Tiruvettakudi Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Puducherry

Diety: Thirumeniyazhagar, Sundareswarar Amman: Soundara Nayaki, Santha Nayaki
Temple Address: Tiruvettakudi  Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Tiruvettakudi,  Puducherry-  -609 609,Phone: +91- 4368 - 265 693, 265 691, 98940 51753.
Open between: 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 AM to 08:30 AM

Introduction

Tiruvettakkudi Sundareshwarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Tiruvettakudi in Pondicherry, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Sundareshwarar. His consort is known as Shantha Nayaki.It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. Thala Virutcham : Punnai Theertham : Devatheertham Agamam / Pooja : Karanagama

Puranic Significance

When war between the Kauravas and Pandavas became imminent, Sage Veda Vyasa advised Arujuna to meditate upon Lord Shiva to get the Pasupatha Missile to fight the enemies. Arjuna came to this place and performed penance on Lord Shiva. Duryodhana sent demon Mookasura in the guise of pig to disturb Arjuna’s penance but was shot by an arrow by Arjuna. A hunter came there with his wife and claimed the pig was shot by him and tried to take it. Arjuna refused to part with the animal. A war of words took place between the two. Lord disclosed His self to Arjuna and blessed him with Pasupatha he required to defeat the enemies in the war. Mother Parvathi raised a doubt about Arjuna’s eligibility for the boon. Lord told Ambica that Arjuna had the Matsya Rekha-a lucky line in the palm and deserved the boon. Arjuna obediently showed his palm to Mother and got Her approval too. Arjuna begged the Lord that He shall be there to bless the devotee During a conversation in Kailash, Mother Parvathi said to Lord that He alone could not protect the beings on earth individually without Her contribution. Lord felt that Mother was growing proud. He cursed her to born in the fishermen community in Earth. Born as ordained, Mother performed penance and got Her Lord back in marriage. Celebrating this event during the Masi festival, Lord is invited to the fishermen colony here, welcoming Him as their Mappillai-Son-in-law. Those facing problems in wedding proposals pray to Lord for happy ends. The place has the reputation of Lord gracing here both in the forms of a Shivalinga and of a hunter. In the Linga form Lord graces in the sanctum sanctorum on a square peeta under a Rudraksha roof. Arjuna, who was blessed with the Pasupatha Missile, holds a Trident and bow as a procession deity. Pujas are performed to Arjuna during festival days. Mother graces from a separate shrine with a blessing look in the name of Shantanayaki. Couples separated in life, pray to Mother for a re-union offering pujas and vastras. When Saint Tirugnanasambandar came to this place by sea, he found every particle of the sand as Shiva Linga and hence did not place his steps on the sand, worshipped the Lord from sea itself. As Lord came to this place as a hunter-Vedan in Tamil, the place is called Vettakudi. Also it has the name Ambicapuram, as Mother was born there in a fisherman family. Lord Sundara Vinayaka is the Sthala Vinayaka of the temple. It has a five tier Rajagopuram.

Beliefs

Devotees pray for faithful friends, freedom from opponents and conquering ego. Devotees perform special abhishek to Lord offering vastras.

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 49th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This east facing temple has a 5-tiers main tower (Rajagopuram) and it has a single corridor. The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 28.05.1999. As Lord Shiva came to this place in the guise of a hunter, this place is called Thiruvettakkudi (“Thiru” is a respectful prefix, “Vedan” means hunter and “Kudi” means village in Tamil). This place is also known as “Ambikapuram” because Goddess Parvathy is believed to have been born in this place in a fisherman’s family (“Ambikai” means goddess and “puram” means village in Tamil). The historical names of this place are Punnagavanam, Devakodipuram and Ambikapuram but now it is known as Thiruvettakkudi. It is a pleasing darshan to the devotee to see the procession deity Vedamurthy (as a hunter) and Mother as the wife of the hunter with a pot on Her head. When Lord Shiva came here as hunter, He brought Lord Muruga too with Him. Hence, Lord Muruga too is holding the bow and arrow as a hunter boy. He graces darshan to the devotees with four hands (instead of 12 hands) with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. It is a double luck for devotees to have the darshan of both Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga with bow and arrow. Presiding deity Lord Shiva praised in Tirugnana Sambandar hymns graces darshan in the name of Punnaivana Nathar. Planet Saturn (Sani Bhagwan) and Saint Gnanasambandar are in shrines in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Those facing adverse aspects of planets pray here.

Festivals

3-day Maasi Magam festival in the Tamil month of Masi, Shivarathri in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), and Thirukarthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec) Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Century/Period/Age

1000 to 2000 years old

Saints and Singers

Sambandar

Managed By

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE)

Best Time

காலை 6 மணி முதல் 11-30 மணி வரை

Accommodation

Karaikkal

Consecration (Kumbhishekam)

28.05.1999.

Nearest Bus Station

Varichakudi

Nearest Railway Station

Karaikkal

Nearest Airport

Puducherry

Location on Map

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