Balasubramanya Swamy Temple, Ilayanar Velur,
Kanchipuram
Balasubramanya Swamy Temple is
a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located at Ilayanar Velur Village near
Walajabad in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. Saint Arunagirinathar had sung
about Lord Murugan of this Temple is his Thirupugazh Hymns.
Legends
Ilayanar Velur:
The place has the history of
Lord Muruga himself standing as his own Vel weapon to protect the sages in
penance from the threats of demons. The place is known as Ilayanar
Velur – Ilayanar is youthful Muruga, Velur is the place where the Vel stood.
The place on both sides of River Cheyyaru then known as Uthiravahini was then a
forest region. Many Rishis were performing penance
here. Sage Kashyapa had his hermitage here and performed penance for
the welfare of mankind.
Two demons, armed with their
boons of immortality, began to harass the sage who appealed to Lord Kadamba
Nathar for protection. Lord assured the sage that his younger son Muruga would
destroy the demons and protect all sages. He also assured the sages that his
Sword also would be sent to assist Muruga in the war against the
demons. Taking on the command of his divine Father, Muruga set out on the
protection mission. He called the demons and advised them. But their
pride ignored his advice.
Lord Muruga instructed his Vel
to stand guard on the eastern side of the hermitage to prevent the
demons. Lord Muruga separated the head of Magaran with the sword
given by Lord Shiva. Seeing the death of his brother, Malayan used the magic
taught by Maya the mother of Surapadma which could not stand before the sword
of Lord Shiva. The place where the head of Malayan fell is called Malayankulam
and that of Magaran’s defeat as Magaral.
After executing the orders of
Lord Shiva, Muruga built a temple for Lord Thiru Kadamba Nathar. Lord
Shiva asked the Son to stay there and grant all boons to his
devotees. It is at This Ilayanar Velur, the temple of Bala Subramaniar stands
now. Here the vahanam for Murugan is elephant. This is because only after
slaying the Asura, Surapadman he becomes the peacock which is the vahana of
Muruga.
Gana Siddhar Swamy Natha worshipped Lord Murugan here:
It's believed that Sri Gana
Siddhar Swamy Natha installed the idol of Lord Murugan and worshipped here.
The Temple
The Temple has five tier
Rajagopuram facing east. The Temple has 2 prakarams. Presiding Deity is called
as Balasubramanya Swamy. He is facing east. The Lord is 6 feet tall. Elephant
is the vahana in this temple instead of Peacock. Elephant vehicle and Dwaja
Sthambam can be found facing the sanctum. Gaja Valli (combination of Valli and
Deivanai) Shrine can be found on the left side of the sanctum. This is a
rare feature of this temple. There is a separate shrine for Vel or the
spear of Lord Murugan and till date nobody has been able to identify the base
of this spear or the depth to which it goes. Jeeva Samadhi of Gnana Siddhar
Swamy Natha Swamigal can be found inside the temple premises.
Singers
Saint Arunagirinathar had sung
about Lord Murugan of this Temple is his Thirupugazh Hymns. The Temple is
mentioned as Thamanaiyapathi in Thirupugazh Hymns.
Festivals
Chithirai Festival,
Brahmotsavam, Vaikasi Vasantha festival, Pavithra Utsavam during Avani,
Purattasi Navarathri are the festivals celebrated here.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
100 meters from Ilayanar Velur Bus Stop, 8 Kms from Magaral, 8 Kms from Kadambar
Koil, 9 Kms from Walajabad Bus Stand, 10 Kms from Walajabad, 10 Kms from Walajabad
Railway Station, 20 Kms from Kanchipuram and 57 Kms from Chennai Airport.