12th
May 2019.
During
our Pada Yathra to Tirupati from Chennai, we used to pass Ramagiri around 18.00 hrs
after the closure of the temple, so we couldn’t have the darshan of Sri Valeeswarar and Kalabhairava. On 12th May 2019, on the way to Gudimallam Sri Parasurameswara Temple’s
visit, we had the opportunity to visit this temple. Basically, this complex
has two temples, one for Sri Kalabhairava and the other for Sri Valeeswarar. As per Sekkizhar, this temple is one of the Devara vaippu sthalam, and the hymn was sung by Appar and Thirugnanasambandar. Appar's hymn was missing. This place was mentioned as Thiukaaraikarai in one of the hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar. During the Vijayanagara period, this hill Ramagiri was called Valeeswaram.
SANTHANA PRAPTI KALA BHAIRAVA TEMPLE
Moolavar: Sri KalaBhairava
Some of
the important features of this temple are…
An unfinished Rajagopuram or a ruined Rajagopuram base, common for both temples, is
on the south side. The Temple tank Nandhi theertham is on the left, immediately
after the Rajagopuram base structure. The Nandhi theertham gets water through
the mouth of a Nandhi from the Hill. The water was not dried out even during the peak of the summer.
This
temple is facing east with a sanctum, the artha mandapam. In the sanctum, Kalabairavar is in a standing posture. In front is his vahana, Dog.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. A vesara
vimana is above the sanctum. Opposite the temple, dog sculptures are standing
open to the sky with a Navakanda Sculpture (a Consolidated post will be written on Gudimallam Visit hero stones).
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
The original temple belongs to the Pallava period and was renovated during the Chola King Vira Rajendra. From the inscriptions, it was learned that A Sangama Kula Virupaksha Raya of Vijayanagara tried to construct the Rajagopuram, but the same was stopped midway; the reason is not known.
LEGENDS
At the
end of the Ramayana war, Ravana, a Brahmin, was killed by Rama; due to this, Rama got the
Brahmahathi Dosha. (Even though Ravana belongs to the Asuras, his father Vishrava was
a Brahmin). To get rid of this, he wanted to worship Lord Shiva and asked
Hanuman to bring a Shiva Linga from Kashi. When Hanuman is heading to
Rameshwaram with the Shiva Linga, Bhairava wants to install the same on this Ramagiri hill. So he asked Surya to radiate more
heat, and Bhairava created a pond with water to quench the thirst and reduce the body heat of Hanuman. Due to the heat, Hanuman got exhausted and wanted
to drink water. So he landed in this place. Without knowing that a small boy was the
Bhairava of this temple, Hanuman gave the Shivalinga and asked him not to keep the Shiva Linga on the ground. When Hanuman was
taking a bath in the pond, Bhairava disappeared after keeping the Shiva Linga on the ground. After a bath, Hanuman came out and found the Shiva Linga on the floor, and the boy was also missing.
Hanuman
attempted many times to lift with his hand, but couldn’t do so. Finally, Hanuman coiled his tail (vaal - வால் in Tamil) around the Shiva Linga and tried to pull. Hanuman failed in the final attempt
also, and in turn, the Shiva Linga inclined to some angle. The tail’s Coil
impression can be seen on the Shiva Linga and firmly stayed on the ground. Hence, Lord Shiva obtained the name "Valeeswarar ". (In the meantime, Seetha made Shiva Linga from the sand, and Rama did pooja is a separate story.
It is
believed that this Bhairava blesses the childless couple of Child boons. The
childless couple has to come to the temple
early morning without taking food, take a bath in the Nandhi theertham, with a wet dress, pray to Bhairava, and light 8 deepams. The couple has to feed the dogs roaming inside
the temple. The Gurukkal will give them
a stone puppy, and the couple has to circumambulate the temple 8 times. After their wish is fulfilled, the couple with
the Child has to come to the temple to pray for Sri Bhairava while performing Abhishekam.
Devotees
in large numbers throng at Ramagiri to worship Bhairava on theipirai Ashtami day (the 8th
day after the full moon) from 09.00 hrs to 11.45 hrs.
Bhairava
SRI VALEESWARAR TEMPLE
Moolavar : Sri Valeeswarar Swamy
Consort : Sri Maragathambigai
Some of
the salient features of this temple are…
This
temple faces north with an entrance on the east side. At the entrance of the sanctum,
Dwara Vinayagar and Chandramouleeswarar
Shiva Linga. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. In the ardha mandpam, Nandi and Hanuman are on the opposite to moolavar, which is a rare feature in a Shiva Temple.
In
praharam Saptamatrikas, Veerabhadra, Chandikeswarar, Suryan,
Anjaneyar, Ayyappan, Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Ganapathy as Gajamukha, Veerabhadra in sitting posture, Agasthiyar with peculiar headgear, and Appar. Ambal Maragathambigai is in a separate sannadhi facing south.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and Artha mandapam with a corridor around the sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam, and a 2 tier brick vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum.
THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 11.45 hrs and from 15.00 hrs to 17.45 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Sivachariyar
Shankar Swamy may be contacted on his mobile at 9490008887 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The
temple is about 3 km off the Chennai-Tirupati main road.
Share
autos are available from Nagalapuram and Pichatur.
The
place Ramagiri is about 6 km from Nagalapuram, 4.6 km from Pichatur, 70 km from
Tirupati, and 77 km from Chennai.
Nandhi (Rishabam) Theertham
Water from Rishaba's mouth
Veerabhadra
Chandikeswarar
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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