Vamanapureeswarar Temple / Vamaneeswarar Temple / Sri Vamanapurieswarar Temple / வாமனபுரீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / Thirumanikuzhi / Tirumanikkuli, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

செல்வ விநாயகர் துதி

                மணிகொண்ட கிம்புரிக்கோட்டு ஐங்கரம் நால்

                    வாய்மும்மை மதம் வாய்ந்தோங்கும்

                கணிகொண்ட கூவிளமும் நறை இதழிப்

                    பூந்தொடையும் கலந்து சூடிப்

                பணிகொண்டவ் வுயிர்களையும் இகபரம் வீடு

                    இவையுதவிப் பாரின் மீதே

                அணிகொண்ட வாமன்வூர்ச் செல்வ விநா

                    யகன் திருத்தாள் அகத்துள்வைப்பாம்

This is the 49^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 17^th sthalam on the banks of the river Kedilam at Thirumanikuzhi near Cuddalore. (Under Nadu Naadu Temples). This place is mentioned as “Uthavi Manikuzhi” in Thevara hymns. This temple is on a very small kundru / small hill called Jyothi giri or Rathna giri. In Purana, this place was called Vamanapuri, Indralokam, Bheemasankara Kshetram, etc.

Even though Sekkizhar mentions that Sundarar took a bath in Kedilam and worshiped Lord Shiva. The pathigam was not traceable. Thirugnanasambandar, after worshiping Natarajar of Thillai / Chidambaram on the way to Thirupathiripuliyur, worshiped Lord Shiva of Thiruthinai Nagar and Thirumanikuzhi.

    செல்வம் மல்கிய தில்லைமூ

        தூரினில் திருநடம் பணிந்து ஏத்திப்

    பல்தொண்டர் எதிர்கொளப்

        பரமர்தம் திருத்தினை நகர்பாடி

    அல்கு தொண்டர்கள் தம்முடன்

        திருமாணி குழியினை அணைந்து ஏத்தி

    மல்குவார் சடையார் திருப்

        பாதிரிப் புலியூரை வந்துற்றார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Since Lord Shiva was referred to as Uthavimanikuzhi. Lord Shiva is also called Uthavinayagar.

    பொன்னியல் பொருப்பரையன் மங்கையொரு பங்கர்புனல் தங்கு சடைமேல்

    வன்னியொடு மத்தமலை வைத்தவிறல் வித்தகர் மகிழ்ந்துறைஇடம்

    கன்னியிள் வாளைகுதி கொள்ள இள வள்ளைபடர் அள்ளல் வயல்வாய்

    மன்னியிள மேதிகள் படிந்துமனை சேர்உதவி மாணி குழியே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                               -" ஆற்றமயல்

    காணிக்குழிவீழ் கடையர்க்குக் காண்பரிய

    மாணிக்குழிவாழ் மகத்துவமே"

.........திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  :Sri Vamanapureeswarar, Sri Uthavinayagar,

                Sri Manikkavarathar

Consort    :Sri Ambujakshi, Sri Uthavinayagi, Sri Manickavalli.

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

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Rishabam is looking straight at moolavar. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is through the south side opening in the mukha mandapam. A Jala is provided on the east side wall of the mukha mandapa. Bala Ganapathy and Bala Murugan are on both sides of the Jala. Moolavar is a short Swayambu Linga on a short Avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar (A Bhoota gana is on the left), Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar (Brahma and Maha Vishnu are on both sides), Brahma, and Durgai.    

On the left side of the sanctum sanctorum wall are the basreliefs of Vamana Avathara Sthalapurana. In the inner praharam, Vinayagar, 63var, Saptamatrikas, Yuga Lingas, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar Sabha, Pancha Murtis, Theraya Maharishi, Markandeyar, Thirunavukkarasar, Moovar, Sattanathar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Chandran, and Chandikeswarar.  Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are in the outer prakaram.

Ambal is in a separate temple with vimana, and koshta murtis like Ichcha Sakthi, and Gnana Sakthi. Ambal is in a standing posture facing east. Dwarapalakis are Jaya and Vijaya. On both sides, Vinayagar and Dandapani. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam, and Vahana Simha are in front of the temple.  

