Arulmigu Avinashilingeshwar Thirukoil, Avinashi

This temple is located at on Erode road, Avinashi 40 kms from Coimbatore. This temple was built by 'Sundara Pandiya' in the 15th century. The Sthalapuranam states that two boys were taking bath in a tank when a crocodile swallowed one. Three years later a 'Thread ceremony' was performed to the boy who survived. Though their family was happy on the occassion, there was grief in the family of the boy who was swallowed by the crocodile. On his way to meet 'Cheramaan Peruman', Sundaramoorthy Nayanar happened to pass by Avinashi and heard the tale. Moved by this, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar composed and sang for 'Lord Shiva' to resurrect the dead child. His prayers were answered and water started flowing into the empty tank and crocodile emerged from it with a grown boy of 8 years.

The car festival is the most exciting of the festivals in this temple. This temple's car is one of the biggest in South India and is noted for its fine wooden carvings.

Dandayudapani Temple of Salem

Protesting against the decision of Lord Shiva on the Mango issue favouring Lord Ganapathi, Lord Muruga left His parents and settled in Palani.  On His way to Palani, He relaxed at this place with His peacock vahan.  Later, a devotee on his way to Palani also relaxed here when a voice said “I am here as Dandayuthapani”.  The devotee did not understand the voice and proceeded to Palani.  Lord Muruga came to him as a devotee, gave a begging bowl to this devotee and asked him to build a temple at this place.  With the money collected through the bowl, he built this temple here.  

As Lord Muruga was angry on the Mango issue, this fruit is offered as Nivedhana to Lord here.  It is also believed that the grace of Muruga had made Salem famous for mango production.  Devotees praise Lord as Mambazha Murugan.  Mango-Mambazham in Tamil.

Thiruparankundram Temple Madurai

Thiruparankundram temple is dedicated to the Lord Subramaniya. It is situated 8km south from Madurai district. Thiruparankundram is one of the six abodes of Lord Subramaniya. This is cave temple, One of the sangam poet Nakkirar has sung a log poem about this Temple is called Thirumurugatrupadai. Devayanai Marriage, Thirumalai Nayak and Mangammal Sculptures are there in this temple. The most important sculputure is Lord siva with flag of Rishaba in his hand cannot be found anywhere else. The important festival in this Temple is Vaigasi visagam, which is celebrated as Lord Subramaniyar's birthday, and Surasamharam, which is celebrated in the month November or December every year.Presiding deities of the temple are Lord Muruga and Goddess Devasena.

Other deities - Shiva, Vishnu, Durga and Ganapathy - are represented as well.Entrance in the ancient cave temple leads through a row of massive square pillars ornamented with lotus-shaped medallions.Inside the cave temple there has been preserved ancient painting of Nataraja - dancing Shiva. Cave temple contains also the sculpture of presiding deity Sri Subramaniyaswamy (Muruga). Rock-cut temple contains also 41 inscriptions revealing the early history of the temple. Before the ancient rock-cut temple there is built front part - mugha mandapam.Separate entrance leads into Sani Bhagawan - another shrine in this temple. In the western side there is rock-cut chamber which houses the lingam but in the eastern side there is one more shrine with Vishnu and Durga opposite to him. Temple contains many more carvings of deities.In the south-eastern part of Kambaththadi mandapam there has been found a 30 m long tunnel.

Temple contains also two historical wooden carts which are used for ceremonial purposes in certain proccessions.

Yoga Narasimha Temple Sholingur

This Shekthram is situated in Madras-Bangalore Rail line. Fast  way  is to take brindaavan express/Tirupati express from Madras to Arakonam Junction and take Bus from  there.Bus facility is not very good from Arakonam (you can hire an auto for Rs 125/). Sholingar Railway station is 9 miles from the temple,which is far away from the temple.Don't get down at sholingur station to go to temple. One can take a direct bus from Madras to Thiruththani ( famous Murugan temple town) and from there you can get plenty of buses to sholingur.You have to take an auto from Sholingur bus stand to go to Kondapalayamwhere the both Narasimhar and Hanuman temle are situated.Thiruvallur divya desam is close to Thiruththani and if you are taking a Cab you can cover that temple also on your return to Madras. Moderate facilities are there for stay.  There  is  a big  Kalyana  Mandapam  for  organized  group  tours,  and  several  "Mess" facilities are there.Sunday,Friday are crowded days in the temple.Beware of fierceful monkeys on your way to hill top. The scenic beauty from the top of the hill is wonderful.Remeber to take a dip in the Takkan kulam. Wonderful tank with full of water for the most of the time in the year. 

 It is believed that Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar came to this palce after hiranya vatham and stayed here for "ever" in this Yoga sayanam posture. It is well kown that  Srinarasimha avathaaram took place at "Sri Ahobilam". However, since munivars requested the presence of Sri Narasimha here on an endless timescale, The LORD Narasimha chose to stay here for ever. This is also confirmed by thirumangai aazhwaar's reference to "thakkkaanai" in his paasuram presented in this article.  Among all the other avathaarams this and the "vaamana avathaaram are the most significant becuase of the fact that they both accomplished the misssion instantly.

