Chidambaram - Heaven on Earth - Some Facts

Thiruchitrambalam ! Sivagami - Nataraja's Abode on Earth - Chidambaram

This place is five hours drive from Chennai and is very accessible through rail, road and public transports

Here are some interesting facts about Chidambaram

• First of Shiva Temples throughout the world 
• A dense forest full of Thillai trees - hence Thillaivanam
• Pancha Bootha Sthalam - represents Sky / Space
• First of Pancha Sabhai - Nataraja Sthalam - Gold Sabhai / Kanaga Sabhai
• Next to the Kanga Sabhai is a small room with Golden Vilva Garland - the empty space is believed to be Akash / Sky / Space
• All Siva Agamams finally come down to Chidambaram - hence the temple closes @ 10:30 pm. No further worship in temples / homes performed after that
• Appar, Sundarar, TiruGnana Sambandar and Manikavaskagar came through four different entrances and worshipped Lord Shiva
• Four directions of Chidambaram guarded by four Kali - East Mariamman, West - Ellai Amman, North - Thillai Kali, South Vellan Thangi Amman
• Thiruneela Kanda Nayanar (Illamaiyakinar) temple is west of Chidambaram. One will be ever youth on visiting this temple
• Lord Nataraja is tilted towards left - where the heart is
• Soundarya Nayagi sameda AnandEashwar temple on west of Chidambaram is worshipped by St Pathanjali 
• This is the place where St Nandanar attained mukthi in Jothi swarupam
• Nambi Andar Nambi found 'Thirumurai' in Chidambaram
• Arulmigu Sargunambal sameda Pasu Pathi Eashwarar temple, Tiruvetkalam has Lord Shiva with Bow and Arrow. The would made by Arjuna is still visible

Senganoor Srinivasa Perumal Temple - Periyavachhan Pillai Birth place

Periyavachhan Pillai was a staunch devotee of Lord Tirumala Balaji. On his visit to Tirumala he was overwhelmed with Bhakthi and refused to return home

Lord Venkatesha took a form of a lad and advised Pillai to go back to his home town - Senganoor - and take care of his old parents. He gave  a Saalagrama (sacred stone bearing the divine mark of God) and asked to worship.

Pillai was returning with the Saalagrama of Lord Srinivasa and kept on the banks of River Kollidam to perform ablutions and when he returned the stone disappeared 

Pillai was struck with grief and started fasting to death.  Lord Srinivasa appeared in his dreams and asked him to dig the same spot where he kept Salagra which now took the form of a beautiful idol form (Archaavatar). 

Sri Periyavachan Pillai installed that Archavataar in Senganoor itself. The temple is about 13kms from Adhurai and 18 kms from Kumbakonam.

Senganoor is also birth place of Chandikeswara nayanar or Chandikeswarar and has a beautiful Shiva temple too

How to go to Thiruneermalai from Tambaram

Thiruneermalai near Chrompet is 61st Divya Desam where Lord Vishnu is in four forms - Shri Rama - Neervanna Perumal, Lord Renganatha, Ulagalanda Perumal and Lord Narasimha

There is a direct bus from Tambaram West to Tiruneermalai temple . The small bus s84 starts from West bus stand and takes you directly to the temple

A trip in Uber costs you around 100-126 from

Tambaram

Garbarakshambikai Temple - Temple for Pregnancy / Child Birth

Mullaivana Nathar - Garbha Rakshambigai Temple near Thanjavur is famous for saving foetus and natural child birth

There are lot of trains and buses to Thanjavur 

Guru Bhagwan Temple in Chennai

Guru Bhagwan's temple is Alangudi. However there are couple of temples known for Guru in chennai

One of it is Ramanatha Eashwarar Temple, off Kundrathur Road , Porur

The other one is Tiruvalidayam, Padi, Near Lucas TVS 

Ramanatha Eashwar as a Suyambu Lingam came to light when Lord Rama accidentally stepped on him during his search for Lordess Sita

To absolve of the sin on stepping on Shivalingam , Rama did penance for a Mandalam - 48 days - under an Amla tree with one Amla as his daily food

Lord Shiva appeared on the 48th day and blessed Lord Ram

Since Lord Shiva guided Lord Ram, he is worshipped as Guru

The temple is close to the Kundrathur Road . One coming from Tambaram has to turn left near the Arcot road 

24 hrs Hospital near selaiyur / Tambaram - COSH hospital

How to go to Tiruparamkundram, Madurai from Chennai Tambaram

Thiruparankundram is the first of six abodes (arupadai veedu) of Lord Muruga is located on the outskirts of Madurai on a hillock where Kartikeyan married Indra's daughter Deivanai. Nakkeerar worshipped Murugan in this shrine and is said to have worshiped Lord Shiva here as Parangirinathar. 

Of the six army camp temples (Aaru Padai Veedu) of Lord Muruga, this is the first temple. While Lord Muruga graces in a standing form in other five army camp temples, He graces in a sitting, wedding form with His consort Deivanai. Maharshi Narada, Indira the king of Devas, Brahmma the Creator are also around Him. Goddess of Wisdom Saraswathi without Her Veena, and Savithri are by His side while Sun, Moon, Gandharvas a community in the upper world skilled in the art of music, are above Him. The other vehicles of Lord Muruga, the sheep and the elephant are below Him. Only a scented paste called punugu is applied on the Lord as this is a cave temple. 

Abishekam is performed only to the Vel weapon of Lord Muruga as this is a cave temple. 

Lord Dakshinamurthy graces with His left hand on a snake under His feet. Those afflicted with bad effects in their horoscopes, those suffering from prolonged illness offer Rudrabisheka worship in the shrine. 

Lord Shiva is on Kundru - Mount, and is praised as Parankundranathar and the place Parankundram. There are no praharams in the temple and hence girivalam is performed 

Poet Nakeerar was relieved from the demon by Lord Muruga in this place and many shrines associated with it are on top of the hill

http://www.thiruparankundrammurugantemple.tnhrce.in/legend.html

How to go to Pillayarpatti from Tambaram

Pillayarpatti is a big cave temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka situated in Sivaganga district built during Mahendra Pallava period 1600 years ago.  

Lord Vinayaga appears with 2 hands rather than the more common form with 4 hands. He is represented in the valampuri form where his trunk is curved rightward. It is believed that devotees worshipping Valamburi Vinayagar  facing north will be blessed with wealth. 

Devotees pray here for removal of obstacles in marriage proposals, for child boon and for good education. worshipping Kathyayini Amman at this temple women get relived of  Sevva Dosham which causes delay in marriage. 

Vinayaka Chathurthi is celebrated with mammoth Kolukkata. This is beloved as fifth of Six Ganesha Shrines

Pillayarpatti is on the Tiruputhur-Karaikudi road in Sivaganga district. It is 9 km far from Tiruputhur and 18 km from Karaikudi on the Madurai road. Nearest railway station is Karaikudi. Rameswaram Express and Kamban Express from Chennai stop there.