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| Largest temple tank in India, Kamalalayam,Thiruvarur,TN,flickr.com |
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| Kamalalayam temple tank,Tiruvarur. camerabytes.wordpress.com |
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| Sri Thyagaraja temple at Tiruvarur, TN/templeservices.in |
Above image: During the Chola dynasty in the 9th century the present masonry structure was constructed. The Vijayanagara rulers of the Sangama Dynasty (1336–1485 CE), the Saluva Dynasty and the Tuluva Dynasty (1491–1570 CE) made additions and expansions. The complex covers thirty three acres and the presiding deity is Sri Thyagaraja Swamy (Lord Shiva) and his consort here is Kondi (Parvathi). An interesting fact is Nithya (daily) puja is done to the Maragatha Emerald Lingam in the sanctum. The legend has it the temple is the place where Kamalambika (Parvathi's) penance to marry Sri Thyagaraja remained unfulfilled. The temple has the largest number of shrines (Sannadhis) in the whole of India in the complex, a distinction that many people may not be aware of. The temple is being maintained and administered by the HR & CE, the Government of Tamil Nadu ...................................
The sprawling ''Kamalalayam'' temple tank of Tiruvarur, a historical heartland of the Cholas, is part of the temple complex, but covers an additional area of 17 acres and is one of the largest n the country. The tank forms a distinct landmark in the middle of this busy town and the sight is just breath-taking and awesome. Visitors to this historical, semi rural and part modern town will never miss the tank and the vast sheet of water.
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| .temple in the middle of Kalalayam, Thiruvarur. trekearth.com |
One amazing aspect of this ancient tank, built several centuries ago, is the water will never go dry even if there has been continuous failure of rain and poor show of water in the rivers. Monsoon rainy seasons failed for three consecutive years, the river Cauvery was almost dry in this delta region in the past but the waters of Kamalalayam never went dry. The water tank gets replenished by numerous underground wells.
The ancient legend has it the Goddess Kamalambika had a strong determination to marry Lord Thyagaraja, who was in perpetual penance, The Goddess' intense prayers, though remained unfulfilled, She kept praying to the lord. Local people say in Tamil, "kallu thaeer oodinaal, kaalai maadu paal kuduttha, Kamalalayam vadthi ponaal, Kamalambikaikku kalyanam" (if a stone chariot could run, if an ox could yield milk, if the Kamalalayam runs dry, only then will Kamalambika be married). This brings forth the uniqueness of 'Kamalalayam', the temple tank and the careful planning by the builders of this temple. A shrine of Naganathar is located at the center of the tank.
Now renovation is going on in the tank without disturbing its heritage value as the embankments frequently get damaged for various reasons. Another aspect of interest in this temple is the festival chariot or Aazhi Ther is the largest of its kind south of the Vindhya mountains weighing roughly 300 tons plus. For pulling the ''ther'' during the festival, huge bulldozers are used for convenience.This festival is followed by yet another colorful float festival (in Tamil Theppam) in the Kamalalayam tank.
In this temple complex all the nine Navagraha idols (celestial planets) are placed towards south in a straight line and the Navagraha shrine is in the northwest corner of first corridor (prakaram). All the Navagrahas (9 planets) were relieved of their curses when they prayed to Lord Shiva here.
It is worth visiting this temple complex and its vast water tank that are living examples of creativity, ingenuity and extraordinary talents of our ancient rulers and their imaginative skilled artisans who could give life to the visualized stuff..
Other famous places of interest are Velankanni Church, Nagore Dargah and Subramanya (Murugan) temples at Sikkil and Ettukudi. All are located near the coastal town of Nagapatnam.
Ref:
http://templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Tiruvarur/tiruvarurlayout.html
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