SIVAYA NAMA
THIRUKKAZHUKKUNTRAM
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| VEDAGIREESWARAR TEMPLE |
LOCATION:
This temple is in Kanchipuram district near Chennai. It is around 15 KM from Chengalpet Railway Station. From Chennai it is 72 KM and 16 KM from Mahabalipuram.
There are two temples with the main deity Siva Peruman. One is on top of the hill
Vedhagiriswarar Temple and another at the hill base-Bhakthavatsaleswarar Temple.
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| PAKSHI FEEDING |
STHALA PURANAM:
Two sages Sandan and Prasandan performed penance on Lord Siva 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 Sambu and Aadhi and are worshipping Lord with the Pakshi Theertha they had created for three yugas. According to the legend the two birds fly every day from Varanasi on the Ganges(Northern India) to this temple flying about two thousand miles, arriving at noon. They have lunch here and then fly southern most point of India, to Rameswaram. They then fly north up the coast to Chidambaram, go to sleep, and in the morning they fly north to Varanasi for a bath in the Ganges and then off back to Thirukazhukundram again. The feeding of the eagles is going on for thousands of years, it is believed. King Suraguru, to whom Lord granted darshan was instrumental for the creation of this sacred place, says the history. The eagles have attained salvation, perhaps, for they are not visiting this temple
anymore..!
They are not considered as normal birds but as mythical “eight sages” or Asthavasus. In Indian Mythology, Asthvasus were guard to the eight points of the compass. But they did penance on which Hindu Lord Shiva was angry and cursed them to turn into vultures. When they asked for forgiveness, Lord Siva directed them to the temple of Vedagiri Ishwara where they would be fed and worshipped. They remained there in the temple. In the last three yugams(epoch), three pairs died leaving the last couple surviving in this epoch. 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 its a bad omen and attributed to the presence of “sinners” among the onlookers. For a decade now, no mythical birds has visited the temple but the ritual is of practised by the temple priest in the hope that they eventually will turn up some day.Due to this reason this place is known as Thirukkazhukkuntram.
This temple is known as Dakshina Kayilayam.
Swamy : Arukmigu Vedagireeswarar Ambal : Arulmigu Sokkanayaki Ambal Theertham: Sangu Theertham
Sthala Viruksham: Kathali ( Plantain )
According to tradition, the four Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana, are seen here in the shape of four boulders, placed one above the other, with Lord Siva as Vedagiriswarar, emerging from the head of the fourth Veda, Atharvana. Hence the place gets the name Vedagiri, where the presiding deity on the hilltop is Vedagiriswarar |
VEDHAGIRISWARAR TEMPLE
The total area covering the temple and hill is over 265 acres and 500 feet high.To go up the hill needs to climb about 600
steps and at many of which are extremely steep. Iron railings are places on
the walls at both ends to help pilgrims to climb.
The hill itself as four vedhams and hence the hill is called as Vedhagiri. It is believed that the hill has innumerable medicinal herbs and plants and therefore the cool breeze is said to cure ailments. As the Vedas exists as Hill - it is believed that undertaking circumambulation of the Hill gives effect equivalent to worshipping the Vedas.
Markandeyar worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.In the inner prakaram moortham for Sri Vinayagar, Ambal sannadhi and a siva Lingam. On the east side entrance Sri Vallaba Vinayagar and Srivalli Devasena Sri Subramaniyar and on the North side entrance Sri Vinayagar and Sri Murugan. Natarajar saba is in the artha mandapam. On the return path There is a Pallava period Kudaivarai ( Rock cut temple ). This rock cut Siva Temple was chiseled during AD 610 to 640 by Mahendravaraman I. This is now under the control of Archaeological Survey of India. The Moolavar is Suyambu (Appeared of its own - Non creative). 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 (Vimana) and goes around the Shivalinga. Unbearable heat is experienced while opening the sanctum next day. This happens once in a few years. Scientists had proved that such an incident took place on the 10th November, 1930. There is a separate Sahasara Namam are there. Saint Sundarar got Gold from Vedagireeswarar. For Saint Manikkavasagar he appeared various form in this temple. Hence he sung in his THIRUVASAGAM as காணாததை யெல்லாம் காட்டி சிவம் காட்டி ...........Ambal is in standing posture facing north.There are no moorthams in koshtam.There is no nandhi and only Palipeedam with Dwajasthambam. Ambal Sokkanayaki Ambal is in standing posture in a separate shrine facing east in the pragaram.
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| Arulmigu Bakthavatsalr Temple |
1. Indra Theertham, 2. Sambu Theertham 3. Rudra Theertham, 4. Vashishta Theertham, 5. MeygyAna Theertham, 6. Agasthiya Theertham, 7. Markandeya Theertham, 8. Kaushika Theertham, 9. nandi Theertham, 10. Varuna theertham, 11. Agalikai Theertham, 12. Pakshi Theertham..
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| At the entrance to the Vedagiri |
SANGU THEETHAM:
Tank associated with this temple is known as Sangu (Conch) theertham. Once in
twelve years a Sangu (Conch) appears from this tank. Rishi Margandeya was supposed to have performed penance near Sangu
theertham and the Conchs were believed to be appearing once in 12 years from the
time of Mangandeya.
