Injimedu Thirumanicherai Udayar Temple – Thiruvannamalai

Address

Injimedu, Thiruvannamalai District,

Tamil Nadu 604503

Phone: +91 4183 293 616

Moolavar

Thirumanicherai Udayar (Lord Shiva)

Introduction

Thirumanicherai Udayar Temple is dedicated to God Shiva located at the top of Periyamalai Hill in Injimedu Village of Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. Many people visit this place for the relief from their problems. This is the only temple in which the special pooja is performed for Nandi, the vahana of Lord Shiva. People visit this temple for all kind of problems related to education, property, money and even health.

Puranic Significance

Thazampoo, as Sthala Vriksham here:

Once on an ego battle between Brahma and Vishnu, they set off to reach the top and bottom of Shiva as a competition. During that time Thazhambu gave a false witness to Shiva that Brahma had reached the top of Shiva. Knowing this, Shiva cursed Thazampoo that it should not be used in any Shiva pooja. In order to get rid of the curse, it stands here as the Sthala Vriksham. Nandhi’s footsteps are seen here.

Divine Wedding of Lord Shiva & Parvathy:

Mythology has it that the wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvathi was performed at Mount Kailash, the eternal and ethereal abode of Lord Shiva. All the Devas, Rishis, Saints, along with Lord Vishnu, Brahma and their consorts assembled to witness the marriage. The northern part Himalayan Mountain sunk in whereas the Southern part has gone up. So to make it balance, as desired by Lord Shiva, Agastya Rishi stood on top of the Mount and hence the Mount sub-merged into the earth. Rishi Agastya witnessed the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvathi from the top of this Mount. Therefore the prayers of the devotees for their marriages are getting fulfilled.

Navapashana Lingam:

Later, a sage performed penance on Lord Shiva here. When he was deep in his meditation, an elephant brought water from the spring, spilled on the sage. Yet he was motionless deep in his penance. The animal tried to reach the sage but was stopped by a fire circle around the sage. Pleased with the determined concentration of the sage, Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked what he wanted. The sage prayed that the Lord should stay here and grace people. Lord Shiva obliged. The sage made the Navapashana Linga and installed it in Injimedu.

Nandi became Vahana of Shiva:

Nandi, son of saint Siladara performed penance seeking blessings and acceptance of Lord Shiva. It is from this Holy Hill Periya Malai that Lord Shiva blessed Nandi to be his Vehicle, for the first time. Since then, this hill is venerated and worshipped by the Saints and Devatas as a sacred place.

Nandipuravinnagaram:

Worshipping Lord Nandeeshwara of this temple is regarded as very sacred as he grants the prayers. The village was called “Nandipuravinnagaram” (Sky high village, Nandipuram) as Periyamalai was very tall once upon a time.

Beliefs

Abishek to Navapashana Linga is performed with the water drawn from the spring in Periyamalai. The abishek water, if consumed by the devotees, cures diseases. This is specially used for snake bites. Many believe that the water also is a good solution for infertility problems. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother with vastras.

Special Features

Lord Shiva is in the form of lingam and is named as Thirumani Cherai Udayar (highly decorative and attractive Shiva). Lord Shiva graces in the form of a Linga made of Navapashana – a mixture of nine herbal medicinal properties. The Goddess Parvati is named as Thirumani Nayagi (pleasant and blissful). This Shivalinga is 5 feet 6 inches tall atop the hill and Mother is 4 feet high. Shivalinga is very elegant, attractive and vibrant.

This is a 2500 years old temple which got ransacked about 700 years ago by various invasions. The Thirumanicherai Shiva lingam which was left alone without any pooja/ worship for nearly 700 years finally got a facelift and the Kumbhabhishekam took place in 1999. Sanghu theertham is present in the hill in the shape of Sanghu

It is said that there is a spacious cave here where Pampatti Chithar is living in the form of a snake. It is believed that Maharshi Agastya had done the pratisthapana of this temple and a statue of Muni Agastya is still present in the temple premises. There is a Holy spring which is perennial and is very sweet and cures many diseases. Abishek to Navapashana Linga is performed with the spring water only.