Anyone visiting Kumbakonam should not miss the opportunity to visit nearby Thiruvisanallur (on Suryanar Koil road ) village . About 2 kms away from the main road into the village is located two historic, imposing temples of Chola period . One is Sivayoganathar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva ,who is a swayambumurthy ( self manifested) here. This is a very huge temple , under the administrative control of Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam . Four Bairavars known as chaturkala bairavars ( all four seasons) are placed in a row in the temple praharam .There is also a Lakshmi Narayana temple in the corridor . The main temple Gopuram is 5 tiered. This temple Is known as a ‘parihara sthalam’ for people born under Rishaba Rasi.
About a km or so from this temple is located Shri Karkadeshwarar temple , known locally as Nandu Kovil ( Karkatam in Sanskrit means Crab in English and Nandu in Tamil). According to the legend, a gandava under a curse from Indra was supposed to have worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a Nandu. Every morning the Nandu would bring a lotus from the pond and place it on the Shiva lingam . The lotus pond was developed by Indra who came every day morning to worship Lord Shiva with lotus flowers. When he saw a Nandu taking a flower and placing it on the Lord, he became furious and attacked the Nandu with a sword . Lord Shiva immediately opened a hole on his head and allowed the Nandu to hide. But the sword hit the Lingam twice making a scar. It is believed that when Aadi amavasya happens in Pooram nakshatra , and when the lingam is bathed in karaampasu milk, the Nandu will come out of the hole and give darshan. It was reported that during the last Kumbabhishekam on 6 th March, 2003 , a Nandu came and went around the yaga kundam to the astonishment of the devotees. In this temple there two amman sannadhis. One is Apoorva nayaki and other is Arumarundhu nayaki. It is believed that the abhisheka oil has powers to cure stomach ailments. This temple is also a ‘ parihara sthalam’ for Kataka ( cancer) rashI born people.
There are no houses around this temple which is surrounded on all sides by green agricultural fields except a small road leading to the temple. Most people will miss visiting these two great temples if they have no prior knowledge of their existence. We visited these two temples on a Monday evening a fortnight ago, and it was sad to note that there were hardly any devotees in the temples.
On the main road , in a lane is located the madam of the great shivaite saint Sridhara Ayyaval who was known to have brought river Ganges to the well in his house. I visited the madam and saw the well where water always stays at a particular level throughout the year and it is sparkingly pure and clean. On special occasions , hundreds of locals visit the madam to take head bath with this well water which is considered equal to taking bath in the Ganges.
About a km or so from this temple is located Shri Karkadeshwarar temple , known locally as Nandu Kovil ( Karkatam in Sanskrit means Crab in English and Nandu in Tamil). According to the legend, a gandava under a curse from Indra was supposed to have worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of a Nandu. Every morning the Nandu would bring a lotus from the pond and place it on the Shiva lingam . The lotus pond was developed by Indra who came every day morning to worship Lord Shiva with lotus flowers. When he saw a Nandu taking a flower and placing it on the Lord, he became furious and attacked the Nandu with a sword . Lord Shiva immediately opened a hole on his head and allowed the Nandu to hide. But the sword hit the Lingam twice making a scar. It is believed that when Aadi amavasya happens in Pooram nakshatra , and when the lingam is bathed in karaampasu milk, the Nandu will come out of the hole and give darshan. It was reported that during the last Kumbabhishekam on 6 th March, 2003 , a Nandu came and went around the yaga kundam to the astonishment of the devotees. In this temple there two amman sannadhis. One is Apoorva nayaki and other is Arumarundhu nayaki. It is believed that the abhisheka oil has powers to cure stomach ailments. This temple is also a ‘ parihara sthalam’ for Kataka ( cancer) rashI born people.
There are no houses around this temple which is surrounded on all sides by green agricultural fields except a small road leading to the temple. Most people will miss visiting these two great temples if they have no prior knowledge of their existence. We visited these two temples on a Monday evening a fortnight ago, and it was sad to note that there were hardly any devotees in the temples.
On the main road , in a lane is located the madam of the great shivaite saint Sridhara Ayyaval who was known to have brought river Ganges to the well in his house. I visited the madam and saw the well where water always stays at a particular level throughout the year and it is sparkingly pure and clean. On special occasions , hundreds of locals visit the madam to take head bath with this well water which is considered equal to taking bath in the Ganges.
