Ashtabhuja
Venugopalaswamy, Belur, Salem
Ashtabhuja
Venugopalaswamy Temple is located in Belur in Salem District. It is
located 5kms North of Vazhapadi off the Salem – Attur highway. This century old
Ashtabhuja Venugopalaswami Temple is located in Belur on the Northern banks of
the Vellai River. The temple’s legend is believed to date back to Arjuna and
the Mahabaratham. This temple is believed to help devotees to liberate from
Kama.
Legends
Arjuna Penance:
The
story goes that Arjuna who was to perform a pooja invoking the blessings of
Lord Shiva to repent for his killings came to this place. Looking for sacred
water, he was directed by Lord Krishna to strike an arrow towards the North.
Upon his strike, flowed clean water from the Aran Ootru Malai that was
said to be as white as milk. He performed an Abhisheka for Lord Shiva at the
temple opposite the Ashtabhuja Venugopalan temple.
Sage Vashista performing Yagna:
Another
story goes that Sage Vashista performed a yagna at this place, which then
became a mount. The mount where the yagna took place is now referred to as Kottai
Medu. Vellai Aaru has also come to be known as Vashista River after the Sage's
Yagna here.
Parasakthi appearing as age old woman:
Universal
Mother Parasakthi appeared on Earth in many incarnations as Kamakshi,
Visalakshi, Ulagammai, Parvathi, and Dhakshayani having many names. She stayed
in the city of Madurai in the name of Meenakshi. A woman devotee considered
Meenakshi as per own child and played the role of an affectionate mother,
feeding her, bathing her and singing softly and melodiously to put her to sleep
as we could see Periazhwar imagining himself as mother to Lord Krishna.
Mother Meenakshi
pleased with the Bhakti of the woman made her born as Kanchanamala and became her
child later. It is on this story that Meenakshi’s temple came into being later.
Lord Perumal as her Brother gave her hands to Lord Sundareswara in marriage
then. Meenakshi was ever a Mother to all beings on Earth. This is the place
where she appeared as Mother to all. She graces in the name of Maragathavalli
Meenakshi from a separate shrine as an old women in this temple.
The
Temple
The
presiding deity Lord Ashtapuja Balamadana Venugopalan has eight hands of which
two belong to Lord Vishnu and the two below relates to Krishnavatara while the
remaining four belongs to Balarama. The left cheek has the feminine softness.
The right cheek is masculine rough. Seven headed Adisesha is above the Lord’s
head. The left leg is feminine dressed in Indian Panchakatcha tradition with a
sari. The right leg is masculine. There is a cow and calf on the right and a
cow and bull on the left.
Abishek
is performed to Mother Maragathavalli Meenakshi on Ashtami, Navami and Ekadasi
days (the 8th, 9th and 11th day from the full moon days respectively). It is
said that Sage Vasishta installed this idol. Garuda, the eagle vehicle of Lord
Vishnu is seen without wings and is regarded as Jatayu the eagle who lost his
wings while preventing Ravana from abducting Sita.
Generally
Lord Vishnu appears with four hands only. Here, Lord Vishnu has eight hands (Ashta
puja). Garuda the eagle vehicle of Lord Vishnu in this temple has no wings and
is regarded as Jatayu in Ramayana who fought with Ravana to protect Sita from
his abduction when he lost the wings in the fight. Moolavar is Ashtabhuja
Venugopalaswami is East Facing Standing Posture and Thaayar is
Maragathavalli Thaayar.
An
interesting feature at this temple is that Lord Venugopalan is seen holding a
sugarcane in his left hand said to be a symbol of Manmada’s arrow. Belief is
that those who visit this temple and offer sincere prayers will be liberated
from Kama. A lot of the ancient idols at this temple including that of
Lord Vinayaka are believed to date back to the period of the successful
Karnataka rulers.
Garuda
is seen standing away and not directly in line with the Moolavar deity. The
idol of Anjaneya who is seen in an Abhaya Hastha Posture is said to date back
to the Vijayanagara Period.
Sambamoortheeswarar
temple, Laxmi Gopalar temple, Veerabhadrar swamy temple, Kayanirmaleswarar
temple, Veera Anjanayar temple, All those Famous temple are placed near to this
temple. When here, also visit Lakshmi Gopalan temple at Ethapur just under
10kms east.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
·
Vaikunda
Ekadasi falling in December – January
·
Margazhi
30days Thirumanjanam
·
Satyanarayana
Pooja every Full Moon Day
·
Thirumanjanam
every Rohini
·
Puratasi
Saturdays attract big devotee crowd
Prayers
Those
facing problems in marriage alliance affairs, debt burden, family disputes pray
to the Lord on Makam, Visakam, Sadayam, Thiruvonam and Rohini star days seeking
relief from such worries.
Devotees
offer Thirumanjanam (abishek in Vaishnava temples) to Perumal and Mother with
new Clothes (vastras) as token of their gratitude on realizing their prayers to
the Lord.
Contact
Sri
Ashtapuja Balamadana Venugopala Temple,
Belur,
Salem district
Phone: 98946 89629/
96775 54839
Connectivity
Belur is
located at a distance of 18 kms from Salem on the Vazhapadi road. Share Autos
are available every 5 minutes from Vazhapadi railway station. All Karumandurai
bound buses stop in front of the Belur temple. Auto from Vazhapadi will cost Rs.
70.
Nearest
Railway Station is located at Vazhapadi. Nearest Airport is located at
Coimbatore & Trichy.
References