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Golden Temple Vellore

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Golden Temple Vellore is in Malaikodi at Vellore city in Tamil Nadu.The temple’s chief deity is ‘Sri Lakshmi Narayani’ where devotees from all religions are welcome to visit the temple and have darshan. The Sri Lakshmi Narayani temple inside Sripuram held its consecration (maha kumbhabhishekam) on 24 August 2007.

It is a sight to behold. Constructed by Sri Narayani Peedam and headed by Sri Sakthi Amma, a spiritual leader, the grand temple boasts of spectacular art work.

What is the history of Golden Temple Vellore?

According to history, Sripuram Golden Temple was built in 7 years which is a very short time. It was then inaugurated onAugust 24, 2007 . The golden temple has attracted thousands of devotees. The entire temple had a covering of 9 to 15 layers of gold foil.

The temple is decorated with sculptures of the human person, richly decorated with columns and a roof.

What is the significance of Golden Temple Vellore?

Here’s the significance of Golden Temple Vellore:

  • Temple of Mahalakshmi or temple of Lakshmi Narayan who is Ardha Mandapam and Vimanam has a coating pure gold including both interior as well as exterior.
  • Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peedam has designed the temple, advancing by religious head Sri Sakthi Amma also known as Narayani Amma. The forehead with gold protecting has complex designs and art forms in silver.
  • The illumination is organized in such a way that the forehead papers even during evening. The forehead consists of more than 1500 kg of gold.
  • There was individual creation of details, such as transforming the gold sections into gold foils and then increasing on the gold foils on birdwatcher.
  • Sripuram design symbolizes a star-shaped path(Sri chakra), in the center of the lushgreen surroundings, with a duration of over 1.8 km.
  • Sahasra deepam or 1008 lamps is a sacred installation here.
  • Messages by ‘Amma’ are there out along the path to the temple with messages from the Gita, Bible and Quran.

What are the timings of Golden Temple Vellore?

Here are the timings of Golden Temple Vellore:

Timings From To
Open 4.00 AM 8.00 PM
Abishekam 4.00 AM 8.00 AM
General Dharshan 8.00 AM 8.00 PM
Aarthi Seva 6.00 PM 7.00 PM

 

How to reach Golden Temple Vellore?

Here’s how to reach Golden Temple Vellore:

  • Air: airports of Bangalore and Chennai are the nearest airports with regular flights.
  • Rail: The nearest railway station is Vellore katpadi Jn railway station, which is only 12 km distance from Sripuram.
  • Road: there are many buses that run from Bangalore, Chennai, Tirupati and some other main cities.

Where to stay near Golden Temple Vellore?

Some of the places where one can stay near Golden Temple Vellore are:

  • Hotel Gold in the heart of the city on national highway no.1, is a famous hotel that has a promising atmosphere and well suited accommodations.
  • Hotel Khanna Fiesta at Anna Sallai , Vellore is another place to check in during your visit. It is rather popular for its complementing decor and accommodations.
  • Hotel Surabi at Officer’s Lane is also a great place to tuck in. It has great staff and room service that has received much praise.

What are some places to visit near Golden Temple Vellore?

Some of the places to visit near Golden Temple Vellore are:

  • Vellore Fort was built during the 16th century AD by the Aravindu Dynasty of the Vijaynagar Empire. Later the fort’s ownership passed through the various dynasties like the Marathas, Bijapur Sultans, the Carnatic Nawabs and the British. The massive ramparts and moats have made the fort a strategic location, it was also known to have Tipu Sultan’s family and the last king of Sri Lanka as prisoners during the time of the British. The fort complex contains a church, a temple and a mosque.
  • Jalakandeswarar Temple is within the Vellore fort complex and is for Lord Shiva. The Temple is also one of the amazing specimens of the Dravidian architecture and houses one of the most intricately carved stone pillars. The temple also has a huge 7 tiered gopuram and adorned with various intricate carvings.
  • Yelagiri is another small hill station in Vellore. The town is in the middle of flowery meadows, tea estates and orchards. The various lakes and waterfalls in Yelagiri attract a huge number of tourists.

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Chengannur Mahadeva Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kerala. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are two main Shrines in this temple. Lord Shiva facing East and Devi facing West. The main shrine is a conical copper plated one. Devi’s main Idol is made with an alloy of five metals.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is a ‘Maha Kshetram’ (temple having great importance) from olden days itself. The other sub-investitures of the temple are Ganapathi, Shasta (Lord Ayyappan), Chandikeswaran, Neelagrivan, Ganga, and Naagar. There is also a shrine of Sree Krishna nearby. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is also referred to as Chengannur Bhagavati Temple, as the temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Goddess Parvathi.

