Vilamal Patanjali Manohar Temple / Pathanchali Manohar Temple / விளமல் பதஞ்சலி மனோகரர் கோயில், Vilamal /Thiruvilamar, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 207^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 90^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. The temple is on the banks of the River Odampokki. This Vilamal was called Thiruvilamar during the 6^th to 7^th centuries. 

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukaraveeram.

நீடுதிரு வாஞ்சியத்தில் அமர்ந்த முக்கண்

        நீலமிடற்று அருமணியை வணங்கிப் போற்றிப்

பாடுஒலி நீர்த் தலையாலங்காடு மாடு

        பரமர் பெருவேளூரும் பணிந்துபாடி

நாடுபுகழ்த் தனிச் சாத்தங்குடியில் நண்ணி

        நம்பர் திருக்கரவீரம் நயந்து பாடித்

தேடுமறைக்கு அரியார் தமவிளமர் போற்றித்

        திருஆரூர் தொழநினைந்து சென்று புக்கார்

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

மத்தகம் அணிபெற மலர்வதொர் மதிபுரை நுதல்கரம்

ஒத்தக நகமணி மிளிர்வதொர் அரவினர் ஒளிகிளர்

அத்தக வடிதொழ அருள்பெரு கண்ணொடும் உமையவன்

வித்தகர் உறைவது விரிபொழில் வளநகர் விளமரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                -“திணமைக்

களமர் மகிழக் கடைசியர் பாடும்

விளமர் கொளும் எம் விருப்பே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pathanchali Manohar

Consort    : Sri Mathurabhasini, Then Mozhi Ammai

Some of the salient features of this temple are.….

The temple faces east, with an entrance arch/base for Rajagopuram. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai (Ashtabhuja Durgai or Raja Durgai). Moolavar is made of sand; hence, there is no abhishekam done to moolavar.  The temple tank is opposite the temple. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Ardha Mandapam

Ambal Madhura Bhashini is in a separate sannathi facing south. Patanjali and Vyaghrapada statues are in the maha mandapam. Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandran Suryan, Nalvar, Gajalakshmi, and Chandikeswarar Sannathis are in the praharam. Bhairavar (with Chandra on the head) is in a separate sannathi. There is no Navagrahas Sannathi.  Maha Vishnu holding Lord Shiva’s leg on his head is unique in nature.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. An eka thala Dravida vimanam is over the sanctum Sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 6^th to 7^th Century. Later, the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Nayakas period.

After renovations, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 30 August 2004 and 12 September 2018. The temple is under the administrative control of Velukurichi Adheenam (Thirupugalur).

LEGENDS

There is an unwritten statement that one has to visit this temple for Shiva’s feet darshan after the face darshan of Thyagaraja at Thiruvarur. To have the darshan of Shiva’s feet, we have to remove the shirt and banian.

This place was called Thiruvadi Kshethram, Sivapatha sthalam during ancient times, during Thevaram times as Thiruvilamar, and now as Vilamal.  

As per the legend, the sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada did penance on Lord Shiva for his dance darshan at Chidambaram. Pleased with the penance, Lord Shiva gave the Ananda Thandava Darshan at Chidambaram. They also requested the darshan of Ajaba and Rudra Thandavam. Lord Shiva advised them to go to Thiruvarur and pray for him. At Thiruvarur, Ma Parvati advised them to go to this place and worship Lord Shiva. Pathanjali made a Shiva Linga out of sand and worshiped it. Hence, Lord Shiva of this temple is praised as “Patanjali Manohar”. Also blessed with the “ajaba” dance with Thiruvadi Darshan at this temple. Hence, his place is called Thiruvadi Kshethram and Sivapatha sthalam, and Lord Shiva’s feet are known as “Rudra Padam”. Some people claim Thiruvadi means “Vilamal”. It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship the Thiruvadi of Lord Shiva at this temple. 

It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Devas, Brahma, and Musukunda Chakravarthi are blessed with the dance darshan of Lord Shiva. It is further believed that Dasaratha worshiped Lord Shiva for a child boon.

 

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Annabhishekam is done on all new moon days. The Annabhishekam on Mahalaya Amavasya day in the month of Purattasi (Sep-Oct) will be celebrated grandly.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month of Vaikasi (May – June), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month of Aani (June – July), Aadi Pooram in the month of Aadi (July – Aug), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Avani (Aug – Sept), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month of Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thiruvathirai in the month of Margazhi (Dec – Jan), Makar Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month of Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The mobile numbers  +91 98947 81778 and +91 94894 79896 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

The temple in the village of Vilamal is on the Thiruvarur to Thanjavur Road. Long-route buses will not stop; we have to depend on one town bus, which goes to the medical college. Better to take an auto from the Thiruvarur bus stand.

The place Vilamal is 3 km from Sri Thyagaraja Temple, 30 km from Nagapattinam, 26 km from Mannargudi, 30 km from Thiruthuraipoondi, 39 km from Kumbakonam, 42 km from Mayiladuthurai, 42.3 km from Karaikal, and 300 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---