Valliyur Subramaniyar Swami Temple - Thirunelveli

Address

Valliyur Subramaniyar Swami Temple – Thirunelveli

Valliyur, Radhapuram,

Thirunelveli District,

Tamil Nadu – 627 117

Phone: +91 – 4637 – 222888

Moolavar

Subramaniyar Swami

Amman

Valli and Deivanai

Introduction

Subramaniyar Swami Temple is rock cut temple dedicated to God Murugan located at Valliyur near Nanguneri in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Valliyur is located on the Kasi-Kanyakumari highway. The Valliyur Murugan temple is located in close proximity to the Valliyur railway station. It has been revered in the Thirupugazh hymns of Arunagirinathar. People used to go round the hill as “Girivalam” during festival days.

Puranic Significance

Valliyur was under the governance of Kulasekhara Pandyan of 13th century, who fortified the village. Between the years 1162-1173, Valliyur was the capital of Pandiya Kings. It is located fairly close to Sri Lanka. Invasion of Muslim rulers around B C 1310 appears to have destroyed many valuable historical records. In the year 1955, electricity connection was given to the temple. Though Valliyur is synonymous with Murugan temple, requests have been made for archaeological survey in the areas in and around Valliyur. It is widely believed that Valliyur palace and fort were destroyed by invaders. Archaeological surveys in and around Valliyur have discovered hidden Shiva temples in and around the Nambi river as well as a few Sastha temples that were not maintained so well. Some of the idols that were found were supposedly 3000 years old.

Pandya discovered this Temple on a hunting expedition:

Legend has it that this temple was first discovered by a Pandya King who came here on a hunting expedition after visiting the Perumal temple at Thirukkurungudi and that the temple was expanded by his descendants.

People who worshipped Muruga here:

Legend has it that Indra and Agasthiar worshipped Subramanyar here.

Murugan created Saravanapoikai Tank:

Legend also has it that the Saravanapoikai tank was created when Murugan struck his spear to the ground, upon being requested by his consort.

Story behind the formation of Hills:

Village lore has it that Sage Agastya had cursed a merchant called Durlaban in Valliyur when he refused to part with a few morsels of rice saying that he can’t give anything in charity, even if it was for Sage Agastya. The sage cursed that all the rice that couldn’t be of use to someone like him, be as well converted to stone. This is how the hills were formed.

Mahendragiri Hill:

Mahendragiri Hill that finds mention in Sundara-Kandam is located to the west of Valliyur. This was the hill where Sage Parasurama did severe penance.

Valliyur, the place of Valli:

Lord Muruga came to Valliyur immediately after marrying Valli. References are indicated in the Kandapuranam. Valli was so much in love with Lord Muruga that she refused to allow Deivanai in her domain. Deivanai was almost in tears and it was only sage Agastya who consoled Deivanai and took her to Valli and explained to her that Deivanai be treated like her sister. As this place belonged to Valli who seems to have had a dominating nature, it is not surprising that women born in Valliyur are said to be extremely demanding wives after their marriage. They are also extra sensitive. Not a surprise – because it appears Lord Muruga simply pampered Valli.

Beliefs

No one has ever returned empty-handed from the Valliyur Murugan temple. Childless couples have visited Valliyur, prayed and have come back to pay their respects after their wish was fulfilled by Lord Muruga.

Special Features

The presiding deity here is Subramaniyar and the sanctum enshrines an image of Murugan with that of his consort Valli. The temple has a rock cut sanctum – carved out of a hill and several Mandapams surrounding it. There are also shrines to Natarajar and Dakshinamurthy here. The Saravanapoikai tank is located adjacent to the hill. The diamond studded Vel held by Subramaniyar is of great beauty. In the entire Thirunelveli district, Valliyur has the rare distinction of having the one and only cave temple of Lord Muruga.

A rock named as Pooranagiri was excavated to build this temple. The temple shape is in the form of “Om”. Note that Lord Muruga has four arms and the idol is a replica of the one in Tiruchendur. On his right hand are flowers and his left hand is holding onto his thigh. Next to the sanctum sanctorum is located the Artha mandapam and then the maha mandapam. In the Artha mandapam, Lord Arumuga gives darshan along with Valli – Deivanai. To facilitate circumambulation of the Artha mandapam, the hill has been drilled to set up a cave path till the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva.

In this temple, Lord Shiva as Jayandeeswarar facing west is in a separate shrine with Soundara Nayagi Amman. The Shiva ling faces the west in this temple which is considered very auspicious. Opposite Lord Muruga is placed the idol of peacock which is Lord Muruga’s vehicle (vahanam). The Artha mandapam also has the idols of Vinayaka, Veerabahu and Veera Mahendran. On the right side of the Artha mandapam is a cave. Alongside the entrance of the cave are Vinayaka, Sastha (Ayyappa) and Lord Shiva.

The Murugan temple has stone carvings. The temple also has a specific sanctum sanctorum dedicate to Valli – consort of Lord Muruga. The maha mandapam has Kasi Vishwanathar, Visalakshi and Shani Bhagwan. There is also Dakshinamurthy (Guru Bhagavan) idol in the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam Tree. The beautiful Temple, the temple tank and the Kuravan Malai (Western Ghats) give the town a beautiful look and feel.

Festivals

Giri Prathakshinam is considered to be of importance here as in Tiruvannamalai, Kunnakkudi and Palani. Seven worship services are carried out each day. Skanda Sashti is celebrated with great splendor here as are the float festival in the month of Karthikai and the annual festival in the month of Chithirai. Kodai in Sudalai Madan Temple is celebrated on the first Friday of Adi month. During festive occasions, the Valliyur Murugan temple has its own charm and the entire village rallies around the temple to take part in the festivities.

The important festivals associated with this temple are listed below; · Chitra Vishu (April 14) · Chitra Pournami (May 6) · Vasantham (spring) festival · Adi Amavasya · Pongal · Makara Sankaranthi · Mahasivarathri.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/04/subramaniyar-swami-temple-valliyur.html