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Poori Panduranga -Ragumayi Temple
 The
Rajagopuram at the main entrance is fashioned in the South Indian Style,
while the 'Karuvarai Vimanam' (turret over the sanctum of the temple) is
in the Poori Jagannadhar Temple (Orissa) style, and the idols of
Pandurangan-Ragumayi are replicas of the idols in Pandaripuram (Maharashtra).
Thus the Thennangur Poori Panduranga-Ragumayi Temple is a mixture of
three styles respective to the their cultures.
This temple is situated
near Vandavasi (Thiruvannamalai District ). Thennangur was previously
known as 'Dhatchina Halasyam', meaning a place where the learned and
wise drink nectar. There are bus facilities from Chennai to Vandavasi
and from there to Thennangur.
Master and Disciple
Among the four Peetas
established by Adi Shankara, the Jyothir Mutt in Pithrikashrama (North)
is the one where Sree Gnananda Giri Swamigal was the Peedathipathi. He
entrusted the Mutt to his disciples and went to the Himalayas to do
penance. Later, he established an Ashrama called Thapovanam in the
Northern side of Thenpennaiyaru. Sree Swami Haridas Giri was one of his
prominent disciples.
" I live neither
in Vaikunda nor in the hearts of Yogis who meditate thinking of me, but
live in the midst of my devotees who chant my name and dance
merrily", so said Krishna Paramathma, and Haridas Giri after
hearing these words from his Guru worked tirelessly in spreading
Bhagawan's Nama Sangeerthanam throughout the country. Thennngur
Panduranga-Ragumayi Temple is the outcome of his tireless efforts.
Pandurangan-Ragumayi
 The
gopuram over the sanctum of the temple is 120 feet in height and the
golden part of the dome alone is 10 1/2 feet tall.
The men before entering
the sanctum sanctorum are supposed to remove their garments on the upper
part of their bodies which is a temple regulation followed by one and
all.
The idols of
Pandurangan and Ragumayi (10 1/2 feet and 8 1/2 feet in height
respectively) are a visual treat.
The Panchaloga Vigraham
of Varadaraja Perumal with SreeDevi and Bhoodevi and Achdharaya Perumal
idol can also be seen here.
Varieties of
adornment
Panduranga-Ragumayi
appear in different adornments. On Saturdays, they are dressed up like
Thirupathi Venkatesaperumal, on Thursdays it is Nijapadha Dharisanam, on
Fridays it is Velli Kavasa Alangaram, on Sundays it is Rajagopalan
alangaram with a Rajasthan type of turban and on other days they are in
their own attire.
Krishna Leela in
fibre glass
In 'Artha Mandapa'
there are many paintings of Krishna made on fibre glass that can be seen
on it's walls. Even in the 'mahamandapa' one can find the paintings
depicting the life of Krishna and of Gnanananda Giri and Haridas Giri.
Next to this is a huge meditation hall.
Pandaripura Bhagwan
 Why
Haridas Giri thought of building such a temple is another story. Once he
undertook a holy Yathra to villages around Pandaripura to learn about
the devotees there. At that time, his Guru appeared in his dream and
told him to leave for Pandaripura. When he entered the Pandurangan
Temple, the temple priest performed Abhishegam and handed over the idols
of Pandurangan-Ragumayi and told him that Gnananda Giri Swamigal
appeared in his dream and asked him to hand over the idols.
That is when the seed
of thought to build a temple was sown in his mind and the temple seen
now is the outcome. These idols were placed as main deities bigger
statues were made and installed. There is a Bhajana Mandapa near the
temple where the devotees sing and dance merrily chanting the Bhagwan's
name. The statues of Namadevar, Sobani and Muktha Bai can be seen in
this Mandapa.
Thulasi Brindavan
 A
Mutt known as Sree Gnananda Giri's Peedam lies at the backside of the
temple and in the middle of the Mutt there is a thulasi maadam. It is
called Thulasi Brindavanam. When Haridas Giri Swamigal was on his way to
Badrinath, he attained Jala Samadhi in the river Alaganaada ( near
Rudraprayagai). Thulasi Brindavanam was built in his memory and the
sanctum sanctorum of Gnanananda Swamigal lies opposite to Thulasi
Brindavanam. Their Swarna Padhukas are kept in the Mutt for daily pooja.
Maha Hodasi Ambal
 The
Sanctum sanctorum of Ambal lies on the left side of the Brindavanam
facing North. As Kamakshi is to Kanchi Kamakoti peetam and Sarada Devi
is to Sringeri, the main deity for Jyothir Mutt is Maha Hodasi. She is
one of the incarnations of Shakthi.
A Goddess with twelve
hands, like Thirupura Sundari holding Angusam, Pasam, Karumbuvil, and
Panjapushpa Panangal, like Saraswathi holding Veena, Manikka malai and
Book, Like Mahalakshmi having a Lotus, Abayamuthirai in one hand and
Varadhamuthirai in one hand, she sits majestically in this temple.
Ainthozhil Nayaki
 Brahma,
Vishnu, Rudhran and Eswaran form the four legs of her seat and Sadasivan
forms the main seat of her Panjapradosana Manjam.
It is believed that she
is the Lalithambigai of Lalitha Sahasranamam recited by Adi Sankara. She
is said to be in charge of five activities of creating, protecting,
destroying, hiding and blessing. A sanctum sanctorum like this cannot be
seen anywhere else in the world. In the Srividya Upadesa Kramam, this is
the only temple available for the devotees for worship.
Meenakshi Sthala
 Sree
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Sree Lakshmi Narayana Temple in
Thennangur are the holy Sthalas that should be visited by one and all.
Once when a Pandya King
prayed for a child, he was asked to perform a special Yaga with the help
of Saptharishis living in Thennangur. The girl child which appeared from
the Yaga was taken to Madurai by the King and she grew up as Meenakshi.
So this Sthala was named as 'Meenakshi Thonriya Sthala' by Kanchi
Paramacharyar.
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