17th November 2018.
Our next destination was Virinchipuram. It was
told that it may take at least 3 to 4 hours to see the temple. The temple is
popularly known as “Bhaskara Kshetram” since the Sun worships Lord Shiva during
Panguni month. In Thondai Nadu this temple's, this temple's compound wall is praised similarly to Mannargudi temple.. as "திருவிரிஞ்சை மதிழலகு..". This place was also called "Karapuram"
This temple is also one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.
தெண்ணீர்ப் புனற்கெடில வீரட்டமுஞ்
சீகாழி வல்லந் திருவேட்டியும்
உண்ணீரார் ஏடகமும் ஊறல் அம்பர்
உறையூர் நறையூர் அரண நல்லூர்
விண்ணார் விடையார் விளமா வெண்ணி
மீயச்சூர் வீழி மிழலை மிக்க
கண்ணார் நுதலார் கரபு ரம்முங்
கபாலி யாரவர்தங் காப்புக்களே
The 15th-century saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple. He refers to this place as "Thiruvirinjai" and "Karapuram."
மகர விம்ப சீகர முகர வங்க வாரிதி
மறுகி வெந்து வாய்விட நெடுவான
வழிதி றந்து சேனையு மெதிர்ம லைந்த சூரனு
மடிய இந்தி ராதியர் குடியேறச்
சிகர துங்க மால்வரை தகர வென்றி வேல்விடு
சிறுவ சந்த்ர சேகரர் பெருவாழ்வே
திடசைதொ றும்ப்ர பூபதி திசைமு கன்ப ராவிய
திருவிரிஞ்சை மேவிய பெருமாளே
Moolavar : Sri Margabandeeswarar / Vazhithunai Nathar
Consort : Sri Maragathambigai
The salient features of this temple are…
The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram.
A soolakal is on the left side after the Rajagopuram entrance. Palipedam, Dwajasthambam
and Nandi are in the mukka mandapam. Entrance to the inner sanctum on the left
is the Heramba Vinayagar and Dhandayuthapani on the right. In the second stage, there is a 3-tier Rajagopuram.
In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durgai
and Chandikeswarar. In the first prakaram 63var. In the second Prakaram
Pickshadanar stucco images, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, A Shiva Linga
sannadhi, Sthala vruksham ( It was told that one year it will give fruit in
black and another in white colour. ), Ambal is in a separate temple like sannadhi (
No images are in koshtam), Natarajar sannadhi, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Saneeswarar, Suriyan and 108 Lingam.
ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala and Artha mandapam. The Vimana over the sanctum is 2 tier Gajabirushta Vimanam with 3 kalasas.
In the third Prakaram Simha Theertham, Vijayanagara
Period two mandapams, Sundial, annadhana mandapam. The Two Kalyana mandapams on
the southeast and southwest are built during Vijayanagara period. The outer
pillars have images of horse riders, Yazhi riders very much similar to
Vellore Jalakandeswarar Temple Mandapam. In addition to this, there is a stepped well of small size,
not so deep.
A Sundial
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The Original temple was built during the 8th century Pallava period and may be reconstructed during the 10th to 11th Century by a Sambuvaraya
King under Rajaraja Chozha. The temple received contributions from Pallvas, Chozhas, Pandyas, Sambavarayas Vijayanagaras, and Vijayanagara Nayakas.
The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Pallava King Nadivaraman-II, Parantaka Chozha, Sundara Chozhan, Rajendra Chozha-II, Kulothunga Chozha-III, Kadava King Koperunsingan, Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan-III, Kulasekara Sambuvarayar, Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar-I, II, III, Vijayanagara Kings, Kambannan, Bukkar-II, Devaraya Maharayar, Veeraprataba Devarayar and Achuthadevarayar and Nayaka Kings Chinna Bommu Nayakas son Boobalu Nayak.
A Vijayanagara King Veeraprataba Devarayar period inscriptions on the side wall of the Rajagopuram record the abolition of the dowry
system prevailed during that time and the punishment given by the king, which excludes them from the Brahmin community. As per the inscriptions, the Marriages are to be conducted as Kanyadhana without giving Gold (as dowry). This order was issued by the king since, during Vijayanagara's rule marriages in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada brahmins are arranged only after getting Gold from the Bride's family or the bride's family accepts Gold and gives the Bride. The 12-line inscription starts with meikeerthi as ...
சுபமஸ்து.
ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ . ஸ்ரீமன் மகா
ராஜாதிராஜ பரமேசுவரரான ஸ்ரீ வீரபிர தாப தேவராய மகாராஜர் ப்ரித்விராஜ்யம்
பண்ணி அருளானின்ற சகாப்தம் 1347ழின் மேல் செல்லானின்ற விஸ்வாசு
வருஷம் பங்குனி மாதம் 3க்கு சஷ்டியும் புதன்கிழமையும்பெற்ற ஆநுசத்து நாள், படைவீட்டு இராஜ்யத்து அஸேஷவித்யமஹாஜநங்களும் அகர்கபுஷ்கரணி கோபிநாத ஸன்னதியிலே தர்ம ஸ்தாபந மையபத்ரம் பண்ணி
குடுத்தபடி இற்றைய நாள்முதலாக இந்த படைவீட்டு ராஜ்
யத்து பிராமணரில் கன்ன(டி)கர் தமிழர்
தெலுங்கர் இலாளர் முதலான ஆஸேஷ
கோத்திரத்து அஸேஷசூத்தரத்தில்
அஸேஷகையிலவர்களும் விவாஹம் பண்ணுமிடத்து, கன்னியாதானமாக
விவாஹம் பண்ணக் கடவராகவும் கன்னியாதானம்
பண்ணாமல் பொன் வாங்கி பெண் கொடுத்தால்,
பொன் கொடுத்து விவாஹம் பண்ணினால், ராஜ தண்டத்துக்கும் உட்பட்டு
பிராமண்யத்துக்கும் புறம்பாகக்
கடவரென்று பண்ணின தர்ம ஸ்தாபன
மைய பத்ரம்; இப்படிக்கு அஸேஷ வித்ய
மகாஜனங்கள் எழுத்து
The marriage /kanyadaan inscription
The inscription
on the stone laid on the floor of the prahara......