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| Conchs that appeared from Sangu theertham |
This photograph is taken from a book. The first conch is believed to be of the age of Sage Magandeya. For
rest, the dates are mentioned in the picture. According to the Sthalapuranam, Lord Siva himself has declared that this
tank is the holiest of all, and as per his command, all the sacred waters in
India meet here once in 12 years when Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya Rasi. The
event is conducted as a festival known as Sangu Theertha Pushkara Mela, for
which there is a huge gathering from all parts of our country.This is the second
biggest bathing festival in the South, next to the Maha Maham of
Kumbakonam.
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| Steps to Vedagireeswarar Temple |
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| Arulmigu Vedagireeswarar |
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| Sri Nadarajar with Sri Sivakami Ambal |
THAZHAKKOVIL (BAKTHAVATHSALAR TEMPLE)
This temple is located at the base of the Thirukkazhukundram Hill. The main deity of this temple is Lord Bhakthavatsaleswarar. The temple has five towers on all the four sides and each one is equal to the other in size with seven tiers and workmanship. The 16 pillars Mandapam at the entrance provides a majestic ambiance to the open space in front of the temple. Ashta Puja Durgai is on the wall of the present office complex on the east side entrance. The relief looks very beautiful. Moolavar vimanam is of Gajabirushtam type. There are lot of Tamil inscriptions on the moolavar and Ambal karuvarai wall. ( It is a rare sight to see the old tamil inscriptions on the ambal temple also ). These inscriptions belongs to the 7thcentury Pallava, Chozha and Rastra kooda period. There are a couple of Sannadhis in the outer praharam. One for Lord Murugan, another for Lord Tripura Sundari and One for Lord Arunachaleswarar.
Sri Chakram is on Ambal and abhishekam is done only three times on Adipuram, Panguni Uthiram and Navarathiri Navami day. Rest of the days the abishekam is done only for the goddesses feet.,
Vilenthiya Velan /Murugan in front of Ambal sannadhi moortham is very beautiful. There are some withered good colourful frescoes in the roof of the mandapam which are worth watching. There are 63 Nayanmars which can be found in the praharam just outside the Garbhagraham. On the left side of the Vahana Mandapam there are couple of Colourful Vahanams used as seats for deities during procession
This temple is built by Mahendra Varma Pallavan in 7th Century BC (610-630). Pallva architecture is evident from the workmanship,especially in the Mandapam below that is on left side of the Outer Praharam and has an elevated Peetam (Dias) at the centre. The sculptures seen here are marvellous and unique.
Swamy: Arulmigu Bakthavatsalar
Ambal: Arulmigu Thiripura Sundari
Theertham: Nandhi Theertham
Sthala Viruksham: Kathali ( Plantain )
Pathigam:
Several Saivaite saints and poets such as Appar, Sundarar, Manickavaasagar, Pattinathaar, Arunagirinathar, Tiruporur Chidambaram Swaamigal, Andagakavi Veeraraga Mudaliar, Ramalinga Adigalar, Ramanathapuram Somasundaram Pillai, Kanchipuram Mahavidwan Sabapathi Mudaliar have sung the praise of this sthalam.
தோடுடையானொரு காதில்தூய குழைதாழ
ஏடுடையான் தலைகலனாக இரந்துண்ணும்நாடுடையான் நள்ளிருள்ஏம நடமாடுங்
காடுடையான் காதல்செய்கோயில் கழுக்குன்றே.
நண்ணியசீர் ஞானசம்பந்தன் தமிழ்மாலை
பண்ணியல்பாற் பாடியபத்தும் இவைவல்லார்
புண்ணியராய் விண்ணவரோடும் புகுவாரே.
Thirugnanasambanthar ----- 1st Thirumurai
மூவிலைவேற் கையானை மூர்த்தி தன்னை
முதுபிணக்கா டுடையானை முதலா னானை
ஆவினிலைந் துகந்தானை அமரர் கோனை
ஆலால முண்டுகந்த ஐயன் றன்னைப்
பூவினின்மேல் நான்முகனும் மாலும் போற்றப்
புணர்வரிய பெருமானைப் புனிதன் றன்னைக்
காவலனைக் கழுக்குன்ற மமர்ந்தான் றன்னைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டேன் நானே.
Thirunavukkarasar -------- 6th Thirumurai
கொன்று செய்த கொடுமை யாற்பல சொல்லவே
நின்ற பாவம் வினைகள் தாம்பல நீங்கவே
சென்று சென்று தொழுமின் தேவர் பிரானிடங்
கன்றி னோடு பிடிசூழ் தண்கழுக் குன்றமே.
Sundarar -------------------- 7th Thirumurai
பிணக்கிலாத பெ ருந்துறைப் பெருமாai னுன் னாமங்கள் பேசுவார்க்கு
இணக்கிலாத தோரின்ப மேவருந் துன்பமே துடைத் தெம்பிரான்
உணக்கிலாததோர் வித்துமேல்விளை யாம லென்வினை யொத்தபின்
கணக்கிலாத திருக் கோலம் நீவந்து கட்டினாய் கழுக்குன்றலே
Manikkavasakar ---------- 8th Thirumur
Address: Sri Veda Giriswarar Temple. Tirukazhukundram-603 109. Kancheepuram
Timings: Malaikkovil 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Thazhakkovil 6.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Contact: Vedamurthy Sivachariyar +91-44- 2744 7139, 27447393
94428 11149, 9894507959, 9443247394.
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
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