Virudhachalam (Thirumudhukundram) Sri Pazhamalainathar Temple, Cuddalore

Address

Virudhachalam (Thirumudhukundram) Sri Pazhamalainathar Temple, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District, PIN 606001

Diety

Pazhamalainathar, Amman:Periya Nayagi

Introduction

The Vriddhagiriswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the town of Vriddhachalam, Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity Vriddhagiriswarar is revered in Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple gives its name to the town of Vriddhachalam Thala Virutcham : Vanni tree Theertham : Manimutha River, Nityananda Koopam,Agni, Chakra Theertham, Kubera Theertham Agamam / Pooja : Kameekam

Puranic Significance

As per Hindu Mythology, when Brahma thought of creating the earth, he created water. Lord Vishnu happened to cut down the evil Madhukaidavas. The cut pieces of the bodies floated on water created by Lord Brahma. On seeing that Brahma prayed to Lord Shiva to create the earth out of the hardened compound from the water and the flesh of the bodies. Lord Shiva appeared as a mountain. Lord Brahma who did not know this created many different mountains. As they did not have space to exist, he was sorrowful. The Pranava God appeared and conveyed Lord Brahma the truth through gestures. Brahma worshipped Lord Shiva who was the form of mountain. Lord Shiva created the earth combining the flesh and the water compounded in a hardened form. He called it medhini. He gave space for the mountains of Brahma. He told Brahma that he was not different from the mountain. The mountains of Brahma came into being after that mountain. Hence the mountain of Shiva was named Pazha malai (old mountain). According to him, that Pazhamalai would be hard pressed on the earth appearing as Shiva Linga above. Those who worshipped it would get all they wished for. Thus, the oldest of all mountains is invisible, but the top layer of it is said to appear in the river-bed of Cuddalore at Vayalur, about four km north of Virudhachalam.

Beliefs

The first benefit the devotee derives is mental peace with his prayers submitted to Lord. Any and every ailment disappears from the devotee. Mother Durga in the temples graces the devotee with wedding boon. People also pray for child boon and prosperity. On Sundays, during the Rahukalam time – 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. – devotees pray to Lord Bhairava with Vada Mala for removal of successive hardships attacking them. Saint Gnanasambandar, in his hymns say that the Lord of the temple pours His blessings on the devotee for his/her happy and peaceful life both present and the one to come next. Bathing in Muktha River ensures salvation, says scriptures. Devotees perform abishek to Lord with oil, cosmetic powder, green coconut, fruit juices, panchamirtham, sandal, rosewater and sacred ashes. They also offer dry, clean vastras. Sankabishek-abishek with conches and Kalasabishekam also are performed. They do turmeric abishek to Mother Ambica and offer Saris

Special Features

Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthy. Girivalamcicumambulating the hill takes place on each Poornima-full moon days. The age of the holy tree Vanni is over 1700 years. It is the faith of the devotees that salvation is surety if he/she is born in the place, or live in the place, or pray the Lord here, or even thinking of Him even while elsewhere and die in this place. One of the above five criteria will free him/her from the cycle of births and deaths. As in Kalahasthi temple, Lord Vinayaka is in an underground shrinewith 18 steps to get in for worship. When the world was destroyed by pralaya floods, it is said that this holy place-Vruddhachalam stood unaffected and fully alive. Of the 1008 Shiva shrines of the country considered in high esteem, four lead this divine list of which Vruddhachalam is one.

Festivals

10 day Brahmmotsavam drawing a huge crowd of devotees with a car festival on the 9th day in Masi (February-March); 10 day Aadi Pooram especially for Ambica with Wedding Festival and flag hoisting and Ambica procession; 10 day Vaikasi Vasanth Usav in May-June; Aani Tirumanjanam in June-July; Arudra Darshan n December-January; Skanda Sashti-Soora Samharam in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Special abishek is performed to procession deity Peria Nayakar on Poornima-full moon days. The devotee crowd in the temple is usually huge on Poornima-full moon and Amavasya-new moon days.