Thiruvilanji Kumarar Temple, Ilanji – The Temple
The
temple is located in the midst of green Paddy fields and coconut groves on the
bank of Chithra River. This temple was renovated by Mara Varman Kulasekhara Pandiyan
in 1409 A.D. This east facing temple has two entrances, two praharams, an Arthamandapam,
Mani Mandapam and Mahamandapam. A three tiered gopuram adorns the entrance to
the inner prakaram. Central Shrine is Iruvaalukanathar's shrine (believed to
have been worshipped by Agasthiar) is located to the left of Skanda's shrine.
The
name Iru valuga Eesar arises
from the fact that Agasthiyar made
a two Shivalingams out of the white sands (valugam) of the Chitra Nadhi flowing
nearby and then combined the two into one Shivalingam, which now adorns the
sanctum. Since the Shivalingam is fashioned out of white sand, no abishekam is
performed. Offerings of Shenbaga flowers to Shiva are considered to be very
special here. The entrance of the sanctum has two big and beautiful sculptures
of Dwarapalakas.
There is
also an idol of Lord Ganesha located near the sculptures of Dwarapalakas. The
main sanctum is facing east. Apart from the main sanctum of Shiva, the main
shrine houses a small shrine for Nataraja-Sivakami and Utsava (processional)
idols. In addition, the Goddess Iruvaluga Isarkkiniyal is found in a separate
south facing sanctum. The entrance of the main shrine has the idols of Ganesh
and Murugan.
To the
left of the main sanctum of Iruvaluga Ishwar, there is another main sanctum
dedicated to Velavan. Lord Murugan is found with four hands and sitting on the
peacock flanked by his consorts Valli and Devasena. The temple is nowadays
named after this idol as Velavan temple. The Lord is also called as Tiruvilanji
Kumaran. The prime deity is called Varada Raja Kumarar. The flag staff
(dhwajastambha) and peacock idol are located facing the shrine of Velavan.
Nandi idol is located facing the main shrine of Lord Shiva.
To the
main Gopuram, we see Lord Murugan sculpture with 10 heads. Once,
Murugan punished Brahma for not explaining the meaning of "OM” and he
punished him by putting in a room and started doing the work of
Brahma. They say the meaning of ten heads is four of Brahma and six of
shanmugar put together. Ilanji Kumara blesses the devotees as an alluring
youth. Appam a sweet preparation and the popular Vada of Tamilnadu
are offered as Nivedhana in the temple.
The
inner prakara has the following idols/shrines:
1)
Surya idol
2)
63 Nayanmars
3)
Sapta Mata
4)
Suradeva
5)
Kanni Moola Vinayaka
shrine
6)
Murugan-Valli-Devasena Utsava
idols
7)
Venugopala with his
consorts
8)
Viswanathar-Visalakshi
along with Nandi and Ganesh
9)
Kuttralanathar-Kulalvaimozhi
along with Agastya
10) Ayyanar in a different shape
11) Sapta Kanni
12) Nagakanni
13) Vasuki, Lakshmi, Saraswathi and two Ganesh idols
14) Shanmukha with his consorts in a separate shrine
15) Dhakshinamoorthi on the niche
16) Saneeswarar
17) Chandikeswarar
18) Bhairavar
19) Shanmukha with his consorts as metal (procession) idols
The
outer prakara has just one shrine for Shenbaga Vinayaka. There is another
important shrine in this temple. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the name of
Varadaraja Perumal. Theertham is Chakra Theertham and Chitra River. Sthala
Vriksham is Magizha Maram. Ilanji means Magizham and hence the place is
known as Ilanji. Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan of
this place.
