Sri Vilvanatheeswarar Temple, Thiruvallam, Vellore

 

Moolavar: Sri Vilvanatheeswarar

Amman: Sri Vallambikai

A padal petra sthalam, and one of the 276 thevara padal petra sthalam and is considered as the 242nd temple in the list. Saint Thirugnanasambandhar has sung hymns on Sri Vivanatheeswarar in the 7th century. As per the inscriptions in the temple, the temple is referred to as Theekali Vallam. In the verses of Sambandar, the place is referred as Thiruvallam, while in the 15th century Arunagirinathar refers the temple as Thiruvalam and the presiding deity as Thiruvallam Udaiyar. Ambal is also knows as Dhanumadhyambal.

A good 1000 years old temple from the Chola period and is the temple occupies an area of around 4 acres. This place is believed to have been a Vilva forest (Vilavanam). There seemed to be a termite hill where a cow used to milk water. The termite hill drained and eventually became a Lingam, around which the current temple is built.

According to a legend, Narada handed over a sacred mango to Shiva and wanted him to hand it over to a single person without cutting the fruit. Vinayagar and Murugar, the sons of Shiva, were fighting for the fruit. Shiva held a competition, stating that whoever circled the world three times would receive the fruit. Muruga immediately started on his peacock mount around the world. Vinayaga, who had a smaller rat mount, circled his parents Shiva and Parvathi three times and sought the fruit. He convinced his parents that for him, his parents were his world and he attained the experience of coming around the world by circumambulating them. 

Since Pillayar is believed to have come around (called valam in Tamil) his parents at this place, it came to be known as Thiruvalam, which with time became Thiruvallam. 

According to another legend, a priest in the temple was troubled by a giant named Kanja as he brought water from the nearby Kanjan mountain every day. He prayed for help, and Shiva sent the bull Nandi to guard the priest. As per another legend, Shiva is believed to called nee vaa meaning come here, on account of which the river came to be known as Neva river. It is also called Ponnai river.

The temple houses the samadhi of Sanakar, the disciple of Dakshinamoorthy in front of the image of Shiva. The temple is also the place where Sivananda Mouna Guru Swamigal was doing penance. The Dwarapalas on both sides on the entrance of the sanctum are of architectural importance. One of them is unique and is sported in dance posture with a raised hand. There is a shrine of Pathaleswarar in the first praharam here the shrine of Lingam is located underground.

Location: Sri Vilvanatheeswarar Temple, Thiruvallam, Vellore

Sri Margabandeeswarar Temple, Tiruvirinjipuram, Vellore

 

Moolavar: Sri Margabandeeswarar

Amman: Sri Maragadhambikai

A good 1000 plus years old temple in the town now called as Virinjipuram and the history of which rulers built it is not clearly known. Marga Bandhu Eeaswarar (a constant relation guiding us in the path of life) and in Tamil the name is Vazhithunai Eeswaran.

The history goes like this- Once Brahmma had to bear the effect of speaking a lie, though he did not really see the head of Lord Shiva in Tiruvannamalai, unwilling to admit the failure, he used a flower (Thazhamboo) that fell from the head of Shiva and said that it was evidence of his seeing the head of the Lord. So Lord Shiva did not want to give darshan to Brahmma in His real form and Brahamma was born to a priest in the temple named Shiva Sharman. After the death of the priest, he succeeded his father to serve the Lord.

After worshipping Swarna Ganapathi in the temple, Shiva Sharman came to the Lord for His abishek with the Tirumanjanam pot, but could not touch the head of the Lord as he was a boy. Merciful Lord bent His head to help the boy and acknowledged his services. Hence the Lord is found slightly bent towards esanya or northeast. is. 

The presiding deity is a swayambumurthi in a leaning form. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord in the month of Panguni (March- April). Palm tree is the sthala Vruksha of the temple which is in the inner corridor – prakara of the temple. This has a peculiar character of giving the fruits in black in a year and white the following year. The importance of the temple lies in the Rudraksha roof above the Sanctum sanctorum. Virinjipuram has also the reputation of being sung by renowned Vedic scholar and Shiva devotee, Sri Appayya Dikshithar.

There are 1008 shivalingams in this temple. It is said that off the main 108 shivalingams 18 of them are very special, and this shivalingam is one of the 18 and a must see.

The temple is an outstanding example of Tamil architectural skill. The temple is noted for child boon prayer. It is the staunch faith of the devotees that taking the first bath in Palaru river followed by dips in Brahmma and Simha theerthas (tanks) and going round the deity ensures child boon. People also pray for timely marriages. Devotees also throng the temple for relief from the effects of witchcrafts occupying the family or the individual.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Location: Sri Margabandeeswarar, Tiruvirinjipuram, Vellore

Sri Jalanatheeswarar Temple, Vellore

 

 

 

 

Moolavar: Sri Jalanatheeswarar
Amman: Sri Giriraja Kannikambhal
Place: Thakkolam, Vellore

This ancient temple is believed to have been built by king Rajaraja Chola-II.Periyapuranam refers to this place as “Kalikai Maanagar”.

Sage Theerkadar was born to Sage Udhadhi the brother of Jupiter (Guru) and Mamathai. Theerkadar was well educated and became a scholar. One day he saw the divine cow Kamadenu near his hermitage. He requested Kamadenu to come with him and assist him in a yajna that he was about to conduct. Kamadenu said that she could not oblige him without the permission of Lord Indira. The sage tried to tie her but she cursed him to become an ordinary, blind man who would spend the rest of his life doing menial jobs (“sandalan” in Tamil). In turn the sage cursed Kamadenu to become an ordinary animal losing her divine powers.

Sage Udhathi was saddened by the plight of his son. He came to this place on the advice of Maharishi Naradha, and worshiped the Lord Jalanatheeswarar. Lord Shiva gave dharisanam to the sage and advised him to pray to Nandhi and requested him to bring water from the holy Ganges to this place. He further advised the sage to perform abishekam with that holy water.

To carry out the lord’s wishes, Sage Udhathi installed a separate shiva lingam and a Nandhi near to the Jalanatheeswarar temple and started his penance. This Shivalingam is praised as Sri Gangadhareswarar and this temple is called Sri Gangadhareswarar temple. The Goddess of this temple is named as Sri Mohanavalli. It is believed that Nandhi was pleased with his penance and created a tank near this temple and filled it with water from the Ganges itself. He is believed to have channelled water from the Ganges through his mouth.
Thereafter the sage is believed to have performed abishekam to Lord Jalanatheeswarar with this water to complete his worship.  He also named the lord as “Thiruvooral Easwarar”. He also advised his son Theerkadar to take a dip in the water tank and pray to Lord Shiva. Thereafter Theerkadar is believed to have been relieved from Kamadenu’s curse.

Other Paadal Petra Shivasthalams near Thakkolam are – Ilambaiyangkottor (10 kms), Thiruvirkolam (16 kms), Thirumalpur (17 kms), Thirupachur (26 kms) and Thiruvenpakkam/Poondi (35 kms).

Location: 

Jalanatheeswarar temple,Thakkolam