Famous Temples in Tamilnadu
–by Soham Mitra
–Reading Time – 15 min Approx
Remember the last time you took a break from your daily hectic schedule and had a sigh of relief? No? Me neither! The word ‘busy’ has become a well-abused term in today’s day and age. Go about asking anybody if they would like to have a chat over a cup of coffee and the invariable answer would be “I don’t have time”. If one pays a minute’s attention to the kind of lifestyle that the 21st century has glamorized as the ideal, it wouldn’t be much difficult to comprehend the frailties lying at the very base of modern-day existence. Running towards meeting the goals of persisting livelihood and economic progress has made people mechanical with a one-dimensional approach to life.
One often wonders what life was like in ancient India bereft of modernization and technological advancement. The era of royal kings, magnificent architecture and a life filled with spirituality might be things of the past but one need not worry as the very essence of the past is well preserved and cherished in the southern state of our country, Tamil Nadu. The state has retained its cultural legacy dating back thousands of years providing a deep insight into its grand and spiritually affluent past. The famous temples in Tamilnadu are a testimony to the opulence of the royal dynasties whether it is Pallavas, Cholas, or Nayakas. These powerful temples in Tamil Nadu not only portray spell bounding intricacies of our culture but also convey mythical legends of gods.
Types & Variations of Famous Temples in Tamilnadu:
With the third-largest state economy in India, Tamil Nadu houses countless temples all across its large territory, each possessing unique architectural styles and specific spiritual significance. Hinduism, by the virtue of inhabiting various subsets of traditions, has a wide variety of practices, not to forget the high number of gods and goddesses. Shaktism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism, the three major sects of Hinduism find their prominence deeply rooted amongst the famous temples in Tamil Nadu as shrines dedicated to Shakti, Shiva, and Vishnu exist in abundance in the state.
Be it the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, or Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, these temples house particular deities with specific customs and mythological significance unique to them. Some 1000 years old temple in Tamil Nadu such as Kumbeswarar Temple in Kumbakonam and Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur has stood the test of time becoming the architectural marvels of the country. Tamil Nadu has been ruled by Pallavas, Pandyas, Cholas, Vijaynagar kings, and Nayakas and this has contributed significantly to the variations in the structural patterns of the temples.
Let us now know more about the several temples in Tamil Nadu.
Famous Amman temples in Tamil Nadu:
The universal mother goddess, Shakti, is verily revered as Amman (meaning mother) in the southern part of our country. Many shrines in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to her various forms such as Kamakshi, Meenakshi, Kanyakumari, etc.
Meenakshi Amman Temple:
Meenakshi Amman Temple, located in Madurai, is one of the most ancient temples in India dating back to the 6th century AD. The main deities of the temple are Goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and her consort Sundareshwar (a form of Shiva). The temple is a rich specimen of Dravidian architecture and has intricate figures of significant instances of Hindu mythology. A unique and major ceremony surrounding the temple is the annual Meenakshi Thirukalyanam Festival which takes place every summer, celebrating the marriage of Meenakshi with Sundareshwar.
Kamakshi Amman Temple:
Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram, dedicated to goddess Kamakshi (a name for Lalita Maha-Tripura Sundari), is one of the primordial seats of goddess worship in the country. The place is highly revered because of its association with Indian philosopher and theologian, Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have installed Shri Yantra (a mode of goddess worship) in front of the idol of the goddess in the main sanctum. The temple dates back to the Pallava dynasty and falls under one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas of goddess Sati. The annual festival of the temple takes place between January and February when the Utsav Vigraha (representative idol) of the main deity is taken out on a procession in the city during the morning and evening.
Kumari Amman Temple:
Located in the coastal town of Kanyakumari, the Kumari Amman Temple situated at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Kumari (the virgin goddess). The central idol of the temple is the goddess in the form of a beautiful young girl holding rosary beads in her right hand, which are believed to have been installed by Sage Parashuram. The temple is a major pilgrimage site of India dating back to the 8th century. It is one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas and its major festivals are on Chaitra Purnima and Durga Navratri.
Famous Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu:
Tamil Nadu is home to innumerous Shiva temples which are some of the major seats of Shaivism. Pancha Bhoota Sthalangal i.e. temples manifesting the five elements of nature and Pancha Sabhai Sthalangal i.e. the temples where Lord Shiva is believed to have performed the celestial dance (Tandav) in his Nataraj form houses various forms of Lord Shiva.
Brihadeeswarar Temple:
The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is one of the oldest temples of Shiva, dating back to the 11th century. It is a fine testimony to the architectural marvel of the Chola dynasty. The temple enjoys the status of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site along with being the tallest temple tower in the world. One of the most magnificent features of the temple is its apex structure, weighing 80 tonnes, at the top of the temple carved out of a single granite stone!
Ekambareswarar Temple:
The Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram houses Lord Shiva in the form of a Prithvi Lingam (symbolic of the element of nature and Earth). According to a legend, Goddess Parvati performed penance under a mango tree to please Lord Shiva who appeared before her and came to be revered as ‘Ekambareswarar’, meaning the ‘Lord of Mango Tree’. The sacred mango tree present inside the temple premises is known to bear four different types of mangoes in different seasons of the year.
Thillai Nataraja Temple:
Built in the 11th century by the Pallavas, the Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is believed to be located at the center of the Earth’s magnetic field. The central deities of the temple are Shiva in the form of Nataraja and his consort Parvati who is called Sivakamasundri. The temple is adorned with figures of dancers and musicians. The carvings representing the 108 postures of Bharatnatyam are the key eye-catching element of this temple. The temple organizes an annual dance festival where eminent dancers pay homage to the deities through their performances.
Alters for Vishnu in Tamil Nadu:
If Shiva and Shakti are present in their full glory, how can Narayan be left out? Tamil Nadu is home to some of the most ancient and spectacular shrines dedicated to different forms of Lord Vishnu.
Ranganathaswamy Temple:
The Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam dating back to the 10th century showcases the mastery of Dravidian craftsmanship and prides itself for housing the tallest tower gateway (236 ft.) of Asia. The presiding deity is that of Lord Vishnu in the form of Ananta Sayana, reclining on the five-headed serpent ‘Shesh Nag’. The temple complex is spread over a vast area, a part of it serving as a township for individuals.
Rajagopalaswamy Temple:
Located in Mannargudi, the Rajagopalaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is a prime Vaishnavite shrine of India which is also referred to as Dakshin Dwarka and Guruvayoor. The temple was built by Kulothonga Chola I and it houses the largest temple tank known as Haridra Nadhi. The main sanctum of the temple is adorned by the idol of Vasudeva along with his two consorts – Sridevi and Bhudevi. The Chariot Festival of the temple is a key attraction in which the Utsav Vigraha of the main deity is taken out on a procession.
Varadharaja Perumal Temple:
The Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram dedicated to Lord Vishnu is another example of magnificent Dravidian architecture. As per the folktales, Lord Vishnu is believed to have relived a curse in this temple, and later presided in the temple. It is also the known as the famous Perumal temple in Tamil Nadu.
Significance of the famous temples in Tamil Nadu:
One might question why temples are of any significance whatsoever if one is not religious or is disinterested in architecture. Well, temples are not merely places of worship but rather gateways to the process of liberation. The famous temples in Tamil Nadu followed strict rules of construction having deep spiritual significance where each part of a temple represented different energy centres of the human body. Santana Dharma, which originated in India, had a central role in people’s lives in the past. What one sees today is merely a patch on what existed thousands of years ago. Nothing wrong with being curious about it right?
–by Soham Mitra