Chengannur is also known as the Gateway to Sabarimala Temple. The temple was built according to the architectural design developed by Perumthachan. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple complex sprawls over an area of six acres, with a circular sanctum. The Shivalingam is said to have emerged on its own (Swayambu) and bears a gold planted image of Ardhanaareeswara. There are also shrines dedicated to other deities as well.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

History and Legend of Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

  • Lord Vishnu, Brahma, Saints, Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas and all other heavenly ones went to Himalaya in order to attend the auspicious marriage of Shiva & Parvati. The Trimurthis requested sage Agastya to go and sit on shronadri, to prevent the Earth from sinking to the northern side due to the weight of all the invitees who came for the ceremony. Though Sage Agasthya conceded the request he expressed his concern about losing the chance of viewing the marriage.
  • After the marriage, Lord Shiva and Devi went to meet Agasthya muni at shronadri. There Devi became ‘rithu’ (menstruate) and she could not go back. Devi remained there till the period of menstruation was over. The place where sage Agastya meditated, is known as shronadri in Sanskrit and in Malayalam, it is Chenkunnu (Red hill). Later it is called as Chen Kunnu Urru (Ooru refers to a place) and hence the place is known as Chengannur.
  • According to another legend Lord Vishnu severed the body of Sati (Goddess Parvati) into pieces which scattered over different places. These places are called Shakti Peethas. Accordingly, it is believed that the reproductive organ of Goddess Sati’s body fell at the place where the temple is located. The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is also related to the same legend.
  • There is an interesting story related to a custom of oath at the western entrance of the temple. There was a Brahmin family who were great devotees of Chengannur Devi and who were very famous. Once an Alwar came to Chengannur to challenge the Muringoor family at a time when a boy of twelve years. He was the only male in the Muringoor family.
  • He prayed to the Goddess and moved by the prayer the goddess appeared to the boy in a dream. Goddess instructed the boy to make use of the brass pipe in the ‘Araa’ which had a snake in it and which will be under the control of the boy. The next day the boy challenged his opponent to release the snake with his magical powers.
  • The Alwar’s efforts failed and the snake, in turn, tried to bite the intruder. On the pleading of the Alwar, the boy controlled the snake with his prayers and sealed it into the pipe. He then made a hole in the wall of the Western Gopuram and put the snake into it. He informed the people around that if anybody utters a lie by putting his hand inside the hole will be bitten by the snake.
  • This is the place where Yuddhishtra offered prayers to Vishnu, seeking pardon for his actions on the battlefield. He uttered the words `Ashwattaama hatahkunjaraha` in an attempt to deceive Drona and lead him into a defenceless state and his life was brought to an end by Arjuna.
  • Kannaki was the incarnation of Devi Sati. After killing the king of Madurai Pandya raja she went to Chengannur at the top of a hill. While Devi was meditating her husband Kovalan appeared before her and they together went to Heaven. The people who were living in the valley and constructed a temple there with the financial assistance of their king Cheran Senkuttuvan.

Significance of Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

  • The most important and unique feature of the temple is the Thriputharattu which is marked as a symbol of fertility. It is believed that the temple is also associated with the great epic Mahabharata. Chengannur has been derived from the word ‘Tiruchenkunroor.’
  • Balithara is an altar is used for making ritualistic offering to demi-gods and the festive deities. The central shrine called Sreekovil houses the image of the presiding deity. It is on an elevated platform with a single door reached through a flight of five steps.
  • Either side of the doors have images of guardian deities called Dwarapalakas. The roof of the temple and some of the pillars have lavish wood and stucco carvings depicting various stories of ancient epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple Timings

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple opens daily at 3:50 AM. Worship timings are from 04:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the morning and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the evening. The temple timings are subjected to change during festivals and special events.

Festivals celebrated at Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

Varshikotsavam: The annual temple festival is observed for 28 days starting from Thiruvathira Nakshatram in Dhanu Masam to Thiruvathira Nakshatra in Makaram month. Special pujas are held on all days. The shrine is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights. Traditional performing arts, music and dance are staged during the period. The utsava murti of the deity is taken out of the shrine for ritual bathing on the final day. Hundreds of people arrive on the day to witness various rituals and festivities.

Thripputhu: Thripputhu is one of the main festivals celebrated in the temple. The festival is associated with the menstruation ceremony and is observed periodically in the temple. During this time the temple is kept closed for three days and worships will be offered to another image of the goddess in a different spot of the temple. On the fourth day, the idol of the Devi is taken to a nearby river on the fourth day and Arattu (holy bath) is conducted. This ceremony is called Thripputhu. Later the Devi rides an elephant and is taken back to the temple. During the festival, the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are taken in procession around the temple three times. Then the Lord enters the shrine through the eastern side and the goddess enters through the western side.

Thulasamkrama Neyyattu: This is the Ghee Abhishekam festival of the Chengannur Temple. This ceremony is conducted on every 1st day of Thulam (mid-October to mid-November). On this day 36 paras of ghee is showered on the ‘Shivalingam’. ‘Paras’ is a measurement in Malayalam.

Shivaratri: Maha Shivaratri is the night of the worship of Lord Shiva. It occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivaratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva. Devotees visit the temple in large numbers during Shivaratri.

Poojas and Rituals at Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

At 3:50 AM the first pooja that is conducted is the Ravile Palli Unarthal. It is nothing but the awakening of the presiding deity. It is followed by the Nadathurakkal which means the opening of the sanctum sanctorum to enable the devotees to venerate the holy portrait of the deity and to seek their blessings.

Shiva Abhishekam is usually performed to a Lingam representing his manifestation as a creator of good (by destroying evil). The first worship of the day is Usha pooja or pooja at dawn. Though generally, the time of Usha pooja is thirty minutes after the sunrise.

Panthiradi Pooja is done only in major temples. This is done 2 hours after sunrise. It denotes the time of pooja based on human shadow measuring 12 feet in the morning. Here abhisheka is done with the pure water taken in nine pots after detailed pooja.

Deeparadhana is the worship with lamp with lamps, performed at dawn and dusk. Pyramidal lamps with seven tiers, lamps with five wicks and plain lamps with a single wick are lightened and waved several times in front of the Lord, from head to foot. Similar waving is then done with lighted camphor.It is considered to be an auspicious act to pray during deeparadhana time. This is the last pooja conducted in a temple on a day.  This is done between one and two hours after sunset.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is the nearest airport to reach Chengannur. Trivandrum International Airport is about 119 km

By Road: Chengannur is situated between Thiruvalla and Pandalam in Main Central Road. Chengannur Bus Stand is a major KSTRC bus station in Alappuzha District. It is one kilometre from Chengannur Mahadeva Temple. Regular bus services are available from Aranmula, Thiruvalla (10 km), Pandalam, Pathanamthitta, and Trivandrum.

By Train: The nearby railway stations are Chengannur, which is about 2 km, Thiruvalla about 10 km and Changanassery about 18 km. Some of the major trains passing through the station include Kerala Express, Hyderabad Express, Kanyakumari Express, Chennai Mail, Amritha Express, and Malabar Express.

Where to stay

There are many hotels nearby which offer deluxe rooms. They are equipped with modern amenities to make the guests stay comfortable and enjoyable.

  • Spice Haven Annexe Contact: Vandanmedu Junction. Kumily Thekkady, Kerala
  • Hotel Santhi Palace Contact: M.C.Road, Railway Junction, Chengannur, Kerala
  • Hotel Raj International Contact: MC Road, Opp, KSRTC Bus Station, Main Central Rd, Chengannur, Kerala
  • Hotel Navaratna Contact: Main Central Road, Near Railway Station, Chengannur
  • Hotel Wyte Portico Contact: High School Jn, Karuvatta, Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Kerala 691523
  • Hotel Breeze Land Contact: By-pass Junction, Vazhappally, MC Road, Changanacherry, Kottayam, Kerala 686103

Where to eat

There are many restaurants that offer some great food. One should really visit Oven Fresh Family Restaurant, Bafia Bakers, Food Palace Restaurant, Crupe Cafe, Joyces baker to taste some mouth-watering and tasty food.

Nearby Temples

Aranmula Sreekrishna Temple: Aranmula Parthasarathy temple is an ancient temple situated in district Pathanamthitta district. Near to the cultural village of Aranmula. Temple is situated near the river Pamba. This temple is believed to be one among the five temples built by the Pandava brothers. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, is one of the most ancient and famous temples in Aranmula. The Aranmula Parthasarathi temple is a simple structure in Kerala style of architecture and the idol of Parthasarathy is six feet high. It is believed that in the war of Mahabharata Lord Krishna was Arjuna’s charioteer. This form of Lord Krishna was worshipped in the temple Aranmula. So the temple is named as Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.

Chakkulathukavu Devi Temple: Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple is one of the most famous Devi Temples in Kerala situated at Neerattupuram. The presiding deity of this temple is Durga Devi, who answers the call of her devotees. Chakkulathukavu Devi Temple is believed to be more than 3000 years old. There is an idol of Vana Durga with eight hands, installed near the original idol. Thousands of devotees visit the temple of every Fridays and during the annual Chakkulathukavu Pongala Festival in November – December the temple is visited by lakhs of devotees from all over the state.

Thiruvalla Sreevallabhaswami Temple: Sree Vallabha Temple is located at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. It is a 400-year-old temple on the banks of the River Manimala. This ancient majestic temple devoted to Lord Mahavishnu is one among the 108 abodes of Lord Vishnu. There is a big pillar made out of a single piece of stone at the western side of the temple and an idol of Lord Garuda Bird is placed on its top. The building structure there is called as ‘Garuda Madathara’ and it has a Nepal style. There is Garuda Bird as sub deity in this temple. The deity of Sree Vallabha Swamy is facing east and in the same ‘Sudarshana Chakra'(Sudarshana Discus) is consecrated facing west and is known as ‘Chakrathazhvar’.There is an offering in this temple known as ‘Paala Namaskaram’ which will help to get blessings from Lord to fulfil the devotee’s wishes. The offering of ‘Kathakali’ to be performed in the temple is another special ritual here.

