Saturday, May 28, 2016

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.