Kumbakonam trip - II

Morning journeys are always refreshing. Its a special visual treat enroute thirunallaru via chidambaram. We had our breakfast in chidambaram in a mess just diagonally opposite to the temple and food was delicious. There was a steady crowd all the while even at 7.30 a.m and the service was prompt. Especially, the ven-pongal. Never ever miss a trip to the mess if u happen to visit the temple. Heard, that the people around the temple usually get their breakfast and tiffin from there only. Since, in our agenda chidambaram temple didn't feature, we made a miss. Thinking of covering the temples en route next time.

Around 8.30 a.m we reached the temple tank and decided to take a dip. Since, both my son and me are in the 71/2 period my aathukarar made sure that we make this journey as early as possible. The temple tank's steps are too slippery and it is high time considering the depth the authorities take proper action regarding this. There is a bee-line of stores around tank selling all the soap, seeyakkai , shampoo and nallannei samacharangal. But, it is wise to take bath before and just taking a dip there(that's wat we did).

But, still people tend to follow over rituals by actually taking a bath in the tank with nallennai and seeyakkai all the way contaminating the tank. Athuleyum ange oru family nalla yennai massage for both body as well head pannindu , kulikkarthukkagave thirunallaru vanthathaa nenachindu seeyakka pottu antha kolathaiye naara adichuttanaga. Please...... Its just a ritual to take a dip and not to go and take a leisure bath.
There is a 10*10 room of asbestos on top of the steps for the ladies to change their clothes. Only problem is we are not supposed to bolt the door. Instead of a big room , they can erect small rooms of more numbers.

After taking a dip , before proceeding to the main temple we are supposed to take the blessings of vinayagar present on the rear side of the temple. The dip is meant to take effect only after u break a surai thengai for the vinayagar.

So after all this we proceeded to the main temple and there is another one tank in front of the temple. Please don't wonder whether we are supposed to take a dip in that too... cos same thought came to my mind. But, neenga nenachalum athula dip edukka mudiyaathu, avvalavu kodumai. So if u r a staunch believer in following traditions jus dip your feet or else ignore and proceed to the temple.

Being a sani prathosham day, the temple was brimming with hundreds of people. So it is best to get into the main shrine of lord shiva without waiting in the queue to go to the saneeswara bhagavan. When u get into the main shrine there would be so many mamas waiting to offer you special pariharams. So, if you can afford , say around 500 rs (yaruppa sonna recession nnu, jus look at the money flow in the temples) do some pariharam, and he would himself would take u to the saneeswarar sannidhi through short-cut.
But, beware you have to carry the wraths of people waiting in the hour-long queue. But, when you are accompanied by kids or old people this is the best way and intha wraths ellam jus like that thodachi pottundu poyinde irukkanum.
Many people say that you should not bring the thengai prasatham to home, but there is a board written there which states that you can always take it home since it is parihara kadavul. It is better to rely on one's own instinct.
Then, there is a perumal temple opposite to the first mentioned tank and it is an old temple recently renovated. The speciality is the "panchamukha anjaneyar " and " chakkarathazhwar". Please visit and do not miss it. Its a visual treat and you can view all the five mukhas through the openings present on all the sides.

With this thirunallaru episode ends and then our next stop was thirumeichur - Lalithambigai temple.......