Sri Swetharanyeswarar Temple / Budhan Temple, Thiruvenkadu, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

14^th & 15^th September 2019.

This Thiruvenkadu Swetharanyeswarar Temple was already covered under Paadal Petra Sthalangal Darshan. This second visit was a part of Temple's visit in and around Sirkazhi on the 14^th and 15^th of September 2019. After visiting Mangaimadam Sri Veera Narasimhar Temple had been to this Shiva Temple. This is the 65^th Tevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 11^th sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Moolavar: Sri Swetharanyeswarar, Sri Venkattunathar

Consort: Sri Brahmavidya Nayagi

Some of the features of this temple are as follows...

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram on the East and South. Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, and balipeedam are after the Rajagopuram. After Mandapam, a single-tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum complex. In koshtam Sattainathar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam Periya Varana Pillayar, Somaskandar, Veerabhadra, Idumban, Sukhasana Murthy, Solaiyappa Mudali, Nagar, Nalvar, Vinayagar, Swethana Perumal, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Pancha Lingas, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Aghoramurthy, Urchavars, Katchi Nayanar, Chandikeswarar, Swetha Lingam, Bhairavar, Kasi Thondi Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Durgai, Shani, Suryan,  Lakshmi, and Natarajar. The sannadhi is similar to the Chidambaram Temple with a gold-plated Vimana.

This is the birthplace of Meikanda Nayanar and has a sannadhi. The temple is big and the village is small. The special is Three Moolavars, Three Ambals, Three Sthala trees, and three Theerthas (Temple tanks). This is the Budhan sthalam, one of the Navagraha Sthalam. There is a separate temple for Budhan in front of a temple tank.  

The vilva / bilva tree is without thorns. Special Moortham is Agoramurthy with 8 hands.  Moolavar is a little taller. Dakshinamurthy is Medha Dakshinamurthy. Sila roopam for 63 Nayanmars, both in metal and stone, in two rows.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum complex consists of sanctum antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. 

Ambal is in a separate temple with the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. In praharam Pillai, idukki Amman sannadhi. The koshtams have no idols.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since this temple is a Thevara paadal petra sthalam, the temple has existed since the early Chozha period. There are about 100 inscriptions in this temple. The inscriptions include Adhitya, Rajaraja-I ( 985 – 1014 AD), Rajendra-I (1012-1044 CE), Veera Rajendra (1063- 1070 CE), Kulothunga-I (1070-1120), Kulasekara Pandya, and Vikrama Pandya. The temple received endowments from Chozha, Pandya, and Vijayanagaras. Some of the mandapams are added during the Vijayanagara, Nayak, and Maratha periods.

A Vikrama Chozha inscription starts with his meikeerthi --Poomalai midainthu

LEGEND:

The temple pooja is similar to Thillai (Chidambaram) for spatika Lingam, and there is Chidambara Ragasiyam also. Indra and his vahana white Elephant, Budhan, Suryan, and Chandran, worshiped lord Shiva at this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline number  04364 - 256 424 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple village Thiruvenkadu is on the bus route from Mayiladuthurai to Mangaimadam.
15 km from Sirkazhi, 25 km from Mayiladuthurai, and 15 km from Thirukadaiyur.

The nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

                                         Natarajar Sannadhi

                            Moolavar Vimanam with extended nasi

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---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---