Mid-Jan is auspicious all over India. In Punjab its Lohri, in rest of north India its Makara Sankaranthi, in south India it’s called Pongal. It’s all and one and one and all and it’s a harvest festival very special all over India. And I am usually at my home with my parents for every Pongal, but this Pongal, I couldn’t get back home. I was down with 102 deg the previous night & was a bit better only the next day. The next day was Maatu Pongal which is the auspicious day for the animals that are important for harvesting – cows and oxen!!!
On this day, I left to Mohanur, a place where I heard about the existence of 3 different ancient temples. Before getting into the details about the temple, first lemme tell you about Mohanur. This is one of the places to visit near Namakkal to experience the serenity and peacefulness of Indian villages. The reason for the name Mohanur itself is interesting.
One reason is that the people of this region worked as middle men or agents in the ancient era. Mugavar is the term in Tamizh for agents. So the place came to be known as Mugavanur which derived later on as Moganur.
Another reason is that Lord Shiva wanted to see the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu as a woman i.e. Mohini, here in this location. So Mohanur!!!
Another reason goes as a reasonably longer. Once all the heavenly devas went in search of Lord Shiva accompanied by Ganga. But he was alone there. So they started their search for Ganga and went to Lord Muruga. He too started to search her. Searching her, they reached Madurai where Madurai Meenakshi directed them towards north near Cauvery. Lord Muruga came to Cauvery, yet didn’t find her. So He went on a severe meditation on her. Ganga appeared in front of him. She was so over-whelmed by his motherly love and hugged him. Since the mother-son love between them was found here, the place was called Maganur. Magan means son in Tamil. Maganur later derived as Mohanur!!!
So, here is my first temple visit. The first one was the Kalyana Venkatramanar Temple, the Mohanur Perumal temple. Its again a wedding special temple. Remember the other 2 – Thanthondrimalai venkatramanar and Nithyakalyana Perumal. This temple has no epitaphs in it and so the origin dates are not found. However, the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum has a wristband and sword symbol on it. It’s a signature of the Nayaks. So it is assumed that this temple belongs to the Nayak Era. The main god here is Lord Vishnu as Lord Kalyana Venkatramanar.
MOHANUR KALYANA VENKATRAMANAR TEMPLE STORY
The legend here is that a poor old Brahmin was on his foot towards Tirupathi. But his leg got fractured enroute. So he cried to the Lord about his inability to proceed further. So the Lord said that the next morning he would appear here itself in front of him. He slept in peace of mind and the next morning there the Lord appeared to him in the very location. Now that very location is where the temple is.
Radha Kalyanam is an auspicious festival which occurs here often. Last week Radha Kalyanam happened here for 4 days. So, what exactly is Radha Kalyanam – Remember the Radha Kalyanam I attended in Manathattai Agraharam?
MOHANUR KALYANA PRASANNA VENKATRAMANA SWAMY TEMPLE SHRINES
First shrine here in the circum-ambulatory passage is of Chakkarathazhvar which is essentially newly constructed. Its depicted as on a wheel or Chakram. On the anterior side of the wheel is Yoga Narasimhar. Further on the circumambulation passage is the shrine of Dhanvanthri who is considered as the medical God. He is considered as the doctor of doctors. From there the next shrine is of Shri Lakshmi Hayagreevar. Hayagreevar is the horse faced incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Just opposite to his shrine is the shrine of Medha Saraswasthi, who is essentially the Goddess of knowledge and education. She is usually seen holding the musical instrument Veena in her hand. But here quite unusually she doesn’t have one. The Sthala Vruksham (Holy Tree) here is the Vilvam and the Theertham (Holy Water) here is River Cauvery as this temple is located at the shores of River Cauvery. Right there, this little wooden bridge that caught my attention... So indigenous!
From there my next destination was Achaladeepeshwarar temple which is a Lord Shiva Temple. This temple was located at the end of the road leading to the river from Kalyana Venkatramanar Temple. This is one of the important temples in Tamil Nadu and an important pilgrimage centre.
MOHANUR ACHALA DEEPESWARAR TEMPLE HISTORY
The Lord Shiva here at this Mohanur Sivan Temple is called Lord Achaladeepeshwarar and the Ambal here is called Madhukaraveni. This temple was built during 1449-54 during the reign of Sri Anganna Nayakkar by Sendhamangalam Palayakkarargal. Hymns were sung on this temple by one of the 4 Saivaite saints, Appar.
MOHANUR ACHALA DEEPESWARAR TEMPLE SPECIALITIES
Mostly temples are East facing and there are very few temples that face west and this is one of the west facing temples. So what does the Lord Shiva look at facing the west, River Cauvery ofcourse. Did I specify this temple is located in the banks of river Cauvery? The Saivate temples located in the banks of river Cauvery are very special by themselves. Remember, Kulithalai and Kodumudi??? Its all in the banks of River Cauvery.
Another major feature of the temple – is very much within the Achaladeepeshwarar’s sanctum sanctorum. There is oxygen in here, there is air, but there is no wind. So what? So, the diya or the lamp lighted in here does not flutter or move at all! Its perfectly still.... Miraculous? Indeed!!!
A special prayer here in this temple, is Mouna Viratham. That is essentially a silence prayer. To stay in this temple for a few days and be silent throughout and offering that silence itself to the Lord is considered a very special prayer. This offering is especially for child bearing issues. Did I specify earlier that this temple is a pregnancy specialty temple??? After we came across wedding and women health specialty temples in my older posts, now this is pregnancy specialty temple!!! This offering is further extended by cooking along with the maintenance of the silence and performing Annadanam (food offering to general public).
