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Chamundi temple is located in Chamundi Hills in Mysore. It is around 10 kms from outskirts of Mysore. This temple is located in the Chamundi hills. You can drive from Bangalore to reach this place. It is one of the popular temples in Mysore. Goddess Chamundeeshwari is the main idol.

Nimishamba temple is located at Srirangapatna near Mysore. This temple is 5 to 6 kms away from Sri Ranganathar temple. You can drive down from Bangalore and it takes approximately 2 hours to reach this temple. The main idol is goddess Nimishamba. You can also find Lord Anjaneya.

I recently visited Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatna near Mysore. It is a tourist spot. It has a historical relation to Tipu Sultan. The main idol of the temple is Sri Ranganathar a.k.a Lord Vishnu in lying position with the snake guarding him behind the head. It is a huge idol and it is a must visit place.

You can drive from Bangalore to reach this place. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach this place. It is on the Bangalore - Mysore High way.

I had been to a temple called Trinethreshwarar temple in Thiruvarur, TamilNadu, India. This temple is more than 150 years old and there is poor maintenance. When I had asked about the pathetic state of it to the people living near the temple, they gave a shocking news that the authorities at the temple maintenance board of TamilNadu Government are not willing to fund the temple so that it can be renewed. Instead they have swindled the money for their own luxuries. Everyone knows about it and no one wants to do much about it. Another individual living in the same area has come forward to spend all the money it takes to renew the temple. When I went there, I too informed them of my contribution to the temple. I felt so bad looking at the state of the temple. It has been that bad that the inside of the temple has poisonous bees and none of us are allowed to go in there.

The temple has the main idol of Lord Shiva and Goddess Visalakshmi (Parvati). You also have Lord Ganesh, Lord murugan present in the temple.

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is the famous temple at Kumbakonam, TamilNadu, India where mahamaham festival takes place for 9 days. The mahamaham festival take place once in 12 years. The last time it was on March 6th, 2004 and I had been there for worship. This temple is mainly for Lord Shiva and it is 1300 years old. People from all over India come to attend this festival and take a holy dip in the mahamaham tank. It is believed that it cleans one’s sin and purifies the person.

The next mahamaham will happen in the year 2016 around the month of February or March. For those that have missed it in 2004, can visit the temple in 2016.

Garbarakshambigai temple is a well-known temple located at Thirukarukavur in Thanjavore aka Tanjore district of TamilNadu, India. The goddess Garbarakshambigai (Goddess Parvathi) is believed to help in safe pregnancy and child birth. All women who are awaiting to get pregnant also come to this temple to pray and get a baby. For those that are pregnant pray for a safe and normal delivery. The temple has a golden cradle on which the baby is made to lie down and the priest comes around the goddess indicating the worship of the baby towards the goddess. For using this golden cradle, the price charged is INR Rs. 550.

The temple also has Mullaivananadhar (Lord Shiva). Though the temple is called Mullaivananadhar temple, most of us know it as Garbarakshambigai temple for the mere popularity and power of the goddess towards pregnancy and safe delivery as it is considered to be a rebirth for women. You can also buy ghee for the goddess and light ghee lamps inside the temple. The priest also gives oil that can be put on the pregnant woman’s stomach and it is believed to take care of the baby in ensuring safe delivery. People from all over India visit this temple and needless to say that it is crowded especially on weekends. I visited the temple on a weekend morning along with my infant daughter and other family members to offer my prayers for having had a safe pregnancy and delivery.

Last weekend I had visited Alangudi Guru Temple. It is one of the Navagraha temple. Navagraha temple indicates the nine planets. One of them is the very famous Guru Bhagwan (Jupiter) temple located 17 kms from Kumbakonam, TamilNadu. It is near Needamangalam and the temple is 7 kms away from this place. Though the temple has the main idol as Lord Shiva, people crowd up to worship Lord Guru aka Dakshinamoorthy for his power. The goddess of the temple is called ‘Elavarkuzhali’. It is a very big temple and always buzzing around with people. The temple opens at 4 pm in the evening and closes sharp at 9 pm.

This time is a must visit temple. Prayers offered in this temple result in longevity, good health and education.