I always think, whether the Ramayana and other epics, could have been taken part in TamilNadu, and we have been deprived of a glory. One thing, that standsout of Kosala Rama and his country. I may be proven wrong on this.
I had been to Kanchipuram, this Saturday. Opposite to Lord Ekambareshwarar Sanctum, very well besides Nandhi, there is a small shrine of Valeeshwarar. It is belived Vali, has worshipped this linga and tried to take him by force to Hampi,(Kishkintha). This shrine is locked now, or may be when I went there. I remember to have touched the Linga and felt Vali's fingers impressed on it.
I am yet to locate the place near Cheyyar, where Akalikai is belived to have reattained her human form from stone.
The Saharalingam, linga with thousand linga's , that is belived to have ben installed by Rama, is besides the Lord Ekkambareshwara Sanctum, in veli prakaaram.
The Linga believed to have been installed by Sage Vishvamitra is outside the temple, on the left side from the main gopuram (Street).
I had been to a campus recruitment at Mahalingam Engineering college at Pollachi. I along with my team visitied a temple, at Anamalai, near by. The presiding diety is called Maasaniyamman. It is belived Maasaniyaman has been worshipped by Rama to gain power to kill Tadagai demoness. Adding to the fact, that there is a hill called Tadagi hill, where Rama is believed to have killed this demoness.
My native is a village at the foot hills of this 'Tadagai Hill'. We refer to it as 'Tadagai natchiamman Malai'. It is a very small shrine (more a shed) with a small stream flowing near by. One has to trek through forests and climb steep inclines to reach this temple. Parts of Kodaikanal range will be visible from this hill. It was full of elephants and other wild animal and usually, visitors go in groups more than 20. Ideal place for Tadagai to have lived!!
This hill is closer to Azhiyar Dam (where Vedathri Maharishi's ashram is located).
Hi all I know sps not only talks about these temples but has already visited them.
very little to add
but some snippets
> > THIRUPPULLANI ramar statue lies on darbai grass ( of stone) here. he did a penance that way. when I went there a local told me sincerely that the village never prospers because ramar never ate once here during his penance. child less couples are advised to go to this temple and take the payasam offered as neivedyam( they call it thiru amuthu or something meaning that)
> Thiru Kuruvirameswaram - Near Tiruthuraipundi - Rama worshipped this > Linam;
ramar padam is on the way to kodi karai on a small hill. it is reported that he stood on this hillock ( rare among marsh lands) to view lanka. first. when I went there the hillock was full of monkeys but managed to stave them off and saw the padam. ( the footmark is very big!. )
> Thila tharpanapuri - near Tiruvarur / Koothanur Saraswathi temple : > Ram performed Thila Tharpanam for Jadayu.
this is an interesting temple. close to kuthanoor saraswathi temple. small private temple. but excellent maintainence. dont ask for thila tharpanapuri(thats for the very learned like SPS) we need to ask the common name thilakai pathi. also the aadhi vinayakar with human face is outside this temple ( but frankly he resembled dakshinamurthy)
also rama prayed in uppur veyilugantha vinayaga temple near ramnad RS mangalam tank (where a bulk of the vaigai empties I guess)
the ramnad kings are still called sethu pathis( or the maintainers of the bridge)
There is a connection between Vaitheeshwaran Koil, Jatayu and Rama. Rama is said to have performed tharpanam for Jatayu here too.
There is also a saying that Agathiyar made Rama come from North to wage a battle with Ravana. Though I do not have any supportings for this.
Can Kosala be some town in TamilNadu itself?. After migration of Yadhavas from north with Agathiyar, there had been references of our kings might over Yadhavas. So, this may not be with Yadhavas of north, but a community settled in south. Similarly when Cheran Cheguttuvan, is said to have defeated Yavanas in battle, there are speculations that, this battle might have been against a huge Yavana settlement in Arabian sea, rather than Greeks.
There had been mention about Vadugar, Kosar etc. Can this Kosar be of this lineage?
in Hampi, Amongst the ruins of the Vijayanagara empire, is a cave known as Sugriva's Cave. The cave is marked by coloured markings. The place holds its similarity to the descriptions of 'kishkinda' in Sundarakanda. Rama is said to have met Hanuman here. The place is also home to the famous Hazararama temple (Temple of a thousand Ramas).
in uthirakosamangai ( mentioned 38 times in thiruvasakam)near rameshwaram, ravana's wife mandothari's name is inscribed in the sanctum from time immemoriaal.
near thirusengattangudi ( of ss fame) is Ramanathiicharam a devara sthalam connected with rama. perhaps a rare shiva temple like rameshwaram named after another god. SPS must note: there is a kalvettu here endowing a area called as "Sivapathasekaramangalam" for this temple.
vibishana is connected with srirangam temple.
in rameshwaram 2 lingams are installed by ramayana family. seetha places the main lingam but the puja starts only with hanumans vishwa lingam.