VYAKRAPURESWARAR TEMPLE
Distance: 3kms from Uthiramerur and 22kms from Kancheepuram.
Distance: 3kms from Uthiramerur and 22kms from Kancheepuram.
Shiva: Vyakrapureeswarar
Amman: Amirthagujambal or Abhithagujambal
Theertham: Vyakrapadha Theertham
Speciality:
The Dhakshinamurthy is very special in this temple. The Dhakshinamurthy is in the Yoga form, one leg on the lion and the other on Muyalagan. There is a crown on the head and many jewels carved on the statue. We can also find the banyan tree and the Sanagaadhi Rishis also. This dhakshinamurthy is referred to as Simha Yoga dhakshinamurthy or Arthanaari Dakshinamurthy (Arthanareeswarar form one hand holding Thirusoolam as Shakthi).
The 2 pillars in the Maha mandapam resembles 2 lions. These sculptures were specialized by the Pallavas.
We can find an underground passage from the temple to the temple pond. Earlier people say that this passage extended upto Kanchipuram. Some say that this passage leads to Uthiramerur Perumal temple. This passage was built for the safe hiding of Kings at the times of wars.
The sixteen pillared Mandapam is a special feature carved with many figures such as Tiger worshipping Linga, cow peforming Paal abhishekha on linga, Kannappar, Mahishasuramardhini, Gangaalanaadhar, hanuman, indhira and so on. This 16 pillars denote the 16 type of wealth.
Rajendra Chola 1, Udayaar Raajadhi Raaja Devar, Kulothunga Chola 1, Kalinga raja, Aparajitha Vikrama Varman, Kopara Kaesari, Panranthagan 1, Raja naarayana Sambhuvarayan, Koperumsinga Pallavan, Jadaavarman Sudharapandiyan, Vijayanagara King Virupaaksharavudaiyar, Raashtra Koodas and many other kings have contributed to the temple in different ways.
We can see the images of Kannappa Nayanar, Kaali, Dakshinamurthy, forms of Shiva and many other Sculptures sculpted on the pillars.
In front of the entrance there is an old mandapam called Indhira mandapam. It is believed that when Lord Indhira comes here to worship the Lord he stays in this madam.
The Karthigai Lakshadweepa Festival is celebrated in a grand manner.
Thirupulivanam is a Vaipusthalam. Thirunaavukarasar has referred about this temple in his book Kshetra Kovai. Sivagnana Vallalar has written 64 songs in his Vallalar Sasthiram about this temple. Pattinathu Pillayar have written about this temple in his book Thiru Eakambamudaiyar Thiruandhaadhi.
In the inscriptions the name of Shiva has been mentioned as Thirupilivalamudaiya Nayanar and Aaludaiyar Thirupulivalamudaiyar.
Early Name:
Thirupulivanam is referred to as ‘Vyakrapuravanam’ in Kanchi Puranam. Mostly the places with the name Puli is related to Vyakrapadha Maharishi commonly known as Pulikaal Munivar.
According to inscriptions the name of the place is Pulivalam.
Vyakrapadha was the son of Sage Madhyandhanar. He was very devoted to Lord Shiva. He wished to visit many Shiva temples. Since he needed flowers to perform Shiva Pooja he found it very difficult to pluck the flowers from plants and trees. He wished to fetch the flowers for Shiva Pooja even before the honey bee could touch them. So he requested Lord Shiva to offer him hands, legs and eyes like that of a tiger. Shiva blessed him with this boon and he acquired the hands, eyes and feet of a tiger. Therefore, he was called as Pulikkaal Munivar in Tamil and Vyakrapaadhar (vyakram- tiger; padham means feet) in Sanskrit.
Amman: Amirthagujambal or Abhithagujambal
Theertham: Vyakrapadha Theertham
Speciality:
The temple is big.
The Dwarabalakas are very majestic to look at. Their eyes are fierce; they place one leg on their Gadhayudha and there is a head of a man below the other foot.
The moolavar Shiva is a Swayambhu linga.
The Avudayar is fixed on a lotus petal. The Avudaiyar is Square shaped.
The marks of the tiger’s nails are seen on the linga.
There is a ‘Kudumi’ on top of the linga.
The Vimana is in the Gajaprashta form as we say Thoongaanai Maadam in tamil.
The Vinayaka on the Eka peetam is also majestic.
Here muruga is in the Arumuga form with Valli and Deivanai.
There are idols of Saint Vyakrapadha and Sage Patanjali Rishi.
The Dwarabalakas are very majestic to look at. Their eyes are fierce; they place one leg on their Gadhayudha and there is a head of a man below the other foot.
The moolavar Shiva is a Swayambhu linga.
The Avudayar is fixed on a lotus petal. The Avudaiyar is Square shaped.
The marks of the tiger’s nails are seen on the linga.
There is a ‘Kudumi’ on top of the linga.
The Vimana is in the Gajaprashta form as we say Thoongaanai Maadam in tamil.
The Vinayaka on the Eka peetam is also majestic.
Here muruga is in the Arumuga form with Valli and Deivanai.
There are idols of Saint Vyakrapadha and Sage Patanjali Rishi.
