Thiruvantheeswarar Temple, Gudimallur, Vellore
Thiruvantheeswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Gudimallur in Vellore
District of Tamilnadu. Thiruvantheeswarar temple most popularly called as
Athreeswarar Temple. There is a type of lily (Malli) called ("Guda")
and this village is renounce for that and named as "Gudimallur”. Presiding
Deity is called as Thiruvantheeswarar. Lord of this Temple is Swayambu Moorthy.
Mother is called as Thiripurasundari.
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. Athri Maharishi installed and worshiped Lord Siva
here for long period in sitting posture. Lord was pleased and blessed him. There
is a statue of Athri Maharishi in sitting posture.
The
Temple
The
temple is facing towards South. It comprises of "Kodi Maram" and
"Balipeedam" located near the big Nandhi. Presiding Deity is called
as Thiruvantheeswarar. Lord of this Temple is Swayambu Moorthy. Mother is
called as Thiripurasundari. The entrance is located in the North. The Goddess
Thiripurasundari is facing towards the South.
The God
Thiruvantheeswarar is facing towards the East. Athri is present straight to the
God Thiruvantheeswarar near Nandhi. Kumbabishekam of the temple was held in
year 1979 by Halasiyanadha Iyer and in the year 1998 by W.H.Panchatcharam and
W.H.Ambikapathy. The temple will be open full day during Maha Siva Rathri from
5:00am to the next day 5:00am.
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, Pudhupadi, Melvisharam, Vannivedu and Avarakkarai. To
facilitate darshan to the devotees, all the temples are kept open during the
whole night.
Prayers
There is
a belief that if you worship this temple and revolve around it for three times
and meditate all your obstacles / problems will be resolved.
Connectivity
The
Temple is located in between Pudhupadi Dam and Walajah Town on the North bank
of River Palaru. The Temple is located at about 32 Kms from Vellore, 8 Kms from
Ranipet, 8 Kms from Walajah, 15 Kms from Kaveripakkam, 20 Kms from Sirukarumbur,
5 Kms from Arcot, 30 Kms from Sholinghur, 50 Kms from Arakkonam, 54 Kms from
Thiruthani and 115 Kms from Chennai. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Walajah and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
References