FAMILY & GROUP 23 DAYS PILGRIMAGE TOUR TO TAMIL NADU - 2009 - PART 6

Part Six : Continuation of Our Pilgrimage.....


Everyone woke up early as we were told we had a quite a long journey ahead of us..However when we came down with our bags to have our breakfast as fast as we can, the breakfast was not ready at the hotel.We left our bags at the sofa in the lobby and was sitting around waiting for the waiters and waitress to set the breakfast for us.As soon as they prepared he breakfast,we had the breakfast as our guide did our check out and loaded our bags into the bus. 


11th December 2009 (07th Day of Pilgrimage)


First off we decided to visit Lord Sukiran Temple that was closed yesterday. So we were off to Kanchanor.
So when we arrived at (27) Sri Agneswarar Temple.(Sukiran Bhagawan), it was about 8.15 AM. However when we arrived there, we were told by priest there that the temple will only be after 12.00 Noon only.We were allowed to go around the temple and have darshan without prayers.Gates to the shrine was closed so we just did our own prayers and left the flower garlands we bought, by the gates of each deity we prayed.

Sri Agneswarar Temple - Sukiran Temple

Inside the Temple - Group

Sukiran Temple Gopuram on the Background of our group photo.

We spend a few minutes hanging around the temple and bought some books which was sold there in the temple area.Some of us also bought some souvenirs sold at the entrance of the temple.


After spending about 20 odd minutes taking some pictures, we boarded onto the bus and now headed to Thanjavur. Drive was about an hour and half hour, we arrived in Thanjavur and as the bus parked itself on the Tourist Bus parking area opposite of the temple that we are going to which was the called the "Peria Kovil of Thanjai" (Big Temple of Thanjavur)  (28) Brihadeswarar Temple.

Outer Entrance Gopuram

Inner Entrance Gopuram

Vinayagar's Carving with 10 hands.

I truly must say that i love this temple.The first time i came to this temple in 2006, i feel in love with this temple for few reasons. Maybe one reason is its's because this temple is in Thanjavur,hometown of my grand father.I have this feel of Thanjavur as place of my roots...second reason would be that i know how powerful Lord Sivan and Amma is here in this temple. However i must say that Amma here is much more powerful in this temple.Her vibration of her, here is over whelming. No man of devotion could say otherwise once they have her darshan. 

Majestic Periya Kovil of Thanjavur.

Lord Nandi Mandapam (Hall)

Local guide telling us the history of Nandi.

View of Inner Entrance Gopuram from Nandi Mandapam

We entered this temple at about 10.40 AM. As the group entered this temple, we were greeted by another tour guide who knows plenty about this temple. Our tour guide has arranged another tour guide for us to explain to us about this temple.He did a pretty good job..he mixed so jokes with his explanation. However for me his jokes was a bit lame but maybe others in the group enjoyed. 

Periya Nayagi Amman Temple.

Side Exit after the Darshan of Lord Sivan.

Lord Vinayagar's Temple In the Temple.

Highlight of my time was of course darshan of Sri Periya Nayagi Amman consort of Lord Sivan here.My whole was consumed with her vibration as i stood in front of her and prayed with my whole heart.My only request from her was always help people who needs her help through me. I would always be her true humble servant. 

Whole view of the temple from the back.

After all the prayers,the group was resting sitting down in front of Amma's temple as we were going around taking pictures around the temple. We spend about another 20 minutes and then we decided to go and check in to the hotel. 

Amma standing majestically. 

Drawing of Amma in the corridor of the temple 

Hotel that we are to stay was Hotel Oriental Tower. We arrived at hotel about 12.55 PM to check. We were told to wait as the room was not ready...only some of us got the room but my family did not get our rooms until it 1.30 PM. We hanged around the hotel lobby for 45 minutes...on our own.Our tour guide was no where in site..and i was furious and tired and as soon our room key was given to us, we took our bags and went to our rooms. As we enter to our room, we found that there was insufficient towel and so i called the house keeping to ask for another towel. The staff after about 20 mins and she just threw the towel to me and said that towels in the hotel was insufficient...now that was outright rude and was it my problem if this was a lousy hotel which cant even afford towel.

Group picture in front of the worst hotel in Thanjavur.

I complained to the hotel management but no action was taken, i suppose no one is bothered about how guest are treated in this hotel. Not even our guide was bothered. I would like to advise to anyone who ever wants to go to this hotel - Please Don't go to this Hotel.I think we can get better service at a problem a cheap bed and breakfast motel anywhere else. To Note that this was the second time the guide has made me furious with his non-caring attitude for his customers. 


After resting for a while, we boarded the bus to visit a place where small statue's and other decoration, and souvenir things are made. It was a house in a small village sort but not too deep in the village, it did have some good terrace houses. 

Fire or heat is directed to the smelting area.

Mixed elements is being poured into the heat pot to mold the statue.

Left is the one that is just taken out of the mold and the right is after is has been cleaned.

Some of statue that is on display to be purchased.

The process of how statues are made was shown to us and we bought some souvenirs too. After spending about 40 minutes, we boarded onto our bus and headed to our next temple destination. We are now headed to visit a very old and powerful Amman temple in Thanjavur. 


