Vilvarani Subramaniar Temple, Thiruvannamalai

Address

Vilvarani Village, Chengam,

Thiruvannamalai district,

Tamil Nadu- 606906

Moolavar

Subramaniar

Amman

Valli and Deivanai

Introduction

Subramaniar Temple is dedicated to God Murugan located at Vilvarani Village near Chengam in Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is referred to as Nakshatra temple (where the 27 stars and the Krittika maidens gather on Krithigai to offer worship). The Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Swayambu Sivasubramania Swamy temple is thronged by devotees, especially those seeking parikaram from Rahu and Kethu. Vilvarani Murugan Temple is situated on the Polur – Thiruvannamalai Highway.

Puranic Significance

1000 Years ago, there was a priest here performing pujas in many temples in this region. He was using a horse to maintain his schedules and used to go to Tiruthani Muruga Temple for worship on Kruthika star days each month along with an assistant priest. On one such day, he could not go to Tiruthani due to some obstacle. Both were very sad. Lord Muruga appeared in their dream when they were asleep at night and told them that he was in the Nakshatra Hill in the form of a Naga (snake) and directed them to erect a temple and conduct pujas on Kruthika Star days.

Both searched for the Swayambu idol in the particular hill and found a Linga guarded by a snake. On seeing the two, the Naga became a statue as an umbrella over the Lord’s head. The two priests erected a small tent and began the worship. In course of time, Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai idol was made and installed. As the snake gave shade to Muruga as an umbrella, the idol was so designed in the same way. Lord Muruga graces in the temple in the form of a Swayambu Linga.

Beliefs

Those facing adverse effects from the aspects of Rahu and Kethu worship Lord Muruga here for relief. Devotees offer abishek and vastras (clothes) to the Lord.

Special Features

This is a Hill Temple, believed to be 1500 years old. There are 300 steps to reach the temple at the hill top. Lord Muruga graces in the temple in Swayambulinga form. Generally, the Linga form represents Lord Shiva only. To confirm and prove the theory that Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga are but one, the presiding deity, Lord Subramania also graces here in the form of Linga. Fire is Lord Shiva. The heat in the fire is Mother Umadevi. The color of the fire is Lord Ganapathi and the light is Lord Muruga.

Substantiating the theory that all these characteristics of fire are inseparable and that Lord Shiva is Lord Muruga and Lord Muruga is Lord Shiva, the Shivalinga form is worshipped in the temple as Lord Muruga Himself. It is also believed that all the 27 stars and Kruthika maidens visit the temple on all Kirthika days to worship Lord Muruga.

Referred to as Nakshatra temple (where the 27 stars and the Krittika maidens gather on Krithigai to offer worship) the Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Swayambu Sivasubramania Swamy temple is thronged by devotees, especially those seeking parikaram from Rahu and Kethu

Festivals

All monthly Kruthika days and the Kruthika in particular in the month of Aadi (July-August) are festival days in the temple. 10 day Panguni Uthiram (March-April) is very famous here when Lord Muruga comes down from the hills on the fifth day. The car festival takes place on the seventh day. A car is specially made for the festival at a cost of Rs. 16 lakhs.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/subramaniar-temple-vilvarani-chengam.html