Vazhuvur Veeratteswarar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Vazhuvur Veeratteswarar Temple, Veeratteswarar Temple, Vazhuvur – 609 401, Kuthalam Taluk, Nagapattinam District Phone: +91 4364 253 029 Mobile: +91 99437 98083

Diety

Veeratteswarar / Gaja Samhara Moorthy / Krittivasar / Gajari / Gnana Sabesan Amman: Bala Gujambigai

Introduction

Veeratteswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Vazhuvur Village, Kuthalam Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Veeratteswarar / Gaja Samhara Moorthy / Krittivasar / Gajari / Gnana Sabesan and Mother is called as Bala Gujambigai / Ilamulai Nayaki / Ilankilai Nayagi. The main attraction of the temple is the bronze utsava idol of Gaja Samhara Moorthy. This Temple is considered as one of the Atta Veerattanam Temples (Atta means eight and Veeram means bravery). The Temple is considered as ThevaraVaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this Temple. Lord Muruga of this temple is praised in the Thirupugazh hymns of Saint Arunagirinathar. The Temple is situated on the northern banks of Veera Chozhan River. Vazhuvur is considered as the birthplace of Sastha.

Puranic Significance

The temple is believed to be built by Cholas. The bronze sculpture of Gaja Samhara Moorthy was sculpted in the 10th century CE during the reign of Chola Emperor Rajaraja Chola I. As per legend, once the sages of Darukavana were engrossed in Dharma (righteousness) and extreme austerities but had forgotten the Samkhya (Supreme Knowledge). Lord Shiva took the form of Bikshadana (handsome mendicant) to dispense the ignorance of sages and lead them to true knowledge. He entered Darukavana, begging for alms from the sages wives. They were so enamoured of him that while granting alms, they allowed their clothes to fall off and followed him, dancing and singing, love-sick. Bikshadana was accompanied by Mohini (Vishnu disguised as Bikshadana enchanting wife). Seeing Mohini, the sages simply stopped the yajna half way and began following Mohini. The Rishis recovered from the illusion and not knowing the stranger was but Lord Shiva, sent Agni, tiger, deer, snakes and a battle axe called Mazhu. Lord Shiva defeated and made them his ornaments. The sages performed a black magic sacrifice to create an elephant-demon called Gajasura to attack Lord Shiva. When the elephant approached Lord Shiva, he assumed a miniscule form and jumped into the trunk of the elephant. He then took his Viswaroopa inside the elephant’s body and came out explosively bursting through the stomach of the rogue elephant and wore its skin as a garment. Therefore, this aspect of Lord Shiva came to be called as Kirthivasa (one who wears an elephant skin as garment). Lord Shiva finally revealed his true identity and did a furious dance in front of them. Realizing their mistakes, the sages surrendered to Bikshadana. It is said that the heroic feet of vanquishing the elephant demon happened in Vazhuvur and Lord Shiva came to be called as Gaja Samhara Moorthy.

Beliefs

Devotees pray to Lord Shiva for progress in trade & profession, employment, mental peace, child boon and marriage alliances. Devotees take bath in the Pancha Mukha Theertham on new moon days and pray for child boon and removal of evil effects on their children. Devotees pray to the Yantra installed behind the Gaja Samhara Moorthy for relief from spells, witchcrafts and black magic. The Goddess is believed to be a granter of Santana Bagyam (the fortune of motherhood). Devotees take a dip in Saraswathi Theertham for wisdom and excellence in high education.