The 15th-century Saint Arunagirinathar worshiped Lord Muruga of this temple and sang hymns.

    குதித்து வானர மேலேறு தாறுகள்

            குலைத்து நீள்கமு கூடாடி வாழைகொள்

            குலைக்கு மேல்விழ வேரேறு போகமும்     வஞ்சிதோயுங்

    குளத்தி லூறிய தேனூறல் மாதுகள்

            குடித்து லாவியெ சேலோடு மாணிகொள்

            குழிக்குள் மேவிய வானோர்க ளேதொழ     தம்பிரானே

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple existed before the 7^th century, may have been built by Pallavas, and reconstructed and extended during the Chozhas, Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions, this place was called “Uthavi” and Lord Shiva is called “Uthavi Nayagar”, “Uthavimanikuzhi Mahadevar”, Thirumanikuzhi Mahadevar, Uthavithirumanikuzhi Udaya Nayanar, Ooseri Uthavi Nayagar (Vijayanagara Period). The recorded inscriptions belong to Chozhas Kulothunga Chozha-I, II & III, Rajarajan-III, Vikrama Chozha, Pandya King Vikrama Pandyan, Vijayanagara King Pratabadeva Maharayar. This place was under Viruthabayanga Valanattu Merkaa Nadu Uthavi Thirumanikuzhi, Rajaravalanattu Merkanattu Uthavi Thirumanikuzhi, Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Chozhavala Nadu.

Vikrama Chozha’s 15th-year reign inscription (AR 148 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 772) records the gift of the Land of 6 ma to Aadichandeswara Nayanar’s worship, for which a supply of 200 Kalam paddy by Vanavan Mahadevipura Nagaratha Velan, Mudikonda Chozha Mooventha Velan, and Thillainayaga Moovenda Vellalan.

Vikrama Chozha’s  10th-year reign inscription starts with his meikeerthi (AR149 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 773) records the covering of a gold plate for the Natarajar sannadhi. 3^rd year reign inscription (AR 150 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 774) records the gift of lands and gold, also mentioned. 4th-year reign inscription (AR 151 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 775) records the endowment of burning 2 perpetual lamps for which 5 kasu was gifted.

Rajadhi Rajan period inscription ( AR 153A of 1902 SII Volume VII- 778 ) records the endowment of naivedyam for which land was donated to this temple.

Kulothunga Chozha-II’s 8th-year reign inscription (155 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 780) records his son Rajarajan-II’s coronation at Natarajar Temple of Thillai / Chidambaram. It also registers the birth Nakshathra as Uththaradathi, special poojas on his birthday, naivedyam for Vikrama Chozha’s sandhi, and worship for which the land of 62 ma was donated to this temple after purchase. The land was donated after erecting the Soolakkal on the 4 periphery limits.

Vikrama Chozha’s 6th-year reign inscription (AR 158 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 783) records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 12 goats/sheep and the same was converted as Sava Moova Peradu. It was received by Sathan Arangan. One nazhi ghee for one goat, totaling 12 nazhi ghee to be supplied to the temple.   

Kulothunga Chozha’s 49^th year reign Inscriptions (AR 160 of 1902 SII Volume VII-785) record the existence of Sri Kazhi Nadudayan Thirumadam. For which an amount of 40 kasu was loaned, and the interest to be paid to this mutt.

Veera Rajendran’s 7th-year reign inscription (AR 164 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 791) records the endowment of one sandhi lamp for which 4 cows are donated by Thirunattaperumal.  

Pandya King Konerimai Kondan’s (Vikrama Pandyan) period inscription (AR 168 of 1902 SII Volume VII- 795) records the endowment of naivedyam for the Rasakkanayan sandhi and birthday, which was established in the King’s name.

Ref:

1. Annual Report on South Indian Inscriptions and

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume VII

The Moolavar & Ambal Vimana and Rajagopuram are repaired under Kanchi Mutt Jeyendra Saraswati Swamikal’s Golden Jubilee, and Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14^th September 1989. The re-wiring of the lighting system was done in 2011 by the employees of SPIC - PHARMA, Cuddalore.

