Our travel plan was to visit Temples in and around Trichy, then on the way Kumbakonam and nearby places. To cover all these, we had approximately 3 days. The idea was to invigorate ourselves physically and rejuvenate our souls. 

We were to reach Trichy from Bengaluru by Train – which reaches Trichy at about 4:00 a.m.

Day 1 - The train from Bangalore reaches Trichy by 3:45 a.m. and the driver comes over quickly to pick us up. We go to Hotel Blossom (https://hotelblossoms.com) only to get the rude shock that our rooms which were supposed to have been available early in the morning, are available only from 8:00 a.m. - till then we can't do much. I call up the person, who helped in planning our travel arrangements and after some about 20 minutes of going and forth - he tells me that he also can't do much. Whether Hotel Blossoms are to be blamed or this person is to be blamed, I hope that this is the first and the last such event that happens during our trip. Finally, we check into Ramyas Hotel. (https://www.ramyashotels.com/).

I can't tell anything about Hotel Blossoms but I must state that their approach wasn't good. Neither was the communication that was done by my travel planner. He didn't do his job properly.

Ramyas Hotel was a very good experience in all respects. The rooms were very neat and clean, spacious enough with most of the bells and whistles - from the living area to the washrooms. Neat, clean and hygienic. On request, they also arrange to provide an ironing table and an iron for ironing your clothes. The location is center of the city. Next visit onwards, will stay here.

Trichy is a centre point for many reasons from my perspective and needs. My family's Kuladeivam (Family Deity) is located on the banks of River Cauvery at Gunaseelam, where Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Perumal resides. It is a very old temple and as per the available records and legends, is the elder brother of Tirupati Venkatachalapathy. This is a rather small temple but happily over a period of time, from what I have seen has been regular improvements and maintenance.

Prior to going to this temple, I informed the Archakar that I will be coming with my family. He says to come just after 8:30 a.m., and we shall do the Poojai. Incidentally, Gunaseelam is at a distance of about 28-odd kms from Trichy Station.

Gunaseelam Temple

Like many families, we also observe a custom that whenever we go on a temple trip, we first visit our family deity, pay obeisance to the family deity and then go to other temples or proceed further.

At the temple, I buy a ticket for Archanai. And then connect up with the Archakar. We exchange pleasantries after which we go into the Garbagruha or Sanctum Santorum and then offer our prayers. Bhagwan Venkatachalapathy, seems to tell us,"come and surrender (or download) to me all your problems; I shall resolve them. But you must have complete faith and belief in me. And, (for a good measure, also seems to tell) - no half measure. Full belief is what is required."

The Vigraha is so divine and magnificent - so we pray for the well-being of ourselves, family and friends, thankful that our Darshan of Bhagwan has started without any issues or fuss and without the crowd. We complete our prayers and thank the Archaka, who helped me in completing the prayers for all family members. And, as a part of my decision, I hand over my offerings to the Archaka rather than put them in the Hundi.

Our work at Gunaseelam is done, and now we try to go to our Village Deity at Thimmachipuram. This is located at a distance of 30 kms from Gunaseelam. We call the Poojari and ask him - he says the temple got closed early that day and that we should come the next day. We are disappointed as we could have covered that very easily within the day's schedule. But can't do much about that. Hence, we decide to go to the next point. Jambukeswarar temple, located at Thiruvanaikavil.

One thing that I notice about Trichy is that it probably is the centre point in Tamil Nadu from wherein one can travel in many directions and in each direction, one can find temples that are steeped in culture, tradition and history - be it a Vaishnavaite or a Shaivaite or anyone else. They all are awe-inspiring and are divine without any doubt. And as to why I talk about Trichy in this manner, just take a look at the 2 directions in the map below: (3^rd direction is towards Thirunelveli) which is more south and not visible in this map)

Just after leaving Gunaseelam, we go to Thiruvasi where there is another temple called, "Matruraivaradeeswarar" Temple, which we visit after our Driver tells us about this temple.

A bit of history about this temple. The temple has been constructed /expanded by different kings like Raja Raja Cholan I, Sundara Pandian, Kulonthunga Cholan I and Krishna Deva Rayar. As per the stone inscriptions, during AD 1253 the Hoysala King ‘Veera Someswaran’ who ruled this area from Samayapuram as capital generously offered ten thousand kalam (type of measurement) of paddy every year. Earlier this village was called as Thiruppachilasramam and later shortened as Thiruvasi.

We meet a Lady in the above temple when she was blowing the Conch effortlessly. I get intrigued and ask for her permission and about her. She says, she is travelling to each of the Padal Petra Sthalangal by foot - amazing - considering the fact that there are 264 such temples in Tamil Nadu and a total of 276. I get to know that this is one such Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Here is the YouTube link and hear her blowing the conch-https://youtu.be/IvFrwrYSuOA

Padal Petra Sthalam: It refers to those temples which were glorified by the 3 Shaiva Nayanmars Thirunavukarasar, Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Sundarar who lived between 7th and 9th century CE praising Bhagawan Shiva's divine grace. From here, we proceed to Jumbukeswarar Kovil, Thiruvaniakavil.

Jumbukeswarar Kovil: This temple is about 1800 years old and was built by Kocengannan (Kochenga Chola), one of the early Chozhas. It is one of the Pancha Bhoota stalas (five Shiva temples). The main presiding deity is the Appu lingam – the element of water.

Temple History: Maa Ambika was born as a human as directed by Bhagwan Shiva. She made a Shiva Linga with the waters of River Cauvery. Bhawan appeared on the Linga and granted darshan to Mother. This is considered to be a place where miracles happen. Of the Pancha Bhudas, the place became Appu sthala or water sthala.

Some more (from: Dinamalar) - A sage Jambu by name performed penance in this place on Bhagwan Shiva. Bhagwan granted darshan to the sage and offered Naaval fruit (called blackberry) as Prasad. While consuming the Prasad, the sage swallowed the seeds too as he thought it a sin to spit the seeds. Reaching the stomach of the Rishi, the seeds began to grow into a tree and pierced his head thus leading to his salvation. Naaval is called Jambu in Sanskrit. The Water Linga created by Maa Ambica is under this tree. As Bhagwan granted salvation to Sage Jambu, he is also known as Jambukeswarar.

Also, apparently the sanctum sanctorum has water all the time. To understand the beauty of the temple, one short visit is not enough. At least around 6 hours will be required if one has to grasp the significance of each part of the temple. For instance, this place is also the abode of Akilandeshwari Devi, one of the forms of Maa Parvati. Also, the vigrahas of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeshwari - the former as the Guru and the latter as the Shishya -. face each other. Hence, unlike other Shiva temples, Thiru Kalyanam (marriage) to Appu Lingam and Parvati does not take place in this here. Jambu also refers to the Jamun (or blackberry) fruit. As a child, I heard that every day one jamun or in Tamil naval pazham (fruit) used to fall on the main vigraha. I don't know how far it is true, though.

Temple is also considered as an 'Upadesa Sthalam' as the Goddess Akhilandeshwari took lessons from Arulmigu Jambukeswarar in this temple (Source:www.trichyonline.com) According to sacred scriptures, Maa Parvati in her avatar as Maa Akhilandeshwari carried out a penance in Thiruvaniakavil. The Goddess made a Shiva Lingam using only the holy waters of River Kaveri and kept the Lingam under a 'Venn Naval Maram'. Acknowledging her earnest worship, Bhagwan Shiva gave darshan to the Goddess and gave lessons on Shiva Gnana. Hence, Thiruvaniakavil Temple is an ‘Upadesa Sthalam'.

The temple has to be experienced in a holistic manner. We experience in the temple its divinity, the workmanship that must have gone on conceptualizing the temple, then designing it, and then actually building it, block by block and I get goosebumps. I just wonder why is it that we weren't talking about magnificent structures earlier. But am also not at all happy that these temples are under the control of the Government and when they could have been much better maintained, they don't get to be. Whosoever made alterations to the temple to put tubes, lights in an ungainly fashion that stands out as an eyesore - would they do such a thing to any other religious place - not that they come close anyways - but the fact is the callous approach to historical structures is very upsetting.

When I and my wife entered the temple, we witnessed a bit of a frenzied activity as a small crowd followed a senior Archaka of the temple - who was walking real fast. Then what I saw was the Gau Pooja (worshipping of the cow) - the significance of this being that Akilandeshwari herself comes in the form of a cow and prays to Jumbukeswarar. I would think that it was a divine blessing for me and my wife to witness this - and it wasn't a planned one from our part. But to witness the pooja, it was an exhilarating experience.

This photo is from the net (but of the temple) - I saw the same priest doing the GoPooja.

From here we head for lunch and our driver, a kind person, takes us to Hotel Kannappa, located at Mannarpuram Tollgate Service Rd, Mannarpuram, Sangillyandapuram, Tiruchirappalli. If am not mistaken both Veg, and Non-Veg food is served. We are vegetarians and have vegetarian fare - the food is quite good the ambience is good and they don't take too long to serve - that is the icing on the cake. We finish our lunch and then head to the Hotel to take some rest before visiting the next temple, which is Ranganathar Perumal, who resides at Srirangam.  – that will form part of Part 2

 

All the images are provided by the author.