Ever been to this extraordinary temple which holds some truly unique secrets?

The main deity, Valmikeeswara, is a Swayambhu (self-manifested) lingam with a rare triangular shape.

But that's not all, a stone with children's footprints is said to belong to

1/ Lord Rama’s twin sons, Lava and Kusha are seen in front of the Valmikeeswara shrine!

The temple is most famous for its colossal 16-foot-long Murthy of a reclining Bhagwan Shiva, a rare sight!

This is the famous Shri Pallikondeshwara temple in Suruttapalli, Andhra Pradesh.

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Do you know the sacred story of a saint whose life story is uniquely intertwined with the history of all 63 Nayanmars?

He is none other than the Sundaramurthy Nayanar!
Today, on the auspicious occasion of Aadi Swati we celebrate the Guru Pooja of SundaraMurthy Swamigal.🪷

1/ Sundarar was no ordinary devotee; he was Shiva's confidant. In a beautiful display of divine affection, Shiva himself acted as a messenger to reconcile Sundarar with his wife, Paravai. Such was the depth of their bond. A divine friendship! 😇❤️

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🤔 Have you ever wondered why there are only 7 days in a week, not 8 or 9? Why 24 hours? These aren't arbitrary!
Prepare to have your mind blown! 😇
Most people think it's a Western concept from the Romans, but ancient Indian wisdom, tells a fascinating, much older story.

1/ Ancient Indian wisdom (Vedic Jyotisha Shastra) had sophisticated time units like 'ghati'/nazhigai (in tamil) (= 24 mins).

A day was sunrise to sunrise, divided into two halves by 'sandhya' (junctions).

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You are probably aware of Pancha Bhuta sthalams, but are you aware of the Pancha Sabhas? ✨

The "Pancha Sabhas" refers to 5️⃣ highly revered Shiva shrines, all located in Tamil Nadu, associated with a specific form or aspect of His Cosmic dance.

1/ The "Sabhas" are the sanctums within these temples where the Nataraja Murthy is enshrined and often named after the material associated with them or the nature of the dance.

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Was there an architectural blueprint that shaped the RajaRaja Chola's grand vision? 🤔

The answer might lie in an even older, lesser-known marvel! 👇

This ancient Shiva temple, near Panruti, Tamil Nadu, is believed to be the conceptual blueprint,

1/ a precursor that ignited Raja Raja Chola's imagination for the iconic Big Temple.
Veerataneshwar Temple at Thiruvathigai!
Legend says Lord Shiva, as Tripurantaka, destroyed three powerful cities of demons here.The temple's unique chariot-like structure

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There's something about the "Nataraja" form that has always melted me deep within.

But when I saw this face, I couldn't rest until I found out where He was from.

😍 Imagine my utter surprise learning that ...

1/ He is a Swayambhu - self manifested form.

This incredible tale involves a sculptor, a King, & a Divine miracle!

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On a recent trip to Palani temple, I traveled by train from Chennai to Dindigul and then by car to Palani. On my return journey, I spotted a mountain with a unique shape and steep peak. ⛰️

🤔 Intrigued, I took a photo & researched it online, discovering to my surprise that

1/ it was home to an ancient Shiva temple with profound spiritual significance. 😊
This discovery caught my attention and I'd like to share what I learnt about the temple.
The Swami in this temple is known as Mallikarjuna Swami & the hill is referred as Kondarangi Hills.

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