Nemam Amrithambika Temple, near Chennai for Santana Bhagyam/Childbirth Blessings

Amrithambika Sametha Aavundeeswarar Temple is located in Nemam which is around 35 Km from Chennai. If one is coming from Chennai after crossing Vellavedu and Sri Krishna Sweets, one has to take left in the Chennai Tiruvallur Main Road near Ambedkar Statue and Nemam Green Board on Left Hand Side of the Road. The Road is smooth till one reaches a stone wall and then one has to take left and then right. The Temple is visible thereafterwards. It is a 1 to1.5 hours drive from Chennai.

All buses from Chennai to Tiruvallur pass though Vellavedu Bus Stop. One can get down there and take an auto to reach Nemam Temple. 

The Google Map Location of the same is as follows:

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Lord+Shiva+Temple+Nemam/@13.0733366,80.0188531,16z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1snemam+sivan+temple!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x3b61400fc4fb085c!8m2!3d13.0681105!4d80.0228356

It is an ancient stone temple that is now renovated a few years back located amidst paddy fields in a calm atmosphere.
Amrithambika Sametha Aavundeeswarar Temple

Temple Located Amidst Paddy Fields

Vinayaka

Amrithambika Devi

 Aavundeeswarar Sannidhi

Agasthiar.org website details that this Temple is the place where Amritha Shakthi is Prevalent all around the place. All deities bless devotees with Amritha Shakthi. Parvathy is known as Amrithambika and Bhairava is Known as Amritha Yogeeshwara Bhairava.

Further Details of the Temple are given in their weblink below,

http://www.agasthiar.org/a/nemam.htm

Amritha Yogeeshwara Bhairava

The Theertham here is said to possess medicinal properties and is known as Oushada Amritha Shakthi Pitru Mukthi Theertham as detailed in Agasthiar.org website. The Temple and Theertham grants Moksha to Pitrus or exalted ancestral beings. Hence is it very auspicious to perform Tharpanam during Amavasya here.

Amritha Shakthi Pitru Mukthi Theertham

Go Pooja for Santana Bhagyam/Childbirth Blessings 

Go pooja is performed here for Santana Bhagyam  and in order to get good children. It is performed early in the morning. Both Cow and Calf are to be washed in water and worshipped by applying manjal/turmeric and Kumkumam. They are decorated with flowers and one can choose to adorn them with saree & blouse or even dhothi. Aarthi is performed to the Cow and Calf. Couple performs pradakshinam around the cow and calf and also offers namaskaram to them. Then the Cow is fed with food and one can bring green leafy vegetables to offer them.

This is a powerful form of worship as Gomatha has all the 33 crore devatha moorty residing its body. The place where the Cow is milked or udder is the place where Amritha sagaram is said to be present. Performing Pooja to Gomatha is equivalent to performing pooja to all the deities residing within.

The Milk that is taken from the Cow is utilized for performing Abhishekam to Aavundeeswarar Shiva Lingam within 3 minutes. This Milk is then offered as Prasadam for Couples to partake.

The Cost of performing this Go pooja and Abhishekam to Amrithambika and Aavundeswarar is Rs 1000. Later detailed Abhishekam with Turmeric, Honey, curd is performed to deities.

The contact details of Trustee are as follows.

Mr. Kumar,
Trustee, Sri Amirthambigai Trust,
No 73 Vellalar Street, Nemam Post,
Chennai 602 107
Phone: 98407 70248


Go Pooja in Nemam

Gomatha depiction of all devatha murthy

According to Agasthiar.org Dharani Bandhu Pitru Moorty Bless couples here so that they may have Santana Bhagyam/Childbirth Blessings. Performing Amavasya Tarpana here also carries the Blessings of Pitrus so that one may have good Children both Boy and Girl.

Adorning Amrithambika with Bangles on Poora Nakshatra days and Navaratri days helps one to receive the Blessings of devi easily and blesses one to having a loving and peaceful family life between husband and wife.

There is a unique Maha Vilvam tree near Bhairavar and Saneeswarar Sannidhi in Nemam temple which has more than 3 leaves. It has 7,11,12 leaves in a bunch as seen in image below. The Darshan of the Maha Vilvam tree is said to remove all sins.

Dakshinamoorty Sannidhi

Durga Devi

Valli Devayani Sametha Murugan

 Brahma Deva above Gomukam

Ancient Mandapa Outside Temple

Suryanarayana Temple, Arasavelli, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh

Suryanarayana Temple in Arasavelli is located at a distance of 1 Km from Srikakulam town in Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. The Gogle Map Location of the Temple is as follows:

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Surya+Narayana+Swami+Temple/@18.268593,83.8846199,11.83z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x442ee58e86885c47!8m2!3d18.2881316!4d83.9132969

 Suryanarayana Stone Temple Built in the Form of Sun's Chariot

Suryanarayana Temple Vimana/Gopuram

 

Devendra once wanted to visit Uma Rudrakoteswara Temple in Srikakulam at an untimely hour. The Nandhi deva who was in charge of guarding the Shiva temple kicked Indra. Thus kicked and injured Indra Deva fell down senselessly. In his unconscious state Indra dreamt that he would be relieved of the pain due to injury caused by Nandhi if he had built a Temple for Suryanarayana swamy there.

After regaining his consciousness, Indra dug at the place where he fell down and found the Vigraham/Idol of Suryanarayana Swamy. Indra performed pooja here and got relieved from Pain caused by Injury. This Place also got the name "Harshavalli" afterwards which means "abode of joy". Harshavalli is colloquially known as Arasavalli here.

Suryanarayana swamy Vigraham as seen in image below is in a standing posture holding Lotus flowers in both the hands. The Chariot is driven by aruna and the name of the seven horses driving the chariot are Gayatri, Bruhathi, Ushnik, Jagathi, Drushtup, Anushtup and Bhakthi. The Dwara palaka or Gatekeepers depicted near the feet of Suryanarayana are "Madhara" and "Pingala" respectively. The Divine sages "Sanaka" and "Sanandana" are seen waving the Chamara (Fans) for the comfort of Sun God on top of the Vigraham/Idol.

This Nijaroopa Darshanam of Suryanarayana swamy is seeing during the Ksheera/Milk Abhishekam performed on Sankramana days every month. Or the days when the Sun transits from one rasi to another. On Ratha Sapthami or Surya Jayanthi (Birthday), devotees are allowed to see the Nijaroopa Darshanam. On all other days, the Silver kavacha is adorned on the idol.

Suryanarayana Swamy Nijaroopa Darshanam in Sankramana days

Silver Kavacha in Suryanarayana swamy on all other days

The Temple is constructed here as per Vasthu Shastra, hence the temple is designed in such a way that Sun's rays directly fall on the Moola Vigraha of Suryanarayana swamy in the month of March and October. This is said to Bhaskara Sparsa pooja or the Day when Sun directly performs Deva pooja to Suryanarayana Swamy through the Golden rays of the Sun.

Bhaskra Sparsa Pooja: Golden Sunrays falling on the Deity

The Utsava Moorty is seen here with Surya Deva's consorts Usha, Chaya and Padmini. Kalyanotsavam of Suryanarayana Swamy is conducted from Chaitra Suddha Ekadasi to Bahula Padyami for 6 days in this Temple.

Utsava Moorty of Surya Deva with Chaya, Usha and Padmini

Apart from Suryanarayana swamy there are also other deities of Ambika, Vishnu, Ganapathi and Maheswara in and around the same Temple Premises. Hence this is known as "Panchaayatana" and rituals are performed as per "Smaartha Agama".

Indra dug the place near the Temple here with his Vajrayudha and hence the Theertham here is known as Indra Pushkarini. Thepotsavam is conducted here on Karthika Suddha Dwadasi in Indra Theertham.

