Virudhagireeshwarar Temple / Virudhagirishwarar Temple / Sri Virudhagireeswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு விருத்தகிரீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This place, Virudhachalam, was called Thirumudhukundram before the 6^th century and is now called Virudhachalam in Sanskrit as Virudhachalam. This place is also called Virutha Kashi. The temple is on the banks of the Manimuktha River. This is the 41^st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 9^th sthalam of Nadu Naadu. 

 

Sekkizhar mentions that Sundarar came to this temple after visiting Koodalaiyathoor. Sundarar requested Lord Shiva to give him gold (The details are written in the legend).

     நாதர்பால் பொருள் தாம் வேண்டி நண்ணிய வண்ணம் எல்லாம்

    கோதுஅறு மனத்துள் கொண்ட குறிப்பொடும் பரவும்போது

    தாது அவிழ்கொன்றை வேய்ந்தார் தாஅருள் பெறுவார் சைவ

    வேதியர் தலைவர் மீண்டும் மெய்யில் வெண்பொடியும் பாட

Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

    மந்தாவரை நிறுவிக்கடல் கடைந்தவ்விடம் உண்ட

    தொத்தார்தரு மணிநீள்முடிச் சுடர் வண்ணனது இடமாம்

    கொத்தார்மலர் குளிர்சந்தகில் ஒளிர்குங்குமம் கொண்டு

    முத்தாறுவந்து அடி வீழ்தரு முதுகுன்று அடைவோமே

......திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

    கருமணியைக் கனகத்தின் குன்றொப் பானைக்

        கருதுவார்க் காற்ற எள்யான் தன்னைக்

    குருமணியைக் கோளரவொன் றாட்டு வானைக்

        கொல்வேங்கை யதளானைக் கோவணனை

    அருமணியை யடைந்தவர்கட் கமுதொப் பானை

        ஆனஞ்சும் ஆடியைநான் அபயம் புக்க

    திருமணியைத் திருமுதுகுன் றுடையான் தன்னைத்

        தீவினையேன் அறியாதே திகைத்த வாறே

....திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

    மெய்யைமுற் றப்பொடிப் பூசியோர் நம்பி

        வேதம்நான் கும்விரித் தோதியோர் நம்பி

    கையிலோர் வெண்மழு ஏந்தியோர் நம்பி

        கண்ணும் மூன்றுடை யாய்ஒரு நம்பி

    செய்ய நம்பிசிறு செஞ்சடை நம்பி

        திரிபுரந் தீயெழச் செற்றதோர் வில்லா(ல்)

    எய்த நம்பிஎன்னை ஆளுடை நம்பி

        எழுபிறப் பும்எங்கள் நம்பிகண் டாயே

....சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

                                                “தேவகமாம்

    மன்றமமர்ந்த வளம் போர் றிகழ்ந்தமுது

    குன்றம் அமர்ந்த அருட்கொள்கையே”

...திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Virudhagireeshwarar, Pazhamalai Nathar

Consort    : Sri Viruthambigai, Periya Nayagi, Balambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Bas-reliefs of 72 Bharatanatyam dance karanas/styles are available in the 16-pillar mandapam, in front of the east side of Rajagopuram. The temple is in a huge complex consisting of  5 Rajagopurams and 5 praharas.  Moolavar is of swayambhu. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

The Kailasa praharam is after the entrance, and a platform is called the deepa aradhana mandapa. Next is the Rishaba mandapa. On the south side is the Vibasithu Munivar mandapam (during the procession, Utsava murtis will be brought here, and it is believed that Vibasithu muni worships the procession deities). On the east side of the mandapa is the Agni Theertham and discourse mandapa. Sthala Vinayagar is a little below the ground level, and steps are provided to reach the sannadhi. Nandhavanam is around the Chakra Theertham created by Maha Vishnu. On the Northeast corner, there are 28 Shiva Linga agama Shrines, which are believed to have been installed by Lord Muruga and worshiped.  Kubera theertham, Yagasala, 100-pillar mandapam with wheels and pulled by horses, is in the Kailasa prakara.

In the Vanniadi praharam, Vanni tree (the sthala vruksha is believed to be more than 3000 years old),  Vinayagar, Vibasithu munivar, Ureesa Munivar, Vitharkana chetti, and Kubera's sister are under the Vanni tree. In the praharam, Pancha Lingams, Vallaba Ganapathy, Meenakshi Chokkalingam, Vishwanatha Lingam, Arumugar, Sahasra Lingam, Ekambra Lingam, Jambu Lingam,  and Annamalaiyar. On the way to Periyanayaki Amman sannadhi, sannadhi for Navagrahas, Dhandapani.

