Pathala Murugan temple is best-known for the Kadiyum thirai festival which runs for ten days each March. At this festival, the flag of the temple is carried through the streets in procession. Karungali (Ebony wood) was revered by our ancestors, as it protected them from nature’s furies while helping fulfill all their wishes.
What to Expect
Pathala Murugan, Lord Murugan is the deity presiding over this temple which is estimated to be over 1,000 years old. It’s a small and simple structure with a 16-foot deep sanctum reached via 18 steps; at its front is Sangi Karuppasamy as guardian deity while Selva Vinayagar can be found within its artha mandapam and it hosts its very own big bell! In celebration of recent Kumbabishekam ceremonies many Navathaniya offerings were made to Lord Murugan!
At Uthsavamurthi Temple, the main lingam is called Swayambu and thus its abhishekam is performed using milk, camphor and panchamrita (a special mixture). Sandal paste, flowers and sacred thread are offered to Uthsavamurthi.
It has been suggested that this temple resembles Kailas of the South due to the nearby hill resembling Himalayas and small river flowing northerly near it, often being seen as Ganges.
Tamil Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers made numerous endowments to this temple, which Muthuswamy Deekshitar of Karnatic music tradition has praised in his kriti Sri Kalahasti Satakam. Many worshipers visit this temple seeking child blessing and prosperity, presenting vastras and ornaments to its deity and performing kumbabhishekam to Lord Pathala Sembu in order to protect themselves from thunderstorms, lightning storms, or nature’s furies.
Location
Karungali (black ebony wood) is an extremely potent tree used by our ancestors to construct temple towers (kalasas). This powerful wood absorbs radiation from planet Mars and worshipping Karungali pathala murugan on Sashti Tithi and Krithigai Nakshatra helps bring good health, prosperity and peace of mind for worshippers – it may also help in fulfilling wishes or prayers; for this reason it is advised that newly married couples and those trying to conceive should worship this Lord so their hopes can come true and that their hopes can become reality and children of beautiful children will emerge!
The temple can be found in a quiet village called Saluvankuppam, approximately 77 kilometers north of Chennai. Archaeologists from ASI discovered its location via clues found in rock inscriptions exposed by 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, while excavations unearthed an 8th century Pallava-era shrine from around 8 centuries prior to their listing as World Heritage Site by ASI. Visitors are allowed to take photographs in and around the temple throughout their day-trip; admission fees to enter is Rs 20 and they may take photos inside and of course take photos as well.
Directions
This large temple built during the Hoysala and Vijayanagara Empire features an enormous gopuram with an unusual vimana-shaped main shrine and intricately-carved idols, believed to be part of Adi Sthalams, is one of the most prominent Hindu sites in Tamil Nadu. According to legend, Lord Rama appeared here for Hanuman and Lakshmi. The temple is dedicated to Sri Kasturi Ranganatha Perumal who features an iconic statue with a sword in hand – this has led many people to visit this place of worship. There is an underground Ganapati in the outer prakaram and an exquisite shrine dedicated to Lord Siva and Parvati in the inner prakaram of this 10th-century CE temple built by Krishnadevaraya in Srirangam, featuring Chola inscriptions on its walls. Later, Krishnadevaraya further expanded it with an additional large gopuram and painted its interiors with exquisite frescoes.
Moolavar Kasturi Ranganatha Perumal can be found reclining on an Adisesha with Sridevi and Bhoodevi at His side, striking an unusual posture within the sanctum: He extends His right arm over Sage Durvasa who does not appear rising from his navel as is traditionally depicted. Only at this temple can He be seen doing this, making this temple one of five Panchabhootha Stalams where Siva embodies all elements – wind, water (Kanchanasundarai), fire (Ekambareswarar Temple), earth (this Temple), space (Kanchanasundarai Temple), earth (this Temple), space (Kanchanasundarai), earth (Kanchanasundarai Temple), fire (Ekambareswarar Temple), earth (Kanchanasundarai), earth (at Kanchanasundarai), wind again (Kanchanasundarai Temple), water (Kanchanasundarai), fire (Ekambareswarar Temple), earth (at Kanchanasundarai), fire (Ekambareswarar Temple), space (Ekambareswarar Temple), earth), wind (Kanchanasundarai), fire) (Ekambareswarar Temple), earth)and space (at Ekambareswarar Temple), earth), fire at Ekambareswarar Temple), space) at Ekambareswarar Temple), fire (Ekambareswarar Temple), earth at Kanchanasundarai), space), Earth), space)and space); finally space) being represented at Ekambareswarar Temple), earth)and space), wind (Kan Chanasundarai)and Kanchanasundarai), Kanchanaswarar), earth at Ekambareswarar temple), earth at Ekambareswarar Temple), Kanchana), Kanchana/Ekambare Temple) finally Earth (Ekambareswarar temple), Ekambareswarar temple). Ekambareswarar/ Ekambare Kand space at Ekambareswarar /Ekambare ). space with Kan Kambareswarar Ekambareswarar then Kanchanaswarar/ Ekambareswarar), Ekambareswarar then Ekambareswar Temple/Ekab B). and then Kan Chanansundarai) Ekambare kar Temple), fire Ekambareswar and then from Kan Kankankar), Kanchana then Kanchanan Aswarar then EKram/ Kar then. T Temple). EKambare Swar and Kann Temple then last but last (EK eswarar then finally Kan Mandaare then finally EKand then on (EKand ), fire at ( Ekambaresvar Temple for Ekambareswarar where Ekambareswarar The EKambare en EKambare t T.
Prahalada – three year old son of Hiranyakashipu was given an exclusive place at this Lord as an act of devotion, where he could see Him in soft form. A unique feature in this temple is an idol depicting an image of sleeping Lord.
Praying to this Lord will bring prosperity in their businesses, while singletons may soon find love. Additionally, this deity is widely seen as the protector of unmarried girls; those offering lotus flowers as an offering may find that their prayers for marriage come true sooner. Also visiting this temple during Navaratri can bring good luck for the coming year.
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