16 th Wednesday Jan Morning 8 am
Reached Chidambaram from Bangalore.
Got into a small hotel and freshed up and visited the temple. Stayed there for half an hour in front of powerful and serene Nataraja .
Walked outside the temple thinking what to do next ,surfed the net in nearby internet cafe and found out some basic information about Navagraha temples near Kumbakonam,took down the names of the temples . Well to be honest I had no idea how to go there since all these places were scattered around Mayiladuthurai in 50 km radius. But I always believed in making a first attempt and assumed that rest will fall in place. So found that there is a one on the way to " Mayiladuthurai".
2:30 pm started on bus
3:15 Vaitheeswarankoil (Mars) (Darshan timings 6 am to 1pm,4 pm to 9 pm.)
It is between Mayiladuthurai(15 km) and Chidambaram (25 Km) .Found out that temple opens only at 4pm. Vaitheeswarankoil is crowded and a untidy place and it is famous for "Nadi Astrology".In between I picked up an interesting conversation with a guy who introduced himself as a Muslim working in Middle east. He told me that there is a navagraha temple at Thiruvengadu which is near to this place.
4-15 pm
After darshan at Vaitheeswarankoil ,a person told me that I need to go to Sirkali to get a bus to Thiruvengadu..So I reached Sirkali after 10 min ,and I got into another bus.A fellow passenger told me that it will take 20 min to reach Thiruvengadu and it is about 12 kms from Sirkali. Also he told me I can visit "Kethu" temple today itself and it is quite near to this temple.
5-15 pm Thiruvengadu temple (Mercury).(Darshan timings 6 am to 12 pm, 4 pm to 9 pm.)
It is a vast place and neat with a vast ground. The temple is very serene and peaceful and enjoyed walking around that place.
5-40 pm
Started from Thiruvengadu to Keelaperumpallum.(Kethu). There is a mini bus service ,but a person warned me not to depend on that,instead he asked me to take a bus to Dharmakulam (Mayiladuthurai-poompukar route)and take a rickshaw from there to cover another 2 kms.Bus took another 15-20 min to reach dharmakulam and I thought of taking a walk instead of dealing with "rickshaw guys".It was a typical beautiful village with lot of paddy cultivation along the side of the road. I wanted to take some pictures ,but didnt feel like spending time on it.
6-15 pm Keezha Perumpalam(Kethu) (Darshan timings 7 am to 12 am,4 pm to 8 pm)
It is a very small temple in the middle of a pure village and I couldnt even find a shop nearby.
6-40 pm
I walked back to Dharmakulam and waited for an hour for a bus to Mayiladuthurai. It took almost an hour to reach there and found a descent hotel to get a good sleep. In between I made up my mind to visit the remaining six temples in the next day itself.
I took a room at a hotel called "Golden Tower" on M.G Road.At 10 pm,after having a shower and dinner I went to the reception and asked whether I can get a taxi next morning to cover the six temples.He called up a guy immediately and we started negotiating a price and finally we agreed on Rs 1700 .I told him I would like to start at 6:30 am.
17th Thursday. 5-45 am
Woke up from bed ,and walked outside to have a tea at a wayside teashop.It is one of the best ways to mix with local people and be part of human race.
6:25 am
I checked out from the hotel and sat down at reception. Immediately I saw a white ambassador car with "mercedes" symbol on the front.The hotel guy told me that is the car I am supposed to travel. We started immediately and first went to the ATM to withdraw some cash and driver told me we are going to Thirunallur which is almost 30 Kms away on the way to Karaikkal. He drove fast into a place graced by the beauty of the nature. Driver introduced himself as Selvam.
7-15 am Thirunallur (Saturn, Darshan timings 6 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 9 pm.)
Selvam asked me whether I need to take a bath in the pond there ,I said no .Later I came to know that is the custom there. Saturn temple is a fairly large temple and it was crowded. But I managed to get a darshan ,and I guess it would be very difficult to do it on Saturday. At 7-40 am we started towards the next temple ,Thirunakeswaram.We almost traveled back and took a turn before reaching Mayiladuthurai
8-50 am Thirunakeswaram (Raghu, Darshan timings 6 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 8:30 pm)
It is fairly big temple covering a huge area. I circled around that temple three times ,and prayed for the well being of my friends and relatives. There is a pond in front of temple and circled around that place taking some pictures. I enjoyed some nice views from there. I was feeling hungry and Selvam told me that we need to go to Kumbakonam to get some good food.
9-20 am
Started towards Kumbakonam which is 6 kms away.Selvam took me to a nice vegetarian restaurant and had a nice idli-sambhar. When we started I asked whether I can visit Darasuram to visit Airavateswara temple built by Rajaraja Chola II ,he told me it is possible and it is around 5 kms from there.
10-15 am Airavateswara Temple
Well this is not a temple meant for worship even though daily rituals happens there.It is a protected monument and taken cared of by Archaeological survey of India and it is under renovation. Even though it is not big as Brihadeeswara Temple at Tanjavur ,it is storehouse of art and architecture and very exquisite stone carvings. The front mandapam is in the form of huge chariot drawn by horses.I clicked some pictures and walked around a bit. At 10:30 am I rushed back to the car since Selvam told me that we need to cover another 30 km to go to next temple at thingaloor.
11.15 am Thingaloor (Moon , Darshan timings 7 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 8:30 pm)
Temple at thingaloor is a small one in the midst of a village can be reached from Thanjavur (10 km) .The temple is almost 2kms away from the main road ,except rickshaws there is no public transport to reach there. I watched a "pooja" there and felt very refreshed after that.At 11.45 am we started towards Alangudi . Selvam told me that we need to reach there fast to have a darshan since temple closes at 1 pm.
12:40 pm Alangudi (Guru ,Darshan timings 6 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 9 pm)
It is fairly medium sized temple and it seems there is some renovation at the main entrance.I thought I have enough time to have darshan ,but when I went closer to that I got little nervous .I saw a huge crowd waiting for the darshan in a queue and I wasnt sure whether I am going to make it before 1 pm. But it seem it didnt close at 1 pm due to the crowd and I had the darshan before 1:30pm .At 1:40 we started towards Kumbakonam to have a lunch and Selvam told me that remaining two temples will open only at 4 pm.We went to same restaurant where we had breakfast and casually started towards next one at 3 pm, Thirumangalakudi.
3.25 pm Thirumangalakudi (Sun , Darshan timings 6 am to 12.30 pm, 4 pm to 8 pm)
Temple at Thirumangalakudi is dedicated to Sun and it is 15 kms away from Kumbakonam and it is known "Sooriyanarkoyil".It is relatively small temple and needs urgent renovation.I waited till 4 pm there to have a darshan and felt very energetic after that.At 4-15 I started towards Kanjanoor
4-20 Kanjanoor (Venus,Darshan timings 7 am to 12.30 pm, 4 pm to 8 pm)
It is 2 kms east of Sooriyanarkoyil. There is no seperate idol for Sukra. It is a very small temple
At 4:35 pm,I am done with all nine temples ,wow .Selvam dropped me at Mayiladuthurai at 5-15.I thanked Selvam whole heartily and started towards Pondichery via Cuddalore.
At 9 pm I reached Pondichery ,I thought of staying night there and visit Aurobindo ashram. But I was tired like hell.Then I found that there is a ticket to bangalore in KSRTC and brought that without thinking anything else.
When I reached Bangalore ,people asked me how was the experience.
I kept quiet ...
Peace , we should always thrive to achieve it ....somehow .
