34. ARIYATHURAI

VARAMURTHEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 24kms from Redhills and 12kms from Gummidipoondi

Shiva: Varamurtheeswarar

Amman: Maragathavalli

Sthala Viruksham: Peepul Tree

Theertham: 

Speciality:

6000years old temple.

The name of the place is Ariyathurai. Ariya means rare and Thurai means place on a river bank.

Shiva has 5 faces - Esanam, Thathpurusham, Vamadhevam, Sathyojadham and Agoram. There are Pancha Brahma Sthalas - 5 temples on the banks of the Brahmaranya river (Arani river). Finally the river merges to the sea at a place called Karungali (joins at Buckingham Canal). The 5 temples denoting 5 faces

• Esanam - Ramagiri Valeeswarar Temple
• Thathpurusham - Surutupalli Pallikondeeswarar Temple
• Vamadhevam - Arani Sampangi Pitchaleeswarar temple
• Sathyojadham - Ariyathurai Varamurtheeswarar Temple
• Agoram - Karungali Chinthamaneeswarar temple

These five temples are the Pancha Bhairavar Sthalas.

The Brahmaranya River was created by Brahma. 

Romasa Maharishi worshipped here for 100 years.

There is an idol of Romasa Maharishi behind the Temple. The idol is consecrated in the place where the Rishi sat and performed penance. 

Indiran worshipped this temple and got relieved of this Dhosha.

Shiva appeared before him after the Yagna and Romasa prayed and wished that the lord should take abode here.

There is a small trench in the river bank. Water which originates never dries up even if the Arani river is dry. 

The temple faces the southern direction. Temples facing south are considered as Parihara Sthala. So this is a Parihara Sthala. 

The face of the Shiva is Sathyojadham. 

The Avudiayar is square in shape.

There are no Navagrahas but the Chandran and Suriyan are seen only on the pillars.

This temple has a Suyambhu Kala Bhairavar made of mud. The new Bhairavar has been consecrated beside the old one.

There are the images of 2 snakes (Rahu and Kethu) on the ceiling walls. So this temple is considered to be a remedy for Sarpa Dhosha. 

There are stone slab inscriptions in this temple. 

The one who visits this temple will be relieved from Kaala Sarpa Dhosha and all ailments and would receive the blessings of the Lord and all the deities and especially sage Romasa.

About Saint Romasa:

Romasa Maharishi is the ancestor of all Rishis. Star of this Rishi is Maasi Swathi. He was the son of Kagapujandar. he has three and a half crores hairs on his body. Roma means Hair. The fall of one hair signals the end of one Brahma. He has the authorised the Pancha Pakshi Shasthra. 

About Saint Mukunda Rishi:

Mukunda Rishi was the son of Athri Maharishi. He was travelling in the south to visit many Shiva temples.

History: 

Roma Maharishi wanted to have the Dharshan Shiva and Parvathi together. He met Brahma and told him that he had become old and cannot perform penance for years. He wanted to have the Dharshan soon. So he sought his help to locate him a place from where he could attain his wish. Brahma made a ball out of grass (Dharpai) and threw it onto the Bhoologa. He told the Rishi that the place where the ball fell is the auspicious place to fulfil his wish. Romasa Maharishi came to this place and stayed here to perform Yagna. He installed a Shivalinga for his Pooja. He approached Brahma to help him to create fire. Brahma churned this place which was full of trees to create fire. Fire evolved from the friction. Water started to flow due to the churning. The water ran through the place and developed into a river. This river was called Brahmaranya river as created by Brahma. With the help of the fire he performed the Yagna. He had the vision of Shiva and Parvathi together and his wish was fulfilled.  

Mukunda Rishi was the son of Atari Maharishi. He was travelling in the south to visit many Shiva temples. He came to this place and met Roma Rishi. Mukunda Rishi stayed here for a few years. He worshipped Lord Shiva sincerely. After a few years he wanted to go to Kasi. He prepared himself to leave to Kasi. Suddenly he heard a holy voice that he should not leave his place. The voice said that holy Ganga will flow on the banks of Brahmaranya river. A spring of water originated on the banks of the Aranya river. He took a holy dip and worshipped the lord. Lord appeared before him in the form of Bhairavar. Bhairavar assured the Rishi that this water is equal to the Ganga in Kaasi. Mukunda Rishi requested the Lord that this Spring should flow so that those who could not go to Kaasi can come and bath here to get the blessings of the Lord. So, Ganga water started dropping from Kala Bhairavar's Head and he assured that the Spring will never dry up. There is a small trench in the river bank. Water which originates never dries up even if the Arani river is dry. So this temple is equal to Kasi. 

Raja Chithira Senan had no child. He was a very pious man. His wife gave birth to a female child. Amman Maragathavalli was that child. When she attained the age of 18 Lord Shiva came in a horse and carried her away. King Chithira Senan chased the horse with all his men. He was stopped by Nandhi. He prayed to God that he should get back his daughter. Shiva appeared before him along with his consort Maragathavalli and only then the King realised that it was Maragathavalli who was his daughter for 18years.

One time Indiran gave many gifts to Lord Krishna. Out of which the Parijadha Tree was also present. Mahavishnu brought the Parijadha tree to the Devaloga to offer the flowers to his wife Rukmani and Sathyabama. Both of them quarrelled with one another to have the tree in their place. The quarrel extended for a long time and Krishna interrupted and said that each of them could have it for  months in a year.He brought the quarrel to a conclusion. The parijadha tree got angry because Krishna was the reason for its migration here and there and cursed Krishna that he did not realise the difficulty of the tree and therefore he should become a Peepul tree (Peepul tree lasts for long) and have a stay on the earth for more than 1000years. So Mahavishnu got transformed into a peepul here and he stood beside the pond of this temple. So the Peepul tree has become the Sthala Virusksha (still people believe that Krishna is here in the form of a Peepul tree).

One upon there lived a monkey in this village. It always hid itself somewhere in the fear of Hunters. One day a hunter chased the monkey. It ran and came around the Peepul tree and jumped from the tree into the pond drank water and came into the temple and went near Varamurtheeswarar. Since, it performed all these it got relieved of its curse due to Pithru Dhosham. It got the boon of being born as a King in the next Jenmam. The monkey became the King of Kanchipuram in the next Jenmam. One day the King came to know that he was a monkey in his previous Jenmam from his dream. He was asked to build the temple made of mud into a stone temple by some voice in his dream. Therefore, the stone temple of Varamurtheeswarar which stands now was built by the King.

This Pond was built by a local landlord of the place. Once upon a time there lived a Devadasi who was a very pious and sincere devotee of Lord Varamurtheeswarar. The Land Lord of this place got fascinated  by her beauty. One day he proposed to her of his pleasure. She agreed but on a condition. The condition was that he should construct a pond for the temple (which was not there before) and only after that she would be with him. The Landlord took up the task of building a pond and after his job was finished he eagerly went to meet her. She did not want to yield to his wished by heart as she was always thinking of the Lord Varamurtheeswarar. When the Landlord reached the house he found her dead.