Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam – The Temple
There are two gopurams (temple-towers at the entrance) in the temple and
two precincts enclosed within large granite walls; the western tower is
seven-tiered and is the commonly used entrance. The five-tiered one on the
eastern side is opened only during Vaikunta
Ekadasi. There is a small image of Srinivasa
Perumal (Vishnu) on the upper portion of the inner side of the tower. Outside
the temple, there is an 80 ft (24 m) tall monolith pillar with the
image of Garuda on its top facing the presiding deity of the
temple.
The central shrine houses the presiding deity Varaha (Bhu Varahaswami). The 2 ft (0.61 m)-Saligrama stone image depicts the boar-faced Varaha standing
in a victorious posture with his hands on his waist; the human body faces west,
while the head is turned towards the South. Lord Vishnu graces in this temple
as Swayambumurthy of Salagrama stone. It is noteworthy that 8 Vishnu shrines in
the country exist of themselves -1) Sri Rangam, 2) Srimushnam, 3) Tirupathi, 4)
Vanamamalai, 5) Salagramam, 6) Pushkaram, 7) Naimisaranya and 8) Badrikashramam.
The is also a story that says that the Idol is actually
a meteorite. There is a huge crater behind the Presiding Deity which lend
credence to this Story. The Saligramam Mala adorning the Lord is also
Swayamvektha. The temple has two Dvarapalas (guarding deities) on both sides of the entrance
of the central shrine made of Panchaloha, one of which is commissioned during the modern times.
The older one on the left side was confiscated during the Mysore war and was
having a wooden replica till it was replaced in 2004.
The vimana over the sanctum is called Pavana Vimana and is
surmounted by a gold-plated Kalasa. The central shrine is topped by a conical
roof. The decorated outer walls are atypical of Chola
Art. The Utsavar (festival icon), Patharaavi / Yagnavaragan, is made
of Pancha
Loha (a five-metal alloy) and is accompanied by two
consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi facing west. The festival icon is housed in the
Artha Mandapa, the hall before the sanctum. Aadi Varahamurthy and Lord
Kanna also graces the devotees from this mandapam.
The sixteen-pillared hall is called Purushasuktha
Mandapa and it is the place where the hymns of Purusha
Sukta are recited each day during
sacred ablution of the presiding deity. The Purushasuktha Mandapam of 17th
century resembles the shape of a chariot with stylishly carved figures of
warriors riding the horses and elephants. The 16-columned pavilion is
considered a masterpiece of Nayak art built by Achyutappa Nayak. The
columns are sculpted with images of musicians, dancers and miniature idols. The
ceiling has lotus medallion sculptures and scroll work.
There is a shrine of Garuda and Nammazhwar facing the
sanctum away from the sixteen pillared hall. There is a separate shrine for
Ambujavalli Thayar, the consort of Bhu Varaha Swamy in the second precinct which
also houses the shrines of Andal and Ramanuja. Udayarpalaya Mandapam, as indicated by its name was
built during the period of zamindars and it houses the Kannadi Arai (room of
glasses). There are other shrines for Venugopala, Vishwakasena, Vedanta
Desika, Thirumangai
Azhvar, Manavala Mamunigal, Kuzhanthai
Amman and Tirukachi Nambi.
There is a temple for Kulandhai Amman near the northern
tower with facilities for the accommodation of the friends of Mother
Ambujavalli. There is a garden on the northern side of the temple that houses a
shrine of Rama. In this temple there is a statue of Hanuman lifting Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders. The Adhishtanam of the 37th
Shankaracharya of the Kamakoti peetam Sri Vidhya Gyanendra Saraswathi (758-788
AD) is situated in the northern side of the outer praharam close to the wall of
the main temple inner praharam.
The Sthala Vriksha of the temple is Ashwatha Tree /
Arasamaram. Theerthams associated with this Temple are Agni, Chakra, Brahma,
Bhoomi, Mrutyunjaya and Nitya Pushkarani. The temple is administered by
the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department
of Tamil Nadu government.
The religious head, the Pedda Jeeyar of Tirupati is the permanent trustee of the temple.