In the third paraharam sannadhi for 63var, Naalvar, Vinayagar, Rishabaroodar, Yoga Dakshinamurthy, Saptamatrikas, Uruthirar, Matruraitha Vinayagar, Varuna Lingam, Mooppilayar, Dakshinamurthy, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Vallabha Ganapathy, Chinna Pazhamalai Nathar, Bindhumadhava Perumal,  and Mayura Murugan.

In Ilamai Nayagi Amman  (Balambigai Amman) Temple, sannadhi for Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Surya Lingam, and Suryan.

Ambal Periyanayagi is in a separate temple facing east with a Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. This temple is located in the outer praharam, near the North side Rajagopuram entrance. Gugai Murugan and Nadhasharma are also near the Amman Temple.

The temple is believed to be on a hill, of very old (Pazhaya malai). It is believed that the departed human soul will be soothed by Lord Shiva and Ambal with the Shivaya nama mantra.

The 15th-century Arunagirinathar also worshiped Murugan of this temple and sang hymns in praise of Murugan of this temple.

    அடைத்தார்கட லோர்வலி ராவண

            குலத்தோடரி யோர்சர னார்சின

            மழித்தார்முகி லேய்நிற ராகவர்                              மருகோனே

        அறுத்தாரய னார்தலை யேபுர

            மெரித்தாரதி லேபுல னாருயி

            ரளித்தாருடல் பாதியி லேயுமை                             அருள்பாலா

    விடந்தாரசு ரார்பதி வேரற

            அடித்தாய்கதிர் வேல்கொடு சேவகம்

            விளைத்தாய்குடி வாழம ரோர் சிறை                       மிடிதீர

        விழித்தாமரைபோலழ காகுற

            மகட்கானவ ணாஎன தாயுறை

            விருதாசலம் வாழ்மயில் வாகன                             பெருமாளே               

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is in a huge complex consisting of  5 Rajagopurams and 5 praharas. Bas-Reliefs of 72 Bharatanatyam dance karanas/styles are available in the 16 pillar mandapam, in front of east side Rajagopuram.

Erotic stucco images 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions, this place was under Virutharajabayangara valanattu merka Nattu Irungolapadi, a part of Maruvur koorrathu Thirumudhukundram.  Lord Shiva was called Mudhukundrudaya Nayanar / Thirumudhukundrathu Udayar.

Uttama Chozha’s inscription (AR 47 of 1918) records the construction of Snapana mandapa (bathing hall), Vimana, and Shrines of Parivara deities by Queen Chembianmahadevi, mother of Uttama Chozha and wife of Kandarathitha Chozha. It also records the gift of Gold and silver ornaments, utensils, a copper lamp, a gold diadem of 5 Kalanju gold, a Silver plate weighing 389 Kalanju, a Silver Jar (kendi) of 199 kalanju, 2 gold flowers weighing 1.5 kalanju, a Gold forehead plate (pattam) weighing 1 kalanju & a gold flower for Natarajar – Kutta Perumal, A Gold thali for Uma Bhattaraki, a Pearl and Gold necklace with silver idaikattu.

Uttama Chozha’s 12th-year reign inscription (AR 36 of 1918) records the endowment of a Lamp for which 45 sheep are gifted.

Uttama Chozha’s 13th-year reign inscription (AR 59 of 1918) records the endowment of worship to Surya for which ¼ th veli dry land (downstream side of a lake), which was converted to agricultural land by Kavidikkudi Kulamanan Kuttan.

Uttama Chozha’s 15th-year reign inscription (AR 46 of 1918) records the endowment of a perpetual lamp by Kondamadudaiyan Kunran, a Chief of Paravelur, for which 10 Kalanju gold was deposited in the Village sabha, and they agreed to supply one ulakku of ghee to the temple.

Another Uttama Chozha’s 16th-year reign inscription (AR 51 of 1918) records the endowment of a perpetual lamp,  a golden head plate (pattam) of  8 kalanju gold, Vessels for offering, cheppu thalikai 50 palam, and a Lampstand. Also gifted 6 ma tax-free land for the supply of 4 nazhi rice for evening offering, 8 cows for ghee, 90 sheep for a perpetual lamp by Irungonar Naranan Prithi(vi)patiyar    

Koperuchinga’s period inscription (134 & 135 of 1902) records the gift of a Mango Hara, Gold for Lamps, Sheep / Goats, and Cows.

Kulothunga period inscriptions (137 of 1900) record the construction of the sthabana mandapa by Alappiranthan Ezhisai Mohan, alias Kulothunga Chozha Kadavaradhithan. 

The Vijayanagar Nayak period  Bhukkana Udayar, Rangappa Nayakar, and Chevvappa Nayakkar record the various endowments extended to this temple.

Vijayanagara Nayak Period Saka 1545 (1623 CE) inscription records that Kachirayan ordered to issue 4 Kalam paddy to the Gukai (Treasury ?)  watchman.  Ranagappamavarayar gave permission to collect Tax on the manload of bundle / moottai, @ 1 Ksu for two bundles, in the market.

The 4 Rajagopurams were constructed during the 16^th Century by Sevvappa Nayak.

Muthukrishnapparayar period in 1602 CE, the panchavarna praharam was constructed, which was destroyed by a Muslim invasion.

When  Hait was the British collector of the South Arcot district, the flooring was laid for Kailasa praharam, and still the same is being called by his name.

LEGENDS

As per Sekkizhar’s Periya Puranam, after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumudhukundram, Sundarar requested Lord Shiva to give him material / Gold (as per the expert's materials required for annadhanam). So Lord Shiva gave him 12000 gold, and Sundarar was happy. Sundarar was a little afraid of taking himself to Thiruvarur and requested Lord Shiva to give him in front of the Thiruvarur people so that they would be afraid and surprised. Lord Shiva told him to drop all the gold that he had given him in the Manimuktha River and take the Gold to the Thiruvarur Temple tank.

    பனிமதிச் சடையார் தாமும்பன்னிரண்டு ஆயிரம் பொன்

    நனிஅருள் கொடுக்கும் ஆற்றால்,நல்கிட உடைய நம்பி

    தனிவரும் மகிழ்ச்சி பொங்கத் தாழ்ந்து எழுந்து அருகுசென்று

    கனவிட மிடற்றினார் முன் பின்ஒன்று கழறல் உற்றார்

    அருளும் இக்கனகம் எல்லாம்அடியனேற்கு ஆரூர்உள்ளோர்

    மருள் உறவியப்ப அங்கே வரப்பெற வேண்டும் என்னத்

    தெருள்உற எழுந்த வாக்கால் செழுமணி முத்தாறு இட்டுஇப்

    பொருளினை முழுதும் ஆரூர்க் குளத்திற் போய்க் கொள்க என்றார்

As per the sthala purana, during the renovation of the temple, Vibasithu Rishi used to give Vanni leaves to the workers, which would be turned into money for the quantity and quality of the work they had done.

In one of the legends, the 16th-century Guru Namasivaya, on his way to Chidambaram,  stayed here and was feeling hungry. So he sang hymns in which he mentioned Ambal a Kilavai. So Ambal, in the form of Kilavi, an old woman, replied that an old woman cannot bring food. Again, he sang another hymn praising Ambal Periyanayaki as a young woman. Ambal, in the form of a young woman, offered food. Hence, Ambal is called Balambigai.

   முத்தி நதி சூழும் முதுகுன் றுறைவாளே

   பத்தர் பணியும் பதத்தாளே – அத்தன்

    இடத்தாளே முற்றா இளமுலை மேலார

    வடத்தாளே சோறு கொண்டு வா

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Pooja, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham days, Mahashivaratri, 10 days Brahmotsavam in the month Masi (Feb–March) with 9th-day car/temple chariot procession, Vaikasi Vasantha utsavam (May–June), Aani Thirumanjanam (June-July), Arudra Darshan (December-January), Skanda Sashti, Abhishek on Pournami (Full moon) and Amavasai (New moon) days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline number +91 4143 230 203 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is within walking distance of Virudhachalam Bus Stand and the Railway Station. 

The temple is 23 km from Ulundurpet on the Chennai to Madurai Highway, 66 km from Villupuram, and 230 km from Chennai.

Frequent buses are available from Chennai and the major cities of Tamil Nadu.

The nearest Railway Station is Virudhachalam, about 500 meters from the temple.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---