Vatavaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu, Nagapattinam
Vatavaranyeswarar
Temple is a Hindu
temple located at Thiruvalangadu in the Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated
to Shiva and administered
by the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. Thiruvalangadu Temple is located at a distance of 21
Kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam Mayiladuthurai Road. There is Putra
Kameshvarar Theertham in the Temple.
Legends
Once Bharatha
Maharishi performed penance here for a child and Parvathy Devi herself agreed
to take birth as his child. Bharatha Maharishi brought up Parvathy Devi as his
child and then married her to Lord Shiva in Tirumanchery sacred place which is
near this village. Hence this Putra Kameswara Theertham here blesses childless
couples to have children.
History
The present temple dates from the
Chola period and the last Kumbabishekam was performed during the
reign of Kulothunga Chola III.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is a Swayambu Lingam is known as Vadaranyeswarar and Parvathy is known as
Vandar Kuzhali in the Temple. The Rajagopuram of the Vatavaranyeswarar temple
is of 5 tiers. The legend has it that, Bharata Muni and his spouse Subhadra
prayed in this Thiruvalangadu village for progeny, after taking bath in the
Puthra Kameswarar Teertham inside the temple. Irattai (twin) Vinayakar — one of
them very ancient and the one next to it called Puthra Santhana Pillaiyar,
believed to be installed by Bharata Munivar.
To this
day, childless couples come to this shrine of Puthrakameshti Lingam and the
belief is that they are blessed with progeny. Another noteworthy shrine in this
village temple is Jwarahareswarar who is prayed for the speedy cure of common
ailments like fever. Banyan is the sacred tree, Sthala Vriksha as it is called,
for this pilgrim centre. There is also a shrine for Lord Murugan and his two
Consorts — the deft hand of the sculptor who made them is evident from the
wonderful workmanship. Lord Murugan is on a peacock frame, adorned and enclosed
in an arch like form — a sight worth to see.
This
temple is under the care of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam. Available records
reveal that Kumbhabhishekam for this temple is long overdue — the last one
having been performed several years ago when Kulothunga Cholan III was ruling
Thanjavur.
Festivals
This
village is famous for its annual Panguni Uthiram festival, celebrated in
March-April. `Swasti Vachanam' recited by Vedic pandits, initiated by Natesa
Dikshitar of those days and used to be one of the highlights during this
festival.
Connectivity
Thiruvalangadu is
a town in Kuthalam taluk of Nagapattinam district. It is situated on the Mayiladuthurai – Kumbakonam road. It is
situated between Aduthurai and Kuthalam at a distance of about 25 kms from Kumbakonam and
13 kms from Mayiladuthurai. This Temple can be reached by regular buses from
Kumbakonam. Nearest Railway Station is located at Mayiladuthurai and Nearest
Airport Station is located at Trichy.