My Travel

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Thrissur Pooram is called 'the pooram of all poorams (festivals)". It is celebrated in mid-April to mid-May according to the Malayalam calendar. The festival activities begin on the Pooram day with pakal pooram of 15 caparisoned elephants followed by the famous Elanjithara melam (Panchavadyam).

The main features of the pooram are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam (decorative golden headdress), beautifully crafted kolam, decorative bells and ornaments etc. The kudamattom at around 4 pm - raising of colourful parasols - is the main attraction. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day (4.30 am), rival shows held anywhere in the world.



Pandimelam is performed outside the temple premises.

Pandimelam 1 >> Pandimelam video 2

Fireworks

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Kanchipuram is a temple city 65 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also famous for the silk sarees.

I reached Kanchipuram bus stand at 4 pm and hired a bicycle from a nearby shop. I visited the Kamakshi Amman Kovil having a golden dome and a golden gopuram. Then I visited the Ekambareshwara temple having an impressive high towering gopuram and a 540 pillared hall. From there I reached the Kialashanatha temple, 2.5 km away. Then I returned to the bus stand for visiting nearby Vaikunda Prumal temple.

From this temple, Varada raja Perumal temple was 3 km away. This Vaishnavite temple is the main temple of Kanchipuram with towering gopurams, 100 pillared hall with single stone carved chains (Entry Rs 10, Video Rs 100) at the four corners and a temple pond. It will be worth to visit the temple during festival season.

On the return journey to Chennai at 7 pm, the bus passes near the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Perumbadur, 30 km from Chennai.

Watch the temple videos

Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the three holy places of Sakthi worship in India, the others being Madurai and Varanasi. The temple in the present form was built by the Cholas during 14th century A.D.



Ekambaranathar temple is an ancient temple of Kanchipuram, and has been renovated by the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Vijayanagar Kings. The 57 metre high Rajagopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. This temple has five spacious corridors (prakrams) and a beautiful 1,000 pillar hall (540 actually in number).



Sacred Mango tree : The 2,501 year old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yielding different varieties of mangoes.

Kailashnatha temple

Kailasanathar Temple
This Pallava temple was constructed in the 8th century and has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions. The architecture of this temple resembles the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.



Vaikunda Perumal temple

Vaikuntam Perumal Temple
This is one of the important Vishnu temples which was built by Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 7th century A.D. Numerous inscriptions are found in this temple relating to the wars between the Pallavas and Challukyas. The presiding deity Lord Vishnu is depicted in sitting, standing and reclining postures.

Varadaraja Perumal temple

Varadarajar temple, Kanchipuram near Chennai is a massive and impressive edifice. The riders on horseback, beautiful figures of Rathi and Manmatha, exquisite temple jewellery are other notable features. This temple provides a glimpse of a 16th century pillared pavilion with an exuberant workmanship.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple was built by the Vijaynagar kings and the presiding deity is Devarajaswamy. The 100-pillared hall of this temple proves the mastery of the sculptors of Vijayanagara in fine artists. The ornamental rings carved out of a single stone in a chain at the four corners are the special features of the hall and the figures of the God of Love and his consort astride a swan and a parrot.

The annual Garudothsavam (May - June) is most colourful and draws thousands of devotees.

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Other main temple of Kanchipuram are the Kumara Kottam Temple, Ulahalanda Perumal Temple and the Kacchapa Eswarar Temple.

The Kumara Kottam Temple is located in between the Kamakshi and Ekambareshwar temples in the Somaskanda formation. In the sanctum, Muruga is in a seated pose. Valli, Deivayani are absent here, but their festival idols are kept here. In accordance with the function of Creation he has assumed, his right arm is in Abaya pose, the upper hand holds the rosary, and the lower left arm is on the thigh in Katyavailambita pose with the left arm holding the Kamandalam. The posture is also called "Brahma Chattam".

The Ulahalanda Perumal Temple was built in Chola period and its situated about half a kilometer from the centre of the town near Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram. The main deity of this temple is 35 feet high and 24 feet wide posing with one foot on earth and the other on the sky. This form is called Trivikrama. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam's of Lord Vishnu.

