Velliangiri Andavar Hills Temple – Coimbatore

Address

Velliangiri Andavar Hills Temple – Velliangiri Andavar Temple road, Booluvampatti, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641114, Contact: 0422 261 5258 / 230 0238

Diety

Velliangiri Shiva Amman: Parvati

Introduction

The Velliangiri Mountains, a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, are situated at the Western Ghats border of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu bordering Palakkad District, Kerala. Velliangiri Temple cave is about 6 feet wide and here Lord Shiva graces their devotees as Pancha (Five) Lingas. He is a Swayambumurthi. Two rocks on either side of the temple appear as Dwarapalakas-securities. The Temple is believed to be 1000-2000 years old. The sand in the 5th hill is being with the sacred ash and this hill is called as Thiruneer Malai – Hill of holy ash. Of all the mountain shrines in Tamil Nadu, the Shiva temple of Velliangiri in the western boundary is considered to be the most famous. Known as Rajathagiri, Velliangiri, Dakshin Kailash or Bhoolok Kailash, this sacred spot, according to legend, is where Shiva performed his cosmic dance on the request of his consort Umadevi. Thala Virutcham – Manonmani

Puranic Significance

As per the Kachiappar Perur Purana, Lord Shiva in the hill of Kailayam (Mount Kailash), was worshipped by Lord Vishnu-Komuni. The gracious Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked, “What is your wish?” “My eyes have not seen your dance of grace (Aananda Thaandava). So I wish to see that, said Vishnu. Lord Shiva said: “The two sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada have performed some of their virtues, and I showed them my dance in Vellinangiri.(Om Nama Shivaya). In the same way, Lord Vishnu obeyed the command of the Lord Shiva, wearing the Rudraksham, Lord Vishnu went to the southwest of Velliangiri hills and worshipped Lord Shiva. As per a legend, Vayu Bhaghvan and Adiseshan had a dispute to find out who is superior, to prove the superiority adiseshan encircled the Kailasam, Vayu tried to remove this encircle by creating santamarutham (Twister). Because of the santamarutham, 8 kodumudigal (parts) fell from kailasam into 8 different places which are Thirugonamalai (Trincomalee), Thirukalahasti, Thiruchiramalai, Thiruenkoimalai, Velliangiri Mountains at Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri, Ratnagiri, and Swethagiri or Thirupangeeli. The Velliangiri hill is associated with stories of Ramayana & Mahabharata. There are seven hills here. It is said that Mother Sita performed penance on Lord Shiva at the 5th Velliangiri hill. According to our ancient Puranas, Velliangiri is the venue where Lord Shiva has appeared as a hunter before Arjuna, fought with him as a play and granted him the Pasupatha weapon.

Special Features

The five faces of Lord Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara and Sadasiva, are seen as Panchagiri and as Panchalingas pertaining to the panchabhutas, in Velliangiri. The hill ranges have abundant natural resources, which include rare herbs. The Velliangiri Mountains are considered as the most powerful place on the planet and spiritually revered for the abode of Lord Shiva. On the top of the Velliangiri Mountains, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Swayambhu Lingam, one who is self-created in this form and he graces the devotees. There are three Kailash as per the sacred scriptures in India; the first Kailash is Vada Kailai is amidst the ocean in the North Pole. The second Kailash; Madhya Kailai is being in the Himalayas. The third Kailash being in this Velliangiri hills located in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Many Devotees believing that The Shiva darshan in this temple is equal to Shiva darshan in the Himalayas