MOHANUR ACHALA DEEPESWARAR TEMPLE SHRINES
The other shrines here are of Chandran, Sooriyan, Dakshinamurthy, Kannimoola Ganapathy, Raghu (with his wife), Kedhu, Kaala Bhairavar, Chandikesar, Navagraha, Ayyanar, Sarabeshwarar, and 63 Saivaite Saints. The Sthala Vruksham (Holy Tree) is Vilvam and the Theertham (Holy Water) is Cauvery river indeed.
On the western side of the temple, just opposite to the temple, but before the Cauvery river, is a huge Peepal tree. Below this Peepal tree are several sculptures of Naagar (snake). These are kept by devotees as a dosha parihara for Raaghu Dosham. This temple is also special for weddings.
I came out of the temple and stood in the river for some time. Somehow the river gave me this strong urge to walk across it like the way I reached Agasthair Paarai. After soaking my feet in the water for some time and getting the fish pedicure at no cost at all (!!!), I walked down the street again.
I enquired about this temple called the Thangamma Pillayar Temple. I was told to take a little street beside a Ramana Madam (Math) I found enroute. I did find the shrine there. It was a little temple, more than that, it could be called just a shrine. It enclosed both Lord Ganesha and Lord Karthikeya/Muruga.
The streams from the main River Cauvery that run throughout this little village somehow made the place so beautiful and serene and so amazingly peaceful!!!
NAMAKKAL TEMPLES LIST: Here are my Namakkal Travelogues from my multiple visits to various temples & places of interest in Namakkal District - Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple, Namakkal Narasimhar Temple, Mohanur Achala Deepeswarar Temple, Mohanur Kalyana Venkatramanar Temple, Paramathi Velur Bhimeswarar Temple, Kollimalai
Karur to Mohanur: 40 km via Velur
Erode to Mohanur: 71 km via Paramathi
Trichy to Mohanur: 80 km via Kulithalai
Salem to Mohanur: 70 km via Namakkal
On Google Maps: Achala deepeswarar Temple, Kalyana Venkatramanar Temple, Thangamma Pillayar Temple
From Mohanur Railway station: about 2km
Achala deepeswarar Temple Timings: 6:30am-12:30pm; 5pm-8pm
Kalyana Prasanna Venkatramanar Temple timings: 7:00am-11:00am; 5:30pm-8pm
Mohanur has a government guest house near the river near Achaladeepeshwarar temple about which I do not know the details.
Hotels in Karur is available at all price points. There are several lodges in Karur that are very economical. Some higher end, comfortable hotels include The Residency Karur & Hotel Hemala Karur. For luxury hotels, you may have to choose one of the hotels in Coimbatore which is the nearest large city.
Ph. No of Kalyana Venkatramanar Temple Priest: +91 94429 57143, +91 99659 96100 (Mr.Sridhar Battar)
Wonderful shots :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the beauty from your country !!
Beautiful description. Liked the historical and mythological significance of the title of the place.
ReplyDeletesplendid stuff dear... You have become a master at temple travelogues.
ReplyDeleteNomad
www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com
Hi Friend! Would love to have some time to get to India this winter...
ReplyDeleteLovely shots!!
Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter Two, where Egypt 2010 ended up in magnificent glory for Ramses II at Abu Simbel! Enjoy and have an exceptional weekend!
Lovely pictures , nicely written .
ReplyDeleteHi Bushavali
ReplyDeleteInteresting stories about name of the place
good text and pics
thanks for sharing
@Anya,
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Anya!!! Its a pleasure doing that!!! :)
@Debs,
Thanks a lot dear!!! Guess its your first visit here!!! Do drop by often!!! Would love your visits & comments!!! :)
@Niranjan,
Ha ha... That's a compliment... Thank you so much.. :)
@Trotter,
ReplyDeleteDo visit... And do write!!! Would love to see your views on India!!! :)
@Team G Square,
Thanks a lot dear.. Do drop in often. Would love your visits & comments!!!
@Krishna,
Thanks dear!!! :)
Mohanur was rally interesting. One would fall in love. The photographs are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very cool bridge!
ReplyDelete@PNS,
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot... :)
@Jose,
Yeah, isn't it awesome and so ecofriendly too!!!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post!
I hail from Mohanur, and enjoyed reading your post! Wish you had come there a week before - I was there for the Radha Kalyanam festival.. :)
Another temple I would suggest you to visit(next time) in Mohanur is the Navaladian Temple, which is very famous.
-Sridhar
@Sridhar,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much dear.. :)
Nice to meet someone from Mohanur. Yeah, I missed Radha Kalyanam...
Thanks for the extra bit of info.
Will visit Navaladian temple on my next trip to Mohanur. :)
Do drop by often. I'd love your visits and comments.. :)
You have described this temple very beautifully. I really liked the part where you have explained the mythological significance of the temple.
ReplyDelete@Vacations India,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much dear.. :)
hey my native is namakkal. now i am not in india, i have gone to mohanur so many times. but when i see through ur camera, its more beautiful.thanks
ReplyDelete@Boopathi,
ReplyDeleteGreat to meet a native of this place. Am glad you liked my post dear. Do drop by often... :)
Ph. No of Kalyana Venkatramanar Temple Priest:97 94429 57143 Sri. Sridhar Battar Alais Shrinivasan.
ReplyDeletethe above Mob.No.9842396719 is not myselvs Please Edit this Mobile No. your uploaded. thanking you.
Dear Sir/Madam There is a small mistake happened in this given information. From the above given Contact phone number you have to call only to Sri Sridhar Bhattachariyar, Mobile Number - 9442957143. Do not contact Sri Kumar 9842396719. By Kumar, Agraharam, Mohanur, Tamilnadu, India.
ReplyDeleteMohanur it was an amazing place to travel. I went last year it was a wonderful trip in my life time.
ReplyDelete