Sri Arthanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengodu:
Tiruchengode (also known as “Thirukodi mada chengundroor ” in vedic times) has many references in puranas, like Thevaram and Silapathikaram. In Silapathikaram, Ilango adigal referred Tiruchengode as “Chengodu ” and that “it has numerous holy ponds and enjoys popularity and prosperity”.
This temple has been praised by the Nayanmar Thirugnanasambandhar in his devotional hyman Devaram. Great poets and saints like Arunagirinathar, Ilango adigal, Kaviraja pandithar amongst others have enlogised this holy place in their divine poems. The idols of Birungi Munivar and Arunagirinathar are found inside the temple.
This ancient hill temple according to the inscriptions on the walls must have been built about 2000 years ago. Many renovation works and additions were done by the kings and chieftains ruled over Tamilnadu in the past.
The town has a hill, which is about 650 ft. height . The hill is referred in many names like Chemmalai, Nagamalai, Nandhimalai and many more.
Sri Achala Deepeswarar Temple, Mohanur:
The temple is linked with other Shiva temples praised in Thevaram hymns – Vaipputhalam. Bharani deepam lit in this temple in Karthikai month (November-December) is considered as significant as those lit in Thiruvannamalai the next day on Kruthika star day. Special pujas and abisheks are performed to Lord this day. A holy man respected as Beejavaba Maharshi was a staunch devotee of the Lord who used to light the Bharani deepa on the Deepasthamba in the temple and the practice is being continued with all festivity now. His sculpture is on a pillar in the temple.
As the temple is closely related to Deepa worship, a lamp is ever burning in Lord’s shrine. Hence, Lord is praised as Achala Deepeswarar. Achalam means that not wavering and firm as a hill. As the Lord is in His meditation posture, the deepa too is motionless.
Sri Navaladi Karuppannaswami Temple, Mohanur:
Sri Navaladi Karuppuswami is in the form of a Peeta or a platform in a small pit. The temple is built among the stones placed by traders in early days. This peeta is drawn with eyes, nose and tilak with sandal and dressed (Alankara) as a deity. A turban is also placed on the peeta. Devotees write their prayers in paper and tie it in the naval tree. They are not removed but are placed in the temple complex. As these are considered a petition submitted to Lord, no body has the courage to touch them. The Karuppuswami Peetam is just a little away from the temple where people sacrifice Kida-animal and cocks as their prayer commitments after realizing their wishes. There is also a custom of offering chappal Kanikka in the peepal tree-Arasa Maram.
Sri Balasubramaniaswami Temple, Mohanur:
As in Palani, Lord Muruga is facing west here too holding the Danda in right hand standing on a stage called Avudayar. Those facing adverse Mars aspect (Sevvai Dosha) causing delay in marriage pray to Lord Muruga on Tuesdays offering yellow vastras and Sevvarali – red flowers – garlands. There are 39 steps to reach the temple representing 27 stars and 12 zodiac signs. Those with unfavourable stars pray here for relief. Step puja is conducted on Chitra Poornima-full moon day in April-May and special pujas on monthly Kruthika and Sashti days.
There is a small hill outside the temple with a shrine for Idumban. He appears with a Kavadi on the shoulders facing south. Lord Vallaba Vinayaka graces with 10 hands. There is a shrine for Saint Arunagiriar. His Jayanthi festival is very grandly celebrated on the Moola star day in Aani month-June-July. There is also a shrine for Lord Kala Bhairava. 108 conch abishek is offered to Kala Bhairava on Ashtami-8th day of the new moon fortnight. As the place belongs to Son (Mahan) of Lord Shiva, it was named Mahanoor which later changed as Mohanur
Sri Kalyana Prasanna Venkataramanar Temple, Mohanur:
Lord Perumal graces the devotees from under the Vedasrunga Vimana. As the temple was built with the blessings of Lord of Tirupathi, a festival called “A Day in Tirupathi” is celebrated on a Sunday during Navarathri in September-October. From the opening of the temple in the early morning till the end of the day, all pujas are performed according Tirupati procedures. The Alankaras too shall be as to Lord Venkatachalapathi.
