44. RAMAGIRI

VAALEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 17kms from Uthukottai. This place falls in Andhra Pradesh Division.

Shiva: Valeeswarar

Amman: Maragadhambigai

Theertham: Nandhi Theertham

Speciality:

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.

Ramagiri denotes the Esanam face of Lord Shiva.

The Kala Bhairavar here is Santhana Praapthi Bhairavar. 

The Kala Bhairavar has 8 hands in his right 4 hands he carries Soolam, Daaru, Sword and Dhandam na din his left 4 hands he carries Angusam, Paasam, Bell and a skull and he has long hair and Suryan, Chandran and Ganga above it. 2 long teeth are found in corner of the mouth. The Lord faces south.

Ramagiri has now become a Bhairava Sthala. People who do not have children come and worship this Bhairavar to get a child.

We find a Nandhi half protruding from the wall of the Nandhi Theertham pond. The water flows through the Nandhi's mouth. This water originates from the hill and reaches the well through the mouth of the Nandhi. The water never stops. This water is equal to that of Ganga in Kaasi. 

There is a Linga and a Nandhi near the Pond. 

Worshipping the Vaaleeswarar temple is equal to worshipping the Shiva at Kaasi.

History:

After defeating Ravana Rama reached Rameswaram on the way to Ayodhya. Ravana, even though an Asura was a Brahmin as he was born to a Rishi. Killing Ravana yielded Brahmahathi Dhosham to Rama. Sage Vasishtar advised Rama to bring a linga from Kasi and perform Pooja to get relieved from the Dhosha. Rama sent Hanuman to bring a linga from Kasi. While returning he was passing through a place called Thirukarikkarai or Kalaingamettukarai. Kala Bhairavar was present here. He saw the Linga carried by Hanuman. he wanted the Linga to stay here. He told about his wish to Surya and Vayu and asked them for help. They agreed to help him. While Hanuman was carrying this linga above this place the Sun was shining very heavily and the temperature got very high. Vayu (wind) was very fierce and Hanuman could not cross the place fighting the hot air. He was very thirsty. He landed in this place and saw a boy driving cows. This boy was Kala Bhairavar. Hanuman enquired to him for a water pond to quench his thirst. There was no pond nearby. The boy (Bhairavar) prayed to Ganga to come and settle in a small area as a pond. Hanuman found the pond and he requested the boy to hold the Linga till he was back. He also told him not to place it on the ground and he will be back after quenching his thirst with the water in the pond. The boy agreed. While Hanuman was drinking water the boy cried out that the linga was too heavy for him to carry. Hanuman came running but that time the boy placed the linga on the ground and said that he was not able to bear the weight and therefore he placed it on the ground and ran away. Hanuman came and tried to Lift the linga but could not do it. He then roped it with his long tail and tried to pull the Linga. But it was impossible for him to move it. He was disgusted by the act of the boy and he started to Kasi Again. he then found that the atmosphere was very normal. There was no heat and no hot wind. He understood that it was some trick played on hi. Angry Hanuman cursed the pond to become a hill (now we find a Murugar temple on the hill). He understood that the boy was Bhairavar and it was the wish of the Lord to stay here. He repented for his mistake of trying to pull the Linga and Lord Shiva blessed him and said that he wanted to be brought by him to stay here. Since, the linga was brought by Hanuman for the sake of Rama the place was called as Ramagiri. As Hanuman tried to pull the Linga by his tail Shiva is named as Vaaleeswarar (Vaal meaning tail). Even now the Linga is slightly tilted with the Marks of Hanuman's tail seen on it. We find hanuman between the Linga and Nandhi in a praying gesture.