Sri Vaidyanathar temple
Temple timings : 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Phone ; 91- 4364- 279 423.
Punugu a cosmetic paste, borneol (pachai Karpooram in Tamil) sandal, lime, rosewater and flowers offered to Lord Muthukumarswami for the Arthajama puja with milk rice nivedhana. Aabishekam is one with sandal and Sari offered 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.
Tonsuring is a popular offering here. Ear boring ceremony is also done. Lighting of Maa Vilakku made of rice flour and ghee, offering of mangal sutras and god symbols is a prayer of commitment. They place salt, pepper and mustard and silver eye symbols in the Goddess Ambica shrine. Annadhanam is also arranged by many. Distribute the neivethiyams to visiting devotees is a familiar sight. Many generously contribute for the renovation of the temple.
The nectar used for the abishek is mixed with the holy spring. It is believed that 18 theerthas are mixed in this tank that cures ailments people suffer from. When Sage Sadananda was performing penance here, he saw a snake trying to devour a frog. Since he cursed them no snake or frog comes near this tank.
The place is also known as Pullirukkuvelur. Pul means Bird-here the eagle king Jatayu the noblest character in Ramayana in the service of Lord Sri Rama, Irukku the Rig Veda, Vel-Lord Muruga and Oor the place make the name Pul Irukku Vel Oor = Pulirukkuvelur.
It is believed that the place is the headquarters of medical science that offers cure for innumerable diseases. It is the faith of the devotees that Lord Vaidyanatha cures not only the physical pains of the people but also liberates them from rebirth in addition to fulfilling the wishes of people on jobs, wedding, children, mental peace, relief from planetary problems etc. Both Lord Aadhi Vaidyanatha in the entrance and the presiding deity Vaidyanatha face west. Lord Muruga is to have got His Vel weapon from this place. Lord Sri Rama worshipped here.
This parihara sthalam of Mars - Sevvai in the horoscope of a person decides his/her wedding prospectus and other living conditions. People with adverse effects do special pujas by praying to Angaraka-Sevvai-Mars for success in deals, freedom from financial burdens and muscle and bone related issues in the body. Praying on Kruthika star days and Tuesdays is considered special.
There is the Jatayu Kundam pit here. Jatayu the eagle engaged in a battle with Ravana to prevent him from abducting Mother Sita and lost his life in the service of Sri Rama. As requested by him, Sri Rama performed the last rites for him in the Vibuthi Gundam here. King Veerasenan came here with his tuberculosis afflicted son, bathed in the theertha and offered sweet nivedhanas and also consumed them. 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 – meaning beloved. The Prasad containing items used in the Arthajama Puja as described above is believed to be an effective medicine for various ailments. Lord Muruga enjoys all prominence in the temple and all festivals are dedicated to Him.
Pujas to Lord and Mother are offered only after pujas to Lord Muruga. This place offers importance and belongs to Mars-Angaraka. He blesses the devotees on his Goat Vahan on Tuesdays
Lord Muruga worships His divine Father and Mother in the temple. The Navagrahas are behind the presiding deity here.
Sri Veezhinatheswarar temple
Temple timings : 6.00 a.m. - 12.00 noon - 4.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m
Phone : +91-4366-273 050, 94439 24825
Once a dense place with many trees like sandal, shenbagam, Jack and Vila, they were all collectively called Veezhi. Mizhalai Kurumbar, a hunter, 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. So the place is called Thiru+Veezhi+Mizhalai, a combination of the fruit and the devotee hunter.
Once there was a severe famine here. Sambandar and Navukkarasar prayed to the Lord with their hymns to tide over and restore fertility in the land. The Lord gave each every day a gold coin to Gnanasambandar on the eastern side and the other at the western side to Tirunavukkarasar to buy food for the people.. This is called Padikkasu (allowance money as we call it now) and this peetam also is still in the temple.
When the demon Chalandaran took away the disc of Lord Vishnu. When he went to Lord Shiva to request Lord Shiva to get it back, he was told that He was then among the Veezhi plants in Earth he should worship him there to get back the disc. Vishnu reached this place, made a pond and worshipped Shiva with this theertham and lotus flowers. Yet when it was short by one flower, Lord Vishnu made up by taking off his own eye to worship Shiva. Hence, the practice of offering eye symbols carved in silver, gold or copper came into being here. Lord Shiva pleased with the puja of Vishnu got him back His disc and the eye offered by Lord Vishnu is still at the feet of Lord Shiva.
Sthalasayana (Arulmaakadal) Temple, Sirupuliyur
Timings : 7.00 a.m.-12.30 p.m. 4.30 a.m. - 8.30 a.m.
