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 had been to Thiruvalam alias Thiruvallam, one of the Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. This is my second visit to this temple. I would like to make use of the Holiday - Sunday - and do not want to go on Pongal Holidays to avoid crowd ( Crowd every where ). Since the Sunday is a holiday and a day is left to Pongal, the bus took 1 ½ Hours to came out of 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 are reserving the seat before it enters inside 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) dharshan 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 as 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 it's 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 is facing east with an entrance from 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 1^st and 2^nd level rajagopurams.

On the left Temple for Sri Rajarajeswari. Also there is a copper plate inscription installed by Sri la Sri Sivanatha Mouna Swamigal (The message details of the inscriptions 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 on the right.

In the outer prakaram ( in the 100 pillar mondapam ) sannadhi for Kasi Viswanthar, Chandramouleeswarar, Annamalaiyar, Sadhasivar, Anandhar, Neelakandar, Ambikeswarar, 1008 Mahalingam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Gurueswarar, Vishnueswarar, Vidhaatharaeswarar, 1300 years 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 prakaram.

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 moolavar. ( There was an interesting story for this. The devotees who brought water to Lord’s abhishekam from the Kanjanagiri was obstructed by Kanjan, an asuran. He was killed by Nandhiyamperuman. Hence Nandhis are facing east. ). This story in sudhai sirpam is on the saba mandapam and there is relief chiseled on the mandapam pillar also.

100 Pillar mandapam

There is also a special feature about the Gopuram of Saba Mandapam. The Stucco images / Sudhai sirpam of 27 Nakshathra Devathai’s Stucco images /sudhai sirpam is 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 ), Chandrasekarar. Standing in one place we can have the darshan of Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

The Dwarapalakas are not a regular moorthams. The left side Dwarapalakar is some what, a regular with usual mudra ( The index finger – to threaten ). The right side dwarapalakar is like 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 little inclined to north looks majestic. It was believed that the Vinayagar has 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 as Thiruvalam.

Sri la Sri Sivanadha mouna Swamigal jeeva samadhi is on the left side of Temple arch . He had done lot of thirupani to this temple. He had cured many deceases through vibudhi and vilva leaves. He spent all the donations for the thirupani. ( A copper plate with inscriptions can be seen one 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 runs in to pages, the same is posted in the next post.

( செப்பேடு )

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

HISTORY ANS INSCRIPTIONS

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

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

The Lord Shiva is called in 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 between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

For pooja and other details the Sivachariyar Umapathi can be contacted over his land line 0416 – 2236088 and mobile 9894922166.

Also Mr Sivan 9245446956 can be contacted over his mobile.

HOW TO REACH

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

From Arcot town bus is availabe to Thiruvalam.

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

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE