Baradwajeeswarar Temple, Pudhupadi, Vellore
Baradwajeeswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Pudhupadi in Vellore District
of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Baradwajeeswarar and Mother is
called as Dharmasamwardhni. The temple is located on the Southern Banks of
Palaru, between Arcot and Pudhupadi. The place was full of Mango
Tree in the forest, so the place was known as Amra Vanam. The temple
is believed to be 1600 years old.
Legends
Once, Goddess
Parvathy penanced at Kanchipuram (Prithvi Sthalam) which is one of
the Pancha Boodha Sthalam. Lord was pleased with her penance and married
her. Rishi’s and Devas from heaven came down to Kanchi, to
participate in the heavenly marriage of Lord Siva and Kamakshi
Ammai. The place was so crowded; Rishi’s who came to participate in the
marriage stayed in the forest near to Kanchipuram. They had to perform their
daily rituals unobstructed. Each one of them chose a place in the forest to
worship Lord Siva. All six places where they worshiped are known as Shada
Aranyam. Since Six Rishi’s worshiped Swayambu Lingam in these six places
it is considered holy to visit and worship Lord Siva here. The temples in these
places were big in size with Rajagopurams once. Bharadhwaja Muni installed a
Siva Lingam and worshiped Lord Siva in standing posture. There is a statue for
Bharadhwaja muni in the temple in standing posture.
The
Temple
Main
Deity here is Swayambu Lingam known as Baradwajeeswarar. Mother is called as Dharmasamwardhni.
The main sanctum is in Gajabrushta form. Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshina Moorthy
and Vishnu are the other Deities seen in this temple. This temple contains many
inscriptions dating from 10th century A.D. Bharadhwaja Muni
installed a Siva Lingam and worshiped Lord Siva in standing posture. There is a
statue for Bharadhwaja muni in the temple in standing posture.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is opened from 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The devotee may get in touch with
the priest in advance for convenient darshan of the Lord.
Festivals
Shivarathri
is celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. Besides this temple, on
Shivarathri day, devotees also visit simultaneously other nearby Shiva temples
at Karai, Veppur, Gudimallur, Melvisharam, Vannivedu and Avarakkarai. To
facilitate darshan to the devotees, all the temples are kept open during the
whole night.
Connectivity
The
temple is located on the Southern Banks of Palaru, between Arcot and
Pudhupadi. The Temple is located at about 30 Kms from Vellore, 9 Kms from Ranipet,
10 Kms from Walajah, 22 Kms from Kaveripakkam, 27 Kms from Sirukarumbur, 7 Kms
from Arcot, 35 Kms from Sholinghur, 60 Kms from Arakkonam, 60 Kms from
Thiruthani and 121 Kms from Chennai. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Walajah and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
References
