ARULMIGUARIYANATHASWAMY THIRUKKOVIL, ARIKESAVANALLUR, TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU-COMPILED.
Dear friends, Any of us watching daily morning Zee TV Tamil may be familiarto Harikesanallur Venkita Raman,predicting about “Indraya Nall”. ThisHarikesanallur (AriyaKesavanallur) is near Veeravanallur in the Tirunelveli-AmbaSamudram route. The temple is situated 2 KM interior from Veeravanallur. There is no entrance tower in this temple . The temple has been renovated andKumbabhishekam conducted recently and gives a new look all around. The temple is famous as a Gurusthala and pariharasthalam for Mandi Dosham. In the temple there are sanctums for Kubera and JeshtaDevi with her son Mandi. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 24-4-2025 Introduction Arikesavanallur Ariyanathaswamy Temple is dedicated to LordShiva, is located in Harikesavanallur Town, near Veeravanallur in the TirunelveliDistrict, Tamil Nadu. The Presiding Deity is Ariyanathaswamy (a form of LordShiva), and the Mother Goddess is Brahanayaki. The temple is approximately 3 Kilometers north ofVeeravanallur, which is 30 kilometers west of Tirunelveli via Cheranmahadevi. History The Ariyanathaswamy Temple is an ancient shrine with numerousinscriptions on its sanctum walls. This temple, which is about 1,600 years old, is very special It is believed that the temple was constructed by NindraseerNedumara Pandyan (also known as Koon Pandyan, the Hunchbacked Pandyan) in the7th Century CE. He was also called Arikesari Parankusa Maravarman, and thevillage was named after him. Pandian King Nedumaran,alias known as Koon Pandian and Arikeserai, who was turned Shivaite by theThiru Gnanasambhader at the instance of the king’s wife Mangyarkarasi. The temple was later renovated by Jatavaraman Kulasekara Pandyanduring his reign from 1190–1216 CE. In 2007, a buried idol of Kubera (the god of wealth) was discoveredon the temple premises and installed outside the entrance to the Mahamantapam(grand hall) Now the temple is under HR&CE Government of Tamilnadu. Recently the entire temple has beenrenovated and Kumbabhishekam done after about 100 years. Architecture The temple is east-facing, with the Goddess’s sanctum locatedseparately just outside the main deity’s temple. The main deity is representedby a tall lingam, while the Goddess is also tall, measuring around 6 feet (includingthe pedestal). The temple has two prakarams (outer courtyards) surroundingthe sanctum. The inner prakaram is covered, while the outer prakaram is shadedby trees and creeping plants. The temple has a temple car used during festivals and atemple tank located outside the east gateway. Several idols, including a beautiful idol of Kartikeya and aNandi (bull), can be found within the temple compound. Deities Moolavar Ariyanathaswamy Ariyanathar denotes 1. One who is rare, sacred and above all.2. One whom everybody, should know.3. "A" stands for “Shiva and Brahma” and "Ari" reveals“Vishnu”, and hence incarnation of “creation, subsistence and obliteration”whoshowers grace instantly and immensely on anyone submitting to Him. Shri Periyanayagi Amman As the name suggests, The Amman, big in stature about 7 feettall, very beautiful , tender, warm and adoring, is totally compassionate (Karunamaiyi Ma ). The very look at her will fill your heart with Her blissoverflowing Unlike all the temples, there is separate alter for PeriyaNayagi, clearly indicating the she is special and will shower more blessing onthe devotees than Ariyanathar himself, asserting her presence and commitment todevotees. Always Mother is more compassionate than Father. Other Deities: The temple also houses several other deities, including: Mukurni Raja Ganapathi (Lord Ganesha) Sapthamathrus (SevenMothers)-very rare in Tamilnadu temples. Selvavinayakar (Two idols of Lord Ganesha) Kasi Viswanathar, Kubera Lingam, Bhairava, Navagraha (NinePlanets) The temple also features niches for deities likeDakshinamurthy and Chandhikeswara. Also Kubera and Jeshta Devi. About the temple and deitieslocation There is no tower at the front of the temple. As soon as youenter, you will see a flagpole, an altar, and a Nandi. Next, if you cross thehall and enter, there are shrines for all the deities of the Agama temple, suchas the sun, the moon, Juradevar, Sapta Matar, Dakshinamurthy, and Bhairava. The Dakshinamurthy here is veryspecial. He appears with his left leg folded over his right leg. He iscarrying a deer and a mace in his back two hands. The Guru Peyarchi festival is held in a very special way inthis temple. Jeshta Devi Jeshtadevi (the goddessassociated with misfortune) is worshipped at this temple, accompanied by hertwo attendants, who are also considered her children. Jeshtadevi is believed to be theelder sister of Goddess Lakshmi, and her worshipbegan to decline after the 7th or 8th century CE due to her association withinauspicious things. Jeshtadevi is typically worshipped during inauspicious times,and her shrines are located in inconspicuous places within temples. Her presence in this temple adds toits uniqueness. In the outer enclosure, the wife of Lord Saneeswaran, JeshtaDevi, has a shrine with her son Manthi on her lap. Normally, the shrine ofJeshta Devi is not found in Shiva temples. However, in this temple, she has ashrine with a large idol. Since Jeshta Devi blesses with a shrine here, it isalso worshipped as a Saneeswaran Parikara Sthal. It is very rare to see Jhesta Devi in temples, Here withManthan and Manthi, provides relief from Chevvai and other graha dhoshas. Who is this Jhesta Devi? Devas and the asuras started churning the cosmic ocean (PalKadal [milk ocean]). The First to emanate from the churning was Jhesta Devi. The dark, evil swirl of negative thoughts that originated inthe Devas and Asuras materialized into a maelstrom of malefic possibilities. Thisdisgusting mess had such great negative power that it polluted even the cosmicocean. Imagine what would happen if it was let loose anywhere! It had to beconsumed and destroyed so that it couldn't harm anyone. To consume it is toundergo much pain, for the crushing of negative forces involves pain. Only atruly selfless being will attempt this because only one who is totally selflesswill undergo pain so that others don't have to. The great being who wanted to restore the cosmic ocean to itsoriginal state was Sri Jhesta Dévi. In a spirit of total selflessness, shedecided to get rid of the evil swirl of negativity not just from the cosmicocean, but from everywhere. Using her spiritual power, she consumed and pulverized themalefic mess, thereby protecting us all from what could have been wrought byit. In her victorious fight over these negative forces, she underwent muchsuffering and because of this she looked sickly when she appeared from thecosmic ocean. This was the avatar of Sri Jhesta Devi, an avatar that not onlybegan with selflessness but brims with it to this day. She knew that God wouldtotally approve of what she had done. So she went to Kailaasa and related whathad happened to Sri Siva. Not that the great Lord didn't know what had happened,but it was her duty to file her report. The merciful Lord of All commended her and to show hisappreciation, he transformed her into an ornament called Rudra Gandam and woreit around his throat. Thus Sri Jhesta Devi came in contact with that part of theLord's body which was to later hold the Aalahala venom. What Sri Jhesta Devihad done was only a precursor to what the great Lord would soon do thereafter.Having blessed Sri Jhesta Devi with the incomparable state of being an ornamenton his body, Sri Siva told her that her avatar will attain its full bloom bythe grace of Sri Maha Vishnu. Sri Jhesta Devi proceeded to Vaikunta to worshipSri Maha Vishnu. Sri Maha Vishnu dispersed the impurities that Sri JyéshtaDevi had consumed in his self-effulgent jothi and appeared in the form of SriKaar Méga Vanna Perumaal, thus showcasing Sri Jhesta Devi's divinity to theuniverse. Sri Jhesta Devi, being rid of the impurities that she hadconsumed, got back her original iridescent, beautiful form. She is a great beingwho is permanently situated in Kailaasa and Vaikunta. How did she attain thispreeminent position? Only through her selflessness. This Devi is present hereto obliterate you from your sufferings and miseries. My note- On this account, we do not keep our home 100% clean, only 95% cleaning is done, leaving 5% to Jeshta Devi. About Kubera Kubera, the god of wealth, is believed to have worshippedLord Shiva at this temple. Most importantly, when Ravana, having snatched all the wealthof his brother Kubera and also his Pushpaka Vimana, chased him away, he fell at Harikesanallur. The Lingam he established is the Harikesanallur Shiva. Sincethis is the place where Kubera worshipped this Shiva and got back all thewealth he had lost, this Harikesanallur Shiva temple is very famous. It is believed that if those who are in debt and want wealth come hereand worship the Shiva worshipped by Kubera, they will get wealth and all the prosperityin their lives. Similarly, in the northern circuit, to the northeast of theLord's shrine, a huge stone statue of Kubera, the lord of wealth, is seen.Kubera is depicted as a huge figure of about 4 feet tall, holding a katha inhis right hand and resting his left hand on his folded leg. Due to the presence ofKubera here, this town was once called Alagapuri. Special worship is performedfor this Kubera on the days of Diwali and Akshaya Tritiya. On these days, a large number of devotees from all over thecountry come to worship here. KalaBhairava While time moves slowly on planet Earth, it moves faster onplanets vibrating at a higher frequency. Kala Bhairava is the deity who is known to manage time onall the planets. He is dark incomplexion, fierce looking, and has a dog as his vehicle. Kala Bhairava has asignificant place in all the main temples devotes to Shiva. He is one of themost-feared deities, but actually, he is one of the most rewarding ones. LordKala Bhairava is that manifestation of Lord Shiva who manages time (Kala). Enlightenmentor prosperity or recovery from debt or illness it is the work of Bhairava.KalaBhairava has many forms.In this temple Guru Bhairava occupies a place just opposite tothe Medha Dhakshinamurthy’s Shrine. Lord of time and Divine Education, Guru Bhairava faces theLord of Knowledge, Dhakshinamurthy, which is very unique. Those who pay obeisance at the place facing the deities at the same time, achieve knowledge onphysical and metaphysical subjects. Temple Timings 07:00 AM IST - 10:00 AM IST 06:00 PM IST - 08:30 PM IST Address Harikesavanallur Ariyanathaswamy Temple, Harikesavanallur, TirunelveliDistrict, Tamil Nadu 627426 Contact Persons You are welcome to contact the following persons tofacilitate your share of Offerings. Mr.Ambalanadhan President 9842071670 Mr.Gnanaprakash Treasurer 9944326688 Mr.Ganapathi Hariharan Secretary 9940447057 Mr.Srirangam Member 9965336465 Location Harikesanallur is located between Veeravanallur and Mukudalon the Cheranmadevi - Ambasamudram road in Tirunelveli district. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thatha_patty+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1548564172.673993.1745463294717%40mail.yahoo.com.
