Vairavanswami Temple (Valaroli Nathar Temple),
Vairavanpatti, Sivaganga
Vairavanpatti
Temple, also called Vadukanthapuram is a beautiful 500 year old temple with a
magnificent five-tiered Rajagopuram. Lord Shiva here assumes the form of Bhairava
and there is a shrine for the Goddess Ambika. Vairavanpatti Temple is
patronized by the Chettiar community and is their third largest
temple. Vairavanpatti is located near Karaikkudi, Sivagangai District of
Tamilnadu. This is one of the Ashta Bairava Sthalams.
The
history of the temple dates back to more than 1200 years. This temple is
adorned with ‘Seven note Pillar’ hailing the greatness of sculpture. As per
Purana for Vairavar Tiruppathur is considered as home town & Vairavanpatti
is Idyasthanam (heart) and Illupaikudi as padasthanam. Speciality of this
temple is scriptural art. This is a Bhairava importance temple.
Legends
Lord Shiva ordered Bhairava to pluck off Brahmma Head:
Vairavanpatti’s
history is quite interesting. Originally, Lord Brahma, the creator, had five
heads equal to Lord Shiva. Brahma took great pride in this. One day, Goddess
Parvathi mistook him for Lord Shiva and Brahma accepted all her courtesies and
respect without pointing out the error. When Parvathi discerned her mistake she
reported it to Lord Shiva. Shiva sent his deputy Vairava to pluck off a
head of Brahma as a punishment. Lord Bhairava blesses his devotees in this
temple.
Story behind the name Valaroli Nathar:
The
legend behind the temple goes like this - Kashyapa Munivar’s son Sooran did a
severe penance towards Siva and he was granted a wish that no one can destroy
him other than Siva himself. Riding on the glory of his invincibility he was
torturing and killing the Devas. Indiran went to their leader Brihaspati. Brihaspati
said that only Siva can solve this. Indiran went to lord Siva. Siva took the avathaar
as Bairavar (Vairavar in Tamil) and destroyed Sooran. He then appeared as a
celestial light (Peroli). He is the one presiding here as 'Valaroli Nathar'.
History
The
temple belongs to Thretha yugam period. The temple was taken care
by Pandya Kings and in 14th century the temple was handed over to Nagarathar (Nattukottai
Chettiars) who settled in Pandya kingdom in 718 AD. Pandya King handed over 9
temples to Nagarathar of which one is Vairavanpatti. Originally the
construction of temple was of mud; in 1864 Nagarathar changed it into stone
construction. The main front hall is of beautifully sculptured pillars. The
temple is well maintained with beautiful sculptures, carvings and paintings.
The
Temple
Vairavanpatti
Temple’s reigning deities are Swayambu lingam known as Valarolinadhar and
Goddess Vadivudai Ammai. On the external wall of the sanctum sanctorum, Rama is
shown deferentially greeting a Viswaroopa Anjaneya with folded hands as he
delivers the news of the safety of Sita. Worshipping Rama in this form is
supposed to help devotees develop the quality of simplicity.
Lord
Bhairava, with his dog Vahana, appears in a separate shrine to the right of Ambica’s
Shrine. The sacred spring created by Shiva is outside the temple. Behind
Goddess Ambica’s shrine you can see an interesting sculpture of three
lizards. Vairavanpatti Temple is a beautiful example of Tamil
architecture.
There is
a Sannidhi for Dakshinamurthy who majestically sits inside a seven pillared
mandapam. The Dakshinamoorthy icon is also carved out of a single stone and in
addition features small stone pillars that emanate different musical notes when
struck. The Chandikeshwarar shrine is representative of a cave temple built out
of a single rock. Do not miss seeing the typical warrior on his horse, all
ready to wage war.
Vairavanpatti
Temple has some beautiful sculptures and many, like the Meenakshi Kalyanam frieze,
are carved out of a single stone. The temple roof has stone rods not iron
pillars and hand-carved stone bolts screwed onto the rods hold the granite
structure together. It is indeed unique and amazing architectural achievement.
The temple has 23 bronzes dating to the first renovation and 12 Vahanas.
Several
striking wall paintings — 37 on the Vairava Puranam and 43 on the Ramayana and
scenes from the Mahabharata — can be seen in exquisite detail. Vairavar appears
here as Raja Marthanda Bairavar with dog as his vahana in a Sannithi between
Siva and Vadivudai Ambal. The beautiful Ambal Vadivudaiamman face south. There
are two lizard relief statues behind the Goddess. Praying to these lizards is
supposed to remove all doshas.
As you
come around the praharam, you can see beautiful carvings and statues. The
artistic soldier and the horse statue is a sight to watch and so is the tale of
Kannappa Nainar carved out of a single stone. Nandhi, the bull vehicle of Lord
Shiva is in a separate mandapam. Sri Vinayaka of the place is worshipped as
Valar Oli Vinayaka.
Sthala Vriksham
is Erazinchil tree. One thing unique about the tree is fruit of the tree
when it falls down it sticks back to the tree once again. Once the place was
full of this tree and now of course we do not find it. They have started
cultivating the tree once again. We find stone sculpture of the tree in the
temple. Teertham is Vairava Teertham. The greatness of the place is noted for
Moorthy sthalam and Teertham.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Festivals
Champakasura
Sashti, Karthikai Deepam, Mahasivarathri in the Krishna Paksha every year on
the month of Masi and Vinayaka Chathurthi – Pillayar Nonbu are the festival of
the temple.
Prayers
Devotees
pray in the temple for freedom from enemy fear and relief from adverse
planetary aspects. Devotees offer Vadamalai garland made of vadai a
popular dish of Tamilnadu to Lord Bhairava on the eighth day (Ashtami) day of
new moon fortnight.
Contact
Sri
Vairavanswami Temple,
Vairavanpatti,
Sivaganga District
Phone: +91-4577- 264 237
Connectivity
Vairavanpatti
is 8 km far from Tiruputhur. Buses bound to Karaikudi pass through this
place. The temple is 7 kms NE to Thirupattur and 2 kms from Pillayarpatti.
Nearest Railway Station is located at Karaikudi and Nearest Airport is located
at Madurai.