Temple for Shani deva with his wives and children temple

August 26, 2009

|| Om gurave namah ||

Dear Jyotishas,

Here is an interesting writeup, This temple specifically keeps two

son's of Shanaischara i.e Maandi and Gulika.

Warm Regards

Sanjay P

" Planet none can afford to ignore

The temple of Lord Ramanathaswami at Thirunaraiyur (Nachiarkoil) near

Kumbakonam has a famous shrine for Sanaischaran or Saneeswaran, which

is thronged by devotees on Saturdays, writes T. A. SRINIVASAN.

"

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/01/02/stories/2004010201491200.htm

Lord Sanaischaran with Consorts Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi and sons

Maandhi and Kuligan.

THIRUNARAIYUR OR Nachiarkoil is well known as one of the 108

Vaishnavite Divyadesams, sanctified by Thirumangai Azhwar in 110

verses in his " Periya Thirumozhi " and for its Kal (stone) Garuda

Sevai. But it also houses two famous Siva temples. One of them is

Siddheswaram, where Lord Siva, known as Siddhanathaswami, is enshrined

and the other is the temple for Ramanathaswami, the presiding deity in

the island temple at Rameswaram.

The Siddhanathaswami temple is a " Paadal Petra Sthalam " as

Thirugnanasambandar and Sundaramurthi Nayanar have sung the glory of

the Lord. The Ramanathaswami Temple is more popular for its shrine of

Sanaischaran (one who moves slowly), erroneously called Saneeswaran,

according to some scholars, with his two wives and two sons.

Situated on the Kumbakonam-Tiruvarur bus route, eight km from

Kumbakonam, Thirunaraiyur Ramanathaswami Temple lies between

Siddheswaram Siva temple and Thirunaraiyur Nambi (Nachiarkoil) temple.

All buses from Kumbakonam to Tiruvarur, Koradacheri, Nannilam,

Nagapattinam, Eravancheri and Tiruvidaicheri pass through

Thirunaraiyur.

According to legend when King Dasaratha ruled the entire world, Saturn

was to pass through Rohini star after staying in Krithigai, on one

occasion. Sage Vasishta and others told Dasaratha that if Saturn did

so it would spell doom for the world. There would be famine everywhere

for 12 years and animals and human beings would be put to much

hardship. He requested Dasaratha to prevent it. Dasaratha immediately

got into his fast-moving chariot, carrying all Divine weapons and

reached the star, Rohini. He saw Saturn moving in his golden chariot

towards Rohini and sent the Divine weapons including the " Samhara

Asthram " towards him.

The Ramanathaswami Temple ... with renovation work having been taken

up, it should soon sport a spruced up look.

Saturn, laughing at the king's futile attempts, told him that He could

destroy anybody by His mere look. The powers that Dasaratha had got

through severe penance, austerity and Divine grace prevented Saturn

from eliminating him. Dasaratha requested Saturn not to pass through

Rohini and thus spare the world from experiencing famine for 12 years.

Saturn was immensely pleased with the king's concern for the welfare

of his subjects and granted the two requests. He also told him that if

he visited Thirunaraiyur and bathed in the tank there he would appear

before him. Dasaratha did accordingly and Saturn appeared before him.

Saturn or Sanaischaran, born to Chayadevi and Suryan (Sun God), takes

30 years to go round the Sun and hence he is called a slow mover. He

takes two and a half years to move from one zodiac sign to another. As

Thirunaraiyur is the place where He appeared before Dasaratha, it is

considered to be an important place of Saturn worship. It is said that

in no other place, including the more famous Thirunallar temple, is He

worshipped along with his two wives, Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi (also

known as Neeladevi) and his two sons, Maandhi and Kuligan. According

to the sthalapuranam, Lord Rama and Anjaneya, during their return from

Lanka to Ayodhya, visited this place.

Saturn is said to go round the legendary Meru Parvatham everyday and

embrace it. He was born on a Saturday with Rohini as His birth star.

