Vyagrapureeswarar Temple, Thirupulivanam,
Kanchipuram
Sri
Vyagrapureeswarar temple is located at a distance of 5 kms from Uthiramerur in
Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. This is this old temple where in Sage
Vyagrapada and his wife prayed to and got darshan of Shiva. This is a Vaipu
sthalam where in Appar has mentioned the temple in his songs. This Temple is
famous in India for hosting a special deity called Raja yoga Simha Dhakshinamoorthy.
Lord
Siva has originated as a syambu lingam with tiger claws on its body. The
Dakshinamoorthy is in the form of Arthanareeswarar. Couples who are living
separately can worship this Siva for living together even the problem is severe
to the extent of divorce. The Temple was built by Pallava King
Nandivarman.
Legends
Rishis Vykrapada
and Patanjali were worshipping Lord Shiva in Chidambaram with garlands. Many
times, they were not able to get fresh flowers but only faded ones. Vykrapada
felt sad that he could not get the fresh flowers from the top of the trees as
he could not climb. Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked him why he was sad
as if he did not know this. Vykrapada explained his difficulty. Lord graced him
with legs of a tiger to enable him to climb the trees. It is in this temple Vykrapada
worshipped Shiva with tiger legs. The place came to be known as Thirupulivanam.
(Puli mean tiger in Tamil). And hence the Lord is called as Vyagrapureeswarar.
The
uniqueness of the temple is the Dakshinamurthy which is supposedly an Ardhanari.
The sanctum of the guru has Vyagrapada and his consort, King and Queen who
prayed for children at Woraiyur, Trichy and was directed here by the lord to
pray for begetting children, Saint Vyagrapada is also supposed to have begotten
progeny here.
The
priest of the temple was instructed to send the garland of the lord daily. He
was careless and there was a hair in the garland. When the king questioned him
about the hair he says that the Lord has sprouted hair and this is one of them.
When the king came to check the lord out of compassion to the priest had
actually sprouted a head full of hair. This can be seen on the Sivalingam today
also.
Greatness
of Temple
The
temple could have been built 1500 years ago. Pallava architecture is dominant.
Lord Vyagrapureeswarar is a Swayambulinga. The Avudaiyar (the stage or Peeta)
is in a square design on a lotus. Footprints of a tiger are seen on the Linga
also the hip bone is visible. There is Jadamudi (long hair tied up at the
head). Such Jadamudi Shivalingas are seen in some temples in Thanjavur,
Tiruvaiyaru, Tirunelveli and Shivasailam districts only. It is the same form in
this temple also.
Lord
Dakshinamurthy has one of his legs on the Lion and one on Muyalagan, a form
exclusively belongs to this temple only. He is praised as Raja yoga Simha
Dakshinamurthy and Arthanareeswarar Dakshinamurthy as Lion is attributed to
Shakti worship and Muyalagan the ignorance of people. He represents both the
male and female forms. The other divine wonder in the temple is that the rays
of Sun fall only on the wall behind the Shivalinga without its shadow. Mother
Amirthakuchalambal showers boons to devotees with longevity, prosperity and
health.
The
temple is as great and equal to Chidambaram Nataraja Temple as Rishis
Vyakrapatha, Patanjali and Sanakthis are on both sides of Dakshinamurthy. It is
said that misunderstandings between husband and wife leading even to a divorce
would be reversed and unity restored if they worship this Dakshinamurthy. The
family will become happier again.
The
Temple
The
sanctum Sanctorum is 15 feet above the ground. It is believed that there is an
underground way in the Shiva shrine running up to Kancheepuram from one side
and Uthiramerur on the other. It is also said there is a room below this path
covered by a huge rock and the proof of this could be confirmed only by the Archeological
department.
The
Shrine of Lord Vishnu in a standing form is behind the Shiva shrine. Lord
Narasimha’s sculpture is on a pillar nearby. Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga
grace at the entrance. There are also shrines of Vishnu Durga, Durga, Bhairava,
Chandikeswara and Navagrahas the nine planets.
Thus the temple has all the deities representing the six cults of worship (Shanmadha) established by Bhagwan Adi Sankara.
The
Shivalinga in the temple is a Swayambu with footprints of a tiger on the Linga.
Also visible are the hip bone and hairs tied up called Jadamudi on the head.
The divine wonder in the temple is that the rays of Sun fall only on the back
of the Shivalinga without the shadow of the Linga in both Utharayana and Dakshinayana
seasons. (Utharayana covers the six months from January-February to June-July
marking Sun’s journey from South to North. Dakshinayana covers the six months
commencing from July-August to December-January marking Sun’s journey from
North to South).
Lord
Dakshinamurthy in the temple has one of his legs on a lion while the other is
on Muyalagan symbolizing ignorance. This is the only temple in India with a
Dakshinamurthy in this form. He is praised as Raja yoga Simha Dakshinamurthy.
He is also called Arthanareeswarar Dakshinamurthy as he has one leg on the
Simha attributed to Mother Shakti. As the Lord has one leg on the Muyalagan as
Nataraja and the other on the lion, He represents the majestic look of a male
and the softness of the feminine character.
In front
of sanctum sanctorum there is a big pit (Surangam) which leads to another end
at Uthiramerur Sundara Varadaraja Temple. He has put the camphor inside the pit
and showed. Outside prakaram there is separate Sannidhi for Thayar and a Shiva
lingam on top of a Samadhi of Munivar. Outside there is Mandapam which actually
having the Chariot Wheels on either side but it is totally abandoned now, full
of plants covering most of the mandapam. A beautiful temple in a totally
neglected state, inside the temple became home of Bats and the smell is not
tolerable.
Mother Amrutha
Kuchalambal is supposed to cure diseases. The temple has a Vasantha mandapam
outside along with a Bali peedam and nandi on the approach road itself. As you
enter the temple Rajagopuram entrance you can see the Amman Sannidhi on the
right facing south. This is a separate structure away from the main temple. The
Amman is about 4 feet tall with a smiling face in the standing posture. The
entrance to the temple is through the multi pillared hall which has many
beautiful carvings of stone.
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
Mahasivarathri
in February-March and Tiruvadhirai in December-January are the festivals
celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
This is
a temple that suits to all people belonging to the 12 zodiac signs (Rasis).
People pray for marriage, child boon, removal of adverse effects caused by the
planets, relief from snake aspects, professional and trade developments,
success in political aspirations and elevation to high government posts.
It is
the staunch belief of the people that Lord showers royal boons to the devotees.
Sooner their prayers are granted, devotees perform abishek and Vastras to Lord
and Mother.
Contact
Sri Vyagrapureeswarar
Temple,
Thirupulivanam,
Kancheepuram
district – 603 406
Phone: +91- 44-2727 2336
Mobile: 09445111236
Connectivity
Thirupulivanam
temple is 5 kms away from Uthiramerur on the Uthiramerur Kanchipuram road and
can easily be seen from the road. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Kanchipuram & Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
References
