38. DHAMAL

VARAHEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 15kms from Kanchipuram

Shiva: Varaheeswarar

Amman: Gowriamman

Speciality:

The name referred to this temple by the Vijayanagara Emperors was Thirupandreeswara Mudaiyar.

King Kulothunga II, Raja Raja II have built this long existing temple in the 12th Century. 

The Vijayanagara emperor renovated the main shrine of Shiva. 

This place Dhamal served as a fort to Kanchipuram. 

Any invader who reached Kanchipuram from north and west had to cross this place. 

In 1532, the Vijayanagara King Achudharayar has written a document in tamil Vattezhuthu and has insripted this on the wall that if anyone utilises the property (movable and immovable) contributed to this temple for his own for any purpose will attain the sin of killing his parents, guru and a pregnant cow.

The Sun's rays fall on Maha Shivarathiri in the Month of Maasi in the evening.

A devotee gave his own village as a gift to this temple. The income which is obtained from his property, lands from the village could be utilised for pooja, rituals, function and maintenance of the temple.

During the invasions of Muslim sultans and nawabs this village had to fight devastations. The idols, jewellery and the property belonging to the temple has been taken away and the village itself destroyed. There is an underground subway from this temple to the Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar temple. Some of the Jewellery and Panchaloga idols were saved from the invaders by sending them through this secret passage to Kanchipuram.

There is an image of Sangu and Chakra (conch and discus) on the linga.

Varaheeswarar is also called as Sookshuma Lingam. It solves all the problems of his devotees without their knowledge without fail. 

 The Rajagopuram is 7 tiered.

We find the Ashta Bhairavar Shilpas on the pillars.

There is a pond nearby.

There is a Sarabeswarar in the form of a Linga along with Amman.

All the Prahara deities are seen as in other temples.

This is a Kedhu Harihara Sthalam.

Not only the Ashta Bhairavars there are also many more rare figures of deities carved meticulously in the pillars of the temple.

History: 

Hiranyakshan was an Asura. His mother got conceived in an inauspicious moment. He wanted to rule the universe, the upper and the lower world. He attacked the Devaloga and chased the King Indra from there. Next he carried the Bhoologa and hid it below the Padhalaloga. The devas ran to Vaikuntam to seek the help of Mahavishnu regarding this. Since, Bhumadhevi (earth) was considered to be the consort of Mahavishnu he readily started to solve the problem. As the Asura hid the earth below the Padhalaloga Mahavishnu took the Avatar of a pig. He dug the soil deep and got into the Padhalaloga. He started to kill all the Asuras who came on his way. He tore everyone with his Sharp teeth. He found the earth under a river. He caught the earth with his teeth and pulled it out. He killed Hiranyakshan with his horn. His hands touched the dead Asura and he attained Mocha. Varahapeumal brought back the earth and made it revolve in its original place. Since he turned into a fierce animal he could not control his anger everyone were afraid of him. They approached Lord Shiva to help them. Lord Shiva came in the form of a hunter and came in front of the Perumal. He found that the horn with which he hilled the Asura was full of the Asura blood. Therefore the quality of the Asura was sticking onto the horn. he immediately hugged the pig and plucked the horn from his nose. He tied the horn to his garland and immediately the anger of the perumal disappeared. Realising the mistake the Varahaperumal worshipped Shiva here. This is the reason why the Changu and the Chakra are seen on the linga.