Pillayaar Koil in Tiruchi Town, Uttamar Koil just outside Tiruchi.
As we had not visited Samayapuram for a long time, we had to have a darshan of the Goddess. At Samayapuram, the Goddess Paarvathi takes the form of Samayapuratthu Amman and is a sight to behold. She is tall, Red faced, adorned with ornaments and jewels that glimmer in the dim flickering oil lamps. Imposing with her arsenal of shastras and astras in each of her 8 hands, she is sure beautiful and cowers you down with her gigantic presence.
Samayapuram temple is located about 14-15 Kms out of Tiruchi on the Madras Road.
On the way back to Srirangam, we visited a temple of Lord Narasimhar (Azagiyasingar) located east of the Srirangam temple. This is a quaint place with the primary diety of Lord Narasimhar, the lion faced avatara of Sri Vishnu. Here he is known as Kaatu Azagiasingar which translates to "Beautiful Lion Faced Lord of the Forest". My mother had never visited this temple, even though she was brought up in Tiruchi and it pleases me that I could do some thing that fulfilled her wishes.
To see Kaatuazagiyasingar temple, click here
http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=10859069&x=78697686&z=17&l=0&m=a
At Srirangam
Srirangam or Tiruvarangam as it is known locally is situated between two rivers, the Kaaveri and the Kollidam. Kollidam splits from Kaaveri and joins it a little downstream. It is on the island formed by this split
that Tiruvarangam is situated.
To look at the Srirangam Temple click here
http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=10862515&x=78690476&z=17&l=0&m=a
It was evening at the temple and the temple was shut for evening pooja. Both the main temple and Thaayaar sannidhis were shut. A big group of people were sitting at Krishna Sannithi and reading Sahasranamam, I too joined them. As I have the practice of reading Sahasranamam at every Vishnu temple I visit, I always carry a copy of the Sahasranamam in my bag. I had a divine time reading the sacred hymns at the lords feet. It was really great.
The thayaar sannithi opened just as the Sahasranaamam got over and had a beautiful darshan of the devi. Thaayaar means Mother in tamil and the devi Lakshmi is the mother of all creatures on this earth.
Srirangam has a unique feature of having a very very very large Garudar. Towering over you, he captivates your imagination and you have to bow down in reverence. Srirangam vaasis would know what I am talking about.
Another feature of Srirangam is the "5 Kuzis 3 Vaasals" game. A spot in the temple has 5 small holes dug in stone. you are supposed to keep 1 finger in each hole and stretch out to view each of the 3 Vaasals (Gates). If you are able to do so, you are assured Moksham.
Back to Station
We travelled back to our room at the station and had peaceful rest. My parents were returning to Chennai the next day morning by Vaigai and I was going to Madurai by train the same afternoon.
