Sri Vaidyanathar temple
Timings ; 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Phone : 91- 4364- 279 423.
Devotees offer punugu a cosmetic paste, borneol (pachai Karpooram in Tamil) sandal, lime, rosewater and flowers to Lord Muthukumarswami for the Arthajama puja with milk rice nivedhana. They perform abishek with sandal and offer sari for Mother Thaiyal Nayaki. For Lord, they perform abishek with rice flour, turmeric powder, cosmetic powders and oil, milk, curd, sacred ash, rose water, green coconut, panchamirtha, lime fruit, honey, sandal etc.
Devotees also undertake tonsuring. Ear boring ceremony is celebrated in the temple. They also light Maa Vilakku made of rice flour and ghee, offer mangal sutras and god symbols as a prayer commitment. They place salt, pepper and mustard and eye symbols made of silver in the Ambica shrine. Some devotees arrange Annadhanam-feeding. Distribute the nivedhanas to visiting devotees with usual abisheks etc. Some contribute for the renovation of the temple.
Many Siddhas in days of yore performed abishek to Lord of this place with nectar and gained many boons. The nectar used for the abishek mixed with the holy spring. 18 theerthas are mixed in this tank which cures all diseases people suffer from. When Sage Sadananda was performing penance here, he saw a snake trying to devour a frog. As the incident disturbed his penance, he cursed them. Since then, no snake or frog comes near this tank.
The place came to be known as Pullirukkuvelur. This is because Pul means Bird - Jatayu the king of birds, Irukku refers to the Rig Veda, Vel to Lord Muruga and Oor refers to place thus making the name Pul Irukku Vel Oor = Pulirukkuvelur.
The place is believed to be the headquarters of medical science offering cure to thousands of diseases. Consuming the medicine ball made of the anthill sand, abishek water, veppilai the neem leaves and abishek sandal and abishek sacred ash brings relief for any disease. The punugu oil is applied on the body for relief from skin diseases. Lord Vaidyanatha grants relief from physical pains and offers relief of rebirth. The belief is worshipping Lord facing west brings the devotee the benefit of worshipping in 1000 Shiva temples. Both Lord Aadhi Vaidyanatha in the entrance of the temple and the presiding deity Vaidyanatha are facing west. It is believed that Lord Muruga got His Vel weapon at this place. Lord Sri Rama worshipped here.
The place of Mars-Sevvai in the horoscope of a person decides his/her wedding prospectus and other living conditions. Mars covers 7 years in one’s life. For those facing adverse effects, special pujas are performed for solution of their problems. People pray to Angaraka-Sevvai-Mars for success in land deals, freedom from debt burdens and joint pains in the body. People do the prayers on Kruthika star days and Tuesdays undertaking fasting and performing abisheks offering clothing in red.
Jatayu Kundam-pit: Jatayu the eagle engaged in the service of Lord Rama was killed when he prevented Ravana from abducting Mother Sita. As requested by him, Sri Rama performed the last rites for the bird in the Vibuthi Gundam here. A king, Veerasenan by name came here with his son suffering from tuberclosis , bathed in the theertha and offered sweet nivedhanas. He consumed the nivedhana with his son. His son was cured completely.
As a beloved son of Lord Vaidyanatha and Mother Thaiyal Nayaki, Lord Muruga in the temple is praised as Chella Muthukumaraswami – Chella-beloved. The Prasad containing items used in the Arthajama Puja as described above is an effective medicine for various diseases devotees suffer from. Lord Muruga enjoys all prominence in the temple. Hence all festivals are dedicated to Him.
Pujas to Lord and Mother are offered only after pujas to Lord Muruga. A 10 day festival is celebrated in January-February beginning from Tuesday. 28 day Panguni Brahmmotsavam is celebrated in March-April. Of the Navagrahas (9 planets) importance temples in the state, this belongs to Mars-Angaraka. Lord Muruga is facing west. A medicine prepared with sacred ash, anthill sand and oil is an effective medicine for leprosy.
Lord Muruga is always worshipping His divine Father and Mother in the temple. While the Navagrahas are generally seen in the front side of the sanctum sanctorum, they are behind the presiding deity here. Lord Rama had worshipped in this temple. Mother Thaiyal Nayaki ensures the welfare of the children. Planet Angaraka-Mars blesses the devotees on his Goat Vahan on Tuesdays. Medical students pray here to pass their exams with distinction.
Sri Veezhinatheswarar temple
Phone -+91-4366-273 050, 94439 24825
Temple hours : 6.00-12.00-4.00-9.00
Thiruveezhimizhalai: Once this place was dense with many trees, sandal, shenbagam, Jack and Vila all collectively called Veezhi. A hunter named Mizhalai Kurumbar was a devotee of Lord Shiva and offered him the Vila fruit for nivedhana. Pleased with his devotion, the Lord taught him the 8 great lessons called Ashtamasiddhi. The Vizha fruit is still found at the feet of the Lord in the temple. Hence, the place came to be known as Thiru+Veezhi+Mizhalai. A combination of the names of the fruit and the devotee hunter.
