Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Mayiladuthurai
– The Temple
This Temple is facing towards west with five tiered Rajagopuram. The temple covers an area of about 1.5 acres with two prakarams. There is an entrance arch at the start of the road leading to this temple. the entrance arch has stucco images of Rishabaroodar flanked by Vinayaga, Murugan, Parvathy and Dakshinamoorthy. Nandi, Balipeedam and Dhwaja Sthambam can be seen immediately after the Rajagopuram facing the sanctum.
The inner prakaram can be accessed through a three-tiered second level gopuram. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Ardha Mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas can be seen guarding the entrance of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Vadaranyeswarar / Vallalar / Kai Kaattum Vallalar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Vinayaga, Medha Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. This temple is highly popular for the shrine of Medha Dakshinamurthy / Guru Bhagavan in the Koshta on the Southern side of the Sanctum.
He sits facing south, under a huge Banyan Tree with the crescent Moon adorning his locks. He is seen sitting in Yoga Asana with the right hand in Gnana Mudra and the left holding a book. The unique feature of this Dakshinamurthy is that he is seated on Nandhi. There is also a stone Nandhi in front of him, which is a unique feature nowhere to be seen.
Special poojas are held in this shrine during Gurupeyarchi. Four Rishis are seen sitting at his feet. The notable thing here is that the teacher is young and the disciples very old. The Lord has adorned himself with the crescent Moon, Ganga, Fire and Holy Ash. Ignorance in the form of a demon Muyalagan lies under his feet, completely subdued.
There is bronze utsava idol of Dakshinamoorthy can be seen in the temple. It is taken in a procession on a silver Kailasa Vahanam on the new moon day in the Tamil month of Aipasi (Oct-Nov). On the same day, Goddess Ganga Devi is also taken out on a crocodile mount. It is believed that the Ganges flows into Cauvery at Mayiladuthurai during the Tamil month of Aipasi.
Mother is called as Gnanambigai. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Stucco images of Sapta Matrikas can be seen around her shrine. There are shrines and idols of Vinayaga, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Saneeswarar, Agastya Linga, Brahma Linga, Suryan, Angaragan and Chandran can be seen in the temple premises.
Theerthams associated with this temple are Gnanamrutha Saras / Pancha Brahma Theertham and Rishaba Theertham. Gnanamrutha Saras is situated adjacent to the temple premises on the northern side. It is believed that those who take bath in this Theertham on Karthigai Somavaram (Mondays) will be blessed with peace and plenty. The spot in the Cauvery bank where Rishaba had his dip is praised as Rishaba Theertham. There is a Nandhi temple in the middle of the river.
