Vayalur Murugan

Slokam of the Month
Nandhikesha Mahaabhaaga Shivadhyaana ParaayaNa
Mahorasam Divya Mayoora Vaahanam
Rudrasya Soonum Suraloka Naatham
Brahmanya Devam Charanam Prapadye

I always take refuge in Lord Guha who is sixfaced; whose body is smeared with sandal paste; who has a broad chest; who has the divine peacock as his vehicle; who is the son of Lord Shiva and who is the Leader of the army of the Devas.

Temple of the Month

The Subramanyaswami Temple at Kumaravayalur near Kuzhumani village in Tiruchirapalli is one of the holiest temples of Lord Karthikeya. The temple dates back to the 9th century Chola period and is also known as Aadi Vayalur,Agneeswaram and Vanni Vayalur. The dietes presiding this temple are Poyyaa Ganapati, Adinathar & Adinayaki, Valli Deivayanai sametha Sri Subramanya Swami. The diamond spear (Vairavel) adorning the Lord is a thing of beauty. A tributary of Cauvery Udayakkondan river flows beside the temple. This temple is of prime significance since Arunagirinathar commenced the Tiruppugazh here. The first hymn Kaittala Nirai Kani is addressed to Poyyaa Ganapati.



Story of the Month
Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills Sivagiri and Shaktigiri to his abode in the South. He gave this work to Idumban, an Asura survivor of the war between Surapadman and Murugan. It so happened that at the same time Lord Murugan had renounced and gone to Palani. Idumban upon reaching Palani felt tired and placed the hills down. After a while Idumban tried to lift the hills again and he could not move them an inch. He spotted a boy in loin clothes on the top of the hill and asked him to vacate the hill. Lord Murugan in a fighting mood refused and a fierce battle ensued. Idumban was slain. When Idumban's wife pleaded with Lord Murugan he revived the Asuran. Idumban then realized who that the little boy was and prayed with all earnest. Lord Murugan granted him a boon that whosoever carried a Kavadi symbolizing the hills to His abode shall be blessed. Idumban became the sentinal of the Palani Hills. Hence we have the Idumban shrine halfway up the Palani Hill.

Interesting Tidbits

1. The five people - According to the Shastras, the one who has been
responsible for the body, the one who gives ‘upadesa’
of the Gayathri Mantra, the one who feeds, the one who
imparts education and the one who imparts Jnana —
these five people are like one’s father

2.The Mahaswami's on Ideals of Marriage - There are 3 objectives of a samskara of so elevated a character as marriage. The first is to unite a man with a helpmate after he has completed the study of Vedas. This helpmate is expected not only to run his household but assist him in the practice of the Vedic dharma. The second is to bring forth into this world children of noble outlook and character who are to be heirs to the great Vedic tradition, citizens of the future who will be the source of happiness in this world. The third is to create a means for women to be freed from worldly existence. A man who is not yet fully mature inwardly is assisted in his karma by his wife. By doing so, by being totally devoted to her husband, she achieves maturity to a degree greater than he does. The fourth objective is the subordination of sensual gratification to the other three.

Murugan Quiz

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Temple Quiz

A Quiz about Temples in the World

Lord Brihadishwarar

Slokam of the Month

Nandhikesha Mahaabhaaga Shivadhyaana ParaayaNa

Gowrinandana Sevaartham AnujGYaa Daatum Marhasii

O! Lord Nandhikesha, Highly distinguished, Son of Gowri and wholly devoted in meditation of Lord Shiva, Please grant us the deserving permission to worship Lord Shiva

Temple of the Month
The great temple of Tanjore (Tanjavur Periya Koyil) is one of the biggest Dravidian temples in the world. This thousand year old temple has been adjudged as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The great Tamil ruler Rajaraja Chola I built this temple in the 11th century. The main diety was originally called Adavallan (expert dancer). He is now known as Lord Brihadishwarar. He is in the form of a 8.7 metre Shivalinga within a two storey sanctum. Another remarkable feature of the temple is the great Nandi. The Nandi is 6 mts long, 2.6 mts broad 3.7 mts high & weighs 27 tons. It is probably the largest of its kind. This temple is one of the tallest in the world and is built in such a way that the vimanam does not cast a shadow at noon during any part of the year.

