Vilvanatheswarar Temple / Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple / Vilwanatheswarar Temple, Thiruvalam / Tiruvalam -திருவலம் – Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

Now this place is called Thiruvalam – திருவலம். This is the 10^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the banks of the River Ponnai / Bahuda River (There is also another name “neevaa  (நீ வா)” for this river – The river changed its direction and came nearer when Lord Shiva asked ) in Thondai Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

எரித்தவன் முப்புரம் எரியின் மூழ்கத்
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.
    

அன்றிய அமணர்கள் சாக்கியயர்கள்
குன்றிய அறிவுரை கூறாவண்ணம்
வென்றவன் புலன்ஐந்தும் விளங்க எங்கும்
சென்றவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே
    

கற்றவர் திருவல்லம் கண்டு சென்று
நற்றமிழ் ஞானசம் பந்தன் சொன்ன
குற்றமில் செந்தமிழ் கூறவல்லார்
பற்றுவர் ஈசன்பொற் பாதங்களே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

Moolavar  : Sri Vilvanatheeswarar, Sri Vallanathar

Consort        : Sri Thanumathyambal, Sri Vallambigai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch on the south side.  The first level Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers, and the second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. The Gowri Theertha kulam with neerazhi mandapam is on the right side between the 1^st and 2^nd level Rajagopurams. At the 2^nd level, Rajagopuram, on both sides, murtis of Valampuri Vinayagar and Aathmalingeswarar. Immediately after the 2^nd level, Rajagopuram Kalabhairava is on the right.

In the outer prakaram (100 pillar mandapam) sannadhi for Kasi Viswanathar, Chandramouleeswarar, Annamalaiyar, SadhaShiva, Anandhar, Neelakandar, Ambikeswarar, 1008 Mahalingam / Sahasra Lingam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar Gurueswarar, Vishnueswarar, VidhAtharaeswarar, 1300 years old Mango tree and Kani Vangiya Vinayagar (கனி வாங்கிய விநாயகர்). Also, separate temples for Adhi Vilvanathar (with Chozha period inscriptions all around) and Sundareswarar with Meenakshi.

Adhi Vilavanathar shrine

100 pillar mandapam

In mukha mandapam, Balipeedam Dwajasthambam, Adhikara Nandhi/ Rishabam, Big stucco Rishabam (Installed by Sri La Sri Sivananda Mouna Swamigal), Mouna Swamigal Murti, Navagrahas. Adhikara Rishabam with balipeedam, in the inner praharam, facing east along with moolavar. There is also a special feature about the Gopuram of Saba Mandapam. The Stucco images of 27 Nakshatra deities are around the gopuram.

27 Nakshatra deities

Navagrahas with Stucco Rishabam

In the inner praharam, Idols /murtis of  Brahmi, Vishnu, 63var (in ஐம்பொன் - Impon and stone – installed in 2 rows), Chandikeswarar, and Nagar.

Nayanmars

The moolavar is of swayambhu and a little inclined to the north, and looks majestic. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai (Not standing on Mahishasuran).

In the artha mandapam, Vishnu, Urchavars (the beauty of Sakthi and Pichadanar/Bhiksahadanar are to be seen), and Chandrasekaran. Standing in one place, we can have the darshan of Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

The Dwarapalakas are not regular murtis. The left side Dwarapalaka is somewhat regular with the usual mudra (The index finger – sushi). On the right side, the dwarapalaka is dancing with a beautiful smile on his face. (Thanks to the Sivachariyar and his son, who gave permission to take photographs of Dwarapalakas).

Dwarapalakas

Ambal Sri Thanumathyambal is in a separate temple in the outer praharam, and she is also called "Theekali Ambal" with anger/ugram on her face. It is believed that Adhi Shankara had changed the anger into peace/ Shantham. In koshtam Vinayagar, Annapoorani, Ambal with Abayavaram and Durgai.

On the left is the Temple for Sri Rajarajeswari.  Also, there is a copper plate inscription installed by Sri la Sri Sivanatha Mouna Swamigal (The inscription details are posted separately). Sri la Sri Sivananda Mouna Swamigal Jeeva Samadhi is on the left side of the temple arch.  He had done a lot of thirupani to this temple. He had cured many diseases through vibhuti and vilva / Bilva leaves. He spent all the donations on the thirupani. (A copper plate with inscriptions can be seen on the left side near Sri Ambikeswari samedha Sri Raja Rajeswarar temple between the two Rajagopurams).

Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Murugan of this Temple in his Thiruppugazh.