Bhadrachalam Temple Guide – Sita Ramachandraswamy – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Bhadrachalam temple is the abode of Shri Sita Ramachandra Swamy. This temple is in honor of Lord Rama. The temple is on the banks of the Godavari river. It also relates to the life events of Saint Kancharla Gopanna, who was a great devotee of Lord Rama.

What is the history of Bhadrachalam Temple?

According to the history of Bhadrachalam Temple,  Gopanna the Tahasildar of Bhadrachalam (second half of 17th century), used money from government treasury to build this temple, and hence faced imprisonment in a dungeon at Golconda. Lord Rama miraculously gave the Sultan the money spent by Gopanna, after which he released him.

Gopanna then became Bhadrachala Ramadasa and went on to compose innumerable songs in praise of Rama.

Ramadasa heard the news that the villagers of palvoncha paragana were proceeding to witness Jatara at Bhadrachalam. He found the deities in an amazing appearance; and Ramadas then asked the villagers to contribute liberally for the construction of the temple.

So, the villagers appealed to him to spend the revenue collections for the construction of the temple with a promise to repay the amount after harvesting the crops.
The Golconda king Tanishah realized the devotional spirit of Ramadas after his imprisonment and took over the charge of temple administration.

Golconda king, Tanishah then realized Ramadas’s devotional spirit and dedication towards Rama, when Rama and Lakshmana repaid 6 lakhs Mohurs in the form of Ramoji and Lakshmoji, the servants of Bhakta Ramadas for the release of their devotee from imprisonment.

Thanisha gave voucher to these divine looking persons who approached him at his house during late night. Then they kept the voucher under the pillow of Gopanna where he was jailed.  Tanishah who woke up the next morning realized that those divine looking persons were none other than Rama and Lakshmana and made arrangements to get release of Gopanna and prayed to forgive him by placing all the Gold Mohurs received previous night at the feet of Gopanna.  But he refused to take back those mohurs except two as a mark of divine significance, and these two coins can still be seen in Bhadrachalam temple.

What is the significance of Bhadrachalam Temple?

Here is the significance of Bhadrachalam Temple:

  • Shri Rama is a charming person, of handsome beauty, and well-built physique, wearing in his two hands, the Dhanus, and the Bana, and standing in the ‘Tribhanga’ attitude as opposed to the ‘Samabhanga’ pose.
  • Sita stands near him, also in the Tribhanga attitude, with a lotus in one hand and the other hand shown in the ‘Katyavalambita’ posture.
  • Temple also exhibits the importance of Ramayana, one of the great canons of Hindu literature.
  • Moreover, the location Bhadrachalam exists in Dandakaranya, the spiritual significant region where Lord Rama, Goddess Seetha, and Lakshmana had spent 14 years of Vanavasam.
  • Lord Rama takes His abode on the head of the sage Bhadra (immovable hill) famous as Bhadrachalam.
  • A sub shrine of Goddess Lakshmi is also there inside the temple complex of Bhadrachalam temple.

What are the timings of Bhadrachalam Temple?

Here are the timings of Bhadrachalam Temple:

TimingsFromTo
Open4:30 am8:30 pm
Abhishekam00 AM 8.00 AM
Kesavanaamaarchanaa8:30 AM8.00 P.M
Sahasranamarchana8.30 A.M9.30 A.M
Suvarna Tulasi Astotharanamarchana (on Saturdays)8.30 A.M9.30 A.M
Suvarna Pushpa Astothara Namarchana (on Sundays)8.30 A.M9.30 A.M
Sakalbhishtaprada Sree Ramapuja8.30 AM
Nitya Kalyana Ubhayam9.30 A.M11.00 A.M
Rajata Ratha Seva 6.30 PM
Alaya Chuttu Seva8.00 PM8.30 P.M
Vahana Seva (Garuda, Hamsa, Hanumantha, Rajadhiraja)8.00 PM 8.30 P.M.

What are the festivals celebrated at Bhadrachalam Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Bhadrachalam Temple are:

  • Vykuntha Ekadasi occurs in either December or January on the day of either Pushya or Margasira shuddha Ekadasi. The ten day festival Adhyayanotsavams and Dasavatara Mahotsavams (10 incarnations) of Sri Maha Vishnu are preceded to Vykuntha Ekadasi Fete.
  • Sri Rama Navami occurs on every ‘Chaitra shuddha navami ‘ on ‘Punarvasu’ -‘Janma Nakshatra’, of Lord Sri Rama. Further, the priests recite hymns in Kalyanamantapam near the stadium, where devotees witness it.

