SRIVADARANYESWARAR TEMPLE,THIRUVALANGADU, TIRUVALLURDISTRICT, TAMIL NADU. -COMPILED
Dear friends, Today my posting is about Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple inThiruvalangadu, in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. It was built by theCholas during the 12th century CE. It is one of the shrines of the 275 PaadalPetra Sthalams. The Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple in Thiruvalangadu, also knownas the Gem Sabha. It'sone of the five cosmic dance halls (Pancha Sabhai) and a significant Shaivaiteshrine. The temple is also a Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 sacred sitesin Tamil Nadu. Hope a divine reading Gopalakrishnan 26-05-2025 Key Features of thetemple Name: Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple. Location: Thiruvalangadu, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. Deity: Vadaranyeswarar (Lord Shiva). Architectural Significance: One of the five cosmic dancehalls (Pancha Sabhai) and known as Ratna Sabha (Gem Sabha). Religious Importance: A Paadal Petra Sthalam, a reveredShaivaite site. History: Built by the Cholas during the 12th century CE, withinscriptions suggesting the temple's existence as early as the 5th century CE. Nearby: Located a few kilometers from Tiruvallur town andclose to the Vanabadrakali Amman temple. Temple Opening Hours: The temple is typically open from 6:00AM 12 NOON and 4 PM to 9:00 PM. Puja and Special Pujas: Specific Puja timings, especially forspecial pujas like Mandhi Puja on Saturdays, can be inquired about by callingthe temple. Nearby Transportation: An auto stand is available near theThiruvalangadu railway station. Legend Lord Siva as Vataranyeswarar (vata=banyan, aranyam=forest) isa swayambhu murti here, found in the banyan forests (ala=banyan, kadu=forest)in the region. Once there were two demons – Sumban and Nisumban – whoundertook penance and received boons from Lord Siva, that every drop of blood from their bodythat fell on the ground would become a Lingam. Having received the boon, the demons startedterrorizing the Devas, who complained to the Lord. Lord Siva asked Parvathito create Bhadra Kail to kill the demons. Bhadra Kali fought with the demons and killed them by sucking out all their blood. Due to this, she startedbehaving like the demons, terrorizing one and all. Again the Devas complained to LordSiva, who came here with Parvati, and Kali started fighting with the Lord himself. Atthis Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Sage Narada intervened and told Kali to competewith Siva in dance to decide the winner. To further calm her, Siva alsopromised to show her the Raksha Natanam in Tiruvirkolam. Witnessed by Parvati,Naradar and others, and with music by Lords Vishnu and Brahma, Lord Siva danced17 different varieties which were matched by Kali. Finally theLord took up the Urdhva Tandavam, and standing on his right leg, he picked anearring which had fallen on the ground and wore it again – all with his leftfoot. Kali could notrepeat this and accepted defeat. Lord Siva however pardoned her and ordained that devoteeswho come to this temple should first pay their respects to Kali and the come to him. TheBhadra Kali temple is located about a kilometer away from this temple. As Parvati was watching the Urdhva Tandavam, she is calledArukilirundu Viyantha Nayaki and the Lord is called Andamura NimirntharuliyaNayakar. The Natarajar here is seen with the left leg almost touching the leftear. The temple also has a sculpture of Parvati watching the Urdhva Tandavam inawe, her index finger on her chin, in an expression of surprise and pleasure! History Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple inThiruvalangadu, in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. It was built by the Cholas during the 12th centuryCE. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. The Temple construction is believed to have been startedduring the tenure of King Paranthaka Cholan I. At the entry point of the Templethere are two Sub Shrines on either sides for Vallaba Ganapathi and Valli Devasena Samedha Shanmugar asthough they are welcoming. The temple was originally built by Parantaka Chola andsubsequently added on by the Pallavas. Likewise a distant Shrine for Goddess Kaali is seen andit is believed that She came and settled here after being defeated in the danceperformance. Architecture The Temple has threeconcentric massive compound walls or 3 corridors and between each of the compound wall thereis a four pillared Maha Mandapam. The Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers and Eastfacing. To begin with there is a 16 pillared Mandapam close to whicha paid car parking is available. The Temple's Chariot has been enclosed andkept