Nainamalai Varadharaja Swamy Temple, Namakkal

Nainamalai Varadharaja Swamy Temple, Namakkal

Nainamalai Varadharaja Swamy Temple is one of the most ancient temples in Tamilnadu. According to Hindu mythology, it has been there for many yugas and rishis had done tapas there. Naina maharishi had done tapas here and hence it is called as Nainachalam. Every 12 years, Lord Indira come and worships the Swamy in the form of thunder. This temple is called as “Thirupathi of Salem”.

During the month of Puratasi lakhs of devotees come to the temple on Saturdays. The temple is situated at a hill top. The hill top can be reached by climbing 3500 steps. Thala Virucham of this temple is nali tree. A Road has been laid to the temple top from the foot of the hills. Here Thirumanjana deepam is very famous and is visible to the nearby surrounding villages and town. It is located at a distance of 10 miles north-east of Namakkal, which is said to have been built by Poligar Ramachandra Nayaka.

The temple is dedicated to Varadaraja and is regarded with special veneration by the people in the District who visit it in large numbers on Saturdays in Purattasi (September–October). The hill is claimed to be the abode of the Sage Kanvar, the foster father of Sakuntala, the heroine of the well-known drama, "Sakuntala or the Lost Ring". But several villages in the ceded districts in the Andhra Pradesh claim the same honour.

One can reach this place from Sendamangalam (2 km). It is located at a distance of 20 kms South of Rasipuram and 15 kms North East of Namakkal.

Legends

The Boodha Ganas (an army like division of Lord Shiva's empire) approached Lord Vishnu for relief from a curse spelt on them by Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu created a spring here through a serpent named Anantha (Anantha Saras Theertham), gave darshan to the Bhoodas from its bank and relieved them of the curse. As a token of their gratitude, the Boodha Ganas erected this temple for Lord Vishnu. Hence, the place is called Bhoodhapuri. The Lord is named Aadhikesava Perumal.

It has been there for many yugas and rishis had done tapas there. The temple is called Nainachalam, because Naina rishi, the guru of Thirumalai Naicker, did penance here. Every 12 years, Lord Indira come and worships the Swamy in the form of thunder. There’s even a sculpture of this in one of the elaborately carved pillars. The temple is considered to be present in all the 4 yugas in various names like Indhra Jalam, Padma jalam, Yadhava jalam and Naina jalam.

The Temple

Nainamalai Varadharaja Swamy Temple is one of the most ancient temples in Tamilnadu. This temple is called as "Thirupathi of Salem". Main deities are Sri Varadharaja Swamy and Kuvalayavali Thayar. During the month of Puratasi lakhs of devotees come to the temple on Saturdays. The temple is situated at a hill top. The hill top can be reached by climbing 3500 steps which would hardly take 3 hours trek up the hill. Thala Virucham is nali tree which is said to be there for four Yugams in the temple.

In the maha mandapam, the sculptures of Ramar, Seetha, Lakshmanan, and Krishnan with butter pot, Narasimhar, Veera Anjaneyar, Manmathan, Rathi, Ayyappan and Dasavatharam are present. From the 1st of Tamil month Aani to the 30th of Aadi, Sun rays fall on the Lord. There are 3 water streams. Here Thirumanjana deepam is very famous and is visible to the nearby surrounding villages and town.

In the foot the nainamalai hills is the Sendamangalam town. Here there is a big temple built during Nayakar kings time. The main deities are Sri Perundevi Sametha Lakshmi Narayana Swamy.

Festivals

·        Brahmotsavam (in the Tamil month of Masi)

·  Puratasi Vratham on Saturdays (5weeks in month of September & October)

Contact

Contact Person: Soundarajan Battachariar

No 3, perumal Kovil Street,

Sendamangalam

Namakkal District

Tamilnadu – 637409

Mobile: 9443499854 & 9442397876

Email: soundararajan26@gmail.com 

Email: vararajar2012@gmail.com

Connectivity

It is located at a distance of 20 kms South of Rasipuram and 15 kms North East of Namakkal. One can reach this place from Sendamangalam also (2 km).This place is located in Thirumalaipatty. From Thirumalaipatty to the temple is the very easiest way to reach the temple.

Nearest Railway Station is located at Rasipuram, Salem & Namakkal. Nearest Airport is located at Trichy & Coimbatore.