Padikasu: Thiruveezhimizhalai once passed through a dry period with severe famine. Gnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar prayed to the Lord with their hymns to tide over the famine condition and restore fertility in the land. The Lord gave each a gold coin each day as promised by Him in their dreams to buy food and feed the suffering people. He gave the coin to Gnanasambandar on the eastern side and the other at the western side to Tirunavukkarasar. This is called Padikkasu (allowance money as we call it now) and this peetam also is still in the temple.
It so happened that demon Chalandaran took of the disc of Vishnu. He went to Lord Shiva to get it back from him. Lord Shiva told Lord Vishnu that He was then among the Veezhi plants in Earth and that he had to worship him there to get back the disc. Vishnu came to this place, made a pond in his name and worshipped Shiva with this theertham and lotus flowers. Yet it was short by one flower which Vishnu made up by taking off his own eye to worship Shiva. From this day onwards, the practice of offering eye symbols carved in silver, gold or copper came into being. Lord Shiva pleased with the puja of Vishnu gave him back His disc. The eye offered by Vishnu is still at the feet of Lord Shiva.
Sirupuliyur Kripa Samudran(Arumaakadal) temple
Timings : 7.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Phone : 91-4366-233 041, 233 826
Located about 15 kms South of Mayavaram, Kripa Samudran(Arumaakadal) temple in SiruPuliyur has Lord Vishnu as a small kid in sleeping posture (Called Baala Sayanam).
The story goes thus:
Two old rishis, Yagapalar and Kanvar, prayed to Lord Shiva at Chidambaram asking for Moksham. Shiva directed them to go westwards to Srirangam, stating Vishnu was the one equipped with the powers to grant Moksham. Because of their poor eye sight, the Rishis instead went southward, lost their way and reached KripaSamudiram. Here, they prayed to Lord Vishnu saying that they were to come to Srirangam to invoke his blessings but have now lost their way and that he grant them Moksham.
It is believed that that the Lord originally gave darshan to the Rishis as Lord Ranganatha (like in Srirangam) in his full form. Because of their old age, the rishis could not see, clearly, the big image of the Lord and hence the Lord gave darshan in a smaller form known as ‘Bala Sayanam’. The Lord KripaSamudran can be seen as a small kid in sleeping posture. Being the Lord in small form, this place is called Siru(small) Puliyur.
A special feature of this temple is that this is one of the only two Divya Desams where the Lord in sayana kolam (sleeping posture) is facing the Southern direction, the other being Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.
Garuda does not fly over this place- Fight between Garuda and Adhiseshan
Once Garuda(the Vaahanam of the Lord) and Adiseshan(on whom rests the Lord) got into an argument as to who was more powerful and devoted to the Lord. Seeing Garuda a little arrogant, Lord Vishnu went in favour of the Serpant God. Worried that Garuda might be angered at this, Adiseshan seeks Lord’s protection, upon which Lord asks him to roll himself and lie under him. It is said that as a result of this anger, Garuda never flies over this place.
A disappointed Thiru Mangai Azhvaar
When Thiru Mangai Azhvaar visited this place, he is believed to have been quite disappointed as he found the Lord too small and like a kid. The Lord is said to have consoled him saying ‘ Come and see me in my full form at Thiru Kannapuram’.
ThiruKannapuram is about 25kms South West of this temple on the way to Thiruvarur
It is said that one will be relieved of Naaga Dosham if one visits this place. Unmarried people and childless couple can also visit this temple for solution.
One of the features of this temple is the enthusiastic and very passionate & young priests. Their explanation of the temple history and legend is sure to lure every devotee to this temple.
Sri Agneeswarar temple, Nallidai
Timings : 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.-
Phone : 91 4364-285 341,97159 60413,94866 31196
Bharani starrers are advised to visit this temple as often as they could and worship Lord Agneeswara. The proverb goes that Bharani people would rule Dharani-world meaning that they will be very popular. They are advised to perform Homas to the Lord who is Agni-Fire personified. The benefits would be double if they do so on the Bharani star day in Karthikai-November-December. As the temple is facing west, it is said that praying in such temples would bring great benefits to the devotee as the Lord would be furious in nature here. Mother Sundaranayaki graces facing south. In order to reduce the heat of the Lord, a slope like form is made around the Shiva Linga filled with water. This is the place that wove clothes to Lord Himself, it is named Neithaladai – weaving fine clothes. In the days following, it shrunk as Nalladai.
Sage Mruganda Maharshi organized a great Yagna for the Lord of Nalladai. He also announced that the materials required for the Yagna may be contributed by the public. They wove three silk clothes with gold and offered one to the Lord, one to the Rishi and the third to their king. At the end of the yagna, the rishi put two clothes given to him and the Lord in the Yaga Gunda-the fire pit. The public raised the question “would the clothes placed in the Yaga Gunda reach the Lord.” The sage asked them to go and see it for themselves in the sanctum sanctorum. It was a pleasant surprise for the devotees to see their product covering the Lord in all freshness.