Phone : 91-4366-233 041, 233 826
Kripa Samudran(Arumaakadal) temple in SiruPuliyur has Lord Vishnu as a small kid in sleeping posture (Called Baala Sayanam) and located 15 kms from Mayavaram
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 as Lord Vishnu has the powers to grant Moksham. Their poor eye sight made the Rishis instead go southward, losing their way and reached KripaSamudiram. Here, they prayed to Lord Vishnu saying that they wanted to go to Srirangam for his blessings but have now lost their way and come to him for grant of Moksham.
It is believed that the Lord originally gave them darshan as Lord Ranganatha (like in Srirangam) in his full form. Due to their old age and poor eyesight, 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’. Hence the Lord KripaSamudran is seen here as a small kid in sleeping posture and 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. Once there was an argument between Garuda and Adisesha on who is more powerful and devoted to the Lord. Lord Vishnu went in favour of the Serpant God since he felt a little arrogancy in Garuda. Fearing Garuda’s anger, Adiseshan sought Lord’s protection, upon which Lord asked him to roll himself and lie under him. As a result of this anger, Garuda never flies over this place.
When Thiru Mangai Azhvaar visited this place and found the Lord too small and like a kid, He was disappointed. The Lord consoled him asking to have his darshan at Thiru Kannapuram which is on the way to Tiruvarur.
This is a sthalam where one is relieved of Naaga Dosham. Unmarried and childless couple also visit this temple for solution.
Sri Agneeswarar temple, Nallidai
Temple 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
People with Bharani star are advised to visit this temple on star day and conduct poojas/perform Homams to the Agni-Fire personified Lord, to be highly benefited. ALos Praying in a temple facing west, is said to bring great benefits to the devotee as the Lord would be furious in nature here. Mother Sundaranayaki graces facing south. A slope like form is made around the Shiva Linga filled with water to reduce his fury. This is the place that wove clothes to Lord Himself, it is named Neithaladai – weaving fine clothes and shrunk as Nalladai.
When Sage Mruganda Maharshi organized a great Yagna for the and 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. The rishi offered the two clothes given to him and the Lord in the Homa Gunda. The public was bewildered and wanted to know whether the clothes offered in the Yaga Gunda would reach the Lord When the sage asked them to check for themselves in the sanctum sanctorum, It was a pleasant surprise that their product covering the Lord in all finery.
The sage explained Bharanai Rudragni of all Agnis, was one that has the power to take the offerings directly to the Lord. Hence, the Nalladai temple is attributed to Bharani star.
Sri Swarnapureeswarar temple, Sembanarkoil
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, Annankoil
Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : +91- 4364 - 266 534 ,94898 56554
Acharya Sri Manavala Mamunigal had a Darshan of Lord Vishnu in this temple. It is said Tirumangai Azhwar addressed only this Perumal as Anna in his hymns, apart from Lord of Tirupathi.
It is said that this was the first Perumal and thus enjoys the status of elder brother - Annan to Tirupati Lord. Hence he is praised as Annan Perumal and place is called Annan Koil. Like Tirupathi he is called Srinivasan and Mother is Alarmel Mangai. It has been praised by Tirumangai Azhwar as Bhooloka Vaikumdam.
Virgins from the celestial world descended on this place to pluck Kumuda flowers. Because the look of a human male fell on the celestial maiden, she lost the power of returning to her world. Understanding this, Neelan, a commander in Tirumangai sought her hand. Neelan accepted and fulfilled all the conditions laid down by her. The final one was feeding the devotees. Perumal observed this, granted darshan to Neelan and blessed to be an Azhwar. Thus Tirumangai Neelan became Tirumangai Azhwar and showered hymns on Perumal in sweet Tamil.
King Dundumaran had a son named Swethan. When Sage Vasishta said that the boy would die at the age of nine, the king begged for a remedy. As told, the son bathed in the tank in Tirunangoor, prayed to Lord Srinivasa chanting the Narasimha Mrutyunjaya Mantra. On completion, Perumal appeared and said that he had conquered death and ordained that any person chanting this Mantra 8000 times in this place would never be afraid of death.
Mullaivananthar temple, Thirumullaivasal
Temple timings : 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : +91-94865 24626
King Killi Valavan, was suffering from skin problems and was advised 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 and they could not proceed further. While the king removed the plants with his sword, it hit a Shivalinga hidden under the bushes and began to bleed. The shocked King thought he had killed somebody and on clearing the place, found the bleeding Linga. When he attempted to kill himself for the sin, Lord with Mother Parvathi appeared before him on His Nandhi vehicle and blessed Killivalavan. The scar on the Linga is still visible.
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