நசையொடு தொலுந் தசைதுறு நீரும்

        நடுநடு வேயென்                                            புறுகீலும்

        நலமுறு வேயொன் றிடஇரு கால்நன்

        றுறநடை யாருங்                                          குடலூடே

விசையுறு காலம் புலனெறி யேவெங்

        கனலுயிர் வேழந்                                          திரியாதே

        விழுமடி யார்முன் பழுதற வேள்கந்

        தனுமென வோதும்                                       விறல்தாராய்

இசையுற வேயன் றசைவற வூதும்

        எழிலறி வேழம்                                             எனையாளென்

        றிடர்கொடு மூலந் தொடர்வுட னோதும்

இடமிமை யாமுன்                                               வருமாயன்

        திசைமுக னாருந் திசைபுவி வானுந்

        திரிதர வாழுஞ்                                              சிவன் மூதூர்

தெரிவையர் தாம் வந் தருநட மாடுந்

        திருவுலமேவும்                                              பெருமானே   

Beautifully engraved stone bowl with Girls Kolattam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple has a lot of Tamil inscriptions. The inscriptions belong to Koprakesari Rajendra Chozhan, Ko Rajakesarivarman Raja Mahendran, Kulothunga I, Kulothunga III, Chozha Booban’s son Veerasamban, and many other kings' period inscriptions are found. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Theekali Vallam during the Rajaraja Chozhan (991 CE) period, as Thiruvalam during Arunagirinathar’s Thiruppugazh period, and as Vanapuram during the Nandhivarman period (793 CE). Lord Shiva is called by different names. Nandhivarma Pallavan-III (863 CE) period as Theekali Vallamudaya Parameswarar, Mahavali Vaana bana Raja (Vikramathiya-I, 888 CE) period as Theekkali Perumanadikal,  Rajaraja Chozhan-I (991 CE) period as Thirutheekkali Alwar, Rajendra Chozhan (1015 CE) period as Thiruvallamudayar, Vikarama Chozhan (1123 CE) period as Thiruvallamudaya Mahadevar and Kulothunga Chozhan-III (1212 CE) period as Thiruvallamudaya Naayanar.

The Pallava King Nandivarman II’s 62nd reign year (793 CE) inscription, on a large boulder in the bed of the Niva river, one mile to the north east of Tiruvallam, records that when Māvali-Vānarāyar was ruling over Vadugavali-12,000,5 a goldsmith called Aridiran, the son of Mādan, a resident of Kilagam in Alingaņapākkam in Ürrukkāttuk-kōtam" granted some patti of land in Alincirkalam, purchased earlier from a certain Manrādi, the son of Ilankilavar, to the temple called Vadaśikarakōyil at Vanapuram, which he renovated. Māvali-Vānarāyar confirmed the grant after circumambulating the hamlet (pidāgai-valanceydu).

The imprecation at the end states that those who cause destruction to the endowment shall incur the sin of killing Kadigai-ēlāyiravar and pay a fine of 1,000 kanam to the temple (?).

NandhiVarman-III's 17th reign year (863 CE) period inscription on the north wall of the mukhamandapa in the Bilvanāthāśvara temple records that at the request of Mavali Vanarayan alias Vikramaditta Vanavarayan, the clubbing of villages Aimbuni, Vilattur, and Amarunri to form a single Village called Videlvidugu Vikramaditta Chaturvedimangalam, and donated to this temple. The village Saba has to pay 2000 kadi of paddy and 20 kalanju gold, which was paid earlier by the village Amarunri Mangalam, to this god Paramesvara of Tikkali-vallum. From the 2000 Kadi paddy received, 600 kadi for a food offering, 500 Kadi for the Siva Brahmins, who offer worship, 500 kadi for the musicians ( drums, etc) during the Sri-Bali ceremony, and 400 kadi paddy to be paid to different service men who include those picking flowers, for temple garlands, and sing tiruppathigam (hymns). The gold is to be utilized for the burning of perpetual lamps, anointment, incense, and repairs.

The Pallava King Nandivarman III’s 17th reign year (863 CE) inscription, on a slab built into the floor of the Bilvanatheśvara temple, seems to record a gift of four patți of land by Vinaiyādityan, son of Mõnaiyār a resident of Ilaiyanur in Ilaiyanūr-nādu, to god Tıkkāliyadigal, to provide for rice and one ālākku of ghee daily as olukkavi offerings and tondaipu for worship. The gift land was left under the care of [four] persons.