Indra Pushkarini

 Theppotsavam in Indra Theertham

Kurmanatha Swamy Temple, Srikurmam, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh

Srikurmam is a village located at 13 Km east from Srikakulam Town in Andhra Pradesh near Bay of Bengal ocean. It houses a unique & ancient Kurmanatha Swamy Temple who is the Second Avatara of Mahavishnu among the Dasavatara forms. The Google Map Location of the same is as follows:

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Sri+Kurmanadha+Temple/@18.2719499,83.9984444,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0xcbafdb65a288c16b!8m2!3d18.2700266!4d84.0065798

Srikurmam Temple

Padma Vimana/Gandharva Vimana of Kurmanatha

Kurma Avatara is the Second Avatara of Mahavishnu in the form of the Tortoise. The Kurma served as the Base for the Mantara Hill in the Milky Ocean or Ksheera saragaram. Vasuki Snake was used as the Rope to churn the ocean by both Devas and Asuras. Amrutha or Nectar came from the Ocean along with Mahalakshmi, Kamadhenu, Apsaras, Kalpavriksha, Chandra, Jyeshta devi, Uchaisravas, Varuni, Airavatha etc. Mahavishnu took Mohini Avatara and distributed the amrutha to devas and made them immortal. Hence Devas won over asuras and saved the world from the wrath of Asuras. This was known as Samudra Mathan or Churning of Milky Ocean.

 Kurma Avatara Base for Churning Ocean

 Sthala Puranam/Temple History

There are references to this ancient Kurmanatha Swamy Temple in Kurma, Vishnu, Agni, Padma and Brahmaanda Purana. 

During Kritha Yuga, a pious king named Swetha Maharaj observed severe penance for many years. Pleased with his penance, Mahavishnu appeared as Kurmanatha Swamy or Vishnu in the Form of Tortoise. Brahma Deva himself took charge of the rituals and consecrated the Temple with Gopala Yantra. 


Swetha Maharaj and Brahma Deva Perfoming Kumanatha pooja

Swetha Pushkarini-The Lake in front of the Temple was formed by Sudarshana Chakra.Mahalakshmi emanated from this lake in Garuda Vahana in Varada Mudra posture as Kurma Nayaki

Swetha Pushkarini

 Mahalakshmi Emanating from Swetha Pushkarini as Kurma Nayaki

Moksha Sthanam

Srikurmam is believed to be the Moksha Sthanam and Swetha Pushkarini has cosmic cleansing powers. Like Varanasi, Many people perform last rites of the deceased near the Swetha Pushkarini. Ganga Devi herself is said to take a dip in Swetha Pushkarini in Magha Suddha Chathurthi every year to cleanse herself of the sins left by devotees.

The Prasadam of Lord Kurmanatha is also said to have curative properties as celestial dancer Tilottama became devotional and renounced desires after having the Prasadam. King Subhaanga is said to have won war and a devotee named Vaasudevan is said to have leprosy cured after taking the Prasadam.

Performing pooja to Kurmanatha Swamy relieves one of Sani Dosha and performing pooja on Sanivaram or Saturday is auspicious. It is one of the few Temples where Abhishekam is performed to the Moola Vigraha of Kurmanatha Swamy on a daily basis similar to Shiva Temples.

Ramanuja Visit and Two Dwaja Sthambams

Ramanuja Visited this Temple in the 11th Century and prayed to Kurmanatha Swamy. Heeding the Prayer, the deity facing East till then turned westwards. Till date the deity remains turned in the western direction. Hence there are two Dwaja Sthambams one is the Eastern and other in the Western Direction.

The Main Deity is a Large Saligrama in the form of a Tortoise. The Head of the Kurma (Tortoise) is represented by Vishnu Namam and the Tail is represented by Saligrama given by Adi Shakaracharya.

Swayambu Moola Vigraha of Kurmanatha Swamy

Vimana with Dwaja Sthambam

 The Other saints who have visited the Temple are as follows:

1) Lava and Kusa: Sons of Lord Rama
2) Balarama deva
3) Durvasa Maharishi
4) Adi Sankara
5) Ramanujacharya
6) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
7) Sri Narahari Theerthalu
8) Bhaktha Jayadeva

The architecture of this Temple is based on the Gandharva Shilpa Sampradaya  and has nearly 200 Black Granite Pillars. The architecture is unique and the sculptures in the Pillars are beautiful

Beautiful Sculpture in pillar

 Mandapa with Pillars

 There is also a Shiva Temple on the same road as Kurmanatah Swamy. The Shiva Linga is located in Patala and is a Patala Linga. There is also a Bana Linga outside the main sanctum sanctorum.
Shiva Temple

