VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

Saturday, 21 September 2019

Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

14^th September 2019.

This temple visit is a part of the Sirkazhi Temple visit on the 14^th and 15^th of September 2019. We had covered 20 temples, and some of them were covered earlier. The Details will be posted one by one. Srimushnam is also called Srimuttam. The Korai root (கோரைக்கிழங்கு - Cyperus Rotundus), which is a favorite food of boar / Varaha, is called Mustha/mustam in Sanskrit, and this Root is given as Prasad in this temple. Maybe this mutha/Mustam was added with Sri and later corrupted as Srimushnam.

Urchava murtis

Moolavar : Bhu Varaha Swamy

Thayar : Ambujavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces west with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. A Garuda thoon and a 4 Pillar mandapa are in front of the Rajagopuram. The north side of Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers and will be kept open only on Vaikunta Ekadasi, also called Paramapatha vassal. The balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are after the Rajagopuram under the 100-pillared mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum complex consists of a sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapa, Udayar mandapa, Hundred Pillared Mandapam, Pushpa Sukta Mandapa (in the form of Ratha), and Sevakala mandapa. The Sanctum niches/Deva Koshtas are empty.

Mulavar Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy is with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, in a standing posture, keeping both hands on the hips and face turned towards south, slightly uplifted. The vimana is called Bhavana vimana. Moolavar is made of Salagrama, and it is daily anointed. Utsava murti Bhoga Narayanaswami with his consorts, Yagnavaraha and his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, are facing west in Arthamandapa.

In parahara/cloister sannadhi for Thayar Ambujavalli, Srinivasa Perumal, Andal, Udayar, Venugopalan, Vishvaksena, Yaga Sala, Vedanta Desika, Thirumangai Mannan, Manavala Mamunigal, Kuzhandai Amman, Saptamatrikas (stucco images of Saptamatrikas are on the parapet wall of the sanctum), Nammalwar, Chakravarthi Thirumagan (Sri Rama with Sita and Lakshman, Bharata, Satruka and Anjaneya), Anjaneyar, Lakshmi Narayana and Asvatha Narayanaswami (Puja rights are vested with Madhwa Brahmins).

ARCHITECTURE:

The sanctum sanctorum was built completely with stone up to prastaram (upana, Adhisthana, bhitti (wall) and has vimana, greevam, and kalasam. The vimana is called Bhavana Vimana. The mandapas are a rare classical example of Vijayanagara Architecture. Dancing postures and images of Deities are carved on the side walls of Rajagopuram. The sculptured hall, the pushpa Sukta mandapa, where the mantras are chanted, is noted for its architectural treasure. Shaped like a chariot/ ratha, it is replete with carvings of figures or warriors mounted on horses and elephants. The ceilings are carved with lotuses, parrots, and other varieties of birds. The Yazhi pillars are carved nicely. The Kodungais of the Pushpa Sukta mandapa are worth seeing since they look very similar to the Thiruperunthurai Shiva temple mandapa. Nayak kings and queens are sculptured along with the pillars.

The 100-pillared Hall/ Mandapa

A Ceiling Carving - Parrots

A Kodungai

A Yazhi Pillar

A Pillared pillar

Kodungai

Nayaka King and Queen

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the Tamil Nadu Govt. Cuddalore website, the temple had received contributions from 10^th 10th-century medieval Chozhas and was later expanded by the Thanjavur Nayaka king Achutappa Nayaka. Another inscription dated 1100 by Kulothunga Chola-I (1070–1120 CE) mentions a gift of a village to the temple, where the presiding deity is referred to as Varaha Azhwar. An inscription of the Vijayanagara king, Virupaksha-II, dated 1471 CE, is found on the walls of the temple and speaks about the gift of a village to this temple, and called Adivaraha Nayanar Koil.

