Today (11/03/2013) I visited the Temple of Lord Subramanya (Murugan) in Virudhunagar. Lord Ganapathy receives his devotees at the entrance. The temple gave me the satisfaction having visited a conference of experts. Because there I saw the idols of 63 Nayanmars (poets), 9 grahas (planets), Lord Ayyappa, Lord Saraswati, Lord Mahalakshmi, Lord Dhakshnamurthy, Lord Siva, Lord Shakti and Lord Subramanya. Lord Subramanya is standing blessing his devotees flanked  on both sides by his wives Lord Valli and Lord Deivanai. There were very few people in the temple. The visit was very satisfying. I applied ashes on my forehead and took some to my wife at home. 

Today (10/03/2013) evening I visited Shiva Temple at Virudhunagar. Today is Shivratri. There were lots of devotees. Children were dancing. The temple is a sprawling complex. The temple is very old. The temple gives peace. I was offered ashes as prasad. I took some home. 

This day (09/03/2013) I visited Sri Ram temple of Virudhunagar. Hanuman receives the devotees of Sri Ram at the entrance. He blesses and protects the devotees. Then Ganapathy is there to bless. I prayed Sri Chakram, Narasimha murthy, Krishna, Hayagreeva, Dhanvantry. The sanctum has the deities of lord Sri Ram, Sita and Lakshman. I prayed. I accepted holy water and tulsi. I took tulsi home. 

This day (08/03/2013) I visited Mariamman Temple in Virudhunagar. The diety goddess Mariamman appears calm and giving. One gets the hope of his request being blessed. The temple is very old. Must be more than 2000 years. I took vermilion prasad to my wife. 

Today (07/03/2013) I visited with my wife Pandi Muneeswarar of Melmadi, Madurai. Our travel started from Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai. It is easy to take an auto for Rs.50/- to reach the temple. It is just 2 km away. He drops you at his favorite flower shop. As today is not an important day (friday and sunday are) there was less crowd. The flower shop person sold some offerings for Rs.30/-. He insisted on some garlands. But we declined. As we entered the temple first we prayed at the ganapathy idol. The temple was impressive and look poised to become a very big complex in future. As we entered the way to lord Pandi Muneeswarar we read warnings of the priest charging exorbitantly. We proceeded. The diety is imposing. Giant garlands were decorating. The priest was charging different rates for different services like 251 for offering big garland, perfumes, sandal pasting the deity etc. As we did not insist on any special service and we just offered coconut, bananas, agarbhati and few flowers, he charged us Rs.31/-. For charges he just orders "pay 31." As per laws whatever the devotees offer to the priest will go to him and whatever offered at the till will go to the temple administration. This priest job is enviable.
In the same complex there are two more gods. One is Aandi (without any worldly possession). This god is believed to be lord subramanya. We cannot make out as there are no symbols of this god like spear, peacock (his vehicle) etc. These are absent may be because he is aandi? This is just a mound. We were asked to offer cigars and lemon. We did.
Then we prayed at lord Samaya (time?). They call him Samaya Karuppu. We also offered him cigars and lemon. This idol is broken into four pieces. The standing statue is only up to the chest. It looks weird. We saw the place people sacrifice goats to him. It is very difficult for many people to digest this form. Fortunately we did not witness any sacrifice. The site has the smell of death. What a way.
Then we came out and boarded a bus to Matuthavani Bus stand. Fare Rs.10/- each. From there we took a bus to Virudhunagar and reached home. 

Narasinga Perumal Madurai

Today(06/03/2013) I visited Narasinga Perumal temple, Othakadai, Madurai with my wife. The temple is very old(7A.D) and very famous.
Took a mini bus in front of Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai. Fare Rs.6/-. The bus halted at Othakadai for a few minutes. Then proceeded. It took about 20 minutes in all. The bus stopped just in front of the temple. The temple is situated at foot of Aanamalai hills. The backdrop of the hills give a mind blowing view. As it was a ordinary day without any functions there were only few people. As you enter the temple we can see Narasingavalli Thayar so beautifully present. As you enter, Narsinga Perumal is so majestic with ferocious look. He will create fear for those who do wrong. For others he blesses with what you want. We offered tulsi garland. The priest prayed for out family's well being. We came out and saw the pond. It was full of lotus plants. There were no flowers as they had been removed by those who sell them just nearby. Very bad. The flowers look so beautiful at the pond. We took another mini bus just outside the temple. Fare Rs.7/- for upto Mattuthavani, Madurai Central bus stand. From there we took a bus to Virudhunagar.