12th
May 2019.
During
our Patha Yathra to Tirupati from Chennai, we used to pass Ramagiri around 18.00 hrs
after closure of the temple, so couldn’t had 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 of visiting 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 hymn was sung by Appar and Thirugnanasambandar. Appars' hymn was missing. This place was mentioned as Thiukaaraikarai in one of the hymn sung by Thirugnanasambandar. During Vijayanagara period this hill Ramagiri was called as Valeeswaram.
SANTHANA PRAPTI KALA BHAIRAVA
Moolavar
: Sri KalaBhairava
Some of
the important features of this temple are…
An un-finished 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
peak of the summer.
This
temple is facing east with a sanctum, artha mandapam. In the sanctum
Kalabairavar is in standing posture. In front is his vahana Dog. A Vesara
vimana is above the sanctum. Opposite to the temple Dog sculptures are standing
open to sky with a Navakanda Sculpture ( a Consolidated post will be written on Gudimallam Visit hero stones ).
HISTORY:
The original temple belongs to Pallava period and renovated during Chozha King Vira Rajendra. From the inscriptions it was learnt that A Sangama Kula Virupaksha Raya of Vijayanagara tried to construct the Rajagopuram and same was stopped in midway, the reason is not known.
LEGENDS
At the
end of Ramayana war, the Ravana, a Brahmin was killed by Rama, due to this Rama got the
Brahmahathi Dosha. ( Even though Ravana belongs to 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 in 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 heat Hanuman got exhausted and wants
to drink water. So he landed in this place. Without knowing a small boy is 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 bath in the pond Bhairava disappeared after kept the Shiva Linga on the ground. After a bath Hanuman came out and found the Shiva Linga was on the floor
and boy was also missing.
Hanuman
attempted many times to lift with hand and
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, 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 as "Valeeswarar ". ( In the mean time
Seetha made Shiva Linga from the sand and Rama did pooja is a separate story ).
It is
believed that this Bhairava bless the childless couple of Child boon. The
childless couple has to come to the temple
early morning with out taking food, take bath in the Nandhi theertham, with the wet dress pray
Bhairava and light 8 deepams. The couple has to feed the dogs roaming in side
the temple. The Gurukkal will give them
a stone puppy and the couple has to Circumambulate the temple 8 times. After their wish fulfilled, the couple with
the Child has to come to the temple pray
Sri Bhairava with performing Abhishekam.
Devotees
in large numbers throng at Ramagiri to worship Bhairava on theipirai ashtami day ( the 8th
day after the full moon ) between 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 is facing north with an entrance on the east side. The sanctum sanctorum
consists of sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam with a corridor around the
sanctum. The sanctum is on a padabandha
adhisthana and a stucco vimana is on the top. At the entrance of the sanctum,
Dwara Vinayagar and Chandramouleeswarar
Shiva Linga. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In the arthamandpam Nandi and Hanuman, on the opposite to moolavar, which is a rare feature in a Shiva Temple.
In
Prakaram sannadhi for Saptha mathas, 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.
THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 11.45 Hrs and 15.00 hrs to 17.45 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Sivachariyar
Shankar swamy may be contacted on his mobile 9490008887 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The
temple is about 3 KM off 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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