The Dhakshinamurthy is very special in this temple. The Dhakshinamurthy is in the Yoga form, one leg on the lion and the other on Muyalagan. There is a crown on the head and many jewels carved on the statue. We can also find the banyan tree and the Sanagaadhi Rishis also. This dhakshinamurthy is referred to as Simha Yoga dhakshinamurthy or Arthanaari Dakshinamurthy (Arthanareeswarar form one hand holding Thirusoolam as Shakthi).
The 2 pillars in the Maha mandapam resembles 2 lions. These sculptures were specialized by the Pallavas.
We can find an underground passage from the temple to the temple pond. Earlier people say that this passage extended upto Kanchipuram. Some say that this passage leads to Uthiramerur Perumal temple. This passage was built for the safe hiding of Kings at the times of wars.
The sixteen pillared Mandapam is a special feature carved with many figures such as Tiger worshipping Linga, cow peforming Paal abhishekha on linga, Kannappar, Mahishasuramardhini, Gangaalanaadhar, hanuman, indhira and so on. This 16 pillars denote the 16 type of wealth.
Rajendra Chola 1, Udayaar Raajadhi Raaja Devar, Kulothunga Chola 1, Kalinga raja, Aparajitha Vikrama Varman, Kopara Kaesari, Panranthagan 1, Raja naarayana Sambhuvarayan, Koperumsinga Pallavan, Jadaavarman Sudharapandiyan, Vijayanagara King Virupaaksharavudaiyar, Raashtra Koodas and many other kings have contributed to the temple in different ways.
We can see the images of Kannappa Nayanar, Kaali, Dakshinamurthy, forms of Shiva and many other Sculptures sculpted on the pillars.
In front of the entrance there is an old mandapam called Indhira mandapam. It is believed that when Lord Indhira comes here to worship the Lord he stays in this madam.
The Karthigai Lakshadweepa Festival is celebrated in a grand manner.
Thirupulivanam is a Vaipusthalam. Thirunaavukarasar has referred about this temple in his book Kshetra Kovai. Sivagnana Vallalar has written 64 songs in his Vallalar Sasthiram about this temple. Pattinathu Pillayar have written about this temple in his book Thiru Eakambamudaiyar Thiruandhaadhi.
In the inscriptions the name of Shiva has been mentioned as Thirupilivalamudaiya Nayanar and Aaludaiyar Thirupulivalamudaiyar.
Early Name:
Thirupulivanam is referred to as ‘Vyakrapuravanam’ in Kanchi Puranam. Mostly the places with the name Puli is related to Vyakrapadha Maharishi commonly known as Pulikaal Munivar.
According to inscriptions the name of the place is Pulivalam.
Story of Vyakrapadha:
Vyakrapadha was the son of Sage Madhyandhanar. He was very devoted to Lord Shiva. He wished to visit many Shiva temples. Since he needed flowers to perform Shiva Pooja he found it very difficult to pluck the flowers from plants and trees. He wished to fetch the flowers for Shiva Pooja even before the honey bee could touch them. So he requested Lord Shiva to offer him hands, legs and eyes like that of a tiger. Shiva blessed him with this boon and he acquired the hands, eyes and feet of a tiger. Therefore, he was called as Pulikkaal Munivar in Tamil and Vyakrapaadhar (vyakram- tiger; padham means feet) in Sanskrit.
History:
Vyakrapaadha Maharishi has worshipped this Shiva in the form of a Tiger. One day a trader performed Pooja and worshipped Shiva of this temple as all the products which he had brought for trade has sold with great profit. When the tiger came to perform Pooja to the Lord it found that already Pooja has been done. So it started attacking the linga with its paws in anger. After sometime the tiger realised its mistake and hugged the linga with its paws and shed tears on the linga. Shiva appeared before the tiger and blessed the tiger and said that the place would be named after the tiger. The tiger attained Saabha Vimochana. Since the tiger came around the place the place was called Pulivalam and later transformed to Thirupulivanam. The name of the Shiva in tamil is Pulieaswarar. We can find the Vyakrapaadha linga in the temple campus. After the tiger was killed it transformed into Sage Vyakrapaadha and it worshipped the Lord and attained the boon of becoming a Linga and staying in the temple itself.
Parantaka Chola was infected with a strange disease and the doctors could not cure it. He was advised to visit this temple and perform Pooja to Lord Shiva here. The King stayed in this place for certain period of time and worshipped lord Shiva. He arranged for Poojas and rituals to be performed to the lord. He got released from his disease and he contributed gold and lands to the temple.
When Kulothunga Chola was travelling towards Kanchipuram his chariot refused to move beyond a place. He tried to pull his elephant chariot towards Kanchipuram but he could not advance and therefore the place is now known as Aanaipallam. The king saw a Sage in the form of a Tiger. Thinking that it was a tiger he launched his bow and the arrow fled and hurt the tiger’s leg. The place where this incident happened is called Karuvaeppampoondi. The tiger started running to save itself and a second arrow hurt the mouth of the tiger. This place is now known as Pulivoy. Finally, the third arrow hit the tiger’s stomach. This place was called Puthari, now known as Puthali. At this stage Shiva appeared and the Chola realised the truth and regretted for his deed.
There are Shiva temples in Karuvaeppampoondi, Pulivoy and Puthali also.
No comments:
Post a Comment