Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple / வேதபுரீஸ்வரர் கோவில், தேரழுந்தூர் / Therazhundur / Thiruvazhunthur, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 155^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 38^th sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During ancient times, this place was called Santhanaranyam with sandalwood trees.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunallam. In this, he registers that the Therazhundur temple was a mada koil/ temple. But now the temple is on the ground level, and may be brought down during renovation, by the Chozhas.  

நிலவுமாளிகை திருநல்லம் நீடுமாமணியை

இலகுசேவடி இறைஞ்சி இன்தமிழ்கொடு துதித்துப்

பலவும் ஈசர்தம் திருப்பதி பணிந்து செல்பவர்தாம்

அலைபுனல் திருவழுந்தூர் மாடக்கோயில் அடைந்தார்

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

தொழுமாறுவல் லார்துயர் தீரநினைந்து

எழுமாறுவல் லார்இசை பாடவிம்மி

அழுமாறுவல் லார் அழுந் தைமறையோர்

வழிபாடுசெய் மாமட மன்னினையே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

கம்பன் பிறந்தஊர் காவேரி தங்கும் ஊர்

கும்பமுனி சாபம் குலைந்தவூர் – செம்பதுமத்

தாதகத்து நான்முகனும் தந்தையும் தேடிக்காணா

ஓதகத்தார் வாழும் அழுந்தூர்

....... தனிப்பாடல்

                                                              -“வருத்துமயல்

நாளுமழுந்தூர் நவையறுக்கும் அன்பருள்ளம்

நீளுமழுந்தூர் நிறைதடமே

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Vedapureeswarar, Sri Athyabakesar.

Consort    : Sri Soundaranayagi

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

The temple faces west with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy (Medha Dakshinamurthy), Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Chathurbhuja Durgai. 

In the praharam, Sri Madeswarar on the left and Ambal Sannathi on the right. Ashta Dikku Thisaipalakaa’s paintings and Stucco dwarapalakas.

In the inner praharam, Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Kshethra Lingam, Kadambavaneswarar, Valanchuzhi Vinayagar, Kaveri Ashta dikpalakas in painting, Stucco dwarapalakas, Agasthiyar, and Chandikeswarar. In the Navagrahas, except Suryan, others are facing Suryan, and Suryan is facing west.

ARCHITECTURE

A vesara vimana is over the sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum antarala and the ardha mandapam. The ardha mandapam is of the vavval nethi type. A moat is around the sanctum, which may be due to the rise of the ground level.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original Mada temple existed before the 7^th Century and may have been built by Ko Chengat Chozha. Later, the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Vijayanagara period.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Jayankonda Chozhavalanattu Thiruvazhunthur Nattu Thiruvazhunthur, and Lord Shiva was called Thiruvazhunthur Udayar and Thiruvazhunthur Udayar Thirumadamudaya Nayanar.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s inscription records his meikeerthi as Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Maduraiyum, Eezhamum, Karuvoorum, Pandyan Mudithalaiyum koNdu Veerabhishekam and Viajayabhishekam panniyarulina Thiribhuvana Veerathevan and Maduraiyum Karuvoorum Eezhamum Pandyam mudithalaiyum kondaruliya Sri Chozha Kerala thevan – மதுரையும், ஈழமும், கருவூரும் பாண்டியன் முடித்தலையும் கொண்டு வீராபிசேகமும் விஜயாபிசேகமும் பண்ணியருளின திரிபுவன வீரத்தேவன் ….  & சேர கேரளத்தேவன்.....  

One of the inscriptions records the endowment of the thirumanjanam of Lord Shiva for which water was brought from the river Kaveri. Donations were made for the same. 

On 23^rd June 1999, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovations.

LEGENDS

Vedas, Devas, and Ashtadikpalakas worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

When Agasthiyar was worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple, without knowing that a Deva was traveling in the sky in a Chariot, which disturbed Agasthiyar’s worship. So Agasthiyar made the Deva's Chariot fall to the ground. (தேர் + அழுந்தூர் –தேரழுந்தூர்). Hence, this place is called Therazhundur. He found that the sage Agasthiyar was worshiping Lord Shiva. He realized the reason why his Chariot got struck and landed here. He prayed to Agasthiyar and pardoned him. Hence, this place was called Therazhundur.

Ambal ma Parvati’s marriage is associated with many places around this temple/place. at Therazhundur, Ma Parvati to become a Cow and Maha Vishnu to play the role of a shepherd. At Thirukozhambam, Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse of a Cow. At Thiruvaduthurai also Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of a Cow. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Kokileswarar. At Thiruthuruthi, Ma Parvati came out of the yagna conducted by the sage Bharata. Ma Parvati was brought up by the sage. At Ethirkolpadi, Lord Shiva was welcomed as bridegroom by his father-in-law sage Bharata. The marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati took place at Thiruvelvikudi, and at Thirumananjeri, marriage darshan was given to all. 

It is believed that Lord Shiva was a Brahmin and taught the Vedas under the sthala vruksha. Hence, Lord Shiva is praised as Vedapureeswarar.

Vazhikatti Vinayagar temple is on the way to this temple. When Thirugnanasambandar was on his way to this temple, at one point, he couldn’t decide which way to proceed. So Vinayagar showed him the correct way to this temple. Hence, Vinayagar is called Vazhikatti Vinayagar. 

  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted in the 10-day Brahmotsavam in the month Chithirai (April–May), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug–Sep), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct–Nov),  Thiru Karthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Maha Shivaratri and Suriya Pooja in the month Masi (Feb–March), and every month pradosam. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs, and from 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The Archakar Rajamohana Sivam’s mobile numbers +91 98421 53947 and +91 94864 57103 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH: 

On Mayiladuthurai to Kumbakonam – get down at Moovalur Check post, and from there, 5 km from the main road.

Town buses are available from Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam. (Route No 33). It can also come from Kuttalam by auto or Taxi.

The temple is about 5 km off from Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai main road, 6.3 km from Kuthalam, 8.5 km from Thiruvaduthurai, 13 km from Mayiladuthurai,  29 km from Kumbakonam, 71 km from Thanjavur, and 283 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---