Many of the LAkshmi Narasimha bakthaas believe that by praying to this LORD (who is an instant acccomplisher), their prayers are fulfilled instantly if not atleast an instant relief is offered without delay by this LORD.  (An analysis is presented at the end of this thala puraanam on narasimha  avathaaram and this shrine's importance as "kadigai" or instant reliver.). It is a belief that, One, would  attain Moksham simply by staying here for one Kadigai  (period  of time) ie approximately half hour in  this  shekthram.  Hence  it  is  named Thiruk kadigai. It is believed that Saint Vishvaamitrar meditated  for  one kadigai on Lord Narasimhar and obtained his title "Brimha Maharishi"  here. The Saptha Rishis and vaamathEvar came to this  place  and  and  started  penance  to  have darshan of Narasimha Avathaaram, and the Lord fulfilled their  wish  within one kadigai of penance. Hence this hill is known as Kadikaachalam. 

After Sri Raama avathaaram, aanchneYa wanted to go back to sri vaikundam, and serve the LORD there. The Lord instructed anchnEya to goto this place and protect the rishis penance from the oncoming danger. Two demons by name "kaalan and kEyan" appeared as soon as the rishis started penance and started to distrub their effort. Sri hanuman wanted an instant tool to stop it and Lord Rama offered him his changu and chakram with the help of which Hanuman killed the demons and prevented the tapas of saptha rishis and vaamathEvar .  Hanuman also had the darshan of sri Narasimha in his avathaara kOlam at the lapse of a kadigai, and along with the rishis, and accepted the order of Lord Narasimha to sit in front of HIM in the small hill  and serve as a  protector for those whoever comes to this hills seeking relief from demons or demon effects. 

It is believed that Lord Narasimha  asked Hanuman to stay here until the end of the Kali yugam and reach him after that. There is no other place AanchnEyaa has such prominance, ( a hill and temple as his OWN abode) and also with changu chakram and with four hands. Sage Durvaasa once sought the thiruth thuzhaay maalai (ie thulasi garland) of this perumal  and danced with great joy by sporting this "maalai" on his own shoulder and and sirasu. There were many saadhus present at that time  and were witnessing this event. Buthan or mercury one of the Nava grahams was also present in the form of a saadhu and he laughed at this sage's act. Sage Thurvaasa cursed him and lord budhan had to stay here in this sthalam and served all those sages who came with great pleasure to this shrine after taking bath in the paandava theerththam and got his curse (spell) cured or removed.

 On  the  way to hills Garuda Aaaroodar Varadha Raaja perumal sannithi is  there.  It is believed that Kaanchi Varadhar offered  Garuda  Vaahana  Sevai  to Maha Achaaryar known as Thottaachaaryar here. (as he was not able to goto  Kanchi that year and instead did meditate on this LORD to offer that darshn there itself).  Even to-day this event is observed in Kaanchi and simulatneously here as a "puase" is kept at the entrance of this temple during the bramotsavam and garuda sErvai such that the LORD goes to kadigai for that instant to offer sEvai to thottaach chaaryaa. Similarly "erumbiyapa" was also one of the great mahaans lived in this place and served the LORD. This place is also used to be very fertile like chola naadu and was hence called as "CHola Simha puram" which became sholinga puram later. In pattinap paalai, it is refeerred that, Cholan karikaalan peruvaLaththaan called this district as "kadigaik kOttam": when he subdivided his kingdom into 48 distritcs.

This place is also one of the 74 simhaasanam established by Sri Raamaanuja in his 74 simhhaasanaas outlining the principles of Sri vishitaahthvaitham.    Similar to Gunaseelam near Trichy, this place is also known for  relief from possessing, Billi Sooniyam, etc. People come here and do  Vratham  for many days, take bath in Thakkaan  kulam  which  is  believed  to  have  the essence of many Mooligais and climb  the  hills  every  day  to  pray  anchaneYaa and Lord Narasimhar and get their "Pini" or "Diseases" or "Theeraatha nOykaL" cured here. This place is also known for the presence of many "Siththars" similar to Thiruvannaamalai, Kollimalai, and Kutraalamalai. It is believed that the administration of this temple is under the Aatheenam  of  Sthala  aachaarya purushaals of Thottaachaaryar Clan

Tiruthani Murugan Temple

Tiruthani Murugan temple is a Hindu temple, on the hill of Thiruttani, Tamil Nadu,India, dedicated to Lord Muruga. The hill has 365 steps indicating 365 days of the year.It is one of the Arupadaiveedu, the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga. The other five are: Palani(56 km west of Dindigul), Swamimalai (5 km east of Kumbakonam), Tirupparangunram(5 km from Madurai), Pazhamudircholai (25 km north of Madurai) and Thiruchendur(165 km south of Madurai).

Arulmigu Mutharamman Temple

Arulmigu Mutharamman temple

is located in the middle road on the western side of agasthesswaram. Agastheeswaram is situated amidst ponds, lush green paddy fields, plantains and coconut grooves just 2 Km northwest of Kanniyakumari, 2 Km north east of circular fort and 17 Km north west of Nagercoil the capital