Sri VyakapureeswararTemple Thirupulivanam

Address

Sri Vyakapureeswarar Temple Thirupulivanam Kanchipuram 631603 Phone: +91 44 2727 2336

Diety

Vyagapureeswarar Amman: Amirthagujalambal

Introduction

Vyakapureeswarar temple is situated in Thirupulivanam near Uthiramerur.Though the exact date could not be determined, the temple structure is said to be over 1000 years old. As per legends there lived a Siddhar and a staunch Shiva devotee. He used to climb the trees of Nagalingam (Nagalinga Pushpa (Kannada), Nagamalli (Telugu),Naaga danthee (Malyalalam) to pluck flowers for Shiva pooja. To help him climb the trees ,Lord Shiva modified his legs like that of a tiger (Vengai in Tamil) and became to be known as ‘Vyakya paadhar’ (one with Tiger paws). As the siddhar Vyaka Padhar or Puli Minivar (In tamil) had worshipped here this place may have been called PuliVanam ( Puli-Tiger)

Puranic Significance

Origin of this temple is said to be more than 1000 years. The entrance to this temple has a three tiered Rajagopuram. The mandapam has many figures sculpted on its pillars such as a Tiger worshipping the Linga, cow peforming abhishekha on linga,Kannappar,Mahishasuramardhini,Hanuman, Indhira,Narthana Ganesha etc. The moolavar Vyagapureeswarar is a swayambhu(self manifested) lingam. You have to enter into the sannidhi (which is is dark and smells of bats) and climb a few steps to reach the main sanctum or Garba griham to see the Shiva Lingam. It is said that you can see the marks of a tiger’s claw on the Shiva Lingam.You have to request the priest to show this and ask for an explanation. The Avudayar is square shaped.There is a ‘Kudumi’ on top of the linga. Dakshinamurthy here is called Simha Dakshinamurthy, with one of his leg on a lion and other on a Muyalagan(a symbolic figure for ignorance)and is said to be very powerful here and devotees light ghee lamps in various numbers from one to 10 for various prayers. As you come around the main sanctum, you see the Vimanam and the back wall in semi circle resembling the hind portion of an elephant (Gaja Prishtam) .On the back side of the sanctum you can see a small idol of Vishnu and the left side you can see Brahma. Ambal Amirthagujambal has a seperate sannidhi on the outside praharam. There is a small sannidhi for Ganapathi, Sri Subramanya with Valli and Deivayanai.

Festivals

Poojas are performed very frugally, only with the articles brought by the devotees. Pradoshams are very important and celeberated with much devotion.(The dusk time of the trayodasi (thirteenth moon day after full moon and New Moon) between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. is called Pradhosham.) The temple sees a fairly good crowd during Maha Sivarathiri.