Vilwaranyeshwarar temple at Thirukkollampudur

This is the last temple in the Panchaaranya yatra. We have to visit temple at night at 8 pm to complete the Panchaaranya yatra in a day. This is one of the 275 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. The temple is also about 1800 years old. 

Moolavar (Main Deity): Vilwaranyeshwarar

Devi (Name of Consort): Soundarya-ambika

Kshetra Vruksha (Sacred tree): Bilva

Special Deity: Lord Natraja

Sacred Teertha: Agni and Ganga teertha

Time of darshan: evening 8 pm

This East facing temple has the Rajagopuram (main tower) of 75 feet in height with 5 tiers. Other Shrines found inside the main temple are that of 

1. Ganesh
2. Valampuri (right sided trunk) Vinayaka
3. Lord Muruga
4. Aadivishwanath
5. Gajamuktishwar
6. Gajalakshmi
7. Panchalinga

It is stated that Lord Brahma and Arjuna have worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. Lord Brahma worshiped here in order to get rid of Brahma hatya dosha. 

Legend associated with the place:

When on a pilgrimage Triguna Sambandar (one of the Nayanmars) along with other devotees (followers) had reached the opposite bank of the river Vettaru where the temple is situated. The boatman had left the boat on the shore without paddles as the river was in swet. Sambandhar wanted to have darshan of Lord, on the other bank under any circumstances on the same day. He boarded the boat along with the followers and sang devotional hymns on Lord Shiva which acted as the paddle and helped him reach the temple on the other bank. He had the darshan of Lord on the same day and stayed back for the night in the temple. 

Festivals: 

1. On the day next to the new moon day in Aippasi (Oct-Nov) the boat festival is celebrated.
2. Chaitra Purnima is celebrated in the Tamil month of Chithirai
3. In the Tamil month of Karthigai, Pradosh is celebrated
4. Special pujas are held on Monday in the Tamil month of Karthigai.
5. Skanda shasti is celebrated in a big way
6. Thaipusam (Pushya nakshatra in Tamil month of Tai) (Jan-Feb) and Navratri are the other major festivals.

All these 5 temples of Pancharanya can be visited in a day by residing at Swamimalai. Before starting the yatra, it is stated that one should visit the Shwetvinayaka temple which is very close to Swamimalai.

Apathsahayeshwarar temple at Alangudi

This place is more famous as a Navagraha sthala for Lord Jupiter. This temple also belongs to the 275 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. This is located at Alangudi in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. The Shiva Linga is again a swayambhu linga. 

Moolavar (Main Deity): Apathsahayeshwarar, Kashi Aranyeshwarar

Amman (Goddess): Elavarkuzhali

Sthala Vruksha: Silk cotton tree

Special Deity: Dakshinamurti

Time of darshan: Evening

The temple is about 2000 years old and this is the 4th in the Panchaaranya sthalam. People worship here in the evening when they perform the yatra of 5 aaranya sthala in a day. In this temple Lord Shiva is perceived as the Universal Guru Dakshinamurti. According to the sthala purana, at this place Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurti explained in detail Vedas to the four Sanakadee munis. This temple is personified as a place where we come across the order or worship as stated in Shastras i.e. Mata- Pita- Guru.

Mata (Parvati), Pita (Lord Shiva), Guru (Dakshinamurti)

Structure of the temple reminds us of the above rules stated in the shastras. 

Other Shrines: 

Lord Vinayaka (revered as the one who saved the boat of a sage from drowning)

Lord Muruga and Goddess Lakshmi

The sapta lingas represented here are – Suryesha, Someshwar, Gurushwarar, Somanadar, Sabathnishatar, Vishanadar, Bramheshwarar.

Kashivishwanath, Vishalakshi, Sage Agastya and Nandi

It is stated that sage Vishawamitra, Muchukunda and Veerabhadra worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. In Skanda purana we come across the reference of Parvati doing penance at this place to have Lord Shiva as Her husband. According to the Kshetra purana after Samudra manthan Lord Shiva drank the poison (Alam) that was obtained at this place. Hence the place got the name Alangudi. Lord Shiva is known as Apathsahayar as he saved the world from deadly poison. Another legend states that, Lord Shiva came to the rescue of Sundarar (one of the Nayanmars) in a boat and Lord Vinayaka protected the boat from capsizing. 

Festivals:

On the day when Jupiter transits from one rashi to another, special pujas are performed here. On Chaitra Purnima and in Tamil Month of Thai (Jan-Feb) special worships are held. In the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar), every Thursday special pujas are held. 

Panguni Uthiram – In the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-April) on Uttara Nakshatra the ratha yatra of Dakshinamurti is held. 

Teertha – The Kshetra is surrounded by 3 rivers – Kaveri, Kollidam and Vennaru. 15 teerthas are located around this temple. Amrut Pushkarini is very close to the temple. Chakra teertha is in front of the temple. This is supposed to have been created by Lord Vishnu with his Sudarshan. 

Pataleshwarar Temple at Haridwara Mangalam

This Shiva temple is situated at Haridwara Mangalam in Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is about 1800 years old. This is one of the 275 temples revered by Nayanmars. The Shiva linga is Swayanbhu linga. 

Moolavar (Main deity): Pataleshwarar, Patalvardar

Amman (Consort): Alankarvalli, Alankarnayaki

Sthala Vruksha (Sacred tree): Shami (Vanni in Tamil)

Sacred Teertha: Brahma teertha

Other Shrines at this place:

Lord Vinayaka, Lord Nataraja with sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada, Kashi Vishwanaath, Bhairav, Lingodbhavar, Shanishwar, Surya, Chandra, Dakshinamurti. 

People worship the divine Mother Alankarvalli for marriage and begetting a child. This is the 3rd sthalam in the Panchaaranya sthalams. Those who wish to visit all 5 temples in a day, offer prayer (worship) at 12 noon at this place. It is the belief of the devotee that visiting all the 5 temples gives the same benefits as that of worshipping the Lord at Haridwar in North. It is believed that those who worship Lord Shiva at this place are relieved from their debts. There is no separate shrine for Goddess Durga here. The most significant feature about the temple is there are seven idols of Vinayaka.

Legends associated with this place: 

Brahma and Vishnu entered into an argument about who is great among them. They approached Lord Shiva for a solution. Lord Shiva manifested as a huge vertical column of fire and asked Brahma and Vishnu to find the top and bottom of this column. Brahma tried to reach the top in the form of a swan whereas Lord Vishnu tried to reach the bottom as a boar (Varaha). Lord Vishnu accepted His defeat that he could not find the bottom, whereas Brahma lied to Lord Shiva stating that he had been to the top and he presented Ketaki flower as a witness. Lord Shiva got angry and cursed that both Brahma and Ketaki flower will not be worshiped anymore on the earth whereas Lord Vishnu will be worshiped in all the places on the earth. It is stated that this is the place where Lord Vishnu appeared as a Varaha after losing one of his horns to worship Lord Shiva. It is stated that the hole (pit) through which he appeared at this place is found in this temple and it is kept covered by a stone. 

Festivals:

• In the Tamil month Vaikasi (May-June) on the Vishakha nakshatra a grand festival is held. 
• In the Tamil month Margazhi (Dec- Jan), Thiruvadurai festival is held.