Sri Vedapuriswarar Temple / Sri Vedhapureeswarar Temple / Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple / வேதபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருவேதிக்குடி / Thiruvedhikudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu

This is the 131^st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 14^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This is one of the Sapta Sthana temples around Thiruvaiyaru. It is believed that the old name of this place “Vizhuthi Kudi” has been corrupted to the present name of Thiruvedhikudi

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruchotruthurai.

வேதவேதியர் வேதிகுடியினில்

நாதர் கோயில் அணந்து நலம்திகழ்

பாதபங்கயம் போற்றிப் பணிந்தெழுந்து

ஓதினார் தமிழ்வேதத்தின் ஓங்கு இசை

……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

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

நீறுவரி யாடரவொடு ஆமைமனவு என்புநிரை பூண்பரிடபம்

ஏறுவரி யாவரும் இறைஞ்சுகழல் ஆதியர் இருந்த இடமாம்

தாறுவிரி பூகமலி வாழைவிரை நாரஇணை வாளை மடுவில்

வேறுபிரி யாதுவிளை யாடவளம் ஆரும்வயல் வேதிகுடியே

…… திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

எண்ணும் எழுத்தும் குறியும் அறிபவர் தாம் மொழியப்

பண்ணின் இசைமொழி பாடிய வானவர் தாம்பணிவார்

திண்ணென் வினைகளைத் தீர்க்கும் பிரான்திரு வேதிகுடி

நண்ண அரிய அமுதினை நாம் அடைந்து ஆடுதுமே

…….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                    -“ஆற்றலிலத்

தீதிக்குடியென்று செப்பப்படார் மருவும்

வேதிக்குடியின்ப வெள்ளமே

……. திரு அருட்பா  

Moolavar  : Sri Vedapuriswarar, Sri Vazhai Madu Nathar

Consort    : Sri Mangayarkarasi.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are after the Rajagopuram. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma and Durgai.

There are 276 Shiva Lingas installed in the praharam.  In addition to this Maha Ganapathy, Subramaniyar,  Vedha Vinayagar (Sevi Saitha Vinayagar keeping his left leg in raised position), Sri Valli Devasena Sri Murugan, Lakshmi Narayana with Lakshmi sitting on his Lap, Maha Lakshmi, Anjaneyar, 108 Shiva Lingas and Chandikeswarar.

Sapta Sthana Lingas are also in the praharam and it is believed that worshiping these Shiva Lingas is equivalent to worshiping Shiva Lingas without going there.

Sri Pushpavaneswarar             - Thiruppoonthuruthi

Sri Neyyadiappar                     - Thiruneithanam

Sri Panchanatheeswarar          - Thiruvaiyaru

Sri Aabathsahayeswarar          - Thirupazhanam

Sri Odhavaneeswarar               - Thiruchotruthurai

Sri Vedapureeswarar                - Thiruvedhikudi

Sri Brahma Sira Kandeswarar  - Thirukandiyur

Ambal is in a separate temple, outside the main temple, which has no compound wall. The mandapam between the Main temple and the Ambal temple is in dilapidated condition.  

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of the seven temples – ie SaptaSthana temples around Thiruvaiyaru.

திருவின் மாமர மார்பழ னப்பதி

            அயலு சோறவை யாளுது றைப்பதி

            திசையி னான்மறை தேடிய முற்குடி        விதியாதிச்

    சிரமு மாநிலம் வீழ்தரு மெய்பதி

            பதும நாயகன் வாழ்பதி நெய்பதி

            திருவை யாறுட நேழுதி ருப்பதி                  பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The complete sanctum from adhistana to the sigaram was built with stone. The temple is a few feet below the outside ground level.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, The original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century and was reconstructed as a stone temple during Aditha Chozha-I’s  period. 

The inscriptions recorded belong to Aditha Chozha, Koparakesari Varman, and Ko Rajakesari Varman. (See the Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1895 No 65-69. See also the South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. V No. 622-626). As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Prakesari Chathurvedi Mangalathu Mahadevar and Vedhikudi Mahadevar.

Most of the inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, service, poojas, naivedyam ( Kariyamuthu, Thayiramuthu/ curd rice, neiyamuthu ), celebrations, maintenance of this temple for which land, Gold, pazhangkasu, and cattle/ 90 goat/sheep /savaa moova peradu / per lamp is gifted to this temple.

Ko Rajakesaribanmar’s 25^th reign year inscription records the gift  of a Golden bell/Mani weighing 145 by Thevurnattu Mayilayankudi Mayilayankudaan KoRRan.

 

Ko Rajakesaribanmar Rajaraja-I’s 5^th reign year inscription records the endowment by Sri Kayamarayan Meenavan ( fisherman …?)  for the persons engaged during Artha Jama pooja,  Persons holding 30 lamps, Cleaning staff 4 persons, Thiru pallithamam (plucking flowers from the nandhavanam and making garlands) three people, Salaikaduvan one person, Kamamoothuvar (musical instrument players – eka tala) 4 persons.

Maha Kumbabishekam was conducted on 19^th March 2014.

Inscriptions

LEGENDS

It is believed that Brahma, Suryan, Kuberan, and Chaitanya Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared in Plantain trees, hence Lord Shiva is called “Vazhai Madu Nathar”. Since Brahma, the lord of Vedas, worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple, Lord Shiva is called “Vedapureeswarar”

In another Legend, 4 Vedas were stolen by a demon and hid under the sea. Maha Vishnu took the macha avathara and retrieved the 4 Vedas. The Sin was caused due to stolen by the Demons, the 4 Vedas came to this temple to get rid of the sin. Hence Lord Shiva was praised as “Vedapureeswarar” and the place is called "Vedhikudi". 

The Vinayagar at the entrance of the sanctum is in a unique posture, called “Sevi Saitha Vinayagar” and “Vedha Pillayar”. It is believed that he tilted his head to listen to the mantras of 4 Vedas, while they worship Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin.  

Since this is one of the Sapthasthana temples of Thiruvaiyaru, this temple will also participate in the Nandhikeswara's marriage. It is believed that the Vedha Scholars who conducted the marriage belong to this place. Hence this place was called Thiruvedhikudi.

Lord Shiva, was pleased by the Prayers of a King and granted a marriage boon to his daughter. Hence this temple has become a Parihara sthalam for removing obstacles in the Marriages.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

During Nandhikeswara’s marriage, Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar visits this temple and Urchavar will also participate in the marriage. This temple’s Utsavar will go to Thiruvaiyaru during the “Ezhur Festival”.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Annual Brahmotsavam in the month Chithirai (April – May), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug – Sep), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct – November), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Makara Sankranthi in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mobile and landline numbers  +91 93451 04187, +91 98429 9842978302, and +91 4362 262 334 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Only a minibus is available to this village, which is 3 to 4 KM from Kandiyur and the frequency is unpredictable. The best option is to take an auto from Kandiyur, ( Thirukandiyur, which is also a Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam )

The temple is 3.6 KM from Kandiyur, 5.7 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 14 KM from Thanjavur, 36 KM from Kumbakonam, and 334 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Bhuta Ganas in Valapi

Kotravai in Makara Thorana 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---