Vilathotti Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Vilathotti Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Vilathotti, Thiruchitrambalam P.O, Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk, Thanjavur District – 609 204 Mobile: +91 94883 37540

Diety

Brahmapureeswarar Amman: Itsharasu Nayaki

Introduction

Brahmapureeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Vilathotti Village in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar and Mother is called as Itsharasu Nayaki. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. This Temple is considered as Parihara Sthalam for Child Boon. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar.

Puranic Significance

Brahmapureeswarar: Lord Brahma too had five heads earlier as Lord Shiva. He felt proud of it and gradually it grew to high proportions thinking that he was the Supreme Lord than Shiva and Vishnu. He began to ignore them. As his sense of pride crossed limits, Lord Shiva plucked one of his heads and deprived him of the creation job. Begging his pardon, Brahma visited many Shiva temples. Lord Shiva, worshipped by Brahma in these places, is praised as Brahmapureeswarar. This Vilathotti temple is one among them. Valar Thottil: This Temple is believed to be the place where Lord Muruga as a baby grew in the direct care of Mother Parvathi. She will place the Little Muruga and sing sweetly in a low voice to make him sleep. This music, to make the child sleep is called Thalattu in Tamil. Based on this story, people of the place have a strange habit of not using the cradle for 10 days for their babies from the day of birth. As Lord Muruga slept and played in the cradle (Thottil in Tamil). The place was also known in the past as Valar Thottil. Later got corrupted to Vilathotti. Lord Balamuruga also plays the role of a custodian deity of the place People worshipped Lord Shiva here: Indra, Brahma and Ashta Dhik Balagas had worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple.

Beliefs

Devotees pray for child boon. People use to bring a new cradle and place it in Lord Bala Muruga shrine. As a mark of respect to Lord Balamuruga, people of the place do not use cradles for ten days for their children since the day of birth. This Temple is considered as Parihara Sthalam for Child Boon.

Special Features

This is an east facing temple with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has stucco images of Lord Shiva and Mother sitting on Nandi, housed in a small Mandapam, flanked by Vinayaga and Murugan. The Temple covers an area of about one acre and is completely surrounded by compound walls. The Temple has only one prakaram. Balipeedam and Nandi, housed in a Mandapam, is located outside the Temple facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of a front Mandapam, Mahamandapam, Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is Swayambhu Moorthy. Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Mother Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Itsharasu Nayaki. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. As her blessings are as sweet as sugarcane juice (Itshu in Sanskrit means sugarcane, Rasa-juice). She came to be called as Itsharasu Nayaki. Nandi and Balipeedam is situated in front of Mother shrine and can be found facing the Mother Shrine. Lord Balamuruga shrine is situated behind the sanctum. There is a Lingam infront of Lord Murugan in the shrine. He is behind his father here as in KumaraVayalur and blesses the devotees. Lord Vinayaka, praised as Aabathu Katha Vinayaka (Vinayaka rescuing devotees at any time of crisis) greets the devotees from the left side of the Maha Mandapam. His idol is a little bigger in size than seen usually in temples. The special Mandapam and Mahamandapam are just after the entrance. The sculpture showing Lord Brahma worshipping Lord Shiva is on the left side of the Maha Mandapam. There are idols of Nataraja with his consort Shivagami and Manikkavasakar on the right side of the Mahamandapam. Lord Maha Vishnu with his consorts Rukmini and Sathyabama graces the devotees from his shrine on the left side of Mahamandapam in his Venugopala posture. Garudazhwar can be seen facing the shrine. Devotees believe that Perumal in this temple grants all prosperity to his devotees. There are shrines for Niruthi Vinayaga, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar, Suryan and Saneeswarar in the Temple premises. SthalaVriksham is Vilwa Tree.

Festivals

Maha Shivrathri is grandly celebrated in the temple in February – March, monthly Pradoshams are also observed. Brahmotsavam is conducted during Vaikasi Visakam. Festivals related to Shiva and Murugan are celebrated in this temple with much fanfare.