The sage explained that of the various types of Agni, Bharanai Rudragni was one and that power took things they gave to the Lord. Hence, the Nalladai temple is attributed to Bharani star.
Vilwa, the sacred tree of the temple has a story. One day, the Chola King of the day and Sivanesa Nayanar came here to worship the Lord. A tiger chased Nayanar who climbed on the tree nearby. After a while, when he came to the Kundangulam tank, the animal still followed but was killed by the Nayanar. Lord appeared before Nayanar and blessed him.
Sri Swarnapureeswarar temple
Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 91-99437 97974
A story goes that when Lord Shiva refused to receive Mother Parvathi back after visiting Her father’s Yajna against His advice, Lord Muruga came to the Mother in the form of Shiva and imparted good advices in this place. Based on this story, Lord Muruga appears in the temple with an Akshamala. Shiva appeared in this place only as Veerabadra. Rathi worshipped Lord Shiva here to get back her husband Manmatha. Lord Vishnu too had worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Mother Sugantha Kundalambica is praised by many names -Pushpalaki, Dakshayani, Suganthalaki, Suganthavana Nayaki and Maruvar Kuzhali. It is advised that a dip on the new moon day in Chithirai and Vaikasi Tamil months – April-May and May-June, the devotee can wash off all his/her sins.
Daksha, son of Brahmma gave his daughter Dakshayani to Lord Shiva in marriage. Yet he intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva for a yajna he performed. Mother Dakshayani wanted to correct Her father by visiting the yajna. But clouded by arrogance and pride, Daksha humiliated his own daughter and Her Lord. Furious Dakshayani cursed her father that his yajna would not go on. She also begged Her Lord to destroy the yajna. Lord Shiva created Veerabadra, Badrakali and others to destroy the yajna along with Daksha. Dakshayani to wash off Her sin as the daughter of a Shiva opponent performed penance here sitting around five types Agni-fire. Lord, pleased with Her penance named Her Sugantha Kundalambikai and took Her to bless devotees along with Him in the temple.
Annan perumal temple
Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : +91- 4364 - 266 534 ,94898 56554
Lord Vishnu granted darshan to great scholar and Acharya Sri Manavala Mamunigal in this temple. It is also noteworthy that Saint Tirumangai Azhwar addressed only two Perumals as Anna in his hymns, Lord of Tirupathi and this Perumal. It is said that the first was this Perumal, thus enjoying the status of elder brother-Annan to Tirupati Lord. Hence, Lord of this temple is praised as Annan Perumal and place Annan Koil. As in Tirupati, the name of the Lord here too is Srinivasan and of Mother Alarmel Mangai. Tirumangai Azhwar praises this place as Bhooloka Vaikumdam – Vaikumdam on Earth.
How Neelan became Tirumangai Azhwar? Virgins from the celestial world used to come to this place to pluck Kumuda flowers from the tank in this place. The look of a human male fell on one Kumudavalli belonging to the other world. Because of a human look on her, she lost the power of returning to her place. Knowing this, one Neelan, a commander in Tirumangai approached her and sought her hand. Kumudavalli laid down many conditions to accept him. Neelan accepted and fulfilled the conditions. The final one was feeding the devotees. Perumal, keenly observing this, granted darshan to Neelan and also taught the Mantras and elevated him to the status of Azhwar. Thus Tirumangai Neelan became Tirumangai Azhwar and poured down hymns on Perumal in sweet Tamil enhancing its richness.
King Dundumaran had a son named Swethan. Sage Vasishta said that the boy would die at the age of nine. The king fell at the feet of Sage Vasishta and begged for a remedy. The sage told the king that he should bathe in the tank in Tirunangoor, pray to Lord Srinivasa chanting the Narasimha Mrutyunjaya Mantra. Swetha followed the advice of the sage for a full month. At the end of the month, Perumal appeared before the young Swetha and said that he had conquered death and added that any person chanting this Mantra 8000 times in this place would never be afraid of death. This temple is noted for this boon.
Mullaivananthar temple
Timings : 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : +91-94865 24626
King Killi Valavan, grandfather of Karikal Valavan was suffering from skin problems. Palace doctors advised him that he should have a bath in a reputed Shiva Sthala. He came to this place for a sea bath. The place was dense with Mullai plants which bound the legs of the horses. They could not move further. The king removed the plants with his sword. The sword hit a Shivalinga hidden under the bushes. It began to bleed. The king was shocked and thought he had killed somebody and on cleaning the place, he found the Linga bleeding and attempted to kill himself for the mistake. Lord with Mother Parvathi immediately appeared before him on His Nandhi vehicle and protected Killivalavan. Thus the place came to be known as Tiru Mullai Vayil. The scar on the Linga is still visible.