Even though it is believed that the temple existed from the ancient period, records are only available from the 16^th Century in the form of inscriptions (in the temple walls) and copper plates. As per the inscriptions, this Temple was expanded in the 17^th  Century during the Vijayanagara period by the Thanjavur Nayak king Achuthappa Nayak (1560 – 1614 CE).  And further expanded with mandapas, Gopuras, and praharas/ cloisters by their feudatories and Viceroys. They also donated jewels, lands, villages, etc, for conducting daily pujas and festivals. Mohul King Ferrukshiar had made large gifts of villages to this temple. Svarup Singh of Maratha from Gingee also patronized this temple.

In 1926, under the approval of the British East India Company, hereditary Dharmakartha/ Trustees celebrated various festivals, and lands were gifted to this temple.

In 1928 CE, as per the orders (OS No 27 / 1912)  of the District Court of South Arcot, Trustees were appointed by the Court. But from 1951CE, the management was taken over by the Hindu Religious Endowment board, and the same was revised in 1968 CE.

The Vijayanagara King Veńkațapati’s, 1581 CE, period inscription (A. R. No. 259 of 1916), on the south wall of the first prākāra of the Bhūvarāha-perumāl temple, records the gift of lands in the villages of Araśūru and Kāvanūru for maintaining a feeding house (alankara-satra) at the nityapushkarani in the Adivarāhasvāmi temple at Śrīmushņam by Rāyasam Amnaya of Vishnuvardhana-gōtra, Aśvalāyana-sūtra, and Rik-sākha. The village of Arasūru is said to have been given as an agraharu to the donor by Venkatappa-nāyaka.

Ref
South Indian Inscriptions Volume XVI.

  inscriptions

LEGENDS:

The Puranas Skanda, Sri Bhagavata, Maha Bharata, and Padma Purana present a vivid account of the advent of Bhagavan, the adorable Lord from Srivaikuntam, into the mundane world in the Krta Yuga of the 28^th Chaturyuga of the Vaishnava manvantara of Svetavarahakalpa. In this incarnation, Bhagavan as Sri Varahamurti/boar killed the demon Hiranyaksha and rescued Bhumi Devi (Mother Earth) from the bottom of the seas in Patala Loka, wherein the asura had kept her concealed. Elaborate descriptions of these events and of the spiritual merit of the holy waters of this kshetra are found in the Puranas.

Brahma and Rishis worshiped Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy in this temple. It is believed that people pray to Kuzhanthai Amman for a child boon.

PUJAS AND CELEBRATIONS:

During Panchaparva, five seasonal festivals, and other occasions, the Lord is taken round in processions. Puja service has been rendered by Vaishnavas of the Southern sect (Thenkalai) as per the Pancharatra agama. Mantrapushpa, Vedaparayana, and Adhyay Bhaga are performed by both sects, ie, Vadakalai and Thenkalai. In addition to this, Madhwa Brahmins have the right to participate in Vedaparayana. The reciting of the Madhva Purana and the reading of Gajendra Moksha are the special privileges of Madhvas.

9 days of Brahmotsavam are conducted twice a year during the Tamil month of Masi. The Urchava Deity will be taken in procession to sea at Killai near Chidambaram, about 3o miles from Srimushnam. When it passes through the Dargah, Muslims used to offer flowers and fruits.

Friday festival at Sri Ambujavalli Thayar sannidhi, Annual Celebration at Udayar Sannadhi, Krishna Jayanthi at Venugopalan Sannadhi, In the month of Aippasi (October / November) Pooradam – the Jayanthi at Vishwaksena Sannadhi, every month Sravana, the idol of Vedanta Desika is taken out in procession, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Navarathri, Illumination ceremony known as Tiruvandikkappu at 100-pillared mandapam, Ramanavami at Chakravarthi Thirumagan sannadhi are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple may be contacted on the landline at 04144 245 090 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is 36 km from Chidambaram, 20 km from Ulundurpet, and 72 km from the District headquarters in Cuddalore, and the nearest Railway station is Ulundurpet.

Srimushnam can be reached through the Anaikarai to Meensuruti road. Divert Vadalur on the Chennai route at Sethiathoppu. You will reach Chozhatharam, and from there, Srimushnam is about 12 km on the Virudhachalam road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE