Srimushnam Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Cuddalore

Address

Srimushnam Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam, Virudhachalam taluk, Cuddalore District – 608 703 Phone: +91 4144 245 090 Mobile: +91 94423 78303

Diety

Varaha (Bhu Varaha Swamy) AMMAN: Lakshmi (Ambujavalli Thayar)

Introduction

Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple is a Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Srimushnam Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Bhu Varaha Swamy, the boar-avatar of the god Vishnu and his consort is called as Ambujavalli Thayar. The temple had contributions from Medieval Cholas of the 10th century with later expansions by Thanjavur Nayak king Achuthappa Nayak. The Temple is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture. A granite walls surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and the temple tanks. There is a seven-tiered Rajagopuram, the temple’s gateway tower. Srimushnam is one of the eight Swayambu Vyaktha Kshetrams of Vishnu where presiding deity is believed to have manifested on its own. The festival also symbolizes Hindu-Muslim unity in the region – the flag of the chariot is provided by Muslims; they take offerings from the temple and present to Allah in the mosques.

Puranic Significance

The existence of Bhu Varaha Swamy temple during the medieval Chola period is seen from the inscriptions from 11th century. The temple was expanded by Thanjavur Nayak king Achyutappa Nayak (1560 – 1614 AD). The life size image of the king and his brothers are found in the sixteen pillared hall of the temple. An epigraph dated 1068 in the nearby Shiva temples indicates gifts by Vira Rajendra Chola (1063–1070 AD) to the Varaha shrine. Another inscription dated at 1100 by Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120) indicates a gift of a village to the temple, where the presiding deity is referred as Varaha Azhwar. The later inscriptions are from Vijayanagara kings of the 16th Century like Virupaksha Raya II (1465-85 AD) dated 1471 AD, Sriranga I (1572–86), Venkata II (1586 – 1614) indicating various gifts to the temple.The most notable contributions of the temple were from Achuthappa Nayak (1560 – 1614 AD) who built the sixteen pillars red Purushasuktha Mandapa along with other smaller shrines of the temple. The Zamindars of Udayarpalayam have contributed to the temple by offering costly jewels and commissioned additional structures, notably Udayavar Mandapam. Varaha Avathaar: The temple is associated with Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu. The demon king Hiranyaksha stole the earth and took it to his realm of the netherworld. The earth-goddess Bhudevi prayed to Vishnu to rescue her. Vishnu appeared here in the form of Varaha, a boar, killed the demon. The sweat of the demon king dropped here, creating the temple tank. In his dying wish, the demon king asked Vishnu to turn towards his direction; Vishnu obliged. The central icon faces towards the demon in the South, while his human body faces the devotees in the West. The festival icon, Yagya Varahaswami, as requested by Bhudevi displays the regular features of Vishnu with his conch and Chakra in his hands. Lord Vishnu resides here in three forms: It is said that Lord Vishnu resides in this particular place in three forms. First, in the form of Ashwatha tree; second, in the form of Nithya Pushkarani; and third in the form of Bhoo Varaha Swamy. The temple tank, called Nithya Pushkarani, is known for its medicinal values, which is a panacea. The Ashwatha tree, stands like a colossus near the sacred tank. It is believed that it has a beneficial effect of blessing sterile women with progeny. Meditation and chanting of ‘Gayathri Mantra’ under the tree after bathing in the holy tank vouchsafes a place in the heavens.

Beliefs

According to scriptures and Mantra Sastras, those surrendering at the feet of Lord Varaha Perumal are blessed with eloquence, high position, stable wealth, children, health, and longevity. Those facing adverse aspects of Rahu and Ketu are advised to pray the Lord in this temple for relief. Those buying new vehicles do the puja here. Also, vehicle involved in accidents are brought here after repairs and before using them again. This is a Prarthana Sthalam for childless couples. Ladies, who have bath in the Nithya Pushkarani, go around the Arasa tree 12times, offer milk and fruits to small kids and recite the Varaha Kavacham are said to be blessed with Children. This is also a Prarthana Sthalam for the unmarried. Realizing their boons, devotees perform abishek to the Lord with white vastras, Tulsi garlands and light ghee lamps. They distribute the Prasad, offered earlier as Nivedhana to the Lord to the devotees and also arrange feeding. One of the specialties at this temple is the offering of Korai Kizhangu as prasadam to the Lord.

Special Features

There are two gopurams (temple-towers at the entrance) in the temple and two precincts enclosed within large granite walls; the western tower is seven-tiered and is the commonly used entrance. The five-tiered one on the eastern side is opened only during Vaikunta Ekadasi. There is a small image of Srinivasa Perumal (Vishnu) on the upper portion of the inner side of the tower. Outside the temple, there is an 80 ft (24 m) tall monolith pillar with the image of Garuda on its top facing the presiding deity of the temple. The central shrine houses the presiding deity Varaha (Bhu Varahaswami). The 2 ft (0.61 m)- Saligrama stone image depicts the boar-faced Varaha standing in a victorious posture with his hands on his waist; the human body faces west, while the head is turned towards the South. Lord Vishnu graces in this temple as Swayambumurthy of Salagrama stone. It is noteworthy that 8 Vishnu shrines in the country exist of themselves -1) Sri Rangam, 2) Srimushnam, 3) Tirupathi, 4) Vanamamalai, 5) Salagramam, 6) Pushkaram, 7) Naimisaranya and 8) Badrikashramam.

Festivals

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Chariot festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (April–May), being the most prominent. The festival also symbolises Hindu-Muslim unity in the region. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The other festivals are Sri Jayanti Utsavam during Aavani, Navaratri, Vijayadasami, Deepavali and Makara Sankranti. The temple is one of the few temples where Muslims are allowed to worship till the Ardha Mandapam.