Edaganathar Temple, Thiruvedagam – The Temple
The present structure with spacious corridors and
imposing gopurams occupies an area of about 5 acres (20,000 m2) and it
houses two gateway towers known as gopurams, each facing the Edaganathar and Elavarkuzhali shrine. The
temple is east facing with a colourful arch. The temple has many shrines,
with those of Edaganathar and his consort being the most prominent. The
original complex is believed to have been built by Pandyan
Empire, while the present masonry
structure was built during the Nayak during the 16th
century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by
the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government
of Tamil Nadu.
Edaganathar temple has a Dwaja
sthamba at the entrance and a Nandi atop a platform. On either side of the
entrance there are shrines for Vinayagar and Murugan. Presiding Deity is called
as Edakanatheswarar. Lord Shiva is a Swayambu Murthy. The Shivalingam is small and is visible only with the
help of oil lamps. Though the Shivarathri Puja is dedicated only to Lord
Shiva in all temples, the fourth puja of the night is dedicated to Lord
Bhairava in this temple, as followed in Kasi-Varanasi. Those lucky to have this
Kala Bhairava puja on Shivarathri day derive the benefit of performing
Ashwamedha Yaga.
Behind sanctum sanctorum on the right side there is
shrine for Shanmugam and just outside his shrine, idols of Saptha Mathrikas,
Irattai Ganapathi, Durgai, and Lakshmi can be seen. There is a separate shrine
for Nataraja and Sivakami on the North - East corner. An idol of Bairavar and
Navagrahas are also outside this shrine. There is an inter connecting door
between the Amman and Sivan temple. There is beautiful carving on each pillar
inside the temple. There are 3 idols of Sakthi around this sanctum sanctorum
known as Icha Sakthi, Gnana Sakthi and Kriya Sakthi.
Mother is called as Elavarkuzhali / Sugandha
Kundalambikai. The name of Mother Elavarkuzhali means that her hair (Kuzhal in
Tamil means hair) is naturally fragrant. There is also a small Vinayagar
shrine behind this temple in the inner prakaram. The divine couples Palliyarai
(sleep chamber) is also in this temple. Traditionally, there are
Dwarapalakas in Lord’s shrine and Dwarapalakis in Ambica shrines in the
temples. Here, Dwarapalakas are in Mother Elavarkuzhali shrine thus making
a difference with other temples. Yet, sometimes, the priests dress them with
saris considering them as Dwarapalakis.
There is a sculpture on a pillar of a Vinayaka on the
Moonjuru vaahana-belonging to rat family - in a different posture, called
Hearing Vinayaka with ears open to listen to devotee’s prayers. When
Gnanasambandhar placed his palm leaf with a verse on Lord Shiva in Vaigai River
in a contest against the Jains, this Vinayaka stopped the leaf and was
responsible for its reaching the bank of the river. He took the form of
four fishes in four corners, caught it and brought it to the shore on his trunk
and sat on the steps. Hence, he is also praised as Debate Winning Vinayaka
– Vadhil (debate) Vendra (won) Vinayaka. He is now in a separate temple
outside the main temple.
It so happens in families that marriages must be
solemnized any day anytime due to some urgent reasons though not
auspicious. It causes mental agony and fear also about the future.
In such circumstance, the devotees carry a Patrika (wedding invitation card)
and place it at the feet of Edaganathar-now Patrika Parameswara with betel nuts
and invite him to attend the marriage. Then you can conduct the marriage with
all peace of mind. There are shrines for 63 Nayanmars and the procession
deities of Lords Bala Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Edaganathar,
Arumugaswami-Muruga, Ganapathi, Somaskandar, Mother Elavarkuzhali, Saint
Gnanasambandhar in the prakara.
There is still a controversy about the place where
Sattainathar Siddha attained Samadhi. Seven places claim this honour. During
his visit to Thiruvedagam, he saw Shivalingas scattered on the way and was
afraid to tread on the way. Boys in the place use to simply carry him to
the temple. He changed the river sands into some useful things and offered them
to the boys. Sattainathar and his followers used to put the sacred ash in
the water soaked rice (Neeraharam in Tamil) and cured stomach aches. Following
this example, even today people use to bring the water soaked Neeraharam to the
Sattainathar Adhishtanam (Samadhi), place it on the Linga there and consume it
for stomach problems. On the new moon day in the month of Aadi – Aadi
Amavasya in July-August, Guru Puja is dedicated to Siddha.
The Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam (Aegle marmelos). Theerthams
associated with this Temple are Brahma Theertham and River Vaigai. Brahma
Theertham is presently dry. It is said that those mentally retarded used
to have a dip and were cured. It is still hoped that this could be restored to
original glory if efforts are taken to desilt the tank and renovate the
steps. As there is no water in the tank now, the deity is simply taken in
procession within the tank. Vaigai River is the other holy water
source. As the Holy Ganga, Vaigai too flows northward from the south. The
place is also situated on the northern bank of Vaigai. Ashes of the dead
are dissolved in the river for their salvation. People also light Moksha
Deepa for the liberation of the departed souls. Images related to Sambandars
episode are seen carved on the stone steps leading to the Vaigai river.
Devotees offer Nivedhanas made of roots grown under the
ground along with rice of buffalo curd and Ellu balls (Ellu is the seed from
gingelly oil is extracted) to Varahi one of the Saptha Madhas in the
temple. There are two Durga Mothers in the temple – one facing south and
one facing north, a different and rare feature in this temple. Karuvarai
sculpture, Sambandhar statue in Ambal temple pillar with Sadikeswari and
the Malaysia made bell are the main attraction of this temple. There
are Urchavar Idols for Somaskandar, Gnanasambandhar, Edaganathar, Elavar
Kuzhali Amman and Arumugaswami in this Temple.
Sundarar, one of the four celebrated Saivite saints came
to this place but was reluctant to walk to the temple. He thought that
would be unjust and a sin to touch the way with his legs sanctified by Saint
Gnanasambandhar. He was contended to worship Lord Thiruvedaganathar from
the boat itself he was in on Vaigai River. There is a sculpture in the
temple depicting this event. The temple is noted for prayers seeking
wedding boons as the temple in Tirumananjeri. It is believed that marriage
obstacles are removed if one prays and conducts Archana at this temple.
Inscriptions from the period of Jatavaraman Kulasekhara
Pandyan (12th century AD), and Krishna
Deva Raya are seen in this temple,
speaking of their endowments to this shrine. As per tradition, a Pandyan queen
wanted Sambandar to reconvert the king Arikesari Nedumaran to Saivism from
his Jain beliefs. Sambandar accepted the plea of the queen
and influenced the king to convert to Saivism. It is also believed that the
king slayed around 8,000 Jains in his kingdom. The stone carvings in the temple
narrate the tradition.