He rides a vehicle pulled by the eagle and carries a bow, an arrow,

trishul and gatha in his four hands. He is fond of stotras praising

him and the food most liked by Him is rice mixed with gingelly,

coconut and jaggery.

A lamp with gingelly seeds, tied in a new cloth and kept in gingelly

oil, is lit before him. He likes flowers, dress and other things in

blue colour.

She is known by the same name as in Rameswaram ... Parvadhavardhini Ambal.

Though a sub-shrine of the Ramanathaswami temple in Thirunaraiyur,

which is also called as Saneeswarar Thirukkoil, Saturn's abode here

has separate Dhwajasthambam, Balipeetam and the crow mount in front of

it. The sthalavriksham is " erukku " and the holy water source is known

as Rama Theertham. The temple is agog with activity on Saturdays and

during the Gurupeyarchi and Sanipeyarchi.

The presiding deity in the main temple is Ramanathaswami, facing east,

and it is considered to be as holy as the one in Rameswaram. Many

devotees who are unable to visit Rameswaram, make their offerings to

the Lord here.

The Goddess here, as in Rameswaram, is known as Parvathavardhini and

Her shrine faces south. Medha Dakshinamoorthy is enshrined on the

southern side and His idol is one of enchanting beauty. On the

southwest side is the shrine of Vinayaka while Subramania, with His

two Consorts, Valli and Devasena, is worshipped in the shrine on the

other side.

Lord Ramanathaswami ... the Moolavar inside the sanctum sanctorum.

There are also shrines for Gajalakshmi, Hanumantha Lingam,

Annamalaiyar, Brahma, Durgadevi and Chadikeswarar. There is a separate

shrine for Navagrahas with the Sun at the centre with his two

Consorts, Ushadevi and Prathyushadevi, which is said to be a rarity.

The other eight grahas are found around Sun.

The great temple, which is under the control of the HR and CE

Department, is being renovated. The Balalayam was set up on June 5,

this year. The kumbabhishekam is planned for January next year.

Contributions may be sent to the Executive Officer, Ramanathaswami

Temple, Nachiarkoil-612602 and further particulars can be had from N.

Shanmugam, phone number 0435— 2476411/2476157.

August 26, 2009

Namaste SanjayP,

Thanks for offering an interesting data point!

However, I have seen a Ganesha temple, where Subrahmanya with Valli and Devasena

was present in one shrine and also Kartikeya with Valli and Devasena was present

in another shrine in the same compound. Though Subrahmanya and Kartikeya are

different philosophical aspects of the same god, they were present separately.

We see such things at temples.

Thus, whether Maandi and Gulika are two different upagrahas or two different

philosophical aspects of the same physical upagraha is debatable.

Bottomline is that some classics use both the names " Maandi " and " Gulika " ,

though they define only one of them. And, many scholars in the past considered

them synonyms.

If anyone can dig simultaneous references to Maandi and Gulika that contrast the

two, from any Jyotish classic or a Purana, that should be interesting.

Also, I am hearing about Mandaadevi being the second wife of Sani for the first

time. Is there a Puraanic story about Mandaadevi and Jyeshthaadevi being two

*different* wives (as opposed being 2 names for the same wife) of Sanaischara?

If somebody knows such a story, can you give me the reference please?

Best regards,

Narasimha

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

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sohamsa , Sanjay Prabhakaran <sanjaychettiar wrote:

>

> || Om gurave namah ||

> Dear Jyotishas,

> Here is an interesting writeup, This temple specifically keeps two

> son's of Shanaischara i.e Maandi and Gulika.

> Warm Regards

> Sanjay P

>

> " Planet none can afford to ignore

>

> The temple of Lord Ramanathaswami at Thirunaraiyur (Nachiarkoil) near

> Kumbakonam has a famous shrine for Sanaischaran or Saneeswaran, which

> is thronged by devotees on Saturdays, writes T. A. SRINIVASAN.

