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Jul 11, 2020 7 tweets 11 min read Read on X
Visited #meenakshi amman #Temple, #Madurai before....noticed White #elephant sculptures around Sundareswarar(Shiva) sanidhi

8 Majestic Astadik elephant sculptures are there supporting Shiva shrine.

6 are carved on outer wall,2 are on both sides of presiding deity.

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@findingtemples @TempleTrails @templesofindia_ @punarutthana @Gannuuprem Shrine of Chockanathar(#Shiva)
held by these Astadik elephants. As this constructed by Indra, it is called Indra Vimanam. Airavath - White elephant of Indra worshipped this Shiva Lingam to releive from curse of Sage Duruvasa.This story is depicted in mural painting as well.
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@findingtemples @TempleTrails @templesofindia_ @punarutthana @Gannuuprem This event of relieving curse of Airavath #elephant is one of the 64 Thiru vilayadal/Divine events of Lord Shiva.

Walls around Shiva’s sanidhi are painted with murals & sculptures depicting the scenes related to 64 acts/leelas.

Don't miss to see these majestic elephants.

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@findingtemples @TempleTrails @templesofindia_ @punarutthana @Gannuuprem @culturedhindu All images used in this thread - credit to resp. owners.

Source -Divine Games of Lord Shiva/ Thiruvilayadal Puranam. It was authored by Sage Paranjothi narrates the 64 Tiruvilayadals (Leelas in Sanskrit) as playful miracles of Shiva,in this case presiding deity of Madurai.

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More from @sk_diary1

Jan 2, 2022
#HanumanChalisa -a devotional hymn composed by Tulsidas in praise of Hanuman in Awadhi language.

Chalis -Meaning is 40. There are 40 couplets,2 dohas in Hanuman Chalisa.

Tulasidas composed Hanuman Chalisa in 40 days in Jail.

Who jailed Tulasidas&why - See the #story #Thread 👇
Tulasidas was jailed as he refused to bow down to Mughal Ruler Akbar.

Akbar came know from his ministers about the miracle of reviving a dead man by Tulasidas.
So Akbar had summoned Tulsi Das to his court.He was asked to perform a miracle there by Akbar.
Tulasi Das told he doesn't know to perform any miracle,he only knows Bhagwan Shri Ram. So,Akbar imprisoned TulasiDas at Fatehpur Sikhri.He composed Hanuman Chalisa for forty days & on 40th day, suddenly an army of big monkeys descended upon Fatehpur Sikhri.
Read 7 tweets
Dec 19, 2021
ArudraDarisanam/Thiruvathrai-an important hindu festival celebrated mostly in TamilNadu & Kerala.Shiva as Nataraja performed Ananda Thandav for Vyaghrapada&Patanjali Rishi

Do you know why Kali is made as Naivedyam/offering for Bhagwan Shiva on Thiruvathrai..see Story #Thread 👇
It is related to incidents happened in the life of a devotee of Bhagwan Shiva - Senthanar who lived in Chidambaram. He used to sell firewoods for his earnings.Using the money earned by selling firewood,he used to feed atleast one sivanadiyar once a day,before having his food.
Bhagwan Shiva decided to test devotion of Senthanar.One day it rained heavily &all the firewood he got wet.As firewood was wet he couldn't sell.So he didn't have much cash to buy rice for that day's meal.He managed to prepare Kali with
Read 12 tweets
Aug 5, 2021
#sculpture #story -

Chandesha-Anugraha Murti - One of the Sculpture in Brihadeshwara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram - built by Raja Rajendra Chola I

This Sculpture depicts Bhagwan Shiva along with Devi Paravathi blessing Chandeshwara - one of the 63 Nayanmars.

#Thread
Chandeshwara/Chandikeshwara is regarded as custodian of Shiva Temple's wealth&most of Shiva temples in South India has separate sannathi for him.

His bhakti for Bhagwan Shiva elevated him as one of foremost among Nayanmars.
He gave importance to Shiva Pooja&protection of cows.
There are series of paintings, illustrating the #story of Chandikeshwar in the premises of
Sri Sathiyagireeswarar #Temple at Seinganur,near Kumbakonam,TN

Chandikeshwara's birth name
is Vichara sarman.He was born in the village of Senganur on the banks of River Manni.
Read 13 tweets
Jul 25, 2021
A story from #Thiruvilayadal puranam-one of divine leelas of Bhagwan Shiva

#threadseries #madurai

Koodal Kaandam

Story 33- it is about how Bhagwan Shiva as Sundareswarar gave Astama siddi Upadesham to Karthigai Pengal

அட்டமா சித்தி உபதேசித்த படலம்
Once 6 Karthigai Pengal/women - Nitharthani, Aparakhendi, Magendi, Vardhayenthi, Amba & Tula who took care & brought up Karthikeya/
Subrahmanya from time of his birth came to Mount Kailash.

At that time Bhagwan Shiva was sitting under a tree & Devi Parvati was also there.
Karthigai Pengal worshiped Bhagwan Shiva and requested him to give Astama siddi Upadesham.Bhagwan Shiva advised Karthigai Pengal to worship Devi Parvati to realise the 8 (Ashta) great mystic powers.But due to ill fate,Karthigai Pengal ignored the words of Bhagwan Shiva.
Read 16 tweets
Jul 13, 2021
#sculpture #Story #Thread -

Bhagwan Shiva as Guru sitting under Kurunta tree giving Upadesham to Manikkavasagar (Vadhavooran)

Athmanatha Swamy Kovil,
Avudaiyarkoil,TN - Dedicated to Shiva - was built by Manikkavasagar who was earlier a minister of Raja Arimarthana Pandyan
Also known as Thirupendhurai Kovil.Manikkavasagar(Vadhavooran) had built this temple with
money that the Raja had entrusted him for purchasing Arabian horses.Vandhavooran was a shiva bhakt & was thinking of finding a Guru to get proper Upadesham.
He had to pass by a place called Tirupperunthurai.As he was passing by place,he heard chants of Vedic hymns & was drawn to it.He saw an old man sitting under a Kuruntha tree,that very moment he felt, that person was his Guru.
Read 19 tweets
Jul 11, 2021
A story from #Thiruvilayadal puranam-one of divine leelas of Bhagwan Shiva

#threadseries #madurai

Koodal Kaandam

Story 31- is about how Bhagwan Shiva granted undepleting pouch of gold to Kulabhooshana Pandyan & about importance of vedic rituals.

உலவாக்கிழி அருளிய படலம் Image
Kulabhooshana Pandyan ruled Madurai Kingdom & was a great Shiva Bhakt.He took care of people needs & all were happy.He was very proud about himself &started to ignore & disrespect the brahmins who performed yagnas & vedic rituals. As a result,the rainfall declined.There was water
shortage.So people were suffering for water & food.Also no yagnas were performed.People started migrating to other places.Pandyan was not happy with the happenings.He went to Alayam &worshipped Sundareswarar to help his people as they are suffering because of drought.
Read 12 tweets

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