VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Vilwanatheswarar Temple / Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple at Thiruvalam / திருவலம், Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

Monday, 13 January 2014

Sri Vilwanatheswarar Temple / Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple at Thiruvalam / திருவலம், Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

13 January 2014.

On 12-01-2014, I visited Thiruvalam, also known as Thiruvallam, one of the Paadal Petra Siva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. This is my second visit to this temple. I would like to take advantage of the holiday on Sunday and avoid going on Pongal Holidays to avoid crowds (There Are Crowds everywhere). Since Sunday is a holiday and a day is left to Pongal, the bus took 1 ½ Hours to come out of the Koyambedu bus terminus, due to traffic. Special buses were operated to meet the crowd. It was a confusing moment to identify the bus bay since the regular places were changed. It was sad to see the people reserving their seats before they entered the terminus.

Since I went early in the morning around 05.45 hrs, it was easy for me to get the bus to Arcot, and from there I went to Thiruvalam through a town bus. In the temple, there was not much crowd and I had the (abhishekam) darshan of Lord Shiva. Spent about 2 hours admiring the beauty of the temple, idols/ moortis, and reliefs.

10. SRI VILVANATHESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUVALAM -திருவலம் -

(This post was updated with Thevara hymns, Sthalapurana, Legends, History, and inscriptions. For the updated post, please click this Link.

Now this place is called Thiruvalam – திருவலம். This is the 10^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the banks of River Ponnai (There is also another name “Neevaa (நீ வா) ” to this river – The river changed its direction and came nearer when Lord Shiva asked) in Thondai Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Entrance arch with first-level 4-tier Rajagopuram view

Moolavar : Sri Vilvanatheeswarar, Sri Vallanathar

Consort : Sri Thanumathyambal, Sri Vallambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are…….

The temple faces east with an entrance from the south. The first-level Rajagopuram is of 4 tiers, and the second-level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. The Gowri Theertha kulam with neerazhi mandapam is on the right between the 1^st and 2^nd level rajagopurams.

On the left, the temple for Sri Rajarajeswari. Also, there is a copper plate inscription installed by Sri la Sri Sivanatha Mouna Swamigal (The message details of the inscription are posted in the next post). At the 2^nd level, Rajagopuram moortham of Valampuri Vinayagar and Aathmalingeswarar on the left. Immediately after the 2^nd level, Rajagopuram Kalabhairavar is on the right.

In the outer prakaram (in the 100-pillar mandapam), sannadhi for Kasi Viswanthar, Chandramouleeswarar, Annamalaiyar, Sadhasivar, Anandhar, Neelakandar, Ambikeswarar, 1008 Mahalingam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Gurueswarar, Vishnueswarar, Vidhaatharaeswarar, 1300 years 1300-year-old Mango tree, and Kani vangiya Vinayagar (கனி வாங்கிய விநாயகர்). Also separate temples for Aathi Vilvanathar, Sundareswarar, with Meenakshi and Ambal Temple facing east in the outer praharam.

Saba mandapam, Balipedam Dwajasthambam, Athikara Nandhi, Big Sudhai Nandhi (Installed by Sri La Sri Sivanandha Mouna Swamikal), Mouna Swamikal Mootham, Navagrahas are in the front mandapam. Adhikara nandhi, Sudhai nandhi, and the nandhi in the inner prakaram are facing east along with the moolavar. (There was an interesting story for this. The devotees who brought water to the Lord’s abhishekam from the Kanjanagiri were obstructed by Kanjan, an asura. He was killed by Nandhiyamperuman. Hence, Nandhis are facing east. This story in stucco image is on the Sabha mandapam, and there is a relief chiseled on the mandapam pillar also.

100 pillar mandapam

There is also a special feature about the Gopuram of the Sabha Mandapam. The Stucco images of 27 Nakshathra deities Stucco images are on the gopuram.

In the inner prakaram, Idols /moorthangal of Brahmi, Vishnu, 63var (in ஐம்பொன் - Impon and stone – installed in 2 rows), Chandikeswarar, and Nagar.

In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai (Not standing on Mahishasuran).

In the artha mandapam, Vishnu, Urchavars (the beauty of Sakthi and Bhikshadanar are to be seen), and Chandrasekara. Standing in one place, we can have the darshan of Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

The Dwarapalakas are not regular Murtis. The left side Dwarapalakar is somewhat regular with the usual mudra (The index finger – to threaten). On the right side, dwarapalakar is dancing with a beautiful smile on his face. (Thanks to the Sivachariyar and his son, who gave permission to take photographs of Dwarapalakas).

The moolavar is of swayambhu and a little inclined to the north, and looks majestic. It was believed that the Vinayagar got the Mango fruit after circumambulating Lord Shiva and Parvathi in this temple, hence he is called a “Kani Vangiya Vinayagar (கனி வாங்கிய விநாயகர்)“ and Vinayagar is facing north. Hence, the place is also called Thiruvalam.

Sri la Sri Sivanadha Mouna Swamigal jeeva samadhi is on the left side of the Temple arch. He had done a lot of thirupani to this temple. He had cured many diseases through vibhuthi and vilva leaves. He spent all the donations on the thirupani. (A copper plate with inscriptions can be seen on the left side near Sri Ambikeswari samedha Sri Raja Rajeswarar temple between the two rajagopurams).

Sri La Sri Sivananda Mouna Swamy's Thirupani Cheppedu made of copper - Since the Cheppedu's contents run into pages, the same is posted in the next post.

( செப்பேடு )

Ambal Sri Thanumathyambal is in a separate Temple, and she was also called "Theekali Ambal" with ukram on her face. It was believed that Adhi Sankara had changed the ukaram into a peace/ Shantham. In koshtam Vinayagar, Annapoorani, Ambal with Abayavaram and Durgai.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple has a lot of Tamil inscriptions. Koprakesari Rajendra Chozhan, Korajakesarivarman Raja Mahendran, Kulothungan, Third Kulothungan, Chozha Booban’s son Veerasamban, and many other kings’ period inscriptions are found. These inscriptions mainly speak about the building of mandapas, donations of land, cattle, etc., and the income from to be used to burn the lamps and prasad /naivedyam.

The temple has the inscriptions of the Pallava and Chola periods. The place was called by different names as per the inscriptions. Nandhivarman (793 CE) – Vaanapuram, Rajaraja Cholan (991CE) – Theekkali Vallam, and in Arunagirinathar’s Thiruppugazh – Thiruvalam,

Lord Shiva is called by different names. Nandhivarma Pallavan-III (CE863) – Theekali Vallamudaya Parameswarar, Mahavali Vaana bana Raja (Vikramathiya-I) (CE888) – Theekkali Perumanadikal, Rajaraja Cholan (991 CE) – Thirutheekkali Alwar, Rajendra Cholan (1015 CE)-Thiruvallamudayar, Vikrama Cholan (1123 CE) –Thiruvallamudaya Mahadevar, Kulothunga Chozhan III (1212 CE) _ Thiruvallamudaya Nayanar.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

For pooja and other details, Sivachariyar Umapathi can be contacted over his landline 0416 – 2236088, and mobile at 9894922166.

Also, Mr Sivan 9245446956 can be contacted over his mobile.

HOW TO REACH

The place Thiruvalm is on the bus route from Chennai to Chittoor (Route No 144), after Ranipet.

From Arcot, a town bus is available to Thiruvalam.

From Chennai to Vellore, get down at Muthukadai after Walaja and catch a bus to Thiruvalam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE