Shadarnya kshethrams
The Kshethrams or temples of Shadaranyam are very ancient and located in and around Arcot in the vellore district and located on either side of the Palar river.. They are, sacred places known to the where the Saptharishis namely the sages Vasishta, Valmiki, Baradwaja, Athri, Agasthiya, Gowthama and Kasyapa) did tapas by staying in their Ashram and worshiped Lord Siva.
“Shat “ means number six and Aranyam refers to Forest. Hence the place is know as Arcot (Arkaadu) . Lord Siva came to be known with the namakaranam kinlged to the Rishis who worshipped in these divine temples. The temples in all these places were believed once to have had a big rajagopuram.
It is strongly believed that a visit to all these sthalams on the Mahashivatri day is considered as having payed at Kailas in the Himalayas.
When Goddess Parvathy once did her penance at Kancheepuram (Prithivi sthalam), Lord Shiva was immensely pleased and married her. It was such a celestial wedding that none of the divine beings wanted to miss and hence the Rishs and Devas descended from heaven to Kanchi, to take part in the marriage of Lord Siva with and Kamakshi Amman.
With almost everyone wanted to be a witness to the wedding, the place became immensely crowded. The Rishis found the crowd obstructive to the performance of their daily rituals and Poojas and hence stayed in the forest near to Kanchipuram. They wanted a calm secluded place for their daily rituals and each of them chose a place in the forest for worship of Lord Siva. Since there were six places where they worshiped, the locations together came be know as Shadaranyam. The places are unique for the reason that the suyambu’s making the locations holy and it considered divine blessings for one should visit and worship Lord Shiva in all the six places in a single day.
Boomeswarar temple, Gudimallur
Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone Nos; 93455 07559 / 93441 55703
The temple has a Rajagopuram of 5 towers with a short sthambam in front. The main deity is Lord Shiva who is worshipped as Sri Bhoomeshwarar. His concert is Soundaravalli. .
The temple is believed to be 2000 years old. Lord Boomeshwarar is in the form of a Lingam facing east and the Goddess faces south. A small balipeedam and simham are in front of Ambal sannidhi.
Bas reliefs are found in Mandapam walls as well as the Rajagopuram. Brahma and maha Vishnu generally appear as Swan and Varaha on the lingothbavar or shown as separate images on both sides. Herr Brahma and Maha Vishnu are in standing posture with anjali hastam, in addition to varaha at the bottom and swan at the top on the Lingothbavar itself.
The original temple belongs to Chozha period and reconstructed during 14th to 15th Century Vijayanagara period. The Mandapam after the Rajagopuram was constructed during Vijayanagara Nayaks period.
Since Lord Shiva’s name as Boomieswarar, this temple is associated with Housing Construction, Vasthu etc. Hence it is believed that this temple is a Vastu parihara sthalam.
Athetheswarar temple, Gudimallur
Temple timings : 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
The place is in-between Pudhupadi dam and Valaja town about 3kms interior on the North bank of River Palaru.
Athri Maharishi installed and worshiped Lord Siva here for long period in sitting posture. Lord was pleased and blessed him. There is a statue of Athri Maharishi in sitting posture facing the Lord.
Main Deity in the temple is Swayambu Siva Lingam known as Athetheswarar with his consort known as Thirupura Sundri in different sanctum who faces south.
The temple is facing south and has a Dwajasthambam and Nandi near it.
Sri Agastheeswarar temple, Vannivedu
Temple Timings : 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 5.30 to 8.00
Phone : 04172 270 595 Mob : 94432 27864
Agastheeshwarar Temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Vannivedu in Vellore District of Tamilnadu, is on the northern bank of River Palaru. Presiding Deity is as Agastheeshwarar and Mother is called as Bhuvaneswari and is in standing posture
Lord blessed Agasthya Maharishi when he installed and worshiped Lord Siva here for long period in sitting posture. Agasthya Maharishi in seen in a sitting posture.
Once, Agasthiyar stayed in this place amidst Vanni Forest and made a Lingam made of Sand for his worship and is hence called as Agastheeshwarar. During the later days, a temple was built by the King who ruled this area. Since this place was once full of Vanni trees, It is called Vaniikadu.
The Lingam was very short as it is believed it has been installed by Agasthya whose. Fingerprints can be seen in the Lingam.
It is believed that Saptha Rishis worship Mother Bhuvaneshwari during Pournami and hence, Lahusandi Yagna is conducted on this day on Mother Shrine. People believe that Saptha Rishis themselves conducted the yagna and hence keep seven banana leaves with Neivethanam for Saptha Rishis and worship them.
Once this place was full of Vanni Trees, hence it was called as Vanni Kaadu. Later it got corrupted to Vannivedu.
The Temple is facing east with newly built Rajagopuram. There is a Hayagriva Shrine in this temple popular students. Stucco images of Agasthya worshipping Lord Shiva is seen.
6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
9790143219 9940948918
Lord Gautameswara is revered by the devotees as celestial Doctor for curing the prolonged and serious illnesses. Aabishekam, vastrams and a mixture of dry ginger, pepper and thippili are given as offerings consumed as Prasadam for remedy from serious diseases.
The shrine of Mother Krupambika is in the Mandapam just opposite the Shrine of the Lord facilitating darshan of both simultaneously. Sage Gautama is in a sitting form in the temple. Lord Sabeswara appears furious in a shrine and Lord Vinayaka installed by his side to pacify and cool him. A separate shrine is present for Lord Bhairava.
Lord graces with Mother Krupambika on shivarathri sitting on the Vrushaba Vahanam, (Nandhi). This worship is considered very significant and those view it are considered highy blessed. The northern bank of River Palaru was once dense with Karai trees and therefore the name of the place as Karaimaraikadu which in course of time shrunk as Karai.
In addition to this temple, on Shivarathri day, devotees also visit other nearby Shiva temples at Mel Visharam, Veppur, Pudupadi, Kudimanallur, Vannivedu and Avarakkarai on the same day. To facilitate darshan to the devotees, all the temples are kept open during the whole night.
When Sage Gautama cursed Indira for his immoral approach towards his wife, the incident disturbed his mind. He came to this place to worship Lord Shiva and seek peace. He made the Ganges to spring up here for his Pooja This river is known as Gautami which mingled with Palar in the later days. As Gautama worshipped the Lord here, He is called as Gautameswarar.
Valmikeswarar Temple, Melvisharam, Vellore
Temple timings : 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Phone : 9790143219 9940948918
Valmikeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Presiding Deity is called as Valmikeswarar and Mother is called as Vadivudaiammai. The Temple is located on the bypass road of Vellore to Arcot, on the southern bank of River Palaru.
Valmiki Muni installed a Siva Lingam here and worshiped him in standing posture. THe statue of Valmiki Muni is in a standing posture in the temple.
Since this sthalam is in a forest full of Etti Maram, the place came to be known as Visha Vruksha Vanam, and ultimately as Vishram.
The Temple is a small and old temple. It was to be a big temple those days. Valmikiswarar, thes Main Deity is Swayambu lingam with his consort known as Vadivudyambikai in different sanctum sanctorums. Valmikeswarar faces east and the Mother Vadivudaiammai in south.
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