VEERANAM IS THE NAME OF THE LAKE - NAMED AFTER VEERANARAYANA PERUMAL. VEERANARAYANI WAS WIFE OF PARANTAKA I- FROM CHERA PROVINCE. PRESENTLY THIS PLACE IS DIVIDED INTO PARTS. THE VAISHNAVA TEMPLE IS LOCATED IN "KAATTU MANNNARGUDI " @ VEERANARAYANA PURAM.
IN ONE KM NORTH OF THIS, IS LOCATED A SIVA TEMPLE... WHICH WAS BUILT BY PARANTAKA I. THE SIVA IS NAMED AS ANANTHEESWARAR. THE SIVA TEMPLE IS LOCATED IN "UDAYARKUDI" ..
ABOUT 4 KMs - SOUTH WEST OF VISHNU TEMPLE - VEERANARAYANA PERUMAL - IS KADAMBUR.. THERE ARE TWO KADAMBURS. ONE IS KEEZHAKKADAMBUR. SINCE WE WILL BE MOVING TOWARDS WEST FROM VEERANARAYANAPURAM, WE WILL FIRST CROSS THIS "KEEZHA KADAMBUR".
THERE IS ONE DILAPIDATED SIVA TEMPLE. THE SIVA IS KNOWN AS :: UTHIRAPATHEESWARAR. (EASWARA HAILED FROM NORTH). (I visited about 10 years back and was full of snakes !...Was under State Archeology... that board was also missing.).
FARTHER DOWN 2 - 3 KMs - THERE IS MELA (WEST) KADAMBUR. THERE IS ANOTHER SIVA TEMPLE... KULOTHUNGA BUILT... VERY NICELY BUILT. ORNAMENTAL TEMPLE. SIVA : AMIRTHA KADESWARAR !
THERE IS A RARE BRONZE OF SMALL DANCING SIVA - UMA - PARIVARS OVER A SMALL RISHABAM.... ALL FACES FULL OF SMILE... ECSTACY..
Reminds us of THEVARAM HYMN " Maanada.. mayilada.... ..... mangai sivakamiyada.. "
On the Southern banks of Veeranam Lake - towards farther WEST - is THIRUNARAIYUR - NAMBIANDAR NAMBI's BIRTH PLACE - WITH POLLAPPILLAYAR TEMPLE inside the Siva temple.
about 4 Kms North East of Veranarayanaperumal, there is " RAJENDRA CHOZHANAGAM " ... and father south by about 2 KMs THIRUMOOLATHANAM - ancient Siva temple - Moolattanar (recall chidambaram sivalinga deity also bears this same name )!
PAZHAYARAI REMAINS SO FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL... A PART OF THIS PLACE IS NOW KNOWN AS PATTESWARAM... THERE IS CHOZHA MALIGAI, ARIYAPADAI VEEDU, PAMBA PADAI VEEDU, UDYALUR .. ETC NEAR BY..
PAZHAYARAI VADA THALI WAS HYMNED BY APPAR. HE FOUND IT COVERED WITH MUD DURING JAINISM PROMINENCE AND GOT IT CLEARED AND HYMNED.
THE FAMOUS " Naaroy naaroy Sengaal Naaroy Pazhambadu Panaiyin Kizhangu Pilanthanna Pavazha Korvai Sengaal Naaroy" - sung by SATHIMURTA PULAVAR - is just 200 meters North of Patteswaram !!
(Darasuram and all are later additions ... which is also birth place of Ottakuthar - who sung Kulothunga ula, Thakkayga parani etc).
THERE WAS A NANDHIPURAM ALSO NEARBY.
KUDANTHAI @ KUMBAKONAM is more related to Puranic details... Amirtha (Nectar) along with Male / female species were put in a Kalasa during Mahapralayam ( Old testament type version) and the kalasam broke and fell in various places... Kudavasal ... Kumbakonam etc., etc..
There is ONE MORE INTERESTING ASPECT RE KUMBAKONAM @ KUNDANTHAI..
The process of attaining MOKSHA with exist(ed) body was known as KAYAAROGANAM... and two prominent places in Chola heartland enjoy these specs.
NAAGAI KARONAM.. KUDANTHAI KARONAM..
LIKE WISE - IF SPECIFIC PLACES ARE MENTIONED, WE WILL TRY CLARIFY WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS WHEREVER POSSIBLE..