This is the 248th Thevaram
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 4th Sthalam of Pandya Nadu. This
place Thiruvedagam is on the banks of river Vaigai. The river flows from North
to south at this place. 
As per Sekkizhar in Periya Purana,
he narrates the punal vatham done by Thirugnanasambandar with Tamil Jains (
Samanars. When the palm leaf went against the Vaigai River at a faster rate than the air wind and Kulachiraiyar went fast on the horse to pick up the leaf.
Sambandar sang this hymn to stop and float on the river. This is the place
where the palm
leaf landed on the river bank.
ஆற்றின்மேல் செல்லும் ஏடு தொடர்ந்து எடுப்பதற்கு வேண்டிக் காற்றி என விசையின் செல்லும் கடும்பரி ஏறிக் கொண்டு கோல் தொழில் திருத்த வல்ல குலச்சிறையார் பின் சென்றார் ஏற்றுஉயர் கொடியினாரைப் பாடினார் ஏடு தங்க
ஏடகம் பிள்ளையார் தாம் வன்னி என்று எடுத்துப் பாடக் கூடிய நீரில் ஏடு குலச்சிறையாரும் கூடிக் காடுஇடம் ஆக ஆடும் கண்ணுதல் கோயில் மாட் நீடுநீர் நடுவுள் புக்கு நின்ற ஏடு எடுத்துக் கொண்டார்
Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have
sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
வன்னியும்
மத்தமும் மதிபொதி சடையினன் பொன்னியல் திருவடி புதுமலர் அவைகொடு மன்னிய மறையவர் வழிபட அடியவர் இன்னிசை பாடலர் ஏடகத்து ஒருவனே...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் -“வானவர்கோன் தேமேடகத்த னொடுசீதரனும் வாழ்த்துஞ்சீர் ஆமே டகத்தறி வானந்தமே......திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Edakanathar / Yedaga NatheswararConsort : Sri Elavarkuzhali, Sukuntha Kunthalambigai
Some of the important features of
this temple are…The temple faces east with 5-tier Rajagopuram separately for Lord Shiva and Ambal. In Kambathadi
mandapam, Balipedam, and Dwajasthambam (They are not in horizontal lines, but at
an elevated level to match the sanctum level of 9 steps). Vinayagar and
Murugan are at the entrance of the shrine. Moolavar Edakanathar is of
Shiva Lingam is of swayambu in a Sanctum
sanctorum with beautiful architecture. The Dwarapalakas are big and beautiful
and installed in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In Prakaram 63var, Urchavars ( Edaka
Nathar, Elavar Kuzhali Amman, Vinayagar, Arumuga Swamy, Somaskandar,
Thirugnanasambandar ), Irattai Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Nagalakshmi, Durgai,
Sakthi Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, Pancha Lingas, Saptamatrikas, Navagrahas,
Vallaba Ganapathy, Sastha, Chandran & Suryan with their consorts,
Karthikai, Bhairavar, Natarajar Sabha (Natarajar in stone and
Cheppu murtis).
Ambal is in a separate
Temple with a separate Rajagopram. Dwarapalakas
instead of Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, which is
unusual. Thirugnanasambandar’s relief without thalam is on the mandapam
pillar. In Koshtam Sakthis, icha, Kiriya etc.
In praharam Vinayagar and
Palliyarai. Rishabam is on an elevated level to match Ambal sanctum of 7
steps. The bell tower is in front of the Amman temple and it was said that the was
imported from Malaysia ( is not available now ).
There is a shrine of
Thirugnanasambandar on the main road facing east.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS The
original temple may have existed before the 6th Century and was renovated/extended during the Pandyas and Vijayanagara
Nayak’s period.
There are 14 inscriptions
recorded Under the Annual Report of South
Indian Epigraphy 1905 from 677 to 689. These inscriptions belong to
Maravarman’s son Sundara Pandyan, Sadayavarman also called Parakrama
Pandyan, Jadavarman also called Vikrama Pandyan, Jadavarman Sri Vallaba
Devan, and Krishna Devarayar ( 1448). Sri Vallabadevan’s
inscription this place belongs to Pakanoor Kootram. As
per the inscriptions, this place was called Pakanur Kottathu Thiruvedagam, and
Lord Shiva is called Thiruvedakamudaya Nayanar
The inscriptions records that
Maravarman Sundara Pandyan conquered Chozha
country and Coronation (Vijayabhishekam and veerabhishekam – விஜயாபிசேகம் & வீராபிசேகம்) was
held at Mudikonda Chozhapuram. Also, he
assumed the titles of Chozha Nadu Vazhangiya Sundara Pandyan and
Konerimaikondan.
