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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Vyagrapureeswarar Temple, Thirupulivanam, Kanchipuram

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