Veeratteswarar Temple, Vazhuvur – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple is enclosed within compound walls and has three prakarams. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram facing towards the sanctum. Usually, in Shiva temples, Nandi is found between the pond and the Linga. However, the theertham is located between the Nandi and the Linga in this temple.
This Theertham has five wells and is famously called as the Pancha Mukha Theertham / Pancha Brahma Theertham representing the five faces of Lord Shiva. The Theertham is also called as Patala Ganga / Eesana Theertham. There is a second level three tiered gopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram. Nandi, Balipeedam and Dhwaja Sthambam can be found immediately after the second level gopuram facing towards sanctum.
Sahasra Lingam shrine can be seen on the right side of the Dhwaja Sthambam. There is a 100 pillared mandapam on the right-side corner of the outer prakaram. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antrala, maha mandapam and ardha mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Veeratteswarar / Gaja Samhara Moorthy / Krittivasar / Gajari / Gnana Sabesan. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Nardana Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. The sanctum is surrounded by a cloister mandapam. The walls of the cloister mandapa are painted with legends related to this temple.
The main attraction of the temple is the bronze utsava idol of Gaja Samhara Moorthy. This Utsava idol is housed in a separate shrine in maha mandapam. The shrine is famously called as Gnana Sabhai (hall of knowledge). It is considered as one of the nine famous dance halls of Lord Shiva similar to the Kanaka Sabhai in Chidambaram. The idol of Gaja Samhara Moorthy is accompanied by an idol of Parvathy with Skanda in her arms.
Out of 64 forms of Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva is depicted with his consort Parvathy and his son Skanda in Gaja Samhara and Somaskanda form only. The Gaja Samhara Thandava is considered to be a form of Oordhuva Tandava (dance of fury) of the Lord. He is eight armed with his right leg firmly placed on the head of the elephant, two arms holding its hide, left leg folded with the foot facing upwards and emerging from the elephant.
The elephant hide with four legs is designed around the figure like a Prabhavali. The sculpture is about 4 feet tall and a best example of Chola workmanship. Parvati is depicted with a panic-stricken face and Skanda on her lap pointing his index finger towards his father. She is depicted as if she is walking away from Lord Shiva out of fear. The foot dharshan of Gaja Samhara Moorthy is considered very special.
There is a powerful Yantra is installed behind this idol. Special worship is often offered to this Yantra to negate the effects of witch-craft and black magic. Mother is called as Bala Gujambigai / Ilamulai Nayaki / Ilankilai Nayagi. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her shrine is situated to the left side of the sanctum. She is depicted in standing posture. She is four-armed holding akshamala & lotus and showing abhaya & varada hastha.
Saraswathi Theertham can be seen in front of Mother shrine. There is a shrine housing the bronze idol of Bikshadana along with his companion Mohini in the ardha mandapam. There is a separate shrine for Navagrahas in the temple premises. It is unique to note that all the planets are positioned in a strange manner. It is unusual to see Guru facing towards Sani Bhagawan.
There is a separate shrine for Saneeswarar holding a bow in this temple. There is a separate shrine for Ayyappa in the temple premises. Vazhuvur is believed to be his birthplace. There is a separate shrine for Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena in the temple premises. He is depicted in standing posture with single face and four hands. Saint Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh hymns on Lord Murugan of this temple.
Shrines and idols of Naalvar, Lingams worshipped by Sapta Matrikas, 63 Nayanmars, Umaimurugudaiyan, Selva Vinayagar, Bhairavas, Jyestha Devi, Pidari, Nagas, twin Vinayagas can be found in the inner prakaram. Shrines of Vinayagar, Bala Subramanya, Gajalakshmi, Bairavar, Suryan and Chandran can be found in the outer prakaram. Sthala Vriksham is Devadaru Tree.
