Sri Vilvaneswarar Temple / Vilvavana Nathar Temple / Sri Vilvavana Nathaswamy Temple /வில்வவனநாதர் கோவில், திருவைகாவூர், Thiruvaikavur – Tiruvaikavur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 102^nd Thevaram Paadal petra Shiva Sthalam and 48^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The place Thiruvaigavur/ Thiruvaikavur is on the southern banks of river Kollidam. This place was called Bhumipuram, Vilvavanam during ancient times and Thirugnanasambandar is mentioned as “Vaika” and is now called Thiruvaika.

In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar visited this place after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvijayamangai.

விசயமங் கையினிடம் அகன்று மெய்யர்தாள்

அசைவுஇல் வைகாவினில் அணைந்து பாடிப்போந்து

இசைவளர் ஞானசம்பந்தர் எய்தினார்

திசையுடை ஆடையர் திருப்பு றம்பயம்

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

கோழைமிடறு ஆககவி கோளும் இல வாகஇசை கூடும் வகையால்

ஏழையடி யார்அவர்கள் யாவைசொன சொல்மகிழும் ஈசன் இடமாம்

தாழைஇள நீர்முதிய காய்கமுகின் வீழநிரை தாறுசிதறி

வாழையுதிர் வீழ்கனிகள் ஊறிவயல் சேறுசெயும் வைகாவிலே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                    --“மன்னுலகில்

வைகாவூர் நம்பொருட்டான் வைகிய தென்றன்பர் தொழும்

வைகாவூர் மேவிய என்வாழ் முதலே

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Vilvavaneswarar, Sri Vilvanathar

Consort    : Sri Sarvajana rakshaki, Sri Valakkai Nayagi.

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

The temple faces east without Rajagopuram and Dwajasthambam. Rishabam is facing the same direction ( East ) as moolavar to threaten and chase Yamadharman. There is no Navagraha sannadhi. Moolavar is swayambu. In koshtam Ganapathy, Pichadanar, Agasthiya munivar, Lingothbavar, Arthanareeswarar, Kala Bhairavar and Ashtabhuja Durga. 

In praharam, Vallabha Vinayagar, Murugan as Arumugar with his consorts ( Lord Muruga as Arumugar is with six faces, sitting on a peacock. The whole image of Arumugar with Thiruvasi was carved out of a single stone. The Peacock is facing the left direction ), Saptamatrikas, Kasi Viswanathar, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Two Vishnu Durgai, Two Bhairavas, Saneeswaran and Navagrahas. There are two Chandikeswaras in front of Vishnu Durgai.

In the maha mandapam, Sapta Lingas, maha Vishnu, Brahma, Vinayagar, and procession deity of Bhaktha Anjaneyar. Vishnu, Narayani Bhairavar, Suryan, Chandran, and Saneeswarar are installed in a row.  Siddhi Vinayagar shrine is at the entrance of the temple.

There are two Durgai Amman. In Artha mandapam, lord Shiva is in the form of Dakshinamurthy with a stick in her hands to chase Yamadharman. Brahma and Vishnu are on both sides. 

Ambal Sarvajana Rakshaki is in a separate sannadhi facing east, instead of Dwarapalakis, Vinayagar images are installed on both sides. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original brick temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. As per the inscriptions, the temple was reconstructed with stone during 11^th Century Kulothunga Chozha-I. The was believed to have been constructed during the Pallava Period and later reconstructed, extended during Chozhas, Vijayanagaras, etc,.

Pallava King Nandivarman-III’s 22nd-year reign ( 868 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a Perpetual lamp and Naivedyam by Sandhi Pillaiyar for which 1.5  veli tax-free land after converting to cultivable  was handed over to the Sabha of Thirubhuvana Mahadevi Chaturvedi Mangalam

LEGENDS:

This temple celebrates Maha Shivaratri in a grand manner. This relates to the story of a hunter who came to this place in search of a deer. Lord Shiva to save the deer came in the form of a Tiger. On seeing the tiger the hunter climbed up the tree and unknowingly he plucked the leaves ( Vilvam ) and dropped down on Shiva Linga without sleep throughout out night. Hence the hunter got the blessing from Lord Shiva.  ( The stucco image is at the entrance). Devotees consider that worshiping Lord Shiva on Shivaratri is auspicious and will increase the benefits by many folds.

This legend is connected with Yama. There are six places where Lord Shiva will relieve Yama's fear and This is one of the places. The other places are, Thirukadaiyur, Thiruveezhimizhalai, Thiruvaiyaru, Thiruvenkadu, and Thiruvanjiyam.

It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Agni, Bhoomadevi, Sage Unthaala, and 4 Vedas, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. There are no Dwarapalakas and it is believed that Brahma and Maha Vishnu act as guardians. Maha Vishnu was relieved from the Wife of Jalandara’s curse for lying to her and Killing Jalandaran.

Sthala Purana stucco image

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special Poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sep ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in grand manner in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly Pradosham. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Mobile and landline numbers are: +91 94435 86453 & +91 96552 61510

Hariharan Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at + 93443 30834 for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

From Kumbakonam to Swamimalai town bus passes through the place.

Can reach from Thirupurambiyam about 4 KM

On the Kumbakonam – PULIANCHERI – Thiruvaiyaru bus route, take a diversion at Puliyancheri, to Thiruvaikavur, which is about 9 KM.

The temple is 17 KM from Kumbakonam, 26 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 34 KM from Thanjavur, 50 KM from Mayiladuthurai, and 296 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---