How to reach Bhadrachalam Temple?

Here’s how to reach Bhadrachalam Temple:

  • Air: Vijayawada is the nearest airport from where flights are available.
  • Rail: The nearest Railway station is Bhadrachalam (Kothagudem) which is 40 km.
  • Road: The state bus service, TSRTC operates numerous buses connecting the town to various places like Kothagudem, Hyderabad, Khammam, Warangal, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Nalgonda, Chennai, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Where to stay nearby?

Some of the places where one can stay near Bhadrachalam Temple are:

  • The Sita Nilayam Cottage, Bhadrachalam at Sree Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Vaari Devasthanam is a good place to check in. It has nice accommodations that the travelers find to be refreshing.
  • Srinidhi Resdidency at Rajaveedhi is a great place that has excellent accommodations and closest to the bhadrachalam temple entrance.

What are some places to visit nearby?

Some of the places one can visit near Bhadrachalam Temple are:

  • Parnasala is a significant and wonderful sightseeing destination of Bhadrachalam. Parnasala is a popular village in the Khammam district of Telangana, India.
  • Jattayu Paaka (Yetapaka)- This Place is 2Kms away from Bhadrachalam. Jatayuvu, a devotee of Rama obstructed Ravana while he was proceeding on the chariot after kidnapping Sita. After the battle between Ravana and Jataayuvu, the heavily injured bird waited at this place for Rama. A wing of this bird fell at Rekkapalli, about 55 Kms from here, in V.R. Puram Mandal.
  • Sabari in Bhadrachalam is the place where River Sabari joins River Godavari. Also, a woman named Dhammakka used to live here that used to have dreams in which Lord Rama appeared.
  • Annavaram temple is located nearby.
  • Yadagirigutta Temple

Sooriyanar Kovil

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Sooriyanar Kovil is the first of the 9 Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu, about 1 km from Tirumangalakkudi.  The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Usha Devi and Pradyusha Devi. Sooriyanar Kovil Temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities.

Sooriyanar Kovil is one of the few historic temples in honor to Sun god and is also the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities.

What is the history of Sooriyanar Kovil?

According to history  Kulothunga Chola I built Sooriyanar Kovil Temple in 1100 AD. It features a huge tower with three tiers and five domes at the top. The sanctum and the ardhamandapam consist of stone. This is the only Navagraha temple where all the nine grahas are in separate Sanctums.

Once upon a time a great sage called Kaalava rishi was living in Himalayas region. He realized he will get a deadly disease of leprosy in the future and he worried about it. His fellow sages advised him to worship all the navagrahas (nine gods for each planet).

Kaalava rishi also did a very dedicated penance towards the navagrahas and they appeared as he wished. He told his concerns about leprosy and he prayed that the navagrahas should help him to get out of the deadly disease. The navagrahas granted the boon the rishi won’t get the disease.

Later the God of creator, Brahma came to know this and called upon all the nine devas (navagrahas). He told them, the human beings have to face all the happy and sad incidents in their life and nobody can change it. As navagrahas awarded the kaalava rishi navagrahas will get the disease on behalf of him and they should do a twelve weeks penance at south part of India.

Based on this curse all the navagrahas arrived to south India and did a penance to get rid of Brahma’s curse. Then, as god of Sun (Sooriyan) was heading this penance he was at the center in this temple and the other eight planet gods were surrounded by him at this temple.

What is the significance of the Sooriyanar Kovil?

Here’s the significance of the Sooriyanar Kovil:

  • Those who suffer the ill effects of Kalathara Dosham, Vivaha Paribandha Dosham, Puthra Dosham, Puthra Paribandha Dosham, Vidhya Paribandha Dosham, Udyoga Padhibandha Dosham, Surya dasai, Surya bukthi would benefit from worshipping at this temple. Also, Father, Athma, physical strength, right eye, governmental largesse are the beneficial aspects of this planet.
  • Devotees also believe that if one bathes in the nine ghats in this place continuously for 12 Sundays, they will be has a peaceful and prosperous life.
  • There are shrines of Kasi Vishwanath, Visalakshi and Brihaspati(Guru) within the sanctum while shrines for the other celestial bodies are outside. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is very important. Malefic effects due to Dasa bukthi and gochara will be nullified by worshipping here.
  • The peculiarity of this temple is that the eight other planets here, faces towards the Surya god. The Vahanam (vehicle) of Lord Suryanar is horse, which is called by the name “Saptha”, which refers to number “seven” in Sanskrit. Several horses draw the chariot of Lord Suryanar.
  • Sree Surya Puranam is the first Puranam when the world came into existence, the first sound that reverberated was ‘Ohm’. Surya was born from this ‘Omkhara naadham’. Sree Markandeya Puranam has explained this factor. Suryan was the son of Sage Kashyapa and was the grandson of Sage Maarisi. Surya married Soorvarsala, the daughter of Vishwakarma. Vaivasvatha Manu and Yamadharmaraja were his sons and Yamuna, his daughter.

