Vellimalainathar Temple, Thiruthangur, Thiruvarur
Vellimalainathar Temple (Rajathagreeswarar Temple) is
a Hindu temple located at Thiru
Thangur in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as
Vellimalainathar / Rajathagreeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. The historical name of the
place is Tiru Thengur. Sthala Vriksham is Coconut Tree. Theertham of this
temple is Sivagangai. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the
early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 233rd Devaram Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and 116th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery
in Chozha Nadu.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
The temple is facing west. It is believed that west
facing temples are more merciful than the ones facing east. A great Saint
Vamadeva had said in his treatise that West looking Shiva darshan will be 1000
times more beneficial to the devotee. No great festivals are celebrated in
the temple. Only usual pujas are followed. There is Kodimaram and
Rajagopuram. Presiding deity is called as Vellimalainathar / Rajathagreeswarar.
Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy.
Lord is also known as Rajathagiri Easwara – Rajatha in
Sanskrit and Velli in Tamil mean Silver and Giri means mount. His
consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. The shrine of Mother
Periyanayagi is on the right side of the entrance. The historical name of the
place is Tiru Thengur. Sthala Vriksham is Coconut Tree. Theertham of this
temple is Sivagangai. Nandhi is located in a little elevated Position.
There are also Navagraha Lingas in the temple comprising
the attributes of the nine planets. The Navagraha Lingas named after the
planets-Sun, Moon, Mars-Sevvai or Mangal, Mercury the Budha, Guru the Jupiter,
Venus the Shukra, Sani the Saturn and the two serpent planets Rahu and Ketu are
maintained safely in the temple. These Lingas are in the prakara in a line in
various sizes-big and small.
It is the faith of the devotees that all adverse
planetary aspects will be relieved by worshipping these Lingas that had merged
with Lord Shiva during a Rahu-Ketu transition period. Besides these
Lingas, the temple has the traditional Navagraha shrine too. There was a
tank here with both white and red Lotus flowers. It is now dry.
There are also shrines for Naalvar, Somaskandar,
Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Mahalakshmi, Saneeswarar; Navagrahas worshiped
Lingams, Maha Bairavar and Suryan. Narthana Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothpavar,
Brahma, and Durgai are located in Koshta. Inscriptions belong to Rajarajan
III, Kulothunga III and Rajendra III period can be seen in this temple.
Temple Opening
Time
The temple remains open from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and
from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Special pujas are celebrated in the temple on Vaikasi
Visakam day in May-June.
Singers
Tirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord
Shiva of this temple. This is the 233rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva
Sthalam and 116th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in
Chozha Nadu.
Prayers
It is believed that blessings of Mother Mahalakshmi
would bring in all prosperity to devotees worshipping this temple. It is
suggested that devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering vastras and
contribute to the renovation of the temple.
Contact
Vellimalainathar Temple,
Thiru Thangur – 610 205
Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4369 237
454
Mobile: +91 – 94443 54461
/ 94437 53808
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Thirukollikadu,
1 Km from Thirunellikkaval, 8 Kms from Katchanam, 8 Kms from Thirukkaravasal,
21 Kms from Thiruvarur, 20 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 22 Kms from Mannargudi
and 114 Kms from Trichy. The temple is located on Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi
road running via Tirunellikka. Town bus A12 from Thiruvarur to
Thirukollikadu passes through this village. Nearest Railway Station is located
at Thiruvarur and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.