Story of the Month - Somaskandamoorthy

Once upon a time Mahavishnu wanted to have a son who would be extremely charming. He decided to pray to Shiva to get the boon. Lord Shiva appeared before Mahavishnu to give Him the boon. At that moment, Vishnu did not notice Godess Parvati. He had completely ignored Her. Parvati cursed Vishnu that the son he would beget would be burnt to ashes by Lord Shiva. Vishnu was shocked. He again prayed to Shiva this time along with Parvati and Skanda. Pleased by His prayers, Shiva Parvati and Skanda appeared before Vishnu and granted Him the boon. Also that the son who would be burnt would be brought back to life by Shiva himself. By this boon, Mahavishnu became the father of the Lord of Lust - Manmathan. The form worshipped by Mahavishnu came to be known as Somaskanda Moorthy (Saha + Uma+ Skanda Moorthy)

The Lord of Beginnings

Slokam of the Month

GajaananaM bhuutagaNaadisevitaM

Kapittha jaMbuu phalasaarabhaxitam
UmaasutaM shokavinaashakaaraNaM

Namaami VighneshvarapaadapaN^kajam
Salutations to Lord Ganesha who has an elephant head, who is attended by the band of his followers, who eats his favorite wood-apple and rose-apple fruits, who is the son of Goddess Uma, who is the cause of destruction of all sorrow. And I salute his feet, which are like lotus.

Temple of the Month

The Arumugamangalam Vinayagar Temple is an ancient temple built around 2 B.C. This temple is located in the Arumugamangalam Village in the Tuticorin District. The history of the Ayirathen Vinayagar in the temple dates back to the Brahmins residing on the banks of the Narmada. Once upon a time a Pandiya king named Komaravallabhan performed a Yagna. Large groups of Brahmins migrated from the Northern part to participate. It is beleived that Lord Vigneswara took the form of a Brahmin and helped conclude the grand Yagna. After completion the Brahmins decided to stay back and the King installed the diety around their settlement. The temple was later developed by various rulers including Ukrama Pandiyan, Rayar and Tirumalainayakar
Village location link http://www.aarumugamangalam.com/main/temples.htm

Orkut Community http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=19581591

Story of the Month

Kubera is the King of Yakshas (Nature spirit). He is the son of Sage Vishrava. Kubera performed severe austerities for a thousand years in reward for which Brahma gave him immortality and made him the guardian of all treasures (Nidhi). Once Kubera invited Shiva and Parvati to dinner with the intention of showing off his riches. Shiva and Parvathi denied the invitation asking Kubera to feed their son Ganesha instead. Kubera laughed at the suggestion saying "I can feed a thousand children like this". Ganesha went to Kubera's palace in Alakapuri and sat down to eat. He started eating all that was placed in front of him and did not stop until there was nothing left in the Palace of abundance to feed him and he said "You promised my parents that you will feed me. Now I have to eat you up as I am still very hungry" Hearing this Kubera ran to Kailas and pleaded with Shiva to save him from Ganesha. Shiva asked Kubera to serve Ganesha a handful of rice with humility. Upon doing that, Ganesha's hunger was quelled as was Kubera's pride.

On the lighter side

Pillayar and I remember a real life incident told by my mom. And everytime its left the audience with peals of laughter. This is one of the many stories from my mom about her childhood days in Kallidaikurichi. My mom had two friends who were sisters (lets say their names were Vijaya and Gomati). And everyday they used to come back from school together. One of the days, Vijaya realized that the younger one was nowhere to be seen. She called out for Gomati but no response. She searched in school. It was empty albeit the peon. She decided to scan the entire route that they take for home, before parents blame the elder for not taking care of the younger one. On the way back there was this Pillayar temple. She stood there with tears in her eye, memories of her sister in ther mind's eye and she prayed ernestly, "Pillayar Pillayar, Please let me find my dear sister Gomati. If you do this for me I will marry you." The gist of what ensued is that Gomati was found and Vijaya was so scared that Pillayar might appear insisting her to marry, that she didnt take the route to school through the temple for years to come.