As the presiding deity, the procession deity too has a significance. Generally, Mother Lakshmi will be on the chest of the procession deity in Vishnu temples. Here, there is a triangle on His chest with Lakshmi rekha.
Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Rasipuram:
Lord Kailasanathar in the sanctum sanctorum is a swayambulinga with a scar of an arrow punch. Generally four pujas are performed to Lord on Shivarathri day (February-March) in Shiva temples. Here six pujas (Aaru Kala Puja) is observed.
Mother Ambica, Aram Valartha Nayaki from Her shrine facing west graces the devotees. Maha Meru (vertical form of Sri Chakra) is before Ambica. Women seeking child boon pray to Ambica in midday of Pradosha of full moon fortnight with special pujas. They offer coconut, fruits, raw rice and cooked rice without salt as nivedhana. They believe this puja would bless them with a child.
The temple is facing west. Gooseberry is the tree of the temple. Lord Vinayaka under the Tower is facing Nandhi. Worships in the temple should start with prayers to this Vinayaka. Mother Shiva Durga graces from the goshta. Conch abishek is offered to Mother Shiva Durga on the last Friday of Aadi month-July-August. While beginning the circumambulating on the Prakara, the first shrine is of Lord Kasi Viswanatha with Mother Visalakshi and the last is that of Lord Ramanathaswami with Mother Parvathavardhini. The temple is so formed with the Kasi-Rameswaram tradition. Sivaganga Theertham is in the prakara. It is said that it exists of its own. There is a shrine for Verabadra with Nandhi before Him. Lord Vikata Chakra Vinayaka idol with a rudraksha chain in hand is made of a single stone.
Sri Mariamman Temple, Rasipuram:
As a tradition, only during festivals, a wooden post with three branches (Kambam in Tamil) is planted in Mari Amman temples before Ambica. It is a permanent feature in this temple. It is said that Ambica has a direct view on this Kambam considered as Her Lord. Hence, she is praised as Nitya Sumangali Amman. Women believe that worshipping Amman would bless them a life with their husbands and absolute longevity to their Mangalsutras in their life time.
People seeking child boon follow a strange puja in the temple. During the Aipasi festival, they remove the old Kambam and replace it with a new one. Take the old one to a well nearby, do pujas and offer curd rice nivedhana. Women seeking child boon worship the Kambam and consume the curd rice nivedhana so that they will get their wish-child boon.
Yercaud Hills:
yercaud is a hill station in Salem District, in Tamil Nadu, India. It located in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats; the Yercaud hill area is called the Shevaroy Hills. It is situated at an altitude of 1515 metres (4970 ft) above sea level, and the highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, at 5,326 feet (1,623 m). It is so named owing to the abundance of trees categorised as a forest near the lake, the name signifying Lake Forest. As a popular tourist destination, Yercaud is also called as Jewel of the South. Yercaud is connected to city of Salem.
Killyur Falls:
Kiliyur Falls is a waterfall in the Shervaroyan hill range in the Eastern Ghats, Tamil nadu, India. The waters overflowing the Yercaud Lake fall 300 ft (91 m) into the Kiliyur Valley. The falls is situated at a distance of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from the yercaud lake. The final 500 m (1,600 ft) or so consist only of a rough unpaved steep pathway. But it is a breathtaking sight in the monsoon time when the water levels are at the maximum. The best time to visit this place is immediately after the monsoons.
The temperature never rises above 29 °C (84 °F) or goes below 13 °C (55 °F). Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance apart from bananas, pears and jackfruit. Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Western ghats and trekking here can be one of the most pleasurable ways to pass time.
This falls is situated at a distance of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from the yercaud lake. The final 500 m (1,600 ft) or so consist only of a rough unpaved steep pathway. But it is a breathtaking sight in the monsoon time when the water levels are at the maximum. The best time to visit this place is immediately after the monsoons.
