Earlier I had started a blog named Anjanaprakasini.wordpress.com, but I am not able to login now. So posting here some of the good photos and content related to the Temple in Tiru Alangadu. Adding some other photos also.
There is a large Shiva Temple in Tiru Alangadu which is 10 Kms before Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu. Once can reach Arakkonam Station by Train from Chennai Central and then take an auto reach temple. The Google Map Location of the same is as follows,
The Shiva Temple has a Huge Deep Pond Known as Mukthi Theertham.
Tiruvalangadu Temple near Mukthi Theertham
Tree Reflection in Mukthi Theertham
Sunset in Mukthi Theertham
Siva : Vataraneswaran – The Cosmic Ruler who resides in the banyan tree forest. (Vata – Banyan Tree , Aaranyam – Forest , Iswara – The Cosmic Ruler by whose will all Universes, in orderly cycles are created and Dissolved ).
Sakthi : Vandarkuzhali
Sthala Vrisham : Banyan Tree (Vata Vriksham, Aala maram) , Jackfruit tree ( Palaa Maram).
Theertham : Mukthi Theertham.
There is a Temple for Muktheswarar on the other Bank of Mukthi Theertham outside the Temple as seen in this photo below. The Small Mandapam houses the temple.
The Shiva Temple has a Huge Deep Pond Known as Mukthi Theertham.
Tiruvalangadu Temple near Mukthi Theertham
Siva : Vataraneswaran – The Cosmic Ruler who resides in the banyan tree forest. (Vata – Banyan Tree , Aaranyam – Forest , Iswara – The Cosmic Ruler by whose will all Universes, in orderly cycles are created and Dissolved ).
Sakthi : Vandarkuzhali
Sthala Vrisham : Banyan Tree (Vata Vriksham, Aala maram) , Jackfruit tree ( Palaa Maram).
Theertham : Mukthi Theertham.
Thiru Aalangadu – The land of
Banyan trees. There is a Shiva linga under a Banyan Tree inside the temple.Banyan tree’s shade is said to bring peace
of mind. Dakshinamurthy (An Avatar Of Siva) resides under the
banyan tree blessing people so that they can discern
right from wrong through gnana or Wisdom. A wise
person has an equanimous nature and faces the
challenges of life without fear.
The Sthala Vriksham is Banyan Tree and there is a Shiva Lingam below it in temple as seen below,
Nataraja – The Cosmic Lord of
Dance (Natyam : Dance , Raja : ruler).
The Upper right hand of Nataraja
has the hour glass shaped Damaru Symbolising Creation.
The Upper left hand of
Nataraja has Agni or fire Symbolising destruction
Of Evil.
The other right hand has the Abhaya
Hastha symbolising the Blessing the lord bestows on
people so that they can discern good from evil.
The other left hand is lifted
above to symbolise Upliftment or salvation.
The Lord dances on the Demon Apasmara
symbolising the victory over ignorance and evil nature.
As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva
performs the tandava, the dance in which the universe is created, maintained,
and resolved. Shiva’s long, matted tresses, usually piled up in a knot, loosen
during the dance and crash into the heavenly bodies, knocking them off course
or destroying them utterly. The surrounding flames represent
the manifest Universe.
The snake swirling around his
waist is Kundalini-Cosmic Energy inherent in all matter. The stoic face of Shiva
represents his neutrality, thus being in balance.
Pancha
Sabhas – The Five Halls Of Dance
There is a Sculpture of Pancha Sabhas on top as we enter the Shiva Temple.Five siva temples house the five different halls
of Dance. The Cosmic Lord dances uniquely in each place in Tamil Nadu.They are as follows.
Kanaka Sabha ( The Hall Of Gold ) :
Chidambaram temple.
Velli Sabha ( The Hall Of Silver ) :
Madurai Meenakshi Temple.
Ratna Sabha ( The Hall Of Gems And
Stones) : Thiru Aalangadu Temple.
Thamira Sabha ( The Hall Of Copper ) :
Tirunelveli Temple.
Chitra Sabha (The Hall Of Artwork ) :
Kutralam Kutralanathar Temple.
Urdhuva Thandavam
Shiva in this Temple is in a unique Dancing position with his leg taken upwards in perpendicular position near his face. This Dance form is known as Urdhuva Thandavam as seen below,
Once there was a competition between Lord Siva
and kali devi as to who was more superior. Shiva raises his foot above his head and
dances, thus outwitting kali
devi.
As seen in the picture above
Siva is flanked by dwara palakas on either side. Kali
is seen on the left corner of the picture.Kaaraikal Ammaiyar
is seen seated next to kali and sings in praise of Siva.
Munchikesa maharishi is seen on
the right side. There is a separate shrine for him in the street
surrounding the Shiva Temple.
Karkoodakan, the powerful Serpent (The person with the
snake hood behind him) is seen worshipping the Lord Shiva. Sivagami, consort of Nataraja
is also seen on the right most side. Sunandha maharshi has
worshipped here.
Inside the Temple premises there is a Sahasra Linga
– A 1000 lingas integrated into a
single form.There is a nandikeswara whose performs the
Gayatri japa of the sahasra linga in
front of it. Any kind of worship performed
in front of the sahasra linga multiplies itself a 1000
times. There are the pancha
bhoota lingas near it.
There is a Temple for Muktheswarar on the other Bank of Mukthi Theertham outside the Temple as seen in this photo below. The Small Mandapam houses the temple.
View of Muktheswarar temple
Siva : Muktheeswarar
Sakthi : Thirumoola nayagi
The Mandapam of the temple is an ancient one with
beautiful sculptures in it’s numerous pillars. There are sculptures associated with the 12 rasis in this Temple.
