Sri Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthipuram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu,

May 2019.

This Sri DevanathaSwamy temple is one of 108  Divyadesam, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and mangalasasanam was done by Thirumangai Alwar. The temple is on the banks of river Kedilam. Since Aheendiran ( Ananda Azhvaan Adhiseshan ) worshiped, Perumal of this temple, hence this place was called as “Aheendirapuram” which latter corrupted to the present name of (Thiru) Vandhipuram. 

 

Painting at Lakshmi Hayagirivar Temple

Mangalasasanam of this temple was done by Thirumangai Alwar. 

Moolavar : Sri Devanathaswamy

Thayar    : Sri Lakshmi Hemabhujavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are..

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Garudalwar are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum was built in Dravidian architecture. In the sanctum Sri Devanathaswamy is in standing posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There are Sannadhis for Ramar and Vedantha Desikar ( who lived and done seva for about 40 years in this temple)

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS.

The temple was believed to be built during medieval Chozhas and further expanded by Pandyas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagaras. The temple has about 50 inscriptions belongs to Chozha Kings Kulothunga Chozha-I (1070 -1120 CE ), Vikrama Chozha ( 1118 – 1135 CE ), Rajaraja Chozha-III ( 1216-1256 CE ), Pandya Kings Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1251-1268 CE ), Vikrama Pandya, Vira Pandya-III, Vijayanagara King Achutha Deva Raya ( 1529 – 1542 CE ) and Koperunsingan. The inscriptions mainly speaks about grants like land, money given to this temple for the regular poojas and burning of Lamps. The Rajagopuram was constructed by Koperunsinga.

HAYAGREEVAR TEMPLE 

Even though the main temple is dedicated to Vishnu, a small Hayagriva temple on a small hill opposite to  the main temple, is very popular. Urchavar is called as "Moovaragiya oruvan" ie, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It was believed that Indira got the Vajrayudham from Vishnu to fight with demons / asuras in this place. This is the prarthana Sthalam for Good education. Arjuna had done penance on this hill and the hill was a piece fallen down while Hanuman carried the Oushadha hill.

Vedanda Desikar had composed 32 Slokas on Hayagreevar. 

ஞானாநந்தமயம் தேவம் நிர்மலஸ்படிகாக்ருதிம்
ஆதாரம் ஸர்வவித்யானாம் ஹயக்ரீவம் உபாஸ்மஹே

ஸ்வதஸ்ஸித்தம் சுத்தஸ்படிக மணிபூப்ரருத்பிரதிபடம்
ஸுதாசத்க்ரீசீபி: த்யுதிபி: அவதாதத்ரிபுவனம்
அனந்தை: த்ரய்யந்தை: அனுவிஹித ஹேஷா ஹலஹலம்
ஹதாசேஷாவத்யம் ஹயவதனம் ஈடீமஹீ மஹ:

LEGENDS

Lord Vishnu gave darshan to Adhiseshan, Markandeyan and Indira.

The Hayagreevar avathara is not one of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. In this Hayagreevar avathara, Maha vishnu took the avathara to retrieve the Vedas and made Saraswati and Brahma as the deities of Knowledge and wisdom. Hence this is the prarthana Sthalam for Good education. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Krishna jayanthi, Ram Navami, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Deepavali, Aadi pooram and 10 days Chithirai festival will be celebrated with Chariot procession during April - May.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Bhattars may be contacted on landline +91 4142 287575 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Thiruvanthipuram is about 5 KM from Cuddalore bus Terminus and Route No 16 passes about 500 meters from the temple.

The temple is 30 KM from Pondicherry, 39 KM from Villupuram and 180 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Cuddalore and all the express trains used to stop here.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

  

 Hayagreevar Temple Vimana

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---