the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared from the midst of plantain trees here, hence he is also praised as Sri Vazhimadu Nathar. (Vazhai means banana and madu means from the roots in Tamil). As per legend, Lord Brahma (Vedhi) worshiped Lord Shiva here. Hence this place gets the name Vedhikudi and the lord is praised as Sri Vedhapureeswarar. According to legend, a demon had stolen the Vedas from Lord Brahma and hid them under the sea. It is believed that Lord Mahavishnu retrieved them. To get relief from this sin (dosham), all the four Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana, visited this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is believed to have blessed them with purification. This is another reason why the lord is praised as Sri Vedhapureeswarar and the place is known as Vedhikudi. Lord Vinayakar’s idol is at the entrance of the sanctum and it is in a unique posture. The lord’s head is slightly tilted, and it appears as if he is listening to the mantras chanted by the Vedas. Hence, he is praised as Sri Veda Pillaiyar and Sri Sevi Saitha Vinayakar. Another legend associated with this temple is that of a Chola king. It is believed that his daughter’s marriage was getting delayed. The king was worried, and he worshiped Lord Shiva here to seek his help. Pleased with his prayers, the lord granted wedding boon to his daughter. After her marriage, the king is believed to have changed his daughter’s name to Mangayarkarasi (the name of this temple’s goddess). It is believed that Lord Brahma, Suryan, Kuberan, Sage Chaitanya Maharishi, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Thirunavukarasar have worshiped the lord here.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 14th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This is one of the Saptha Sthanam temples of Thiruvaiyaru. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers.A unique feature of this temple is that there are 276 Shiva lingams installed at one place in the corridor (prakaram). Each one represents the main deity of the 276 Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams. By visiting this temple, one can get the benefit of visiting all the sthalams. There is another Shiva temple near this place by the name of Sri Aadhi Vaithyanathaswami Temple at Veerasingampettai (3 kms east of Thiru Kandiyur). There are some stone inscriptions which date back to the periods of Aditha Chola-I, Kopparakesari Varman and Korajakesari Varman. In these inscriptions, the lord of this temple is referred as Vedhikudi Mahadevar and Parakesari Chathurvedhi Mangalathu Mahadevar. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).The idol of Ardhanareeswarar is unique here. Normally in other Shiva temples this lord can be seen with the male half (the lord) on the right side and the female half (Shakthi) on the left side. Whereas in this temple, it is reversed – the female half is on the right and the male half is on the left. However, this idol is presently not in a good shape and is broken in many places. The sanctum’s tower is mostly built using granite and it looks beautiful. There is a Shivalingam under the Sthala Viruksham of this temple (Vilvam tree). The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of semi-circular tank (akazhi in Tamil). It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year for three days, from 13th to 15th in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Lord Panchanatheeswarar (Sri Iyyarappar) of Thiruvaiyaru decided to conduct the marriage of Nandhi and Suyasambigai at Thirumazhappadi (a nearby place) on the Punarpoosam day of the Tamil month of Panguni. He selected the following places to arrange things required for the marriage. Thiruvedhikkudi to get the Vedic Brahmins, Thiruppazhanam to get fruits, Thiruchotruthurai to arrange food, Thirukkandiyur for Kandi (ornaments), Thiruppoonthuruthi for fruits and garlands, and Thiruneithanam (Thillai sthanam) to get ghee for yagnas. After the marriage, as a gesture of thanks, it is believed that Lord Panchanatheeswarar and Goddess Dharmasamvardhani visited each of these places in a palanquin. This event is celebrated as Sapthasthanam. Sapthasthanam (seven places) festival is celebrated in Thiruvaiyaru on the Visakam day (the day after the full moon) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) every year. First palanquin (bedecked with mirrors) carrying the principal deities of Thiruvaiyaru go to the second temple in procession. Idols of Nandhi along with his wife Suyasambigai also join this procession. The deities of the second temple receive them at the border of the village. After reaching the second temple and performing certain poojas, they join the second temple’s palanquin to the third temple. Like this, the palanquins from six places are joined together and they finally assemble in Thiru Neithanam temple. Thereafter, all the seven palanquins take part in a procession back to Thiruvaiyaryu. Thousands of people come from all over the country to witness this marvellous festival. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand (Ther-adi). Devotees also take part in the Poochorithal (flower festival) in which an idol offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins leave for their respective temples. The seven temples that are part of this Sapthasthanam festival are - Aiyarappar temple, Thiruvaiyaru, Apathsahayeswar Temple, Thirupazhanam, Odhanavaneswarar Temple, Thiruchotruthurai, Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvedhikudi (this temple), Kandeeswarar Temple, Thirukkandiyur, Pushpavananathar Temple, Thirupanthuruthi and Neyyadiappar Temple, Thiru Neithanam. Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. Devotees also worship the lord here to seek his blessings in order to help them master the Vedas.

The Sapthasthanam festival and Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) every year are celebrated in a grand manner. Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), and Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar). Pradosham is also observed regularly.