Balasubramanya Swamy Temple, Vadasennimalai, Salem

Balasubramanya Swamy Temple, Vadasennimalai, Salem

Balasubramanya Swamy Temple is dedicated to Hindu Deity Lord Muruga is located in Vadasennimalai in Salem District of Tamilnadu. It is located at a distance of 64 Kms from Salem City. Here Lord Muruga graces the devotees as a smiling child, as a Gruhastha and an ascetic. This is a rare features said to be exclusive in this temple. Poojas in this temple are conducted as per Kameekam Agamam.

Legends

Many years ago, boys grazing the sheep were playing at the foot hill. A new boy also appeared there and joined them. The new boy began to climb the hill fast and stopped at a place with all brightness around him and disappeared.  The boys informed the incident to the villagers. The villagers came to the place, found three Swayambu idols and signs of pujas performed there. They understood the boy was but Muruga and built the temple.

The Temple

A five tier Rajagopuram stands majestically in the temple.  In the early days, the temple had only two shrines for the swayambumurthy and Dhandayuthapani nearby. It is said that Lord Muruga appeared in the dream of a devotee and expressed his wish to have his presence as a child. Accordingly, he was then installed as Lord Balasubramania behind the Swayambumurthy idols. Lord Vinayaka graces the temple as Adivara Vinayaka.

Lord Muruga appears in three forms in the temples representing Varnasrama Dharma rules. He is a smiling child in the sanctum sanctorum, an ascetic nearby as Dhandayuthapani and a family head with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. These are the rare postures of the Lord in this temple alone. All the three Lords are swayambus.

Devotees believe to gain high benefits by their prayers to Lord in three forms. Girivalam helps driving away all evil forces affecting devotees. 

The philosophies behind these three postures are 1) the child is ever smiling without cares, 2) a family man has both happiness and worries of duties in family life and 3) renunciation brings him endless bliss.

Lord Muruga appears with a Rudrakshamala and a turban.  Those planning to buy land and/or building pray to Avvaiyar on the Girivalam path with a stone. There is also a statue showing Avvaiyar offering a gooseberry to Muruga. There is heap of stones near Avvaiyar statue placed by devotees hoping to own a house. The steps leading to the temple is divided in 60 forms representing 60 Tamil years. It is believed that praying to the steps will enhance the longevity of the devotees. Theertham of this temple is Vashista Theertham.

Temple Opening Time

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Festivals

Panguni Uthiram in March-April; Tirukarthikai in November-December; Skanda Sashti in October-November and Thai Poosam in January-February are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Prayers

Devotees strongly believe that circumambulating the hill – Girivalam- will protect them from evil forces.  Majority of the devotees pray for mental peace.  Those intending to buy land and building pray before the Avvayar statue on the Girivalam with a stone to have wish realized. Devotees perform abishek, special pujas and offer vastras to Lord.

Contact

Sri Balasubramaniar Temple,

Vadasennimalai-636 121

Phone: +91- 4282 - 235 201

Connectivity

Vadasennimalai is 64 km from Salem. Buses to Kallakurichi pass through this way. The devotee has to get down at Kattukottai and then walk to the temple. Nearest Railway Station is located at Kattukottai, Attur & Salem. Nearest Airport is located at Trichy & Coimbatore.

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Salem

Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Salem

Kasi Viswanathar Temple is located in Salem Town. This is a sub temple of Sugavaneshwarar temple located in the 2nd Agraharam. This Temple is dedicated to Hindu Deity Lord Shiva. Main Idol is named as Kasi Viswanathar & Mother is named as Visalakshi.

Every month "Kruthikai Sasti", "Pradosham", "Full Moon day", "New Moon day" is celebrated with special abhishegam and poojas. On the day of "full moon day” special pooja is celebrated for "Bhairavar".

One of the big celebrations in this temple is "Niraimani Vizha" on the day Annabhishekam, vilva archanai and 216 sangabishegam will be done and it is celebrated every year. Daily 6 kaala pooja are performed in this temple. On the day of full moon day special procession will be performed for "Bhairavar".

The Temple is located in the Salem City. Salem is well connected to other parts of India by Buses & Trains. Nearest Airport is located at Trichy & Coimbatore.

Sri Kaya Nirmaleswarar Temple, Attur, Salem

Kaya Nirmaleswarar Temple, Attur, Salem

Sri Kaya Nirmaleswarar Temple is located in the Attur Fort region near Attur town in Salem District of Tamilnadu. This is one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalams installed by Vasishta on the banks of the Vasishta River representing Fire (Agni) element.

The main deity is a Swayambu lingam in the name of Kayanirmaleswarar / Vasishteswarar with Goddess Akilandeswari. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam Tree in this Temple & Theertham is Vasishta in this Temple.

