Friday, July 7, 2017

Vellimalainathar Temple, Thiruthangur, Thiruvarur

Vellimalainathar Temple, Thiruthangur, Thiruvarur
Vellimalainathar Temple (Rajathagreeswarar Temple) is a Hindu temple located at Thiru Thangur in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Vellimalainathar / Rajathagreeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. The historical name of the place is Tiru Thengur. Sthala Vriksham is Coconut Tree. Theertham of this temple is Sivagangai. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 233rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 116th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.



Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
The temple is facing west. It is believed that west facing temples are more merciful than the ones facing east. A great Saint Vamadeva had said in his treatise that West looking Shiva darshan will be 1000 times more beneficial to the devotee. No great festivals are celebrated in the temple. Only usual pujas are followed. There is Kodimaram and Rajagopuram. Presiding deity is called as Vellimalainathar / Rajathagreeswarar. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy.



Lord is also known as Rajathagiri Easwara – Rajatha in Sanskrit and Velli in Tamil mean Silver and Giri means mount. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. The shrine of Mother Periyanayagi is on the right side of the entrance. The historical name of the place is Tiru Thengur. Sthala Vriksham is Coconut Tree. Theertham of this temple is Sivagangai. Nandhi is located in a little elevated Position.


There are also Navagraha Lingas in the temple comprising the attributes of the nine planets. The Navagraha Lingas named after the planets-Sun, Moon, Mars-Sevvai or Mangal, Mercury the Budha, Guru the Jupiter, Venus the Shukra, Sani the Saturn and the two serpent planets Rahu and Ketu are maintained safely in the temple. These Lingas are in the prakara in a line in various sizes-big and small.


It is the faith of the devotees that all adverse planetary aspects will be relieved by worshipping these Lingas that had merged with Lord Shiva during a Rahu-Ketu transition period. Besides these Lingas, the temple has the traditional Navagraha shrine too.  There was a tank here with both white and red Lotus flowers. It is now dry.


There are also shrines for Naalvar, Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Mahalakshmi, Saneeswarar; Navagrahas worshiped Lingams, Maha Bairavar and Suryan. Narthana Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothpavar, Brahma, and Durgai are located in Koshta. Inscriptions belong to Rajarajan III, Kulothunga III and Rajendra III period can be seen in this temple.


Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Special pujas are celebrated in the temple on Vaikasi Visakam day in May-June.
Singers
Tirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This is the 233rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 116th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
Prayers
It is believed that blessings of Mother Mahalakshmi would bring in all prosperity to devotees worshipping this temple. It is suggested that devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering vastras and contribute to the renovation of the temple.
Contact
Vellimalainathar Temple,
Thiru Thangur – 610 205
Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4369 237 454
Mobile: +91 – 94443 54461 / 94437 53808
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Thirukollikadu, 1 Km from Thirunellikkaval, 8 Kms from Katchanam, 8 Kms from Thirukkaravasal, 21 Kms from Thiruvarur, 20 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 22 Kms from Mannargudi and 114 Kms from Trichy. The temple is located on Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi road running via Tirunellikka. Town bus A12 from Thiruvarur to Thirukollikadu passes through this village. Nearest Railway Station is located at Thiruvarur and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.