Arani Sri Puthrakameshtiswarar Temple – Thiruvannamalai

Address

Arani,

Thiruvannamalai district,

Tamil Nadu – 632 301

Phone: +91 94860 46908, 97891 56179, 96294 73883

Moolavar

Puthrakameshtiswarar

Amman

Perianayaki

Introduction

Puthira Kamateshwarar Temple is Shiva temple located at Arani, Thiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. Main Deity is Sri Putharakameshtiswarar in Lingam form under Adisheshan with nine heads, and his consort known as Periya Nayaki Amman seen in separate sanctum with separate Dwajasthambam. Urchavar in this temple is Somaskandar. The main Raja Gopuram is of three tiers. This temple is in Arani Town which is about 41 kms from Vellore, 58 kms from Thiruvanna malai, and 71 kms from Kancheepuram.

Puranic Significance

Emperor Dasaratha was annoyed that he had no children to take care of his subjects after his life time. As advised by his Family Guru (Kula Guru) Vashita, he came to this place, installed a Shivalinga and worshipped the Lord for the reward and conducted the Puthrakameshi Yaga headed by great Maharshi Rishyasrunga. He was then gifted with four handsome sons, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugna. Erecting a temple for the Lord, the emperor named the Lord after the Yaga, Puthrakameshti Easwarar.

King Dasaradha installed a Siva Lingam in this place and performed Puthrakameshti yagam under the guidance of Rishyasringa Muni. Hence Lord Siva is known as Puthrakameshti Eswarar. King was blessed with four sons.

Beliefs

Those having no child even after long years of marriage pray to Puthrakameshti Easwarar. As the name suggests, Lord Puthrakameshti Easwarar (puthra – son, child) will reward them with a child, they believe. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer vastras.

Special Features

The Temple is believed to be 1500 years old. There is a small sanctum, King Dasaradha idol facing the main entrance of the temple. The Siva Lingam here was installed and worshiped by King Dasaradha. Here King Dasaradha is seen with Kamandalam and Rudraksha in his hand like a muni as he was seen during the time of yagam.

According to Vedic scholars, any activity should begin with Vinayaka worship and end with Anjaneya worship. Following this principle, Lord Vinayaka facing north and Sri Anjaneya facing south are opposite to each other on the banks of the river. Those beginning an activity follow this system with deep faith. Lord Vishnu’s discus and conch are inscribed in Anjaneya idol. This is a rare system in the temple that Lord Vinayaka and Sri Anjaneya are facing each other.

Presiding deity Lord Shiva graces in the sanctum sanctorum under a 9 headed serpent. Special pujas are performed on Full Moon days. Mother Graces from Her shrine with a flag post separately. There is shrine for Emperor Dasratha. He looks as a Rishi performing a yagna. He is holding a hand bowl (kamandala) and Rudraksha chain. Pujas are performed in this shrine on festival days.

There are shrines of 63 Saivite Saints, Lord Swarna Vinayaka, Panchalingam with Ambicas, Ashtothra Linga, Veerabadra with Kali, Lord Shanmugha with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Gopalakrishna with Bama and Rukmini, Kalabhairava, Saneeswara-Saturn, and Sun God in the corridor-prakara.

Festivals

Lighting of one lakh deeps on Swathi Star day in Aadi (July-August), Purattasi Navarathri in September-October and Masi Shivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

This has been extracted from,

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com