the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

Significance of the Eagles: According to a legend, sage Pusha and sage Vidhadha performed penance on Lord Shiva seeking Sharoopa status. Lord modified their demand and granted the Sayujya status and promised elevation to Sharoopa later. The sages refused to accept the offer and were adamant on their demand. Angry Lord cursed them to become eagles. Since then, they are in this hill known as Shambu and Aadhi and are worshipping Lord with the Pakshi Theertha they had created. It is believed that they are the two eagles that visit Thirukazhukundram daily from time immemorial, in order to worship Siva and to obtain salvation from their curse. To attain moksha and regain their original forms, they have to worship the deity of this temple till the end of Kaliyuga. While these sacred Eagles were known as Sandan and Prasandan in Thretha Yuga, Sambathi and Jatayu in Krutha Yuga, Sambhukthan and Mukundan in Dwapara Yuga, in Kali Yuga they are now known as Pusha and Vidhadha. It is said that after a bath in the Ganges in the morning, they come here at noon for food, reach Rameswaram in the evening for darshan and return to Chidambaram for the night. The eagles circle around the temple top and approach the priest. They eat the balls of rice and after cleaning their beaks in the water kept in a small vessel nearby, take off, circle around the tower again and fly off. This has been going on for centuries now. The scene is also sculpted on one of the walls in front of Goddess Thirupurasundari, in the lower temple. The two sacred eagles appearing over the temple to worship the Lord every day are a major attraction for the devotees. Legend also says that the birds will not come if there are sinners in the crowd which assembles at the temple. Till 1998, the mystical bird pair used to appear every day at noon at Thirukazhukundram. But one day they stopped coming and they simply vanished. For the local people, it’s a bad omen and attributed to the presence of sinners among the onlookers. For a decade now, no mythical birds had visited the temple, but the ritual is of practised by the temple priest in the hope that they eventually will turn up some day.

Unique phenomenon of birth of Conch: It is believed that Saint Markandeya, came down here after visiting Benares. He wished to have a bath in the sacred tank and perform abhishekam to the Siva lingam here, but he found no vessel to take the water. Just then a conch suddenly emerged from the tank, with a humming sound, and Markandeya performed the abhishekam. It is said that even now once in 12 years, a conch emerges from this water, which the temple authorities collect with all honors and preserve in the temple in an enclosed glass box with dates mentioned therein. It is astonishing that a conch gets formed in fresh water since the natural phenomenon of a birth of a conch can happen only in salt water. Abhishekam is performed to Lord Vedagiriswarar with the collected conches on the last Monday in the Tamil month of Karthigai.

Vedagiriswarar: Sage Bharadhwaja prayed to the Lord Shiva for a long life so he could learn all the Vedas. Shiva appeared before him and granted him the wish to learn the Vedas and created three mountains each signifying a Veda (Rig, Yajur and Sama). Shiva took a handful of mud and said "Dear Bharadhwaja! The Vedas that you could learn are only this handful compared to the mountains present here, even if you live much longer and hence, learning is never ending and could possibly cannot be the route for Salvation". Shiva also said that in Kaliyuga, the simplest and the surest way to salvation is Bhakti or unfettered devotion, service and love of God and his creations. The hillock is named as Vedagiri, since it is traditionally believed that the four (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana) Vedas are seen one above the other in the form of four rocks. Lord Shiva is believed to be emerging from the head of the fourth (Atharvana) Veda and said to have derived the name Vedagiriswarar (a Swayambhu lingam), the presiding deity of the temple situated on the hilltop.

Indra is worshipping Lord Shiva here: It is believed that Indira is still worshipping Lord in this temple. As an evidence of this fact, thunder falls through a hole in the tower above the sanctum sanctorum (Vimana) and goes around the Shivalinga. Unbearable heat is experienced while opening the sanctum next day. This happens once in a few years.

Nandi Theertham: The Nandi once undertook penance on Earth. Pleased with him, Siva appeared before him and granted boon. The Nandi desired that the place and the tank be named after him and asked that those taking a dip in the tank and offering prayers to Lord Vedagiriswarar be absolved of their sins. His prayer was granted and hence the place is also known as Nandipuram and the tank, Nandi Theertham.

Thirukazhukundram: The word Thirukazhukundram comes from the Tamil words Thiru (Respectful), Kazhugu (Vulture/Eagle), Kundram (mount). It was known as "Thirukazhugukundram" in ancient times, which, overtime became Thirukazhukundram. According to the Sthalapuranam, Lord Siva himself had declared Sangu tank to be the holiest of all, and as per his command, all the sacred waters in India would meet here once in 12 years when Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya rasi. The event is conducted as a festival known as Sangu Thirtha Pushkara Mela when there is a huge gathering from all parts of the country .There is an interesting story prevalent with respect to the origination of Sangu Theertha Pushkara Mela festival. There occurred a tussle of proving supremacy amongst various rivers such as Ambai, Indraputra, Rudra, Cauvery, Pamba, Yamuna, Thamirabarani, Vaigai, to name a few. Each one touted itself to be the best. The rivers then decided to worship Lord Vedagiriswarar by taking bath in the Sangu Theertham. The Lord appeared before the rivers and told them that none of them was superior before the conch that appeared in the tank, which was used to perform abhishekam to Lord. The rivers felt ashamed about their mean fight and then decided to take bath in the Sangu Theertham during the day of transition of Jupiter into Virgo rasi.

Lord Shiva initiation of Panchakshara to Manikkavasakar: It was in Bhaktavachaleswarar Temple that Lord Siva appeared before the Tamil saint Manikkavasakar, in the form of Dakshinamurthy, and initiated him into the secrets of the holy Panchakshara.When Sri Anjaneya took the Sanjeevi Parvatha from Himalayas, some parts of Mountain fell over this mountain. Hence even today rare herbals are available here. The place has been called as Pakshi Theertham, Uruthrakodi, Nandipuri, Indrapuri, Narayanapuri, Brahmapuri, Dinakarapuri, Muniganapuri in the past.Saint Arunagirinathar describes the place as the one equal to Amaravathi the capital of Indira. It is believed. King Suraguru, to whom Lord granted darshan was instrumental for the creation of this sacred place.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 28th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. This is a hill temple and 562 steps to reach. There will be two temples. One at the bottom of the hill and one at the top of the hill. The Foot hill temple has presiding Bhaktavachaleswarar and Mother Thirupurasundari. The temple at foot-hills has four towers and resembles Annamalaiar Temple, Thiruvannamalai. The Hill temple also called as Malai Koil houses Vedhagireeswarar and Mother Sokka Nayaki facing North. There is no Nandhi in the hill temple. Only Balipeedam and Dwajastambam can be found facing the sanctum. There is a huge Nandhi at the bottom of the hill facing the hill. Majority of the devotees throng the temple for mental peace and salvation. Those mentally retarded come and stay here for 48 days, bathe in the Sangu Theertham, pray to Lord Vedagireeswarar and return fully cured. This miracle is happening even now. Diseases of any intense nature as Asthma, blood pressure and heart are cured by prayers to Lord. They breathe the air with herbal effects and get cured. Devotees also come here seeking wedding, child boons too.

10 day Chithirai festival drawing huge devotee crowd in April-May. Aadi Pooram 10 days festival for Mother Ambica in July-August. Full moon days, new moon days, pradosha days, Tamil and English New Year Days, Deepavali, Pongal are the festivals celebrated in the day. Next to Thiruvannamalai, Girivalam is observed by devotees here too on full moon days.