Legends

Sage Vasishta, Kula Guru of Lord Rama was here for while intending penance and pujas to Lord Shiva. He had to face obstacles. Maharshi Narada advised the sage to perform his penance and pujas with water and flowers. The sage created a river named after him – Vasishta Nadhi. He then began to find a suitable spot for the pujas. His legs stuck at a place and he found something above the ground in the form of a Shiva Linga just coming out. 

When he was preparing the pujas, he found the object slightly damaged caused by the hit of his leg.  He was annoyed.  A voice told the sage that he could continue the pujas and a miracle will happen when he showed the Aarati. It happened. When the sage showed the Aarati, it reflected on the Shivalinga.  That miracle light drove the illusions of those who disturbed his penance.  

The sage begged Lord to stay there itself and drive the illusion darkness in people’s mind. Lord obliged. Kayam means body, here the body of Lord. Nirmalam means clarity. Thus Lord Shiva assumed the name Kaya Nirmala Easwarar. The temple began to grow with the pious services of kings, chieftains and devotees.  It is standing majestically in size and fame today.

The Temple

The five tier Raja Gopuram with its glorious Shiva Mudra stands majestically drawing the devotees. Reaching the sanctum sanctorum after Nandhi Darshan, despite the dim light inside, Lord appears clear and bright to the eyes of the devotees especially during the Aarati puja as if reflecting in a mirror. It is rather the light in the heart of true devotees reflecting on the Lord, or it means that the dark heart becomes bright by the grace of Lord. 

Mother Akhilandeswari is all merciful gracing the devotees with her four hands. Devotees throng the shrine seeking wedding and child boons. As Lord granted darshan to sage Vasishta in the form of a Jyoti, the place is revered as Agni Sthala. Darshan representing the other elements of universe, Appu, Vayu, Akasha and earth are in the surrounding places. 

Lord Vinayaka offers darshan to the devotees in many forms in the prakara in many names. Besides their darshan in the sanctum sanctorum, Lord and Mother, graces as Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi as in Their Kailash abode. Lord Muruga appears in two forms as Bala Muruga and Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. 

Lord Bhairava graces as Chaturbhuja (4 hands) Bhairava, Ashtabhuja Bhairava (8 hands) and Swarna Akarshana Bhairava, thus all Gods appear in different forms in the same temple. There are also shrines for Mothers Mahalakshmi, Durga & Maha Saraswathi, Dakshinamurthi, Lingodhbava, Brahmma, Ayyappan, planets Sun and Sani Bhagwan, Nagas and Naga Kannikas. Sri Anjaneya from his shrine appears as if blessing the devotees.

It is a wonder to see the Aarati Deeparadhana reflecting on the Shiva Linga as if in a mirror. As Lord granted darshan to Sage Vasishta in the form of a Jyoti, the place is revered as Agni Sthala.

Temple Opening Time

The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Festivals

Besides fortnightly Pradosha and Somawar (Monday) pujas, the temple celebrates Maha Shivarathri in February-March in a grand way.

Prayers

People pray to Lord and Mother for wedding and child boon. Realizing their wishes, devotees offer vastras to Lord and Mother and light ghee lamps in the shrines.

Connectivity

This temple is located very close to Attur bus stand. Attur lies on NH 79. Attur is well connected with other cities & towns. It is located on NH-68. Three State highways originate from Attur; SH – 30 Attur – Thuraiyur – Musiri, SH – 79 Attur – Rasipuram – Erode, SH – 157 Attur – Perambalur.

Attur is well connected with Salem on the east (north-east) at 45 kilometres on the Salem – Ulundurpet via Kallakurichi NH 68 which in turn connects to Chennai through arterial NH 45 at Ulundurpet and NH 47 (Salem – Kanyakumari via Coimbatore, Cochin, Trivandrum)at Salem with a number of bus routes.

Attur town have two bus stands. Attur is well connected by bus services to Salem, Coimbatore, Chennai, Trichy, Erode, and Pondy. Train services are also available between Attur to Salem, Attur to Virudhachalam and Salem – Chennai Egmore express train runs via Attur. Pondicherry – Bangalore AC express train is expected to run shortly and runs via Attur.

Newly proposed route to Ariyalur via Perambalur will turn Attur railway station to Attur Junction. Land acquisition has been done and stopped due to insufficient funds. There are direct buses to Coimbatore via Avinashi.

Attur is landlocked and depends on the Port of Chennai for most oceangoing freight. Nearest airport is Trichy which is 120 km away from the town. Chennai airport is 264 km from Attur.