Rajaraja Chozha–I’s 4th-year reign inscription (299 of 1897) records the construction of the Rajarajeswarar sanctum sanctorum and the burning of 2 perpetual lamps. The 2000 kuzhi land was donated by an official called Eerayiravan Pallavarayan.  

Rajendra Chozha I’s (1050-62 CE), 3^rd year reign inscription (75 of 1889) records the gift of 25 Kalanju gold from an official under him, and the same was given to Dikshitar / priest.  In another inscription (92 of 1889) of the same period, the Vanapura land 1000 kuzhi was sold to Vaithumba Somanathan, and the same was gifted to this temple.

KoRajakesari Varman-I’s 7th-year reign inscription (8A of 1890) records the endowment of making Ambal’s idol (metal ?) and burning of perpetual lamps by a Brahmin, and for the same 1700 kuzhi land, which was purchased from Thooinattu mantra sabha. The same King’s 16th-year reign inscriptions (11 of 1890) record the sale of 700 kuzhi land to Shankaradevan, and the same was gifted to this temple.

Korajakesari Varman Raja Raja’s 20^th year reign inscription (1415 of 1890) records the donation of 90 goats, and the 3^rd year reign inscription records the income from the village  Kukkanur of Thooi Nadu to this temple.  

Vanaraya’s period Saka 810, ie, 888 CE inscription (1B of 1890) records the A Parpanan (Brahmin ?) of Edkur village, received 25 Kalanju gold. The interest earned was spent on the burning of perpetual lamps.

Vijayakanda Gopalan’s 3^rd year reign inscription records (79 of 1889), Azhakiya Pallavan period Rajarajan-III Nilamaniyakarar (a village official), exempted the tax of 1.16 %.

Ref

1. Annual report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1890, and 1889.

2. Inscriptions of the Pallavas by T V Mahalingam. 

Inscriptions on the adhistanam

Vijayanagara Dynasty emblem- a proof of their contribution

LEGENDS

It is believed that Vinayagar got the Mango fruit after circumambulating Lord Shiva and Parvati in this temple, hence he is called a “Kani Vangiya Vinayagar (கனி வாங்கிய விநாயகர்)“ and Vinayagar is facing north. Hence, the place is also called Thiruvalam. Sri Vinayagar is sitting on his vahana –moonchuru/ mooshika holding a mango in his right hand. The bas-reliefs associated with the history of this temple are highlighted in the front mandapa pillar during the recent renovation. 

The Rishaba in the inner prahara and the stucco Rishaba are facing the same direction as the Moolavar of Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple of Thiruvalam. There is an interesting legend behind this. The Gurukkal who brought water to Shiva’s abhishekam from this Kanjanagiri - the hill is just opposite Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple, was obstructed by Kanjan, a Demon. When the same was reported to Shiva, Shiva advised Rishabam to take care of the Gurukkal. Rishabam killed the demon, tore the demon into pieces, and threw the pieces of the body around the Hill. The village names are in the names of the Demon’s parts of the body. Also, the Rishaba at the temple faces the Hill, to watch the demon, shouldn’t come again. Hence, the Rishabas are facing east. This Sthala Purana in Stucco is in the mukha mandapam, and there is a bas-relief carved on the mandapam pillar also.

 Sthalapurana bas-reliefs

Sthala Purana bas-reliefs

Rishabam kills the demon - the sthala puranam

Sthala Purana bas-reliefs- The priests are carrying water for Moolavar abhishekam

The Rishabam - looking in the opposite direction 

A Demon related to Sthala Puranam

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS.

For pooja and other details, Sivachariyar  Umapathi can be contacted over his landline 0416 – 2236088, and mobile at 9894922166.

Also, Mr Sivan 9245446956 can be contacted over his mobile.

HOW TO REACH:

From Arcot, a town bus is available to Thiruvalam.

The place Thiruvalam is on the bus route from Chennai to Chittoor (Route No 144), after Ranipet. Alternatively, from Chennai to Vellore, get down at Muthukadai after Walaja and catch a bus to Thiruvalam.

Thiruvalam is 14 km from Arcot, 18 km from Katpadi, 20 km from Vellore, 59 km from Arakkonam, and 120 km from Chennai.

The nearest railway Junction is Katpadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Stucco Rishabam

Kannappa Nayanar Puranam

Arjunan fights with Lord Shiva 

Narasimhar and Pichadanar

Gandaberunda - an emblem of the Hoysalas

Gangalar

Temple Chariot

Nandi Deva playing Mridangam - a relief of the Chariot

Gangalar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---