KOILS in Tamilnadu
Thousands of temples, small and large, abound in Tamilnadu. Times of India has highlighted some of these in today's (19 Jan 2012) issue.
We will start with the 1000-year old temple of Thanjavur (Periya Koil).
The Chola king Raja Raja Cholan built this Brihadeeswara temple in 1010. It is big in all respects - a gigantic stone Shiva lingam fills the Garbha Gruham, its tower (vimanam) is 216 feet tall.The temple's magnificence coupled with engineering marvel takes your breath. The structure has been built without using mortar.The Gopuram is unparalled for its geometric perfection, and masterly craftsmanship. The monolithic Nandi, the gigantic Dwarapalakas take your breath away. The inscriptions and the sculpture speak about the various karanams of Natya Shastra.
You can read more about this temple, Raja Raja Cholan (Arul Mozhi Varman), his queen Lokamahadevi, and his sister Kundavai in Kalki's novels.
Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of Bharat, others being Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi, Avantika (Ujjain), and Dwaraka. Kanchipuram was essentially ruled by Pallava kings though Cholas, Pandiyas ruled it later.
Kailasanathar Koil, of 8th Century built by Narasimha Varma Pallavan, is made of only sandstone. Its walls have exquisite sculptures (சிற்ப வேலைப்பாடுகள்) The temple is a veritable treasure house for sculptures.
Vaikuntha Perumal Koil is dedicated to Vishnu, another 8th Century Pallava koil by Nandivarman; it is also known as Parameshwara Vinnagaram.
Kamakshi Amman Koil, Varadaraja Perumal Koil, Ekambareswarar Koil are the major Koils in Kanchipuram.
Chidambaram has Sri Nataraja temple and Srirangam has Sri Ranganatha Perumal Koil.
Vaitheeswaran Koil near Chidambaram is endowed with healing (medicinal) powers. Like Varadaraja Perumal Koil in Kanchipuram.
Oppiliyappan Koil, near Kumbakonam is famous for its saltless neivedyam to the God. When Vishnu asked Markandeya for his daughter's hand in marriage, Markandeya is said to have replied, "Marriage? My daughter is so young, she does not know how to cook with salt !" The Lord replied that he would henceforth eat food without salt. So even today the neivedyam in this temple is prepared without salt and offered to the Lord.
Sarangapani Koil in Kumbakonam is also famous for its sculpture.
Meenakshi Amman Koil is a Pandiyan koil in Madurai. Very famous for the Thirukkalyanam. Sundareswarar is the Shiva here.
Srivilliputhur has a large temple for Andal. The temple's gopuram is used as the emblem of TN govt.
*** adapted from Times of India, 19th Jan 2012
As said before, there are thousands of temples in Tamilnadu. This is only a brief sample.
This morning in his Bhagavatam Upanyasam Velukkudi Sri Krishnan explained that "knowing about, reading about, and actually visiting" the abodes [Koils] of Bhagavan is one way of Bhakti. Within minutes of listening to him, TOI gave me and Vijaya the opportunity to read about many Koils ...
rajappa
11:30 AM
19-01-2012
Thousands of temples, small and large, abound in Tamilnadu. Times of India has highlighted some of these in today's (19 Jan 2012) issue.
We will start with the 1000-year old temple of Thanjavur (Periya Koil).
The Chola king Raja Raja Cholan built this Brihadeeswara temple in 1010. It is big in all respects - a gigantic stone Shiva lingam fills the Garbha Gruham, its tower (vimanam) is 216 feet tall.The temple's magnificence coupled with engineering marvel takes your breath. The structure has been built without using mortar.The Gopuram is unparalled for its geometric perfection, and masterly craftsmanship. The monolithic Nandi, the gigantic Dwarapalakas take your breath away. The inscriptions and the sculpture speak about the various karanams of Natya Shastra.
You can read more about this temple, Raja Raja Cholan (Arul Mozhi Varman), his queen Lokamahadevi, and his sister Kundavai in Kalki's novels.
Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of Bharat, others being Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kashi, Avantika (Ujjain), and Dwaraka. Kanchipuram was essentially ruled by Pallava kings though Cholas, Pandiyas ruled it later.
Kailasanathar Koil, of 8th Century built by Narasimha Varma Pallavan, is made of only sandstone. Its walls have exquisite sculptures (சிற்ப வேலைப்பாடுகள்) The temple is a veritable treasure house for sculptures.
Vaikuntha Perumal Koil is dedicated to Vishnu, another 8th Century Pallava koil by Nandivarman; it is also known as Parameshwara Vinnagaram.
Kamakshi Amman Koil, Varadaraja Perumal Koil, Ekambareswarar Koil are the major Koils in Kanchipuram.
Chidambaram has Sri Nataraja temple and Srirangam has Sri Ranganatha Perumal Koil.
Vaitheeswaran Koil near Chidambaram is endowed with healing (medicinal) powers. Like Varadaraja Perumal Koil in Kanchipuram.
Oppiliyappan Koil, near Kumbakonam is famous for its saltless neivedyam to the God. When Vishnu asked Markandeya for his daughter's hand in marriage, Markandeya is said to have replied, "Marriage? My daughter is so young, she does not know how to cook with salt !" The Lord replied that he would henceforth eat food without salt. So even today the neivedyam in this temple is prepared without salt and offered to the Lord.
Sarangapani Koil in Kumbakonam is also famous for its sculpture.
Meenakshi Amman Koil is a Pandiyan koil in Madurai. Very famous for the Thirukkalyanam. Sundareswarar is the Shiva here.
Srivilliputhur has a large temple for Andal. The temple's gopuram is used as the emblem of TN govt.
*** adapted from Times of India, 19th Jan 2012
As said before, there are thousands of temples in Tamilnadu. This is only a brief sample.
This morning in his Bhagavatam Upanyasam Velukkudi Sri Krishnan explained that "knowing about, reading about, and actually visiting" the abodes [Koils] of Bhagavan is one way of Bhakti. Within minutes of listening to him, TOI gave me and Vijaya the opportunity to read about many Koils ...
rajappa
11:30 AM
19-01-2012
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