Let me know if there any any offbeat temples worth the visit and any other places of interest (ofcourse, my wife has planned already time for the silk saree shops!).
Hi kanchi has 4 more paadal petra sthlams other than ekambareshwarar. but if you are looking at a archeological point of view they are relatively new. but these temples have great devarams and in one temple sundarar got his gold.he sang the devaram and waited for the gold and it didnt tun up and then he looked up and all the tamarind fruits in the tree above had turned into bullion. and one temple close to kailasanatha has some legend with kubera.
Dear Muthu, Don't fail to see Mukteshwarar, 9th cent., murthis look down at you. I was enthralled. Matangeshwarar is fine too but unfinished in places [or damaged] couldn't tell. Fine sculpture inside them, too, & Somaskandas on rear wall. Kathie B. Also, the Jaina area, SW corner, called Thiruparuttikunram. Beautiful CandraPrabha Tirthankara in sanctuary.
Malathi The third storey in Vaikunta Perumal is not accessible anymore. ASI has removed the stairs & they do the cleaning & maintenance only. One cannot see His Nindra Thirukolam now.
Dear Malathi what is the Nindra Thirukolam? I was fortunate enough to see all three levels of Vaikuntha Perumal in '95, but in reverence, no photos taken of GarbhaGrhas. That's a shame you can't get up any longer. The temple isn't 'in worship' any longer is it? Kathie. >
Dear Kathie Nindra Thirukolam- is standing posture of the Lord. In this temple you can see, standing , sitting & lyingdown postures. Standing which is the top most is not accessible anymore. There is worship in the other two shrines, though I think Ranganatha (lying down) is worshipped only on Ekadasi days. But for the puja the temple is under ASI.
Dear Kathie Nindra Thirukolam- is standing posture of the Lord. In this temple you can see, standing , sitting & lyingdown postures. Standing which is the top most is not accessible anymore. There is worship in the other two shrines, though I think Ranganatha (lying down) is worshipped only on Ekadasi days. But for the puja the temple is under ASI.
Thanks for all those who replied here as well as sent mail to my yahoo id. Esp, Shobha, Malathi, Madan, Kathie and all of you who care to reply.
I will try to cover as much as I can (with a 6 and 2 year old) and will report on the trip as well. We have added Vellore Jalakandeshwarar as well into the foray.
If you are going till vellore, I suggest, please visit Virinchipuram, just another 20km from vellore on the Bangalore highway. A masterpiece and a look alike mandapam of vellore. It takes hardly 15 mins travel from vellore, given the good highway.
Thank you Shoba, what a pity!! I visited several years ago, I thought the temple was so unique. I hope they do some restoration and open it up sooner or later.
Dear Kathi, I really don't know if it is in worship, it was while I visited, perhaps not now, don't relly know. Nindra thirukkolam is Lord Vishnu in standing pose.