> "

> http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/01/02/stories/2004010201491200.htm

>

> Lord Sanaischaran with Consorts Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi and sons

> Maandhi and Kuligan.

>

> THIRUNARAIYUR OR Nachiarkoil is well known as one of the 108

> Vaishnavite Divyadesams, sanctified by Thirumangai Azhwar in 110

> verses in his " Periya Thirumozhi " and for its Kal (stone) Garuda

> Sevai. But it also houses two famous Siva temples. One of them is

> Siddheswaram, where Lord Siva, known as Siddhanathaswami, is enshrined

> and the other is the temple for Ramanathaswami, the presiding deity in

> the island temple at Rameswaram.

>

> The Siddhanathaswami temple is a " Paadal Petra Sthalam " as

> Thirugnanasambandar and Sundaramurthi Nayanar have sung the glory of

> the Lord. The Ramanathaswami Temple is more popular for its shrine of

> Sanaischaran (one who moves slowly), erroneously called Saneeswaran,

> according to some scholars, with his two wives and two sons.

>

> Situated on the Kumbakonam-Tiruvarur bus route, eight km from

> Kumbakonam, Thirunaraiyur Ramanathaswami Temple lies between

> Siddheswaram Siva temple and Thirunaraiyur Nambi (Nachiarkoil) temple.

> All buses from Kumbakonam to Tiruvarur, Koradacheri, Nannilam,

> Nagapattinam, Eravancheri and Tiruvidaicheri pass through

> Thirunaraiyur.

>

> According to legend when King Dasaratha ruled the entire world, Saturn

> was to pass through Rohini star after staying in Krithigai, on one

> occasion. Sage Vasishta and others told Dasaratha that if Saturn did

> so it would spell doom for the world. There would be famine everywhere

> for 12 years and animals and human beings would be put to much

> hardship. He requested Dasaratha to prevent it. Dasaratha immediately

> got into his fast-moving chariot, carrying all Divine weapons and

> reached the star, Rohini. He saw Saturn moving in his golden chariot

> towards Rohini and sent the Divine weapons including the " Samhara

> Asthram " towards him.

>

> The Ramanathaswami Temple ... with renovation work having been taken

> up, it should soon sport a spruced up look.

>

> Saturn, laughing at the king's futile attempts, told him that He could

> destroy anybody by His mere look. The powers that Dasaratha had got

> through severe penance, austerity and Divine grace prevented Saturn

> from eliminating him. Dasaratha requested Saturn not to pass through

> Rohini and thus spare the world from experiencing famine for 12 years.

> Saturn was immensely pleased with the king's concern for the welfare

> of his subjects and granted the two requests. He also told him that if

> he visited Thirunaraiyur and bathed in the tank there he would appear

> before him. Dasaratha did accordingly and Saturn appeared before him.

> Saturn or Sanaischaran, born to Chayadevi and Suryan (Sun God), takes

> 30 years to go round the Sun and hence he is called a slow mover. He

> takes two and a half years to move from one zodiac sign to another. As

> Thirunaraiyur is the place where He appeared before Dasaratha, it is

> considered to be an important place of Saturn worship. It is said that

> in no other place, including the more famous Thirunallar temple, is He

> worshipped along with his two wives, Mandhadevi and Jyeshtadevi (also

> known as Neeladevi) and his two sons, Maandhi and Kuligan. According

> to the sthalapuranam, Lord Rama and Anjaneya, during their return from

> Lanka to Ayodhya, visited this place.

>

> Saturn is said to go round the legendary Meru Parvatham everyday and

> embrace it. He was born on a Saturday with Rohini as His birth star.

> He rides a vehicle pulled by the eagle and carries a bow, an arrow,

> trishul and gatha in his four hands. He is fond of stotras praising

> him and the food most liked by Him is rice mixed with gingelly,

> coconut and jaggery.

>

> A lamp with gingelly seeds, tied in a new cloth and kept in gingelly

> oil, is lit before him. He likes flowers, dress and other things in

> blue colour.

