59. AARANI

PUTHIRA KAMAETTEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 40kms from Vellore

Shiva: Puthira Kamaetteeswarar 

Amman: Periyanayaki

Once the water from the Kamandalam spilled down. It ran like a river and the river was named as Kamandala River. In front of the temple the river turns from north to east and again it turns its direction and flows through.


Speciality:

There are 2 flag staffs in the temple one for Shiva and the other for Amman.

There is a special Sannidhi for King Dhasaradha. He is in the form of a Sage with Rudraksha and Kamandala in the pose of Performing Yaaga.

People who do not have children come to this temple and perform pooja and they believe they get children after that.

In the pond there is a Vinayaka who is facing north. North facing Vinayaka is said to possess more powers.

There is a Hanuman Sannidhi opposite to the Vinayaka Sannidhi. The Hanuman has Changu and Chakram in his hands. So this Hanuman is supposed to have the powers of Vishnu.

In the Prahara there is 63 Nayanmars Sannidhi all arranged in a row.

The Swarna Vinayaka Sannidhi in the temple is worshipped for wealth.

There are Pancha Lingams with their consorts.

We also find Ashtothra Lingam, Valli Dhevasena Aarumugar, Bama Rukmani Gopalakrishna, Kaali, Veerabhadrar, Kaalabhairavar, Saneeswarar and Suryan also.

Apart from these deities the regular Koshta deities are also found here.

On thew full moon day on the Month of Aani 11 Sivachariyars perform the Puthra Kameshti Yaaga in the temple as that was the day when King Dhasaradha performed the Yaaga. A large number of people participate and worship on this auspicious day.

History:

King Dhasaradha was the ruler of Ayodhya. He did not have Children. He was worried and seemed the Advice of his Guru sage Vasishtar. He suggested that if the King performed Puthra Kameshti Yagnam he would be bestowed with Children. He asked Sage Vasishta for a suitable place to perform there Yagna. Vasishta suggested a place in the banks of the Kamandala River. Dhasaradha installed a Shiva linga and performed the Puthra Kameshti Yagna here. Later he was bestowed with 4 male children. Later he built a temple for the Shiva he installed and named as Puthrakameshteeswarar and the place as Puthirakamoor. Now the place is referred to as Pudhukkamoor in Aarani.