The Kacchapa Eswarar Temple was built by Pallava Dynasty. In this temple, Siva appears as being worshipped by Vishnu in the form of turtle (kurmemerali). "Kacchapam" is Sanskrit for "Turtle". Hindu mythology suggests that the main deity in this temple (Lord Shiva) was worshiped by Lord Vishnu in the form of a Turtle.

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On 17th June 2010 at 17.40 h, I boarded 2602 Mangalore - Chennai Central train from Kozhikode. On the next day at 5.30 am, I arrived at Chennai station. From there I reached Parrys by bus. As there was no direct bus to Mamallapuram, I catch a Kovalam bus. I visited the Darga near the Kovalam bus station before boarding the Mamallapuram bus. The crocodile bank, tiger's cave, MGM Dissiworld, Sea lion show were on the 20 km route.

Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram is located 65 km south of Chennai via Kovalam in Tamil Nadu State, India. The main monuments of the town include Arjuna's penance, butter ball, World Heritage sites like Five Rathas and the Shore temple. All the monuments are located within the vicinity of Mamallapuram bus stand at a walkable distance.

On right side of the Mamallapuram bus station was the Arjuna's penance, Butter ball and the Durga temple. From there the road leads to Panch rathas 1.5 km away via a stone carvers' village. There were plenty of finished statues, deities for sale and the artisans were busy in their work.

Arjuna's penance video

One school believes that the sculpture shows Arjuna undertaking a penance to obtain a rare weapon against his enemies. The other School believes that it portrays the legend of the River Ganges's descent to earth. Arjuna's Penance has over 100 figures of gods and semi divine creatures, birds and beasts, man and saint.

Varaha mandapam video

This is a fine completed architecture which lies besides the Arjuna penance. The entrance has two pillars engraved with two horned lion – bases, and a cell protected by two gate keepers. There are four striking bas-reliefs, the northern one with Lord Vishnu (Varaha) Varaha (the mighty boar) standing at one feet on top of Naga, the snake king. He is rescuing Prithvi, the goddess earth from the primordial ocean. Varaha triumphed in his attempt and he holds the disc with his upper hands and lower hands holding Prithvi who is seated on his knees. The southern wall portrays Lord Vishnu as Vamana (a small figured Brahmin). He (Vamana) approaches empower Bali, a tyrant, requesting him to grant a land which will enable him to cover three steps. Empower Bali grants him the wish and Vamana covers the earth with one step, the Heavens with the second and the third on Bali’s head with Bali’s permission. Vamana pushed Bali to the underworld. Lord Vishnu is portrayed with his cosmic form with eight hands and eight legs. Along with Vishnu, stand Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, the Sun and the moon. The eastern wall to portray with Goddess Lakshmi with two maidens and two elephants powering water on the head which are portrayed on the backdrop.

The next side has the carving of Goddess Durga standing on a lotus. She is standing under the shade of a royal umbrella with her four hands. This is exactly portrayed to that of Draupadi Ratha.

Butter ball

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Ramanuja mandapam video

A Mandapa is an open pavilion or a hall with cells in the back wall and is cut out of a single piece of rock.

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Stone carver's village

The exit from the Arjuna's penance - Varaha manadapam - Ramanuja Mandapam - light house - leads to a village full of stone carving families. The shrill sound of working on stone, transforming the raw stone blocks to perfect statues are an unforgettable experience.



Video

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The Panch rathas were of 650 - 675 AD period and the rathas were named after Darupadi, Arjuna, Bhima, Dharmaraja. And the fifth infront of these five rathas was named after Nakula & Sahadeva. The Panch rathas is in the UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. Entry Rs 10, Video Rs 25. Ticket valid for Shore temple (UNESCO's World Heritage Site) also.

PANCH RATHAS OR THE FIVE RATHAS

This World Heritage site is located near Mamallapuram bus station, 65 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu State.

The five Rathas (chariots) is a set of magnificent monolithic rock temples. Panch is a Hindi world which means ‘Five’. These fine rock temples are located in a sandy compound. There chariots are constructed with Towers, The cars of gods, multipillared halls, and sculptured walls which are chissled out minutely. The Rathas have an association to the great epic Mahabharata which describes the heroes of Mahabharata with their wife Draupadi which is termed as pancha pandava rathas. The five rathas are (i) Draupadi’s Ratha, (ii) Arjuna’s Rath, (iii) Nakul – Sahadev’s Rath, (iv) Bhima Rath and (v) Dharamraja Yudhistar’s Rath.