>

> She is known by the same name as in Rameswaram ... Parvadhavardhini Ambal.

>

> Though a sub-shrine of the Ramanathaswami temple in Thirunaraiyur,

> which is also called as Saneeswarar Thirukkoil, Saturn's abode here

> has separate Dhwajasthambam, Balipeetam and the crow mount in front of

> it. The sthalavriksham is " erukku " and the holy water source is known

> as Rama Theertham. The temple is agog with activity on Saturdays and

> during the Gurupeyarchi and Sanipeyarchi.

>

> The presiding deity in the main temple is Ramanathaswami, facing east,

> and it is considered to be as holy as the one in Rameswaram. Many

> devotees who are unable to visit Rameswaram, make their offerings to

> the Lord here.

>

> The Goddess here, as in Rameswaram, is known as Parvathavardhini and

> Her shrine faces south. Medha Dakshinamoorthy is enshrined on the

> southern side and His idol is one of enchanting beauty. On the

> southwest side is the shrine of Vinayaka while Subramania, with His

> two Consorts, Valli and Devasena, is worshipped in the shrine on the

> other side.

>

> Lord Ramanathaswami ... the Moolavar inside the sanctum sanctorum.

>

> There are also shrines for Gajalakshmi, Hanumantha Lingam,

> Annamalaiyar, Brahma, Durgadevi and Chadikeswarar. There is a separate

> shrine for Navagrahas with the Sun at the centre with his two

> Consorts, Ushadevi and Prathyushadevi, which is said to be a rarity.

> The other eight grahas are found around Sun.

>

> The great temple, which is under the control of the HR and CE

> Department, is being renovated. The Balalayam was set up on June 5,

> this year. The kumbabhishekam is planned for January next year.

>

> Contributions may be sent to the Executive Officer, Ramanathaswami

> Temple, Nachiarkoil-612602 and further particulars can be had from N.

> Shanmugam, phone number 0435— 2476411/2476157.

August 26, 2009

Namaste PVR jiThe analogy you showed to show maandi and guliak is not appropriate.In Indian temples,both North and south indian temple we see numerous shrines for the same god..for example in srirangam,we can fime seperate shrines for Rama,krishna,narasimha deva multiple times through out the temple at Different places..your analogy was something like saying that since we are taking all this as the same form of vishnu ,we should consider maandi and gulika as sameIn the case cited by Sanjay prabhakaran,the shrine has shani,manda devi with his" two sons" maandi and gulikan. in the same shrine itself .if both are "same avatars" there is no need to mention them as two sons of saturn.mandaa devi may be taken in the context of wife of manda which is

jyestha devi herself.Thanksvishnu--- On Wed, 8/26/09, pvr108 <pvr wrote:pvr108 <pvr Re: Temple for Shani deva with his wives and children templesohamsa Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 4:30 PM

Namaste SanjayP,

Thanks for offering an interesting data point!

However, I have seen a Ganesha temple, where Subrahmanya with Valli and Devasena was present in one shrine and also Kartikeya with Valli and Devasena was present in another shrine in the same compound. Though Subrahmanya and Kartikeya are different philosophical aspects of the same god, they were present separately. We see such things at temples.

Thus, whether Maandi and Gulika are two different upagrahas or two different philosophical aspects of the same physical upagraha is debatable.

Bottomline is that some classics use both the names "Maandi" and "Gulika", though they define only one of them. And, many scholars in the past considered them synonyms.

If anyone can dig simultaneous references to Maandi and Gulika that contrast the two, from any Jyotish classic or a Purana, that should be interesting.

Also, I am hearing about Mandaadevi being the second wife of Sani for the first time. Is there a Puraanic story about Mandaadevi and Jyeshthaadevi being two *different* wives (as opposed being 2 names for the same wife) of Sanaischara? If somebody knows such a story, can you give me the reference please?

Best regards,

Narasimha

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam

Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpana

Spirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdom

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org