This
inscription records that in the Saumya year, which was current after the
expiration of Saka 1471, the pavement of the outer courtyard of the
Virinjipuram Temple was laid by Bommuu-nayaka, who is evidently the same person
as Sinua-Bommu-nayaka or Bomma-nripati of Vellore. On this occasion, the other
inscribed stones which are noticed in part III, must have found their way into
the floor of the temple.
TRANSLATION
Let
there be prosperity! On Thursday, the day of (the nakshatra) Punarvasu, which
corresponds to the seventh lunar day of the former half of the month of Mesha
of the Saumya year, which was current after the Salivaha-Saka year 1471 (had passed),-to procure
religious merit to Machcha (?)-Nayaka (of) Velur,-prince Bommu-Nayaka laid the
pavement round the whole (temple).
The
inscription on the stone at the south entrance...
This
inscription is dated during the reign of Venkatapati-Deva-Maharayar and in the
Nadana year, which was current after the expiration of the Saka year 1514. it records that Periya-Erama-nayaka of
Punnarrur granted a house (manai) and some land for a matha to Ananda-Namasivaya-pandaram. The grant was made at the margasahayesvara
Temple of Tiru-Virinchapuram (Virinchipuram).
TRANSLATION
Hail!
On the 6th solar day of the month of Tai of the Nadana year, which
was current after the Saka year 1514 (had passed), while the illustrious Mahamandalesvara, the hero (Ganda) the dagger (Kattari), the hawk (Saluva), the
illustrious Venkatapati-Deva-Maharayar was pleased to rule the earth, -in the
presence of (the god) Margasahayesvara (of)
Tiru-Viranchapuram, Periya-Erama-Nayaka (of) Punnarrur ordered a house (manai)
on the northern side of the holy street (tiru-vithi) of Vandarayan (to be given
for) a matha to Anada-Namasivaya-Pandaram, the worshipper (i.e.pupil?) of the
guru Namasivaya-murti (of) Chidambarma, to procure religious merit to
Samkarappa-Nayaka Ayan, the son of Maya(?)-Nayaka(of) Velur. This house for the matha consists of 1 house
to the east of the house of Trayambaka to the west of the house of Murti-Manikkam, and of a house garden of 41
feet. To this meritorious gift of a mahta we gave, with a libation of water, for
each day a kuruni of rice (? Prasada) under mortgage and the connexion under
mortgage with (a piece of) land in the agrahara (of) Urandan-tangal. The succession of sons (which consists of)
the succession of pupils shall enjoy this Mutt as long as the moon and the sun
endure. Whose ever injures this
meritorious gift of a matha/mutt, that man shall incur the sin of one who has killed
a black cow on the bank of the Ganga.
LEGENDS
It is believed that Brahma was born as a human child for Sivanathan and Nayana due to the curse of Lord Shiva. He was called as Sivasarman. During his young age, he lost his father, and his right to do the pooja was also taken over by his relatives. So his mother Prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva to that he will show the path on Karthigai Sunday. When Siva Sarman was waiting after the bath, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of an old man, conducted upanayanam, and gave Brahma Siva Deeksha. For his pooja moolavar tilted his head.
The above legend is also told this way... Lord Shiva gave initiation to Brahma and taught 4 Vedas, 6 Shastras, 18 Puranas, and 64 arts. Since Shiva taught Vedas and showed the Vedic path Lord Shiva is called “Marka Sahayar”. As per another legend Lord Shiva is in the form of a hunter, accompanied by a pepper merchant to save him from thieves, hence Lord Shiva is called “Vazhithunai Nantha Nathar” This incident is celebrated every year in the form of a drama. Arunagirinathar is also sung on the Sri Subramaniar of this temple.
In another legend, Lord Shiva called Ma Parvati "Hey Sankari", since She was in black colour. Ma Parvati got angry, came to this place, took a bath in the Theertham, and did penance standing on one leg in between 5 velvi khunds, She got back her old golden color.
Devotees pray to Lord Shiva and Ambal for child boon. On Karthigai Month last Sunday, the ladies used to take a bath in the Simha Theertham / well and sleep in the mandapam with a wet dress. If a Child, Flower, or some mangala articles came in their dream, they will get pregnant soon.
In Panguni Tamil month the sun's rays fall on the moolavar, hence this place is called “Bhaskara Kshetram.”
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Deepavali, Pongal, New Year (Tamil & English), and on all important days.
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
The landline and the mobile numbers may be
contacted for further details. 0416- 2914546 and 9393939510.
HOW TO
REACH:
Virinjipuram is about 15.3 KM from Vellore and a bus
facility is available from Vellore Bus Terminus.
9.3 KM from Pallikonda.
On the bus route from Villupuram to Ambur, on the Chennai – Bangalore Highway. get down
at Sethuvalai / Seduvalai and from there the temple is 1 KM.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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