Thiruthangur Sri Vellimalainathar Temple,Thiruvarur

Address

Thiruthangur Sri Vellimalainathar Temple, Thiru Thangur – 610 205 Thiruvarur District

Diety

Vellimalainathar, Amman: Periyanayagi.

Introduction

Vellimalainathar Temple (Rajathagreeswarar Temple) is a Hindu temple located at Thiru Thangur in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Vellimalainathar / Rajathagreeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. The historical name of the place is Tiru Thengur. Sthala Vriksham is Coconut Tree. Theertham of this temple is Sivagangai. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 233rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 116th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thala Virutcham : Coconut Theertham : Sivagangai

Puranic Significance

This place unaffected during Pralaya: Millenniums ago the world was destroyed by the great flood. Lord Shiva asked Lord Vishnu to create the world again. Lord Vishnu first created Lord Brahmma from his naval and ordered him to create a new world. Even during the great Pralaya the floods, one place stood unaffected with Vilwa trees. Wondered by the glory of the place withstanding the devastating currents of floods, the planets including the serpent planets installed a Linga each on the banks of Agasthya River and performed penance on Lord Shiva for 1000 years. Lord Shiva appeared before them, organized the new world into different zones and appointed each planet as the head of a particular zone and empowered them to treat people with rewards and punishments based on their good or bad deeds. Lord Brahmma came to this place and named the place as Navagrahapuram pleased with the planets. Devendhran came here and installed the Vellimalainathar Linga. Mother was named Bhrihannayaki – Periyanayagi. Mahalakshmi performed penance on Lord Shiva: Mother Mahalakshmi had stayed in this holy place performing penance on Lord Shiva. Thiru = (Thirumakal), Thangur = (staying / living place) and this place is called as Thiruthangur) Sukracharya regained his eyesight by worshipping Shiva here: Asura Guru Sukracharya is believed to have regained his eyesight after worshipping Shiva here. People worshipped Shiva here: Navagrahams and Lakshmi worshipped Shiva here.

Beliefs

It is believed that blessings of Mother Mahalakshmi would bring in all prosperity to devotees worshipping this temple. It is suggested that devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering vastras and contribute to the renovation of the temple.

Special Features

The temple is facing west. It is believed that west facing temples are more merciful than the ones facing east. A great Saint Vamadeva had said in his treatise that West looking Shiva darshan will be 1000 times more beneficial to the devotee. No great festivals are celebrated in the temple. Only usual pujas are followed. There is Kodimaram and Rajagopuram. Presiding deity is called as Vellimalainathar / Rajathagreeswarar. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. Lord is also known as Rajathagiri Easwara – Rajatha in Sanskrit and Velli in Tamil mean Silver and Giri means mount. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. The shrine of Mother Periyanayagi is on the right side of the entrance. The historical name of the place is Tiru Thengur. Sthala Vriksham is Coconut Tree. Theertham of this temple is Sivagangai. Nandhi is located in a little elevated Position. There are also Navagraha Lingas in the temple comprising the attributes of the nine planets. The Navagraha Lingas named after the planets-Sun, Moon, Mars-Sevvai or Mangal, Mercury the Budha, Guru the Jupiter, Venus the Shukra, Sani the Saturn and the two serpent planets Rahu and Ketu are maintained safely in the temple. These Lingas are in the prakara in a line in various sizes-big and small. It is the faith of the devotees that all adverse planetary aspects will be relieved by worshipping these Lingas that had merged with Lord Shiva during a Rahu-Ketu transition period. Besides these Lingas, the temple has the traditional Navagraha shrine too. There was a tank here with both white and red Lotus flowers. It is now dry. There are also shrines for Naalvar, Somaskandar,Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Mahalakshmi, Saneeswarar; Navagrahas worshiped Lingams, Maha Bairavar and Suryan. Narthana Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothpavar, Brahma, and Durgai are located in Koshta. Inscriptions belong to Rajarajan III, Kulothunga III and Rajendra III period can be seen in this temple.