Sunday, April 5, 2020

Nageswarar Temple, Valarpuram, Vellore

Nageswarar Temple, Valarpuram, Vellore
Nageswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Valarpuram Village near Thiruthani in Arakkonam Taluk in Vellore District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Nageswarar and Mother is called as Sornavalli. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is considered as Naga Dosha Parihara Sthalam. Valarpuram is also called as Valaikulam in ancient time.


Legends
It is believed that Adiseshan worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple.


The Temple
Presiding Deity is called as Nageswarar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Dakshinamoorthy, Vinayaga, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum walls. Mother is called as Sornavalli. She is housed in a separate shrine. There are shrines for Agni Bhairavar, Sekkizhar, Naalvar, Vinayaga, Viswanathar, Subramanya, Navagrahas and Mahalakshmi in the Temple premises.


Theertham associated with this Temple is Sanghu Theertham. It is located just opposite to the Temple. It is believed that the Theertham was in the shape of conch (Sanghu) but due to later modifications it got changed to current shape. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam Tree. There are inscriptions belonged to Sundara Pandya talks about his contribution to this Temple. As per the inscription, presiding deity was called as Valaikulathu Nageswaramudaiyar.


Festivals
Panguni Uthiram is the most celebrated festival in this Temple. Monthly Pradoshams are also observed.
Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai in 50th Patikam in 8th Song, 6th Thirumurai in 59th Patikam in 2nd Song and 6th Thirumurai in 71st Patikam in 10th Song.
6-50-8:
வானவர்கோன் தோளிறுத்த மைந்தன் தன்னை
வளைகுளமும் மறைக்காடும் மன்னி னானை
ஊனவனை உயிரவனை யொருநாட் பார்த்தன்
உயர்தவத்தின் நிலையறிய லுற்றுச் சென்ற
கானவனைக் கயிலாயம் மேவி னானைக்
கங்கைசேர் சடையானைக் கலந்தார்க் கென்றுந்
தேனவனைத் திருவீழி மிழலை யானைச்
சேராதார் தீநெறிக்கே சேர்கின் றாரே
6-59-2:
நெருப்பனைய மேனிமேல் வெண்ணீற் றாரும்
நெற்றிமே லொற்றைக்கண் நிறைவித் தாரும்
பொருப்பரையன் மடப்பாவை இடப்பா லாரும்
பூந்துருத்தி நகர்மேய புராண னாரும்
மருப்பனைய வெண்மதியக் கண்ணி யாரும்
வளைகுளமும் மறைக்காடும் மன்னி னாரும்
விருப்புடைய அடியவர்தம் முள்ளத் தாரும்
வெண்ணியமர்ந் துறைகின்ற விகிர்த னாரே
6-71-10:
நள்ளாறும் பழையாறுங் கோட்டாற் றோடு
நலந்திகழும் நாலாறுந் திருவை யாறுந்
தெள்ளாறும் வளைகுளமுந் தளிக்கு ளமுநல்
இடைக்குளமுந் திருக்குளத்தோ டஞ்சைக் களம்
விள்ளாத நெடுங்களம்வேட் களம்நெல் லிக்கா
கோலக்கா ஆனைக்கா வியன்கோ டிகா
கள்ளார்ந்த கொன்றையான் நின்ற ஆறுங்
குளங்களங்கா எனவனைத்துங் கூறு வோமே
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Valarpuram Bus Stop, 5 Kms from Nabalur, 7 Kms from Thanigai Polur, 11 Kms from Thiruthani, 12 Kms from Arakkonam, 12 Kms from Arakkonam Junction Railway Station, 80 Kms from Chennai Airport, 81 Kms from Chennai and 89 Kms from Vellore. The Temple is situated on Arakkonam to Thiruthani Route. Devotees has to take a right from the highway at Thanigai Polur. After crossing the railway line, should take the immediate left and travel for another 7 Kms to reach this Temple. There are bus facilities from Arakkonam, but the frequency is very less.
Location