Friday, February 17, 2017

Panduranga Temple, Thennangur, Thiruvannamalai

Panduranga Temple, Thennangur, Thiruvannamalai
Panduranga Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Thennangur Village in Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. The temple was built with a combination of northern & southern styles of architecture. The temple resembles the Puri Jagannath temple in Orissa and its front gopurams are constructed in the Pallava style of architecture. 






The primary temple was modeled upon the Puri Jagannath temple, whereas the outside structure reflects Pandava architecture. The temple follows both the Orthodox Sampradaya (tradition) of the South and the Bhajan Sampradaya of the North.





Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
The structure of the temple resembles the Pandaripuram temple in Maharashtra with Lord Panduranga accompanied by Mother Ragumayee blessing devotees. The temple was built by the disciple of His Holiness Gnanananda Swamigal, His Holiness Haridas Giri Swamigal.  It is being administered by His Holiness Namanandagiri Swamigal presently. Lord Panduranga is majestically 12 feet tall made of Salagrama stone. He graces in a standing posture. Raghumayee nearby is adding beauty to beauty. Nearby, an idol of Lord Varadharaja and his consorts may be seen.






Another rare element of this temple is the presence of a historical idol of Achutharaya Perumal, which was brought from Tirumala Tirupathi. Along with these idols, the golden idols worshiped by Swami Haridas Giri are present here. Lord Panduranga showers his blessing as a King of Mathura on Sundays, in a simple form showing his Lotus feet for the darshan of devotees on Thursdays, with silver coverings on Fridays & as Lord Venkatachalapathi on Saturdays.





All the deities related to Sri Chakra worship are in this temple. It is especially noteworthy that all the deities related to Sri Chakra – Maha Shodasi, Rajarajeshwari, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Brahmma, Vishnu, Rudra, Easwara, Vinayaka, Bala, Annapoorani, Ashwaruda, Rajamadhangi, Varahi, Prathyangira, Sarabeswara, Chakrathaazhwar, Brahmi, Yoga Narasimha, Agoramurthy, Vanadurga, Parasaraswathi, Medha Dakshinamurthy, Subramanya, Chandi Mahalakshmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Mahendri, Chamunda, Mahalakshmi are in the temple in idol forms.





Lord appears in fruit Alankara on the Tamil New Year day-Vishu Kani Utsav. On the Gokhulashtami day, Vaishnava Muthangi Sevai is followed. Lord appears in many alluring forms as Rajagopala, Giridhari holding the Govardhana Hill, as Geethacharya, as Parthasarathy and Radhakrishna. 





It is said that Lord played his flute under the Thamala tree (the sacred tree of the temple) in Dwapara Yuga which drew Radha towards him. It is noteworthy that this Thamala tree is brought to South. Dwarapalaka idols are made of Panchaloka – a mixture of five metals.





The famous Sri Panduranga temple was built with a combination of northern and southern styles of architecture. The temple resembles the Puri Jagannath temple in Orissa and its front gopurams are constructed in the Pallava style of architecture. 





The primary temple was modeled upon the Puri Jagannath temple whereas the outside structure reflects Pallava architecture. The temple features a 120 ft tower (Vimanam) topped by a 9-1/2 ft gold Kalasam with the Sudarsana Chakra (disc of Panduranga), and a saffron-colored flag flying above the tower.





It is not simply wonderful but thrilling to see a tower of this stature facing east. Passing the Balipeeta, there is the 16 pillared Maha Mandap.  Entering the Mahamandapam, one feels that he/she had entered the gates of Paradise. 





Baghwan Garuda is occupying the centre space as a Gem. Lord Govindaraja Perumal enjoys and graces the Wedding festival in the mandapam as in Tirupathi except on Saturdays. The Brindavan of His Holiness Gnanananda Swamigal adds more sanctity to the temple.





Another specialty of this temple is the divine marriage i.e. Nitya Kalyana Utsavam is being performed daily between 10 A.M to 12 noon on the weekdays and between 2 P.M to 4 P.M on Sundays. This temple has a unique Art decoration, first of its kind in India, where mural forms are embedded on the walls and ceiling of Ardha Mantapam and Maha Mantapam specially conceived and erected by Sri Natanam, the renowned Mural Architect. 



A huge Namasankeerthanam Hall with all the Bhagavatha Saints with their images have been decorated beautifully and it is unique.



It carries the message of Sage 'Suka' in its physical form. An auditorium to accommodate more than 1000 persons with a huge stage and attendant implements in completed to conduct external events, discourses and other like gatherings. 



The temple follows both the Orthodox Sampradaya (tradition) of the South and the Bhajan Sampradaya of the North. The men before entering the sanctum sanctorum are supposed to remove their garments on the upper part of their bodies which is a temple regulation followed by one and all.


Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
The temple is famous for the Vishukani Utsav festival that falls on Tamil New Year’s Day. The Muthangi Sevai festival is celebrated on the day of Gokhulashtami that falls between August and September, when the Lord Krishna is decorated in various Alankarams (styles) as Rajagopala, Govinda-Giridari holding the Govardhana hill, Parthasarathy and Child Krishna.
Prayers
Prayer is the best path to reach God.  Everyone can do the worship depending on their means and knowledge. The significance of the temple is the Nama Sankeerthanam principles followed in worships because Music takes the soul to God. Devotees pray for child boon. Devotees perform pujas to Lord and Mother with Vastras.
Contact
Sri Panduranga-Ragumayee Temple,
Thennangur, Thiruvannamalai District,
Phone: +91 – 4183 – 225 808
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;