The Trichy-V.Koil-Guruvayoor Trip 16.02.09 Part 2

The 1st picture from top shows the sthala vriksham. In the Kritha Yuga, this was a kadamba vanam, in Thretha Yuga, this was a vilva vanam, in dwapara yuga, this was a vagula (magizhambu) vanam, in kali yuga (now), this is a vembu (nibumba) vanam.

See the outer praharam in the next picture. The praharam obviously existed for a long long time, however, the pillars and the roof were constructed only about a decade back. The roof is very useful – previously doing a pradhakshinam of the outer praharam was quite difficult, especially in summer, now it is much easier. I do not know how people did angapradhakshinam when the roof was not there (doing angapradhakshinam in V.Koil is not an easy task – I’ve done that only once and believe me, it is not like doing it in Guruvayoor or Sabari malai, it is very very difficult because of the sheer length of the praharam). I only wish people had thought about harmonization with the existing temple architecture while constructing the pillars and the roofing.

Take a close look at the 3rd picture from top. The pillars are of the 3^rd oldest type of architecture. But look at the pillar on the left hand side. Only one side seems to have the extension, the other side seems to be blank for no apparent reason!

The next few of snaps of the inner praharam. What you see in the 4th pic from top is Sattanathar. He is directly above the Dhakshinamurthy.

The navagrahas are actually in a line and not in a typical three by three square format is seen in many temples (see 5th picture from top).