What are the timings of Sooriyanar Kovil Temple?

Here are the timings of Sooriyanar Kovil Temple:

Timings From To
Morning Darshan 6:00 AM 12:30 PM
Evening Darshan 4:00 PM 8:00 PM

What are the festivals celebrated at the Sooriyanar Kovil?

Some of the festivals celebrated at the Sooriyanar Kovil are:

  • Ratha Saptami: Ratha Saptami is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Hindu Sun God. As per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya rides a chariot driven by seven horses – devotees worship this form during Rathasaptami puja and festival. 
  • Vijaya Dashami: It is celebrated in the lunar month of Ashwin (usually in September or October). Vijayadashami is the victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. In the southern part of India Vijaya Dashami is includes the worship of Chamundeshwari or Durga. 
  • Brahmotsavam festival: The Brahmothsavam is performed in the month of Asweeja (according to the hindu calendar) when the Sun is in the Kanya Rashi. The festival commences with ceremony- the Dhwajarohanam or the hoisting of the flag. Further, in the center of the outer court of the temple stands a huge stone-pillar called the flag-stand (Dhwajasthamba). 

What are the Poojas and Rituals of Sooriyanar Kovil?

Poojas and rituals of Sooriyanar Kovil are:

  • To offer worship at Sooriyanar Temple, one has to reach the Rajagopuram (Main Entrance) and more towards North where Pushkarani of temple is present.
  • One can take bath in the tank or sprinkle holy water in the head as purification. Next after the bath one has to offer prayers at the RajaGopuram before entering the temple. After entering the temple, one has to turn towards Southeren side where Koltheertha Vinayagar is there.
  • One also has to do the Sankalpam and Archana as Hindus find Vinayagar as turnover of all obstacles. After worshipping Vinayagar, one has to climb steps to reach ‘Narthana Mandapam’ at Northern Side. And then more towards ‘Sabanayakar Mandapam’ where one can offer prayers to ‘Urchava Moorthi’.
  • After Sabanayakar Mandapam one can reach ‘Main Mandapam’ and offer prayers to SriKasivisvanathar and Smt. Visalakshi. Also, next to Main Mandapam, there is Maha Mandapam where Sannathi to Sun-God, there is Guru Bhavan(lord Jupitee) stands there.
  • People do the Archana for Guru and offer prayers to lord Sun. One has to move South wards to come out of Sanctum to reach the lord Saturn (Sani). Lord Kuja, lord Mars are present separately then more northwards to offer prayers to lord Moon and Kethu.
  • Next movement would be towards west where lord Sukra and Raghu are present. Finally one has to offer prayers to Sandikeswarar. After finishing prayers at Sandikeswarar, one has to come clockwise to reach the vinayakar to give final prayers.

How to Reach Sooriyanar Kovil?

Here’s how to reach Sooriyanar Kovil:

  • Air: The nearest airport is Trichy airport, 58km from Thanjavur. 
  • Rail: The nearest railway station is the Aduthurai Railway Station. 
  • Road: Suryanar Koil is about 21 km from Swamimalai and 15 km from Kumbakonam. It is about 20 km from Mayiladuthurai on the Kumbakonam – Aduthurai – Mayiladuthurai Road.

Where to stay near near Sooriyanar Kovil temple?

Some of the places where one can stay near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple are:

  • Sivamurugan Hotels Contact: 60 Feet Main Road | Near New Bus Stand,, Kumbakonam 612001
  • Mantra Veppathur Resort Contact: 536/537A,No.1, Bagavathapuram Main Road Extension, | Srii Sailapathipuram Village, Veppathur,, Kumbakonam 612103
  • Hotel Le Garden Contact: Thiruvidaimaruthur Road, Kumbakonam 612001
  • DSR Madhanam Inn Contact: 75/3 Asoor By Pass Nh 45c | near Karuppur By Pass,Kumbakonam 612002
  • Hotel Riverside Resort & Spa Contact: 32 College Road, Kumbakonam 612001
  • Quality Inn VIHA Contact: #2, New Railway Road | Kumbakonam, Tanjore Dist,Kumbakonam 612001

Where to eat near Sooriyanar Kovil temple?

Some of the places where one can eat near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple are:

  • Thanmayi Restaurant Contact: New Railway Road, Kumbakonam, India
  • Raya’s Restaurant Contact: 18,19 Head Post Office Rd, Kumbakonam 612001
  • Habibi RestaurantContact: 29/921 Sarangapani East Street, Kumbakonam
  • Dosa Plaza Kumbakonam Contact: 332 Nageshwaran North Street Kurinchi Metro Bazzar

What are some temples near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple?

