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= Famous Temples of Tamil Nadu = The northeastern corner of Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai still commonly referred to by its former British name Madras is the India’s fourth largest city. I would like to write about temples in Tamil Nadu. When Indian refer to the South, it’s usually Tamil Nadu they are talking about. The great Tamil temples are merely the largest landmarks in a vast network of sacred rites. Like shrines, bathing places, holy trees, rocks and rivers- interconnected by a web of ancient pilgrims’ routes.South India’s three mightiest rivers the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri and their countless tributaries, has flow east been inhabited as long as anywhere in the Sub continent. Separated from the prehistoric Indus valley civilization of the northwest by tracts of barren hills, the earliest South India societies are thought to have evolved independently of their northern cousins.

THANJAVUR:  BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE

One of the busiest commercial towns of the Cauvery delta, Thanjavur situated 55km east of Tiruchirapalli and 35km southwest of Kmbakonam, is often overlooked by traverlllers in their rush to Madurai. However, its history and treasues among them the breathtaking Brihadishwara Temple, Tamil Nadu’s most awesome Chola monument- give it a crucial significance to South Indian culture. Thanjavur’s skyline is dominated by the huge tower of the Brihadishwara Temple which for all its size lacks the grandiose excesses of later periods.

 MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE, MADURAI

One of the oldest cities in south Asia, Madurai, on the banks of Riiver vaigai, has been an important centre of worship and commerce for as long as there has been civilization in South India. Indeed it has long been described as the Athens of the East. It was this lucrative trade, meticulously detailed in the Alexandrian mariner’s manual the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, dating from the first century AD that enabled the Pandyan dynasty to erect the mighty Sri Meenakshi – Sundareshwarar Temple. Although today surrounded by a sea of modern concrete cubes, the massive gopuras of this  vast complex, writhing with multicolourerd mythological figures and crowned by golden finials, remain the greatest man-made spectacle of the South.

Enclosed by a roughly rectangular six-metre- high wall, in the manner of a fortified palace, the Sri Meenakshi- Sundareshwara Temple is one of the largest temple complexes in India. Much of it was constructed during the Nayak period between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, but certain parts are very much older.

ANNAMALAIYER TEMPLE, THIRUVANNAMALAI

Synonymous with the fifth Hindu elemnt of fire, Tiruvannamalai, 100km south of Kanchipuram, ranks along with Madurai, kanchipuram, Chidambaram and Tiruchurapalli, as one of the five holiest towns in Tamil Nadu. Its name  meaning Red Mountain derives from the spectacula extinct volcano Arunachala that rises behind it and  which glows an unearthly crimson at dawn. Mythology identifies Arunachala as the place where Shiva asserted his power over Brahma and Vishnu by manifesting himself as a lingam of fire, or agnilingam. Known to Hindus as the Temple of the Eternal Sunrise as the Enormous Arunachaleshvara Temple, but over a period of almost a thousand years and incorporating several distinct styles, consists of three concentric courtyards whose gateways are topped by tapering gopuras,the largest of which cover the east and north gates.

KANCHIPURAM

It is located on the south by the Vegavathi River the temple town Kanchipuram. It lies  70km southwest of Chennai and about the same distance from the coast. A dynastic capital throughtout the medieval era, it remains one of the seven holiest cities in the Subcontinent, sacred to both Shaivites and Vaishnavites, and among the few surviving centres fo goddess worship in the south. Kailasanatha Temple the oldest structure in Kanchipuram and the finest example of Pallava architecutre in South India, is situated among several low-roofed houses just over 1km west of the town centre. Built by the Pallava knig Rajasimha early century, its intimate size and simple carving distinguish it from the town’s later temples.

CHIDAMBARAM: SABHANYAKA NATARAJA TEMPLE

It is located 58km south of Puducherry, is so steeped in myth that its history is hard to unravel. As the site of the tandava, the cosmic dance of Shiva as Nataraja, king of the dance it is one of the holiest Hindu sites in South India, and a visit to the Sabhanyaka Nataraja Temple affords a fascinating glimpse into ancient Tamil religious practice and belief. It is where Shiva is enthroned as Lord of the Cosmic dance is the holiest of holies. Its huge gopuras, whose lights are used as landmarks by sailors far out to sea in the Bay of Bangel, soar above a 55- acre complex, divided by four concentric walls. Chidambaram  is a privately owned and dependent solely upon pilgrims donations. The image of Shiva dancing in the wheel of fire is now known throughout the world. Though far fewer people are familiar with its mythological origins in Chidambaram.

TIRUCHURAPALLI : SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE, SRIRANGAM

Tiruchirapalli usually referred to as Trichy. It stands in the plains between the Shevaroy and Palani hills just under 100km north of Madurai. Dominated by the dramatic Rock fort, it’s sprawling commercial centre with a modern feel. The twon itself holds little attraction, but pilgrims flock through en route to the spectacular Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, 6km north the work of the Chola king who gained supremmacy here in the eleventh century. It is ceclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards, and covering more than 120 acres it stands on an island defined by a tributary of the Cauvery river. This location symbolishes the transcendence of Vishnu, housed in the sanctuary reclining on the coils of the snkae Adisesha, who inlegend formed an island for the god, resting on the primordial Ocean of Chaos.

RAMALINGESHWARA TEMPLE

The core of the this temle was built by the Chola in the 12th century to house two much venerated Shivalingams assoicated with the Ramayana. After rescuing his wife Sita from Ravana, Rama was advised to atone for the killing of the demon king a brahmin by worshiping Shiva. Rama’s monkey lieutenant, Hanuman, was despatched to the Himalays to fetch a Shivalingam, but when he failed to return by the appointed day, Sita fashioned a lingam from sand so the ceremony could proceed.

THYAGARAJASWAMY TEMPLE

According to Hindu myth, the first temple was built on spot after Shiva and Parvati, at rest in a garden at the foot of Mount Kailash, were disturbed by a handful of Bilva leaves scattered ober them by a playful monkey. Shiva delighted bleased the beast who was reincarnated as the kindly King Muchukunda of the Manu dyansty. The current Thyagaraswamy Temple on the north side of town, dates mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its three successive enclosed courtyards contain a number of shrines, including one to Thyagaraja with an unusual line of the nine navagrahas peering in at th saint’s image.

KUMARI AMMAN TEMPLE

Kanyakumari at the southernmost extremity of India is almost as compllling for Hindus as Rameshwaram. Its significant not only for its association with a virgin goddess, Kanya Devi, but also as the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Watching the sun rise and set from here is the big attraction, especially on full moon on the same horizon.The seashore Kumari Amman Temple is dedicated to the virgin goddess Kanya Devi, who may originally have been the local guardian deity of the shore line, but was later absored into the figure of the Devi, or Parvati consort of Shiva. One version of Kanya Devi’s story relates how she did penance to win the hand of Shiva. The god was all in favour and set out from Suchindram for the wedding, due to take place at midnight.

PALANI THE MALAIKOVIL TEMPLE
Few sacred sites in South India enjoy as dramatic a location as Palani, just over 100km northwest of Madurai. Crowning a smooth-sided, perfectly dome shaped outcrop of granite, the town’s prinicpal shirne overlooks a vast lake vyapuri enfoldeded by the pale yellow crags of the Palani hills rising sheer to the south. The views however, outstrip those frm the busier southern approach to the hill station, while Palani itself, a busy little Tamil pilgrimage twon, warrents at least a day trip or stopover between Kodai and Ooty. Praised for over 2000 years in the songs of the wandering Tamil Saints, Palani’s red and white striped Malaikovil Temple attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims each day. Each visitor is expected to perform to important rituals.