LEGENDS

This is the only Shiva Sthalam where a screen with a print of Bheema Rudra, one of the Ekadhasa Rudras, is hung in front of the sanctum sanctorum. It was told that this Bheema Rudra guard for the worship of Maha Vishnu without disturbance as a “Mani – Brahmachari- Bachelor”. It is believed that Lord Shiva is always with Parvati. Since Sanctum Sanctorum is considered a Palliyari, there is no separate Palliyarai. Also, there is no Arthajama Palliyarai pooja conducted. The Gurukal will show Arathi first to the screen and then to moolavar. Hence, Moolavar darshan can be done only with the help of Gurukkal. 

Vinayagar, Lord Shiva, and Ambal are called with a prefix ‘Uthavi- உதவி”-. The same is mentioned in Thevara Hymns as Uthavimanikuzhi. It may be presumed that this place was once called Uthavi; the temple’s name “Manikuzhi” might have been added – Uthavimanikuzhi, and the place also has the temple’s name.  To prove this, the Sthala Purana says that a North Indian merchant called Aththiri, on his way through this place, thieves tried to rob his money and materials, but Lord Shiva helped the merchant from the thieves. Hence, this Place was called Uthavi and Lord Shiva as Uthavi Nayagar and Ambal as Uthavi Nayagi. It was said that Urchavar is also inscribed as “Uthavi”

                            உத விநாயகர் துதி

    சீர்பூத்த நீலகிரி திருமாணிக்குழிவளரும் தெய்வக்கோயில்

    வார்பூத்த களபமுலை மோகினிமா தினைத்தடந்தோள் மகிழப் புல்லும்

    கார்பூத்த சுந்தரமுக் கண்ணான் காந்திங்கட் கங்கைவேணி

    ஏர்பூத்த வாமனே சுரனுதவி நாயகனை ஏத்தி வாழ்வாம்

                        அம்புஜாட்சி ( உதவி நாயகி ) துதி

    தருண நறை மலர்க்கோயில் பூமகளும் நாமகளும் சார்ந்து போற்றக்

    கருணைபுரி வாமனே சுரனுதவி நாயகனைக் கலந்து வாழும்

    பொருள் நிறைந்து வளந்தரும் பூஞ்சோலை வாமன புரத்துப் புளகக் கங்கை

    அருணமலர் வதனஉமை அம்புயாட்சியின் மலர்த்தாள் அகத்துள் வைப்பாம்

Also, in another legend, Mahavishnu in Vamana avatar came as an unmarried Brahmachari (Bachelor), took Thiruvikrama avatar, measured the two feet, and for the third foot kept on Mabali’s head and killed him. To get rid of the brahmahathi dosha, Maha Vishnu came to this temple and worshiped. Lord Shiva took the short form for Vamana in the pit (Kuzhi) (Mani kuzhi – Mani- Brahmachari, bachelor, and Kuzhi – pit). It is believed that in Vamana’s continuous worship without disturbance, Lord Shiva asked Bheema Rudra to guard the sanctum.  

Also, it is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple for 2 minutes in this temple will be equal to worshiping  for 12 days, 16 times at Kasi, 3 times at Thiruvannamalai, and 3 times at

Chidambaram.

It is believed that the 4 pillars in the artha mandapa represent 4 Vedas, 6 pillars in the maha mandapa represent 6 sashtras, and 28 pillars in the mukha mandapa represent 28 agamas. 

Sthalapurana - Vamana avatar of Maha Vishnu with Kulothunga Chozha's inscription 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Thirukarthikai on Rohini Nakshatra (the Deepam will be lit on the Jyothi giri hill  near the temple), Big function in Karthikai, Adipooram, Navaratri, Sashti, Natarajar Abhishekam,

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS: 

Archakar can be contacted for darshan Gurukal Natarajan at +919486387154.  Alternatively, this landline may also be contacted at +91 4142  224 328.

HOW TO REACH :

Cuddalore to Panruti bus No. 16 goes through Thirumanikuzhi bus stop on the main road, and the temple is 1.5 km (walk and cross the river bridge). City bus Cuddalore to Kumanangulam passes through this place.

The temple is 14 km from Cuddalore, 17 km from Panruti, 45 km from Chidambaram, 45 km from Villupuram, and 196 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Panruti.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Kedilam River

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---