Sundara Pandyan period inscription records the endowment of
feeding 20 thabasis of
Thirugnanasambandar Thirumadam for which land was gifted.
Krishna Devarayar's period inscription records that land was donated
to this temple by Pachchai Peruml Pachchai Kandiya Devar.
RefAnnual Report of South Indian Epigraphy 1905 from 677 to 689
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Sundara Pandyan period inscription records the endowment of
feeding 20 thabasis of
Thirugnanasambandar Thirumadam for which land was gifted.
LEGENDSBrahma, Maha Vishnu, Garudan, Viyasar, and Parasarar worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.
Thirugnanasambandar came to Madurai, when Koon Pandyan was ruling. The Jainism was at its peak with the support of the King. Jain monks were afraid of Sambandar and his camp was set on fire. Thirugnanasambandar sang the hymn in which he mentioned that fire should go slowly and attack the king. Due to this the king was affected by the burning smallpox boils. Jain monks tried their best but couldn’t cure the smallpox. When Thirugnanasambandar was called, he asked to bring the ashes from Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple’s kitchen. The ash as Vibhuthi was applied all over the body of the king and immediately the smallpox boils vanished. The Pandya King realized the power of Lord Shiva and started his yatra to some temples along with Thirugnanasambandar.
Since Samanar (Tamil Jains) challenged Sambandar to 'anal vadham' (hot dispute) at Thirunallaru where he wrote pachai pathigam. The Samanar (Jains) were defeated by Sambandar in the anal vadham and they came down to this temple for punal vadham. The Samanars wrote 'Athi Naathi' on a Palmyra leaf and floated on the river Vaigai. As per Sekkizhar, Sambandar wrote in Tamil as...
`அவரும் விரைசூழ் பொழில்காழிஉன் ஆதிஞானம் மலரும் திருவாக்குடை வள்ளலார் உள்ள வண்ணம் பலரும் உணர்ந்து உய்யப் பகர்ந்து வரைந்து யாற்றில் நிலவும் திருஏடு திருக்கையால் நீட்டி இட்டார்”
and floated it down the Vaigai. The palm leaf that Sambandar floated against the course of the river reached the bank on the other side where there lies an idol of Lord Ganesha who is known as "vaathu venra Vinayagar".
Sambandar was feeling happy and called this place 'Edu Senranai Tharum Edagam' which came to be known as Thiruvedagam. The Palmyra leaf that the Samanars left was swept away by the river and reached 'Thirupasethi' (thiru + pa + serthal) later to be known as Thirupachetty.
Sundarar didn't come to the temple but worshiped from a boat in the Vaigai River, he didn’t want to step into the temple, since Thirugnanasambandar's visit made the temple a holy temple. 
Thirugnanasambandar Sannadhi
Thirugnanasambandar
The Vaigai river bank where the palm leaf / edu landed
Sambandar was feeling happy and called this place 'Edu Senranai Tharum Edagam' which came to be known as Thiruvedagam. The Palmyra leaf that the Samanars left was swept away by the river and reached 'Thirupasethi' (thiru + pa + serthal) later to be known as Thirupachetty.
Thirugnanasambandar Sannadhi
Thirugnanasambandar
The Vaigai river bank where the palm leaf / edu landed
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Chithirai Thiruvizha, Avani 1st
day Edu eriya vizha on Avani Avittam star day which combines with full moon,
Kandar Sashti, Navaratri, Adipooram, Masi Maha kadalaattu & Float festival,
Panguni Uthiram, Karthikai somavaram 108 Sangabhishekam, Karthikai Deepam, Arudra Darishanam.
Once a
year on Vijaya Dhasami day, Urchavar is taken to a nearby village called
Thachampattu for the Dasara celebration.
On Maha Shivaratri day 4th kala pooja (Night) will be dedicated to Bhairava like Kasi.
THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:The temple is kept open between
06.30 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :The
Archakar may be contacted on his mobile number +91 4543 259311 for further details.Mobile No : 99432 61487E-Mail: edaganaathaswami@gmail.comWeb site : http://thiruvedagamedaganaathar.tinfo.in/
HOW TO REACH :Thiruvedagam is on the way to Sholavandan
from Madurai.Town bus Route numbers are 68A, 54R, and 29A from Periyar Bus stand, 93 A from Mattuthavani, and 28 A and 93 from Anna
Bus stand.Thiruvedagam is 5 km from
Sholavandan, 20 km from Madurai, 25 km from Thirumangalam, 47 km from Dindigul,
145 km from Trichy, and 480 km from Chennai.The nearest Railway station is Madurai.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Ambal Sannadhi
The roadside entrance arch
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Ambal Sannadhi
The roadside entrance arch
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment