198. PERIYAPALAYAM

AIMUKTHEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 25kms from Redhills, 40kms from Chennai and 3kms from Thiruvallur.

Shiva: Aimuktheeswarar

Amman: Annapurani, Annapoornambigai

Speciality:

The Shiva Linga Aimuktheeswarar faces west towards the Arani river.

This Linga was installed by Sage Valmiki.

Lord Indhra worshipped here and got relieved from his curse. 

The Pancha Bhoothas worshipped here and attained Mukthi. Therefore Shiva was called Aimuktheeswarar. (Ai meaning five).

Amman Annapurani faces west.

There is a Linga near the Amman.

This temple was built by the Pallavas.

The Pancha Bhoothas are said to worship everyday.

There are Sannidhis for Veerabhadrar, Varasidhdhi Vinayaka, Hanuman, Valmiki and Shri Devi Bhudhevi with Vekadesa Shrinivasa Perumal here. 

History:

Sage Valmiki stayed here and performed penance. Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. He wanted Shiva to stay here for people's worship. Lord Shiva agreed. Sage Valmiki installed the Suuyambhu Linga which he worshipped in this place. This place was called Valmiki Ashramam. 

The Pancha Bhoothas (Land, Fire, Air, Water and Sky) went to worship Shiva to the Kailash. Nandhikeswarar stopped them and told them that it was not an auspicious time for their worship. They disrespected Nandhi thinking that they were more powerful and entered to worship Shiva. Lord Shiva was in penance. They did not realise that they were disturbing the Lord. Lord Shiva opened his eyes. He said that they had come together in an inauspicious time and Nandhi was outside to fix the time and since they had not respected the words of Nandhi they were cursed to be born as Monkeys in the world. Since they did not attend their own jobs the world was full of darkness and they had to accept the curse as they have committed this mistake. They realised their mistake and sought for relief shortly. After Shiva calmed down he said that Brahmaranya River flowed as Uthiravahini in Bhuloga and Sage Valmiki has installed a Linga there. If all the 5 monkeys could reach there together and worship the Linga they would attain Shapa Vimochana (relief from curse). The 5 monkeys travelled to many places in the earth and identified this place. They worshipped here as instructed by Lord Shiva and got relieved from the curse. The sculpture of this story is inside the temple. In the Baana of AImuktheeswarar the impression of 5 monkeys could be seen. 

King Chitravarman was a devotee of Sage Valmiki. He ruled a country called Kamarupa. He was a devotional King.Once there was no rain in the country and his country lost fertility. The people of the country were suffering from drought. He worshiped this temple daily. Amman came in the form of Mohini and supplied food to the people of his Land. The Land became fertile and people were relieved from drought and Hunger. This King built the temple as a sign of gratitude. This story sculpture can be seen at the entrance. There Amman was therefore known as Annapooranambigai.

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