Some of the temples near Sooriyanar kovil temple are:

Brihadeeswara Temple: The Brihadeeswara Temple or the Peruvudaiyar Kovil is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Moreover, Raja Raja Chola I had this temple constructed in 1010 AD. Also, the presiding deity is Shiva in the form of a Lingam,  Peruvudaiya, Rasjarajeshwaramudvya.

Neelamega Perumal Temple: Thiru Thanjaimaamani temple or Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple is situated in Vennathankarai village of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and also one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples. Further, the Lord in this temple appears in sitting  posture as Veera SingaPerumal and Narashimar.  Sri Yoga Narasimha is also in the front Mandap. 

Sarangapani Temple: This is  an important divya desam of Vishnu and is also known as Tiru Kudanthai. This is also one of the  Pancha Ranga Khestras. Moreover, Sarangapani temple is the biggest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and  it belongs to 13th century. The temple sanctum also has design like a chariot with wheels which horses and elephants pull.

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Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

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Ranchi is a historic town of Jharkhand. The  Jagannath Temple Ranchi is a religious landmark of the town. Jagannath Temple is located at 10 km from the main city. Built over a small hillock, you can get a beautiful view of the surroundings from the temple. If tourists are not able to climb the hilltop, they can use the optional vehicle route. The Jagannath Temple is located at the Dhurva region of Ranchi. There are two large water tanks located within the temple complex. Hence if you are tired after walking so many stairs, there is enough space to rest and water to quench your thirst. The  Jagannath Temple, Ranchi is very neat and clean, providing ample space to sit and relax in the soothing environment. There is no entry fee to the temple.

Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

Jagannath Temple Ranchi History

Jagannath Temple is a historical spot of Ranchi.

  • The Jagannath Temple of Ranchi was built in 1691. It was built by king Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo of Barkagarh. A marble slab outside the sanctum informs about the founder and the foundation year of the temple.
  • It is believed that the Jagannath Temple was constructed to revive the faith and belief of the tribal in Hindu religion. As during the 17th century, many people started leaving Hinduism, the believers of Hinduism started erecting temples like the Jagannath Temple to retain the identity of Hinduism.
  • The temple collapsed in 1990. The then Bihar government renovated the temple and now it has regained its lost glory.
  • The original shrine was built in the form of a fort.

Significance of the  Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

  • The Jagannath Temple Ranchi is almost a replica of the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri, Orissa. However, it is comparatively smaller in size than the Jagannath Temple of Puri.
  • Jagannatha, Balbhadra and Subhadra are worshiped at the temple. All the deities are engraved out of neem wood.
  • The temple is exquisite with intricate carvings. The temple is colourful with unique blend of colours. The interiors of the temple are in the form of a fort.
  • The Jagannath Temple Ranchi has been built in the Kalinga style of architecture. There is a tall sanctum within the temple. The temple also consists of a Jagamohana and Nata Mandir.
  • The temple is especially important for devotees belonging to the Vaishnavism cult. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Jagannath is considered to be the Lord of the Universe. The worship of Lord Jagannath and the foundation of the temple dates back to the glorious past of Vaishnavism and its founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The deities are not very simple here, without much jewellery and clothes.
  • The deity of Lord Hanumana is present inside the gates of the temple, symbolizing to be a guard of the Lord, while outside the temple you can find the statue of Garuda.

 Jagannath Temple, Ranchi Timings

The temple can be visited throughout the year. Tourists are suggested to visit the temple at dawn or dusk, as the surroundings look heavenly during sunrise and sunset. Summer is considered as the best time to visit the temple as the largest festival of the temple, Rath Yatra takes place at this time.

  • The Jagannath Temple of Ranchi is open on all the days.
  • It is open from 5 am to 12 pm and again from 3 pm to 6 pm.
  • The temple is closed at afternoon, from 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm.

 Jagannath Temple, Ranchi Food Timings

After worship of the deity, prasadam is served to the devotees. The prasadam is also delivered online by the temple committee, which you can receive 15- 45 days.

Dress Code at  Jagannath Temple Ranchi

  • There is no such dress code at the Jagannath Temple of Ranchi. But as per the standard of any Hindu temple of India, devotees are expected to be in covered dresses.
  • Devotees need to leave their footwear outside the temple.

Festivals celebrated at the  Jagannath Temple Ranchi

Jagannath Temple is the largest shrine of Ranchi. Hence numerous devotees gather here every day to offer their prayers to Lord Jagannath. Almost every day some or the other function takes place at the temple premises.

Rath Yatra: Rath Yatra, also known as the Car Festival, is the prime festival celebrated at the Jagannath Temple of Ranchi. The celebration takes place during the Hindu month of Asadh, on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya. This is the second day of the fortnight of Ashad, which generally occurs during June or July.