(29) Thanjai Muthu Mariamman Temple is one of the most powerful Goddess Mariamman temple is South India.We arrived at this temple at about 4.15 PM. Bus was parked by the roadside where all bus parks.We walked about 5 minutes to the temple.There were a lot of stalls in front and leading to the temple.Books, souvenirs,pictures and other things were sold in the stalls there.

Entrance of the Thanjai Muthu Mariamman Temple.

Entering the temple was nice and there were nice beautiful paintings on the wall in the corridor.Before we enter the main temple door, to the left there was a small vinayagar shrine and a priest was there conducting prayers and all us prayed there..As all of us about to leave the temple and was walking towards the door of the temple, i was suddenly stopped by the priest and was told wait as he went to get the garland from the statue and gave it to me. Now, why he asked me to wait as all of us was there too was definitely a question i cant answer..but i took it as positive that Lord Vinayagar blessed me..through this priest.

Painting of Amma on the wall of the corridor.

Goddess Parvati

Goddess Durga Amman

Goddess Samayapuram Mariamman.

Goddess Kanchi Kamatchi.

Temple was simply marvelous..there was not too much crowd in and we moved with ease and after our darshan we went around the temple once and i must admit again...Amman temple is always so much full of energy and vibration.


We left the temple with feel good feelings and head back to our hotel to rest and have dinner and then of course be ready for our next day journey to our next night stop at Ramanathapuram. 


Next morning after having breakfast, we boarded on the bus and make our next temple journey to Pillayarpatti. 


12th December 2009 (08th Day of Pilgrimage)


This would be one first major Vinayagar Temple that we will be seeking darshan. Had good feelings about this journey. Journey was good and we reached Pillayarpatti. Bus passed by a lot of shop and then turned in right to the area where all other tour buses are parked. We had to walk about 15 minutes to the temple. 


As we reached to the temple,  (30) Pillayarpati Karpaga Vinagaya Temple, there was a huge water pond in front of us, we walked left around the pond to the slippers cloak room. We walked pass by the temple management and endowment office as well. It seems that the temple board takes care of everything here..there is no charges to enter the temple or other fee's collected. 

Karpaga Vinayagar Temple Gopuram

Group Picture at Pillayarpatti with the temple on the background.

Pose before entering into the temple.

The cloak room was by the side of the temple. As we about to enter the temple, we heard people singing bhajans in the tent by the side of the temple entrance.We entered into the temple without even to take any tickets..temple was big and had that nice old feeling to it. Rock carvings in the temple and on the beams and walls proved that this temple was a very old temple indeed. 


We had a wonderful full darshan and prayers of Lord Pillayar.First time we did not have to give any extra money to the priest to lets have go right in front and pray to the Lord.Priest here refused to take any money too and they are well taken care by the temple management. 

Temple on the Small rock by the back of the temple.

After coming out of the temple, we went for a short walk to a small temple on a rock top by the back of the temple. View from the rock was interesting as small river was running there and lots vegetation was seen and paddy field was gloriously in healthy condition.

Heading back to bus after a nice darshan.

After spending some time there, we made our way back to the bus but not before doing some light shopping for the kids to enjoy in the bus as the next destination is quite a distance away. We are headed now to Devipattinam.


We stopped for lunch at a restaurant..but as we were leaving, there was a small incident that brought some chaos to the patrons there, it seems that a thief has stolen another groups bags and purses and seem passport were lost.We were told that the group was also from Malaysia but we did not stick around to actually find out.We got onto our bus and reminded ourselves to be more careful with our own belongings.It was drizzling by the time we got out of the restaurant. 


Heading to Devipattinam was a wet affair for all us as it was raining most of the journey.This was the first time that we are travelling in rain.We were all hoping that the rain would stop by the time.


When we did arrive at Devipattinam, rain has not stopped, we were actually contemplating of not going to see the 9 navagraha's places by Lord Rama by the sea. Rama prayed to the Navagraha's as advised by Goddess Durga and seek their blessings before he went to Sri Lanka to seek for his wife. (31) Thilakeshwar Temple.


We could not find enough umbrella's so we decided to take turns using the umbrella.Not wanting to wait, i folded a handkerchief and put it on my head and decided to brave the rain. The moment i got down of the bus, my head was already wet. I continued walking to the seas side and first thing that hit me was the faulty smell..and the rain did made it worse. The stink of the rubbish by the sea was almost unbearable but excitement of seeing the submerged navagraha's was the tonic to just bear the stench and move forward. 

Walk path leading to the Navagraha's.

When i reached the place, a priest was actually conducting a small prayer for someone. Both of them were in the water doing the prayers.As i walked around the nine stone's it was truly remarkable of how its actually in the sea and not just by the sea.There was a walk path that is probably going to just come down in a few years.We walked very carefully and slowly by the path and as the sea water was hitting it hard in the rain..By then i was fully drenched in the rain but the experience was truly worth it for me.

Priest conducting prayers for someone in the rain.

View of the navagraha's.

Waiting for the others to come back and all us of tried to dry ourselves in the bus.Clothes were changed and wet clothes were hanged at the back of the bus.The bus suddenly had turned into a dry cleaner..as we headed to Ramanathapuram to check in to Hotel Royal Park.


It was really raining cats and dogs just before we reached the hotel, we did not realise how heavy it was until we saw the news that night in the hotel.Again poor management of room distribution kept me up whole night.I guess my luck to get a good night sleep in not my itinerary. 


To Be Continued........