SAPTHA RISHEESWARAR TEMPLE
Distance: 40kms from Vellore.
Shiva: Saptha Risheeswarar.
Ambaal: Abhithagujambal
Speciality:
This village is surround by mountains.
There are 2 specialities in this village - the ancient shiva temple and Odugathur Swamigal who had miracle powers.
The temple was built in the 11th century.
There is no Rajagopuram and the moolavar faces east.
Ambaal Abhithagujambal faces south.
The 7 saints - Kashyapar, Athri, Bharathwajar, Gauthamar, Vasishtar, Valmiki and Agasthyar have worshipped this temple. Since these 7 saints worshipped here the Shiva is known as Saptha Risheeswarar.
History:
Lord Brahma performed Yaaga to seek blessings from Mahavishnu. Goddess Saraswathi was angry with Brahma and thereby transformed into river Vegavathi to stop the Yagna. Mahavishnu wanted to save the Yaaga. In the form of Ranganatha he blocked the force of the water and ultimately stopped it. Saraswathi lost her powers due to her deed and later performed Thavam and regained her powers later. The place where Saraswathi performed Thavam was named after her as Vaaniyambadi. The place were Mahavishnu lied down as Ranganatha is called Pallikonda.
Brahma and Vishnu competed among themselves to find the head and foot (head - mudi and foot - adi) of Lord Shiva. Vishnu amitted the he could not find Shiva's feet. A screw pine flower (thazhampoo) fell from Shiva's head and showed Brahma the direction from where it fell. Brahma lied to everyone that he saw the head of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva cursed the flower that it should not be used for his pooja. Similarly he cursed Brahma to be born as a human being on earth. So, Brahma was born as Shivasharma in Virijipuram in a brahmin family. He later attained Moksha by worshipping lord Shiva there. Virinji is the other name of Brahma. The place was later named as Virinjipuram after his name.
These references have been given in the Kanchipuranam. In earlier days the boundary of Kanchi was Virinjipuram. When Saraswathi transformed herself as Vegavathi river also called Uthra Cauvery, had the origin in the Odugathur Mountain. In earlier day Odugathur was called as Ozhukathur.
The Saptha Rishis (7 saints) came to participate in Brahma's Yaaga. On their journey they visited many holy temples. They stayed in certain places around Vellore. They worshipped Shiva while riding in these places. The places are
Distance: 40kms from Vellore.
Shiva: Saptha Risheeswarar.
Ambaal: Abhithagujambal
Speciality:
This village is surround by mountains.
There are 2 specialities in this village - the ancient shiva temple and Odugathur Swamigal who had miracle powers.
The temple was built in the 11th century.
There is no Rajagopuram and the moolavar faces east.
Ambaal Abhithagujambal faces south.
The 7 saints - Kashyapar, Athri, Bharathwajar, Gauthamar, Vasishtar, Valmiki and Agasthyar have worshipped this temple. Since these 7 saints worshipped here the Shiva is known as Saptha Risheeswarar.
History:
Lord Brahma performed Yaaga to seek blessings from Mahavishnu. Goddess Saraswathi was angry with Brahma and thereby transformed into river Vegavathi to stop the Yagna. Mahavishnu wanted to save the Yaaga. In the form of Ranganatha he blocked the force of the water and ultimately stopped it. Saraswathi lost her powers due to her deed and later performed Thavam and regained her powers later. The place where Saraswathi performed Thavam was named after her as Vaaniyambadi. The place were Mahavishnu lied down as Ranganatha is called Pallikonda.
Brahma and Vishnu competed among themselves to find the head and foot (head - mudi and foot - adi) of Lord Shiva. Vishnu amitted the he could not find Shiva's feet. A screw pine flower (thazhampoo) fell from Shiva's head and showed Brahma the direction from where it fell. Brahma lied to everyone that he saw the head of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva cursed the flower that it should not be used for his pooja. Similarly he cursed Brahma to be born as a human being on earth. So, Brahma was born as Shivasharma in Virijipuram in a brahmin family. He later attained Moksha by worshipping lord Shiva there. Virinji is the other name of Brahma. The place was later named as Virinjipuram after his name.
These references have been given in the Kanchipuranam. In earlier days the boundary of Kanchi was Virinjipuram. When Saraswathi transformed herself as Vegavathi river also called Uthra Cauvery, had the origin in the Odugathur Mountain. In earlier day Odugathur was called as Ozhukathur.
The Saptha Rishis (7 saints) came to participate in Brahma's Yaaga. On their journey they visited many holy temples. They stayed in certain places around Vellore. They worshipped Shiva while riding in these places. The places are
- Vannivedu - Agasthya
- Karai - Gauthama
- Veppur - Vasishtar
- Kudimallur - Athri
- Pudhupadi - Bharathwajar
- Mel Visharam - Valmiki
- Aurimedu - Kashyapar
Thereby these 7 places which were forests (in those days) are known as Shadaranya Kshethras (Shada means seven ; Aranya means forest ; and Kshethra means Temple).
All the 7 saints came together to a place surrounded by mountains and was enriched with natural beauty. They established Parnasala and worshipped lord Shiva. They stayed here and lived with great discipline and therefore the place was known as Ozhukathur and later transformed to Odugathur. Since all the 7 saints worshipped the Shiva together he was called Saptha Risheeswarar. Records say that the muruga of this temple was sung by Arunagirinaadhar but the song could not be identified now.
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