Melavadugakkudi Vasishteswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Melavadugakkudi Vasishteswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Melavadugakkudi, Nannilam Circle,

Thiruvarur District,

Tamil Nadu – 609501.

Moolavar

Vasishteswarar

Amman

Sornambikai

Introduction

Melavadugakkudi Vasishteswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Melavadugakkudi village, Nannilam circle, Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. Vadugakudi is the place where an ethnic group called Vadukar lived. Vadugakudi village is in the northern bank of the confluence of Arasalar and Keerthiman rivers in the east of Thiruveezhimihalai.

Puranic Significance

The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old. Once a big temple by the river, the idols were moved to different places due to decay. They are kept and worshiped in two different places. People worship a Lingamurthy and Nandi in a tin shed in the centre of the village. The other is on the banks of the Kirtiman River.

In north river bank, there is a small tin shed on the right hand side with a large linga idol of the Lord and Ambika facing south in the same shed. It is said that Lord Vasishteshwarar was worshiped in this temple by Vasishteshvara – Sornambikai. The Lord is facing east and before him are a Nandi and an altar. Near Ambigai to the south are the smaller Sundesar and Kalabhairavar to the west. Behind the Lord is Balavinayagar Balamurugan. Of these, Lingam and Bhairava Sandesar are the oldest. Daily pujas and pujas are performed as Pratosham Chaturthi by the nearby residents.

“With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.