Thiruvazheemalai Sri Veezhinatheswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Thiruvazheemalai Sri Veezhinatheswarar Temple, Thiruvazheemalai, Thiruvarur District PIN – 609505 PH:04366-273050

Diety

Veezhinatheswarar, Nethrappaneswarar, Tiruvizhinatha, Amman: Azhagiya mamalai amman

Introduction

Veezhinathar Temple is an ancient temple located in Thiruveezhimizhalai dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thiruveezhimizhalai is a revenue village in Kudavasal Taluka of Thiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is the 61st Padal Petra Kovil also known as Paadal Petra Sthalams in the Chola Naadu, South of Kaveri. Parvati is said to have been reborn as Katyayani and married Shiva here. Vishnu received the cosmic weapon Chakrayudam from Shiva here in lieu of the 1000 flower worship to Shiva. A panel depicting the divine marriage is seen behind the Shivalingam. The Moolavar vimanam is believed to be brought to here by Mahavishnu. Thala Virutcham : Veezhi Theertham : Vishnu theertham

Puranic Significance

It so happened that demon Chalandaran took of the disc of Vishnu. He went to Lord Shiva to get it back from him. Lord Shiva told Lord Vishnu that He was then among the Veezhi plants in Earth and that he had to worship him there to get back the disc. Vishnu came to this place, made a pond in his name and worshipped Shiva with this theertham and lotus flowers. Yet it was short by one flower which Vishnu made up by taking off his own eye to worship Shiva. From this day onwards, the practice of offering eye symbols carved in silver, gold or copper came into being. Lord Shiva pleased with the puja of Vishnu gave him back His disc. The eye offered by Vishnu is still at the feet of Lord Shiva.

Beliefs

People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage talks and for child boon. Devotees perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord and Mother.

Special Features

Wedding of Parvathi: Pleased with the severe penance of Muni Kathyayana and his wife for a child, Mother Parvathi Herself was born to them. When she grew into a marriageable age, the sage prayed to Shiva that He should marry her. Responding to his prayer, Lord Shiva took the hands of Parvathi on the Magam Star day in the month of Chithirai (AprilMay). The sage also requested the Lord to give darshan to all, all days in the same Wedding Form. The Lord appears in the sanctum Sanctorum in the Wedding Form. Name Thiruveezhimizhalai: Once this place was dense with many trees, sandal, shenbagam, Jack and Vila all collectively called Veezhi. A hunter named Mizhalai Kurumbar was a devotee of Lord Shiva and offered him the Vila fruit for nivedhana. Pleased with his devotion, the Lord taught him the 8 great lessons called Ashtamasiddhi. The Vizha fruit is still found at the feet of the Lord in the temple. Hence, the place came to be known as Thiru+Veezhi+Mizhalai. A combination of the names of the fruit and the devotee hunter. Padikasu: Thiruveezhimizhalai once passed through a dry period with severe famine. Gnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar prayed to the Lord with their hymns to tide over the famine condition and restore fertility in the land. The Lord gave each a gold coin each day as promised by Him in their dreams to buy food and feed the suffering people. He gave the coin to Gnanasambandar on the eastern side and the other at the western side to Tirunavukkarasar. This is called Padikkasu (allowance money as we call it now) and this peetam also is still in the temple.

Festivals

Margazhi Tiruvadirai in December-January; Masi Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple