India and Indian Culture in the views of Arruvy

அருவியின் பார்வையில் இத்தியாவும் அதன்காலாச்சாரமும்.

Srikalahasti

Kalahasti is a town in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity is Lord Siva as Kalahasteeswarar. The Siva Linga here is one of the five supreme Lingas representing the five elements (Panchabutha Lingams): water (appu), fire (tejas), air (vayu), ether (akash) and earth (prithivi). The Linga form in Kalahasti is believed to represent vayu.

A spider, a snake and an elephant is believed to have worshipped the Siva Linga here. It is rather astounding to learn that a spider worshipped the Lord by spinning a web over Him, the snake by planting a gem and the elephant by washing the Linga with water.

As a result of the dispute between Adisesha, the serpent God, and Vayu, the God of Air, three blocks separated themselves from Mount Meru and fell at three different places - one is Kalahasti, the other is Trichy (Malai Kottai), and another is Trincomalee in Sri Lanka.

The main Lingam in Kalahasti is in the shape of the trunk of an elephant with tusks on either side and the figure of the spider at the bottom. Sri is the name of the spider. Kala is the serpent and hasti is the elephant.

Kazhugumalai

Kazhugumalai, a small village located 22 km from Kovilpatti, south Tamil Nadu, houses the famous Kandasamy temple. This place can be reached from Sankarankovil also. Kazhugumalai is one of the ancient Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu.

This place is also known as Then Palani (South Palani), Sampathi Kshetram, Gajamuga Parvatham, Kazhugachalam, Uvanagiri and many more names. Each name has some story behind it.

Arunagirinathar has sung about the Kazhugumalai temple in his Thirupugazh. Muthuswamy Dikshitar also has sung about this pilgrimage place.

The main deity in this temple is Kazhugachalamurthy. The temple and the tank are located at the foothills of a 300 feet high hill.

Temple history

According to historical facts, a king by name Adi Madhura Pandian was ruling Pazhankottai and its adjoining areas. There was a forest called Uvanavanam, above which a 300 feet hill named Uvanagiri was situated. Once, Adi Madhura Pandian felt very tired after hunting in the forest. So he decided to take rest in the forest.

He saw a cow pouring its milk over a rock and also heard the sound of a bell ringing. So he ran towards it. Seeing the king, the cow fled.

The king returned to the palace and started thinking about the incident. That night, Lord Muruga appeared in the dream of a Sivacharya and asked him to tell the king that he has to built a temple at the place where the cow let out its milk.

Adi Madhura Pandian opened the rock and to his surprise, there was a cave beneath where he found an idol of Lord Muruga. The king took up the work and built a temple. This is how the temple was built on rock on top of the hill.

Kandasashti festival is celebrated here with great festivity. Thai Poosam, Panguni Uttiram and Vaikasi Visakam are also celebrated here.

Swift and sometimes torrential, waterfalls are dramatic, inspiring poets, painters and writers and their breath taking beauty evokes many feelings. They are motivating and addictive. If you are looking forward to a respite from the maddening city life then let yourself loose in the lap of the nature and feel and enjoy the beauty of the cascading waterfalls.

Athirampally and Vazhachal Waterfalls Discover Athirampally and Vazhachal Waterfalls, Trichur District, Kerala, India
	A tranquil and much needed escape from the troubles and stress of life. Let the soothing sounds take you to some of natures most relaxing places East of Chalakudy, near the entrance to the Sholayar forest ranges, are the beautiful waterfalls of Athirampally and Vazhachal (Prounced as vaazhachaal).
The charm of the Athirampally and Vazhachal nature cannot be described by words, Starting calmly from the high ranges, and crashing through gorges overhung with trees, these waterfall is one of the best places in India to re-capture a real sense of the classical idea of the "Picturesque"...not just calm and sweet, but something wild and natural.
	Perched high above in the the Sholayar forest ranges on the fringes of Kerala's famed rain forests, the waterfalls provides a restful escape for those wanting to leave the hurried pace of city life behind. wild and beautiful, unspoilt by the passing of time.
A tranquil and much needed escape from the troubles and stress of life. Let the soothing sounds take you to some of natures most relaxing places Both this waterfalls are a part of the Chalakudy river and 5 km apart on the road to hill station (valparai) which has excellent tea estate and is one of India's highest elephant density habitats and is a crucial corridor between Perambikulam and Malayattur.
	How to get there ? Athirapally & Vazhachal is just 90 km from Cochin. Bus services are available from Chalakudy on Cochin Trichur highway or you can catch a cab (Taxi) from Chalakudy Railway Station. This scintillating waterfall in thick green forest is a part of the Chalakudy river stream.
It is near to the entrance of the Sholayar range is a place of great scenic beauty. Here, the water plunges from a height of nearly 80 feet before joining the Chalakudi river. Vazhachal is just a drive from Athirampally, this picturesque spot is adjacent to dense green forest.

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