DRAUPADI’S RATH

This is located at the entrance gate, which is spectacular and simple, shaped like a hut and is dedicated to goddess Durga.
Female door keepers stand on the either ride of the Rath, one holding a bow and another, a sword. At the eastern wall a bas-relief stands portraying Goddess Durga standing on lotus and two worshipers at her feet offering flowers and one of the person’s head respectively. Every other walls have the figure of the great goddess, and at the front of the temple is a Lion’s figure, which is the celestial vehicle to the Goddess.



ARJUNA’S RATH

The next Rath is the Arjuna’s Rath. This one is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This has a small portico and carved pillar stones. Inside the shrine there are no inscriptions or figures whereas on the outer walls. There are carvings of gods and humans. A panel on the northern wall is carved with two door keepers. Beautiful carvings of Lord Vishnu and a Garuda on one panel and the other panel with a couple. The eastern wall is carved with a double Dwarka-Palaks, in the middle wall the portrait of Lord Indra riding an elephant, a log standing of the left with has disciples and two beautiful women are perfectly chiseled out. These beautiful carvings hare been praised by many poets. There is also a figure of Nandi bull on back side of the Rath – which is still left unfinished.

NAKUL – SAHADEV’S RATH

In front of Arjuna’s Rath is the Nakula – Sahadev Rath. This is a double decored building, dedicated to Lord Indra – the God of Rain. As in Greek and Roman mythologies, where there are different gods for various aspects and qualified, the Indian mythologies too lane assigned specific gods for different aspects. There is some proof depicting this Ratha to which might have been dedicated to Subramanya associated with elephants. The elephants shaped sculptures face towards the sea and is named as Gajaprishthakara which means elephant’s back side. The elephant sculptures are huge and are highlights of the Panch Raths.

BHIMA RATH

This Ratha is faced towards west and this is laid third of the Rathas. The shrine is gorgeous as it measures 42 ft in length, 24 ft in width and 25 ft in height. The pillars are lion carved whereas the other parts are plain. This Ratha too is an incomplete one. In the epic Mahabharata Bhima the huge guy is bulky and strong he is fond of eating all the time.

DHARMARAJA YUDHISTAR’S RATH

Of all the five Rathas, this last one stands huge. It is named after the eldest of the pandavas. Innovative and well carved designs can be seen in this Rath. This Rath is also dedicated to Lord Shiva like that of Arjuna’s Rath. The ground floor is in complete. Above the ground floor stands minutely designed double floor. The peculiarity in this monumental construction is that there is no stair route from the ground floor to the first floor, but, there in stairs from the first floor to the second floor. There are eight panels in the ground floor. One panel is carved with the portrait of the kind and the rest with gods and goddesses.

On one particular wall the figure of Shiva is named ‘Ardhanariswarar’ which is the mixture of Shiva and Shakti. This is very attractive as one can find the manly structure and the luring female charm. Other portrayals show Lord Shiva as ‘Bhikshatana’ – meaning cosmic designer and the god of death.

Twenty two carves are found on the first floor. The portrait of lord Krishna dancing on top of the fierce Kaliya snake is depicted on the southern wall. Lord Vishnu’s portrayal is found on the Northern wall. Carving of a bearded ascetic holding a bell in his hands, a devotee with a tuft, holding a flower basket, a temple attendant with bunch of keys and carrying offering to god are marvelously inscribed. The second floor is well carved. Figures of Dakshinamurthy, Somaskanda, the sun the moon and other worshipers all found in this floor.

Video

THE GANESH RATH

The only completed sculpture of the five Rathas is the Ganesh Rath. This lies west to the Bhim Rath and it resembles the Arjuna Penance. It was earlier dedicated to lord Shiva and now it is a shrine of Ganesha. There was a lingam structure earlier and now an idol of lord Ganesha has been replaced the pallavas did not stop with there five Raths but they went on to build more sculptures of them four are found lying on the outskirts of mahabalipuram. Two Raths which lie side by side on the way to Tirukkalakundram are named as Pidari Rathas. To the south of these two Rathas lies the Valayankuttai Rath and the fourth one which lies opposite to the Mahishasura Mardini Mandap is nameless.