Me in Kanchipuram

இன்று (11-09-06) காஞ்சிபுரம் செல்லும் வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தது. திருக்கோயில்களின் நகரமான காஞ்சியில் நான் தங்கியிருந்த சில மணிநேரங்களில் எனனால் முடிந்த வரை ஆலயங்களை தரிசனம் செய்தேன். அவை

1. ஸ்ரீ காமாட்சி அம்மன் ஆலயம்

This temple is the abode of Sri Kamatchi amman whose anger was pacified by Sri Adisankarar by installing Sri Chakra. Very big temple with high class maintanence by Sri Shankara madam.

2. ஸ்ரீ கைலாசநாதர் ஆலயம்

This temple is the abode of lord Siva with Parvti. This is also a big temple with very good maintanence.

3. ஸ்ரீ உலகளந்த பெருமாள் ஆலயம்

This is a small temple which is under renovation. This is the abode of Lord Vishnu after the avathara of Vamana one of the 9 avatharamas of Lord Vishnu. Probably as far as I know this idol is the largest in size and also very grand as if how Lord Vishnu measures his first feet in “Boologam (this world)”, secod feet in “Mellogam (heavenly world)” and his third feet on the head of King Mahabali.

4. ஸ்ரீ வழக்கறுத்தீஸ்வரர் ஆலயம்

This is a small temple which is the abode of lord shiva, who is believed to have the power of solving the long disputed problems or cases that are pending before the judicious halls.

5. ஸ்ரீ முத்தீஸ்வரர் ஆலயம்

This is also a small temple which is the abode of lord Shiva. This temple is the place where one of the nayanmars thirukurippu nayanar who had a policy of taking his lunch only after washing the clothes of a follower of Shiva.

6. ஸ்ரீ சொன்ன வண்ணம் செய்த பெருமாள் ஆலயம்

This is a small temple, which is the abode of lord Vishnu and the birth place of Mudalazhwar the first among the 12 alwars. This perumal got this name because once when the King ordered for the exile of a follower of Vishnu an alwar by name thirumizhisai alwar also followed that person and requested this god to follow him since he has no place in that town by means of hymns.

God accepted his request and started leaving and followed the alwar. Finally the matter was brought to the king and he requested the alwar to return and then the alwar requested the god to return again by means of hymns.

7. ஸ்ரீ அஷ்ட புஜ பெருமாள் ஆலயம்

This is also a small temple which is the abode of lord Vishnu. With ferocious bow, knife, charka etc.. with a war fare look and 8 hands.

8. ஸ்ரீ வரதராஜ பெருமாள்

This is the main temple of kanchi and the biggest among all. This is the abode of lord Vishnu. This is one among the temples where the idol of the god is located in upstairs. This temple ownes a high class ancient sculptures which dates back to time of cholas, pallvas etc.

This temple has the golden lizard which is believed to bless us by doing away with all our evil acts.( pavams ).

Later I learnt that there are about 108 sivan temples and 18 vishnu temples in Kancheepuram alone. (WOW…!!!!)

In short I am going blog about a literary comparison between azhwars and nayanmaras… kept it reading….!!!