 Bana Linga

Veera Venkata Sathyanarayana Temple, Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh

Veera Venkata Sathyanarayana Temple in Annavaram can be reached by travelling 80 Km from Rajahmundry or 120 Km from Visakapatnam or 50 Km from Kakinada town in Andhra Pradesh. There are frequent bus services from the above mentioned towns to Annavaram. The google Map Location is as follows,

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Sri+Veera+Venkata+Satyanarayana+Swamy+Vari+Devasthanam/@17.2900275,82.4054821,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xcfbee17140cc683e!8m2!3d17.2833073!4d82.4024566

View of Annavaram Temple and Pampa River from Hill

View of Pampa River near Temple

Sthala Puranam/Temple History of Ratnagiri Hill

The Greatness of SathyaNarayana Swamy is described in Reva Khanda in Skandapuram. Meru, the Lord of Hills performed penance and begot two sons namely, Bhadra and Ratnakara. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu with his penance and became the Hill Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh in which Lord Rama resided on top of the Hill. Similarly Ratnakara also performed penance and pleased Lord Vishnu to become the Hill Ratnagiri in which the Lord resided as Veera Venkata Sathyanarayana Swamy.

Since this place was known for constant free food distribution  by benevolent people of the Locality, this place came to be known as Annavaram (Anna means food in Telugu).

There are also Temples for Lord Rama, Vana Durga, Kanaka Durga and Grama Devatha Nerellamma at the foot of the Hill. The Rama Temple was the place where the original idol of Sathyanarayana Swamy was discovered by devotees. Lord Rama is considered to be the Kshetra Palaka of this Temple.

Lord Rama Temple in Ratnagiri 

Sathyanarayana Swamy Temple

It is said that one Brahmin of the village by name Earanki Prakasam had a dream in which the Lord appeared and told him about the Sathyanarayana Swamy Vigraham/Idol that was left abandoned in the Hill. The Brahmin informed the same to the Zamindar and both of them traced the idol on the hill and worshipped it.

It was installed in the Present spot as per Indian Panchang day-Sravana Suddha Vidiya of Khara Year 1891 AD. Initially a small shed was constructed and later with the help of the villagers a Temple was constructed.

The image of SathyaNarayana Swamy is in a single idol representing the Trimurthis-Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. Anatha Lakshmi is to his Left Side and Lord Shiva in Linga Roopa is on his Right Side.

Anantha Lakshmi Sametha Veera Venkata Sathyanarayana Swamy and Shiva Linga

 MahaNarayana Yantra

The Temple is constructed in Two Floors and the Ground Floor Houses the Srimathripathvibhuthi Vaikunta Maha Narayana Yantra. The Ground Floor has the Peetham of the Lord and is known as Pada Darshanam. On the Four Sides of the Yantra are the four deities namely Ganapathy, Suryanarayana Swamy, Bala Tripurasundari and Lord Shiva. The Four Deities along with Narayana in the form of Yantra constitues the Panchayathanam or Important Worship of Five Deities.

The First Floor Houses Anantha Lakshmi Sametha SathyaNarayana Swamy. Hence this Temple attracts both Shaiva and Vaishnava Devotees.

Sathyanarayana Vratham

Once Sage Narada was distressed by the misery of men in the world and sought a solution for the same to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu told him that performing Sathyanarayana Pooja would relieve men of their troubles and also enable them to attain Salvation after death.

Annavaram Temple is famous for the Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratham being conducted on a daily basis by Thousands of Devotees. Couples perform SathyaNarayana Swamy pooja to a Kalasam. The pooja articles comprising of Coconuts, Lamp, Tulsi Leaves etc. are given to them after procuring tickets. The SathyaNarayana Ashtotaram is also recited during the pooja.  The Sathyanaryana Swamy Vratha Katha is  recited by the Priest to them. They are asked to partake the Prasadam which is a sweet item made of Wheat after the pooja.

There are various categories for the same i..e..the Rs 300, Rs 700 and Rs 1500 category.

Sathyanarayana Swamy Vratham Performed in Temple