Tiruvalanchuzhi Valanchuzhinathar Temple, Swamimalai,
Kumbakonam
Tiruvalanchuzhi Valanchuzhinathar Temple is a Hindu
temple situated in Tiruvalanchuzhi (also spelt as Thiruvalanjuli) near Swamimalai in Kumbakonam
taluk of Thanjavur district, Tamil
Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Valanjuzhinathar, Kabardeeswarar and
Karpaganathar. His consort is Periyanayaki.
Thiruvalanchuzhi is about 1 Km. away from Swamimalai.
The main deities here are Sadaimudinathar (or Kabardeeswarar) and Periyanayaki.
However, the most important deity in this temple is Swetha Vinayakar, a Ganesha
made of Sea Foam.
Sri Vellai Pillaiyar (Swetha Vinayakar or
Nuraippillaiyaar) Temple is located at Thiruvalanchuzhi Valanchuzhinathar
Temple; located just 6 kms near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India.
Swetha Vinayakar, a white colored statue of Ganesha is
the deity of worship here. Though this is a temple for Lord Shiva, Swetha
Vinayakar is the important deity of Thiruvalanchuzhi.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
Significance
It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar saints Thirugnana
Sambandar and Tirunavukkarasar.
Lord Valanchuzhi Nathar is a swayambumurthy. Lord
Vinayaka idol is made of the foam from Milk ocean (Tiru Parkadal), hence
praised as Swetha Vinayaka – Vellai Vinayaka. Vellai in Tamil means white.
The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from
4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Literary Mention
Ripe Saivite Saint Tirunavukkarasar had sung the glory
of Lord of Tiru Valanchuzhi in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 25th Shiva
temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Tirunavukkarasar describes the feature of the deity of
Tiruvalanchuzhi and Kottaiyur as:
“பொடியாடு மேனிப் புனிதன் கண்டாய் புட்பாகற் காழி கொடுத்தான் கண்டாய்
இடியார் கடுமுழக்கே றூர்ந்தான் கண்டாய் எண்டிசைக்கும் விக்காகி நின்றான் கண்டாய்
மடலார் திரைபுரளுங் காவிரி வாய் வலஞ்சுழியின் மேவிய மைந்தன் கண்டாய்
கொடியாடு நெடுமாடக் கொட்டை யூரிற் கோடீச் சரத்துறையுங் கோமான் தானே.”
மடலார் திரைபுரளுங் காவிரி வாய் வலஞ்சுழியின் மேவிய மைந்தன் கண்டாய்
கொடியாடு நெடுமாடக் கொட்டை யூரிற் கோடீச் சரத்துறையுங் கோமான் தானே.”
Festivals
Maha Shivrathri in February-March; Tirukarthikai in
November-December and Vinayaka Chathurthi in August-September are the festivals
celebrated in the temple. Daily pujas to the deities are performed four times a
day.
Monthly Sankatahara Chathurthi, Krithigai, Pradosham are
celebrated. Needless to say, Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated in a grand manner
for 10 days and the whole village participates. It is said that even Lord Indra
participates in the Ganesha Chathurthi festivals.
Another interesting celebration is the one in which the Utsavar
of Swaminatha Swami is brought from Swamimalai. The Valli Kalyanam episode of
Skanda Purana is then enacted out with great fervor. In this episode Ganesha
comes as an elephant to scare Valli into marrying his brother Skanda.
There is also this one day in a year when the temple is
closed at mid day after the priest lays out all the items for worship. It is
believed that Indra himself performs the pooja for the day as was the boon
granted to him (One year on earth equals a day in Swarga).
Prayers
People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage
proposals and to have a fair complexion. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and
Mother, offer vastras and contribute to temple funds.
Contact
Sri Tiru Valanchuzhi Nathar Temple,
Tiruvalanchuzi-612 302
Phone: +91 435 245 4421, 245 4026
Connectivity
Thiruvalanchuzhi is 4 km from Kumbakonam on the
Thanjavur road and 1 km from Swamimalai. Bus facility is available. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Kumbakonam & Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.