under a massive concrete structure and they have built around 20 steps toreach it. This Temple is construed as one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalam andthe 15th Shiva Sthalam of its kind in Thondai Naadu. Presiding deity The presiding deity of the temple is Vadaranyeswarar. Hisconsort is known as Vandarkuzhali. This is one of the Pancha Sabhai. There are a pair of Dwarabalakas at the threshold of theMoolasthanam. The Presiding Deity who is East facing is in the form of aSwayambhumoorthy Shiva LIngam known as Vadaranyeswarar. His Consort is known as Vandarkuzhali Ambal who has a fewaliases viz. Sri Brahmarambal or Alavanayagi. Sub-deities There are Sub Shrines for different Gods such as Vinayagar,Murugan, Vijaya Raghava Perumal, Kasi Viswanathar, Ahora Veera Badrar,Kaaraikal Ammaiyar, Pancha Boodha Lingams, Sahasra Lingam, Aiyappan,Dakshinamoorthy, Chandikeshwarar, Brahmma, Durgai, Durga Parameshwarar, SaintMunjikesar, Sooryan, Chandran, Naalvar, Bhadra Kaali Amman, Sapthamathas,Bhairavar and Kaarkodagar. Speciality This temple is known as Gem Sabha, the Rathna Sabha. In this temple Siva addressed Hisdevotee Karaikkal Ammaiyar as "amma", the mother. Sheenjoyed the Siva and Parvati dance here. She reached the temple by head as shethought walking by feet in this shrine was a sin. Those worshipped Karkkodagan, Sunanda rishi, Gnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar,Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Paranadeva Nayanar, Pattinatthu Pillaiyar, and Sekkizharworshipped the presiding deity of the temple. All the three Tamil Saints Appar, Sundarar, Sammandhar hadsung in Praise of this Temple and so is Kaaraikal Ammaiyar. The Temple is also Vada Aranyeswarar Temple and Tiruvalangaduis a few Kilometers away from Tiruvallur Town. Prominence of thetemple This Temple gains prominence since Natarajar competedfiercely with Goddess Kaali in a dance and the Hall or the Mandapam where thedance was held is called as Rathina Sabhai or Rathna Sabhai. The eventual winner was obviouslyLord Natarajar and hence He is praised here as Rathina Sabapathi Easwarar. His Consort Sivagama Sundari was praised asSameesenambikai. Poojas The Temple Priests perform Abhishekam for Natarajar in a 100pillared hall where two Shiva Lingams, one made of Sapadigam or Crystal and theother made of Maragadham or Emerald is kept. Festivals The temple also sports a Large tank as well. Shivraathri(during Makara) and Thiruvadirai (during Dhanur) festivals are celebrated in agrand manner in this temple. Devotees approach thetemple for This place is very well known since Maantheeswar installed aLingam and worshipped and hence it is widely believed that those coming hereand praying before LordVadaranyeshwarar would get rid of all their Marriage obstacles. Mandi, the son of Sani, was relived of the dosham caused whena lizard fell on him, by praying to Lord Siva here.Since Maantheeswar happensto be the son of Sani Bhagwan, Poojas and Parihaarams related to Sani Dhosham can be done. Devotees afflicted with Bharani Nakshatram come here fortheir betterment. In modern days those aspiringto reach greater heights in fine arts such as singing, dancing etc make it apoint to come and Pray to Lord Vadaraneswarar. Temple Pond , tree andGoshala The Sthala Viruksham of this Temple is said to be a Banyan Tree and the SacredTank or Theertham are known as Mukthi Theertham, Sivakara Theertham and Sendradu Theertham. The Temple has a Ghoshalawith several cattlesand all the haystack meant for them are pilled up in a nearby pillaredMandapam. Karaikkal Ammaiyar Karaikkal Ammaiyar, who witnessed Siva dancing in competitionagainst Kali, has sung the Mootha Tirupatigam in the praise of Lord Siva. Shehad undertaken a trip to Kailasam, walking on her head and hands as respect andreverence to Lord Siva. It was in fact Lord Siva who called her “Ammaiyar” ormother. She againwalked on her head and hands to this temple as Lingams kept sprouting wherevershe put her foot on the ground. She lived in the temple till hersalvation, blissfully playing the cymbals for the divine dance of Natarajar.She is part of the Natarajar shrine with a pair of cymbals, keeping tune to theLord’s dance. Administration This Temple comesunder the care and control of Thiruthani Murugan Temple. Contact phone numbers Contact Details: 044 -27885247, 044 - 27872074, 99522 30906, 99407 36579 and 98940 57457 Temple Timing: 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4PM to 8 PM Location Distance from Tiruvallur to Tiruvalangadu is 20 Kms Distance from Kancheepuram to Thiruvalangadu is 43 Kms Nearest Railway Station is Thiruvalangadu R.S -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1934141197.1040338.1748258028775%40mail.yahoo.com.