During the festival, the deities are brought to Mausi Bari, that is, the home of the aunt. Numerous people follow the journey pulling the ropes of the chariot. This is considered to be a pious act by the devotees. The deities are kept in Mausi Bari for six days. On the seventh day, the chariot returns to the Jagannath temple with the deities. The return journey is known as Ghurti Rath Yatra. Thousands of devotees folk here during the Rath Yatra as it is believed that Lord Jagannath opens His eyes during this time to bless the worshippers.

One of the prime attractions of the festival is that lot of tribal people gather at the annual fair. From folk song and dance to local handicrafts, the Ratha Yatra of Jagannath Temple of Ranchi is more than a religious festival. The annual fair is held for a week and is known as Jagannath Mela.

Kalash Sthapna: Before the main event of Ratha Yatra, events like Kalash Sthapna, Pran Prathistha and Bhandara take place at the temple complex. The eyes of the deities are also painted before Ratha Yatra.

Snan Yatra: This is another auspicious day that is celebrated with great pomp and show at the Jagannath Temple of Ranchi. The event generally occurs on the full moon, known as Purnima during the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, which is May or June. Lots of pilgrims gather at the temple to witness the holy event in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra are bathed. In this festival each God is bathed with 51 pots (also known as kalash) of water.

Krishna Janmasthami: This is another important festival celebrated at the Jagannath temple. Lord Krishna is considered to be another incarnation of Lord Jagannath. The festival takes place during the Hindu month of Shravan, which is generally the month of August. The devotees fast till the worship proceedings complete in the evening.

Poojas and Rituals at  Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

The worship of Lord Jagannath at this temple is quite different from other Hindu temple. Here the priests are known as Panda. Devotees can bath in the river and then worship the deity.

  • The worship starts with offering flowers and food to Lord Jagannath. At afternoon, the deities are offered lunch, known as Bhog.
  • The evening aarti of the Jagannath Temple is serene.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: The nearest airport to the Jagannath temple is the Ranchi airport. The airport is located approximately at 5 km from the shrine. There are several flights from Kolkata, Patna and Delhi to Ranchi. The Ranchi airport is located at 7 km from the main city. The Kolkata international airport is the nearest international airport to the temple. Tourists can avail direct prepaid taxis from Kolkata airport to Ranchi.

By Train: The nearest railway station to the Jagannath Temple is the Hatia railway station. There are auto rickshaws and taxis available from the railway station that cab takes you to the temple.

By Road: The nearest taxi stand to the temple is Line Tank Rd, Deputy Para, Ahirtoli of Ranchi. Auto rickshaws are the common mode of transport within the city. There are several local buses that regularly ply from different parts of the city to the Jagannath Temple.

Hotels in Ranchi: Where to stay

Ranchi is the capital city of Jharkhand. The business hub of the state has both budget and premium accommodation for travellers.  Tourists generally refer the guests houses maintained by the Tourism Authority of Ranchi, due to the low prices. The Park Inn and Hotel the Raso are the nearest hotels to the Jagannath Temple, located just at 4.4 km. Hotel Palash Residency, Hotel Green Acres. Hotel Emerald, Hotel Jalsa Grand and Hotel Ranchi Ashok are the other options.

Where to eat

There are several eat outs located near the Jagannath Temple. Tourists can relish tasty food here. The Modern Bakery, Shri Krishna Restaurant, Flaves, Bindas Bavarchi Restaurant, Zero Mile Restaurant and Chinar Restaurant are some of the hygienic and popular eateries near the temple.

Nearby Temples

There are several other temples built near the Jagannath Temple Ranchi.

  • Mausi Bari: This is the nearest shrine to the Jagannath Temple. Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi are the presiding deities of this temple. The Jagannath Temple lies at the background of Mausi Bari.
  • Pahari Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. You can get a glimpse of the Pahari Temple from the Jagannath Temple. This temple is also located on top of a hill, known as the Ranchi hill. It lies at a height of 2140 feet. It is believed that wishes get fulfilled here. Pilgrims gather here during the holy month of Shravan to offer water to the God.
  • Angrabadi Temple: The temple is situated at Khunti. Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama, Sita Devi and Lord Hanumana are worshipped here.
  • Sun Temple: The Sun Temple is another attraction of the city. The temple is in the shape of a large vehicle which is driven by 7 horses and comes with 18 wheels. Devotees take a dip in the holy waters of the nearby pond and offer prayers to the Sun God.
  • Deori Temple: The Deori Temple is another ancient temple of Ranchi. This temple is dedicated to Solahbhuji Devi. This deity is an incarnation of Goddess Kali. The idol comes with 16 arms. The temple is made of sandstone. The walls and pillars of the shrine are colourful with paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses.
  • The Radha Ballabh Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort, Radha. Holi and Janmasthami are the major festivals celebrated at this ancient shrine.

Besides worshipping at the Jagannath Temple, visitors can enjoy boating at the nearby river.

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