Thonda Nadu Temple 23. Thiruverkkadu

SIVAYA NAMA

 

 

 

THIRUVERKADU

 

 

Kopuram

 

 

LOCATION :

 

The temple is situated in the north western direction of Chennai. On the Chennai Poonamalli road, its near Vellappan Chavadi. There are plenty f buses from Chennai to this temple. The temple is about 1 km from the bus terminus. its very near to Karumari amman temple.

•Swamy: Arulmigu  Vedapureeswarar and Arulmigu Verkattu nathar
•Ambal: Arulmigu Balambigai and Verkanni
•Sthala Viruksham: vilvelamaram (வெள்வேலமரம்)
•Theertham: Velayutha theertham

 

As per Sthalapuranam, after soora samharam , lord Murugan came to this temple and using his Divine Spear created a well called the Velayutha Theertham. Unfortunately this well is now dry and is situated outside the temple premises.

 

About the temple : 

 

Thiruverkadu, is an ancient Shiva temple. Lord Shiva is named as Veda Pureeswarar in this temple. As four vedas of Hinduism - Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharvana took the form of neem trees and worshiped Lord Shiva in this site, hence the diety got the name "Veda Pureeswarar". and the place is also known as  Thiruverkadu (Neem forest).
 

The temple tower of Thiruverkadu Vedapurreswarar temple has five tiers and  is east facing .Once you enter into the temple, you can find a huge outer space in front of the main shrine, which is covered by copper sheet. The flag staff is also covered by copper sheet on top. As usual, you can find the idol nandhi facing the lord in the main shrine.

The temple has three pragarams. The second pragaram has a Kodi Maram, Nandi Mandapam, Arunagirinathar shrine and a sthala vriksham, Parasara lingam , Saneeshwarar and Moorka Nayanar. In the third pragaram Agasthiar, Suriyan ( Sun God) , Navagriham, , Saiva Samaya nalvar, 63 nayanmars, Kasi Vishwanathar, Visalakshi, Saklar, Vinayagar, Murugan and Chandikeshwar shrines are there. It is said that Lord Shiva blessed sage Agasthiyar with a vision of His marriage with Devi Parvati in this place. Sage Agasthiyar could not attend the marriage in person (which was taking place in the Himalayas in the North), since he was sent by Lord Shiva to go to South and maintain the balance of the earth which could get unbalanced due to the huge assembly of gods, kings and others during His marriage in the North. Hence, behind the sanctum of the moolavar, we can find the main diety and ambal as a newly wedded couple.  

 

Sthala Viruksham - Vela maram



Moolavar, Vinayakar and Wedding Darshan



Sthala Puranam:

Whenever Lord Shiva takes various forms her orders the four vedas to take a specific form and accompany him. As such, at the time of destroying Thirupuram, Vedas become horses to his charriot, for the sake of Arjunan, when he took a hunters form, the Vedas took the form of dogs. When Lord Shiva danced the Ananda Thandavam, the four vedas become his anklet (சிலம்பு ). When he took the Bikchadanar form, the four vedas become his Komanam. In this temple since the Vedas took the form of neem trees, the name of the temple is "Veda Pureeswarar".

To witness the wedding of Sivaperuman and Parvathy Devi, all saints, devas and rishis reached Himalayas. Due to their total weigt Himalayas went down and causing the south raising. Siva asked  Sage Agasthyar to go to south to balance the level. Agasthyar had to sacrifice the opertunity to see the wedding of Lord Siva. Lord Siva assured the sage to grant the wedding darshan to him when the sage is in south. When Agasthyar reached Thiruverkadu, Siva and Parvathy gave the wedding darshan ( திருமண கோலம் ). In the sanctum we can see Siva and Parvathy in the wedding darshan with Vinayakar behind the Moolavar.

To get back the Sudarsachakaram Vishnu worshiped Siva in this temple. Along with him Adiseshan also worshiped Siva and decided not to harm any one who lives in this area. Till today no one get  snake bite in this area. Hence this area is also known as Vidam Theenda Pathi ( விடம்தீண்டாபதி ) 

The sage Sanathkumar became a camel after Nandhi cursed him. As per the advice of Nandhi he came to this temple to worship Shiva and got rid of the sin.

To attain Shivananda Peru vazhvu, Indiran came to this temple to pray and obtain grace of the deity.

Lord Vishnu born as Parasuramar to Sage Jamathakni and Renuka, due to the curse of Sage Brugu. When Parasuramar came here to worship Siva his mother Renuka Devi also accompenied him. Renuka Devi Temple nearby is now the famous Karu Mari Amman temple.

 Moorkka Nayanar

Moorkka Nayanar belongs to Thiruverkadu. To attain the feet of Lord Siva ( வேதபுரீஸ்வரர் ), the nayanar was feeding all the sivanadiyar without saying no.He was doing this without any specific time limit. He lost all his money and savings. He sarted gambling and with that money he was feeding sivanadiyar, He was very rough with every one. If any one argue or challange his winnings, he wont hesitate to kill them. Due to his rough attitude he was known as Moorka Nayanar.

Inspite of all this sin he was doing a good service in feeding the sivanadiyars, he was blessed by Lord Siva. There is a shrine for Moorkka Nayanar. On Karthigai ( Nov - Dec) on Moola nakshatharam day special pooja is conducted.

 

Pathigam:
Thirugnanasambandar sung one Thevara Pathigam in the 1st Thirumurai. Nammbiyandaar Nambi in his Thiruthondar Thiruvandathi ( 11th Thirumurai )sung about this temple, Thondaman and Moorkan Nayanar. Arunagirinathar  sung about this temple in his Thiruppugazh.
 

ஒள்ளி துள்ளக் கதிக்கா மிவனொளி
வெள்ளி யானுறை வேற்காடு
உள்ளி யாருயர்ந் தாரிவ் வுலகினில்
தெள்ளி யாரவர் தேவரே.  
 
ஆடல் நாகம் அசைத்தள வில்லதோர்
வேடங் கொண்டவன் வேற்காடு
பாடி யும்பணிந் தாரிவ் வுலகினில்
சேட ராகிய செல்வரே.
                                                                                                 -----------திருஞானசம்பந்தர் 
                                                                                                                 1st திருமுறை 

Timings:
 
 6AM to 12.00 Noon
4.00 PM to 8.00 PM
 

Contact:
Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple, Tiruverkadu-600 077, Kancheepuram district.
Phone : +91- 44-2627 2430, 2627 2487

 

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM