Friday, August 19, 2016

Vairavanswami Temple (Valaroli Nathar Temple), Vairavanpatti, Sivaganga

Vairavanswami Temple (Valaroli Nathar Temple), Vairavanpatti, Sivaganga
Vairavanpatti Temple, also called Vadukanthapuram is a beautiful 500 year old temple with a magnificent five-tiered Rajagopuram. Lord Shiva here assumes the form of Bhairava and there is a shrine for the Goddess Ambika. Vairavanpatti Temple is patronized by the Chettiar community and is their third largest temple. Vairavanpatti is located near Karaikkudi, Sivagangai District of Tamilnadu. This is one of the Ashta Bairava Sthalams.






The history of the temple dates back to more than 1200 years. This temple is adorned with ‘Seven note Pillar’ hailing the greatness of sculpture. As per Purana for Vairavar Tiruppathur is considered as home town & Vairavanpatti is Idyasthanam (heart) and Illupaikudi as padasthanam. Speciality of this temple is scriptural art. This is a Bhairava importance temple.






Legends
Lord Shiva ordered Bhairava to pluck off Brahmma Head:
Vairavanpatti’s history is quite interesting. Originally, Lord Brahma, the creator, had five heads equal to Lord Shiva. Brahma took great pride in this. One day, Goddess Parvathi mistook him for Lord Shiva and Brahma accepted all her courtesies and respect without pointing out the error. When Parvathi discerned her mistake she reported it to Lord Shiva. Shiva sent his deputy Vairava to pluck off a head of Brahma as a punishment. Lord Bhairava blesses his devotees in this temple.






Story behind the name Valaroli Nathar:
The legend behind the temple goes like this - Kashyapa Munivar’s son Sooran did a severe penance towards Siva and he was granted a wish that no one can destroy him other than Siva himself. Riding on the glory of his invincibility he was torturing and killing the Devas. Indiran went to their leader Brihaspati. Brihaspati said that only Siva can solve this. Indiran went to lord Siva. Siva took the avathaar as Bairavar (Vairavar in Tamil) and destroyed Sooran. He then appeared as a celestial light (Peroli). He is the one presiding here as 'Valaroli Nathar'.







History
The temple belongs to Thretha yugam period. The temple was taken care by Pandya Kings and in 14th century the temple was handed over to Nagarathar (Nattukottai Chettiars) who settled in Pandya kingdom in 718 AD. Pandya King handed over 9 temples to Nagarathar of which one is Vairavanpatti. Originally the construction of temple was of mud; in 1864 Nagarathar changed it into stone construction. The main front hall is of beautifully sculptured pillars. The temple is well maintained with beautiful sculptures, carvings and paintings.






The Temple
Vairavanpatti Temple’s reigning deities are Swayambu lingam known as Valarolinadhar and Goddess Vadivudai Ammai. On the external wall of the sanctum sanctorum, Rama is shown deferentially greeting a Viswaroopa Anjaneya with folded hands as he delivers the news of the safety of Sita. Worshipping Rama in this form is supposed to help devotees develop the quality of simplicity.





Lord Bhairava, with his dog Vahana, appears in a separate shrine to the right of Ambica’s Shrine. The sacred spring created by Shiva is outside the temple. Behind Goddess Ambica’s shrine you can see an interesting sculpture of three lizards. Vairavanpatti Temple is a beautiful example of Tamil architecture.






There is a Sannidhi for Dakshinamurthy who majestically sits inside a seven pillared mandapam. The Dakshinamoorthy icon is also carved out of a single stone and in addition features small stone pillars that emanate different musical notes when struck. The Chandikeshwarar shrine is representative of a cave temple built out of a single rock. Do not miss seeing the typical warrior on his horse, all ready to wage war. 






Vairavanpatti Temple has some beautiful sculptures and many, like the Meenakshi Kalyanam frieze, are carved out of a single stone. The temple roof has stone rods not iron pillars and hand-carved stone bolts screwed onto the rods hold the granite structure together. It is indeed unique and amazing architectural achievement. The temple has 23 bronzes dating to the first renovation and 12 Vahanas.






Several striking wall paintings — 37 on the Vairava Puranam and 43 on the Ramayana and scenes from the Mahabharata — can be seen in exquisite detail. Vairavar appears here as Raja Marthanda Bairavar with dog as his vahana in a Sannithi between Siva and Vadivudai Ambal. The beautiful Ambal Vadivudaiamman face south. There are two lizard relief statues behind the Goddess. Praying to these lizards is supposed to remove all doshas.





As you come around the praharam, you can see beautiful carvings and statues. The artistic soldier and the horse statue is a sight to watch and so is the tale of Kannappa Nainar carved out of a single stone. Nandhi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva is in a separate mandapam. Sri Vinayaka of the place is worshipped as Valar Oli Vinayaka. 







Sthala Vriksham is Erazinchil tree. One thing unique about the tree is fruit of the tree when it falls down it sticks back to the tree once again. Once the place was full of this tree and now of course we do not find it. They have started cultivating the tree once again. We find stone sculpture of the tree in the temple. Teertham is Vairava Teertham. The greatness of the place is noted for Moorthy sthalam and Teertham.






Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Festivals
Champakasura Sashti, Karthikai Deepam, Mahasivarathri in the Krishna Paksha every year on the month of Masi and Vinayaka Chathurthi – Pillayar Nonbu are the festival of the temple.
Prayers
Devotees pray in the temple for freedom from enemy fear and relief from adverse planetary aspects. Devotees offer Vadamalai garland made of vadai a popular dish of Tamilnadu to Lord Bhairava on the eighth day (Ashtami) day of new moon fortnight.
Contact
Sri Vairavanswami Temple,
Vairavanpatti, Sivaganga District
Phone: +91-4577- 264 237
Connectivity
Vairavanpatti is 8 km far from Tiruputhur. Buses bound to Karaikudi pass through this place. The temple is 7 kms NE to Thirupattur and 2 kms from Pillayarpatti. Nearest Railway Station is located at Karaikudi and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.