Special Features

The Temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple is enclosed within compound walls and has three prakarams. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram facing towards the sanctum. Usually, in Shiva temples, Nandi is found between the pond and the Linga. However, the theertham is located between the Nandi and the Linga in this temple. This Theertham has five wells and is famously called as the Pancha Mukha Theertham / Pancha Brahma Theertham representing the five faces of Lord Shiva. The Theertham is also called as Patala Ganga / Eesana Theertham. There is a second level three tiered gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. Nandi, Balipeedam and Dhwaja Sthambam can be found immediately after the second level gopuram facing towards sanctum. Sahasra Lingam shrine can be seen on the right side of the Dhwaja Sthambam. There is a 100 pillared mandapam on the right-side corner of the outer prakaram. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antrala, maha mandapam and ardha mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Veeratteswarar / Gaja Samhara Moorthy / Krittivasar / Gajari / Gnana Sabesan. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Nardana Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. The sanctum is surrounded by a cloister mandapam. The walls of the cloister mandapa are painted with legends related to this temple. The main attraction of the temple is the bronze utsava idol of Gaja Samhara Moorthy. This Utsava idol is housed in a separate shrine in maha mandapam. The shrine is famously called as Gnana Sabhai (hall of knowledge). It is considered as one of the nine famous dance halls of Lord Shiva similar to the Kanaka Sabhai in Chidambaram. The idol of Gaja Samhara Moorthy is accompanied by an idol of Parvathy with Skanda in her arms. Out of 64 forms of Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva is depicted with his consort Parvathy and his son Skanda in Gaja Samhara and Somaskanda form only. The Gaja Samhara Thandava is considered to be a form of Oordhuva Tandava (dance of fury) of the Lord. He is eight armed with his right leg firmly placed on the head of the elephant, two arms holding its hide, left leg folded with the foot facing upwards and emerging from the elephant. The elephant hide with four legs is designed around the figure like a Prabhavali. The sculpture is about 4 feet tall and a best example of Chola workmanship. Parvati is depicted with a panic-stricken face and Skanda on her lap pointing his index finger towards his father. She is depicted as if she is walking away from Lord Shiva out of fear. The foot dharshan of Gaja Samhara Moorthy is considered very special. There is a powerful Yantra is installed behind this idol. Special worship is often offered to this Yantra to negate the effects of witch-craft and black magic. Mother is called as Bala Gujambigai / Ilamulai Nayaki / Ilankilai Nayagi. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her shrine is situated to the left side of the sanctum. She is depicted in standing posture. She is four-armed holding akshamala & lotus and showing abhaya & varada hastha. Saraswathi Theertham can be seen in front of Mother shrine. There is a shrine housing the bronze idol of Bikshadana along with his companion Mohini in the ardha mandapam. There is a separate shrine for Navagrahas in the temple premises. It is unique to note that all the planets are positioned in a strange manner. It is unusual to see Guru facing towards Sani Bhagawan. There is a separate shrine for Saneeswarar holding a bow in this temple. There is a separate shrine for Ayyappa in the temple premises. Vazhuvur is believed to be his birthplace. There is a separate shrine for Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena in the temple premises. He is depicted in standing posture with single face and four hands. Saint Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh hymns on Lord Murugan of this temple. Shrines and idols of Naalvar, Lingams worshipped by Sapta Matrikas, 63 Nayanmars, Umaimurugudaiyan, Selva Vinayagar, Bhairavas, Jyestha Devi, Pidari, Nagas, twin Vinayagas can be found in the inner prakaram. Shrines of Vinayagar, Bala Subramanya, Gajalakshmi, Bairavar, Suryan and Chandran can be found in the outer prakaram. Sthala Vriksham is Devadaru Tree.

Festivals

The Gaja Samhara festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) in a grand fashion. The festival is celebrated for the three days (on the Poosam, Ayilyam and Magha Nakshatras). The actual Gaja Samharam takes place on the evening of the second day. Aadi Pooram (Jul-Aug), 10 days Purattasi Navaratri (Sep-Oct), Skanda Sashti (Oct-Nov), Karthigai Somavaram (Nov-Dec), 3 days Margazhi Thiruvadhirai (Dec-Jan), Masi Maha Shivrathri (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram (Mar-Apr) are the other festivals celebrated here. Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil & English New Year days, Full moon days and monthly pradoshas are also observed in this temple. Normally, the Theerthavari festival is celebrated once or few times in a year in most of the temples. But, here it is celebrated on every new moon day. Yantra Pratistha puja is performed each day