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Thursday, August 6, 2020

Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple, Thirumazhapadi – The Temple

Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple, Thirumazhapadi – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with seven tiered Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram is about 108 feet tall. The Temple is situated on the northern banks of Kollidam River. The Temple covers an area of about 10 hectares. Balipeedam, Dhwaja Sthambam and Nandhi can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram in the outer prakaram. There is another four-tiered gopuram can be seen at the entrance to the inner prakaram. It is about 80 ft. tall.

Both the towers are decorated with stucco images of Lord Shiva’s Thiruvilayadal and deities from Hindu pantheon. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Artha Mandapam. There is an idol of Mazhuvadeeswarar in the Ardhamandapam. He is seen with an axe in his right hand along with a spear and a rope to prevent Yama from taking away the life of Sage Markandeya. There are two Nandis one behind the other in front of the Sanctum sanctorum.


Huge stucco Dvarapalas can be seen guarding the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Vaidyanatha Swamy / Vajrathambeswarar / Vajrathampanathar / Vairathoonnadhar / Mazhuvadeeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy. There are no Navagraha idols in the temple. Instead, there are three pits between Lord Shiva and Nandi which devotees consider Navagrahas, light Deepas and pray. There are two Ambika shrines in this Temple.


Mother is called as Sundarambigai / Azhagammai. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her Shrine looks like a separate temple. There is another shrine for Mother Balambigai in the temple premises. Her shrine is facing towards south. Four Nandis can be seen in front of the Brahma idol in the Koshta. These four Nandis represent four Vedas. There are two Lord Dakshinamurthy shrines in the Koshta one of whom appears on a Rishaba Vahana.

 

There is a separate shrine for Somaskanda made of a single stone in the temple premises. There are two idols of Vinayagars at the entrance of Somaskanda Shrine. One Vinayaga is in standing posture and other Vinayaga in in sitting posture. Nandi can be found facing the shrine. There is a shrine for Lord Jurahareswarar in the temple premises. People suffering from high fever offer freshly cooked rice along with rasam in this shrine for cure.

The 100 pillared mandapam inside this temple is of special interest. There is shrine for Mother Katyayini in the temple premises. There are shrines for Vinayakar, Murugan, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Aiyarappar, Sokkanathar, Purush Mriga Rishi, Ruru Bhairavar, Nalvar, Lingams, Sage Markandeya, Sundara Vinayaka, 63 Nayanmars, Meenakshi, Brahma & Saraswathi, Sundarar & Paravai Nachiyar, Nataraja, Mahavishnu & Mahalakshmi, Gajasamharamoorthy and Saptha Matrikas in the temple premises.


There is a two tier mandapam along the outer walls. There are two Theerthams for the temple namely Lakshmi Theertham in front of the Amman temple and the Sivaganga (Kollidam River). Sthala Vriksham is Palmyra tree. The entire temple complex was once called Thala Vanam (forest of palmyra trees). The palmyra generally does not flourish on river banks. It is believed that around the 7th century CE, the entire area was dry and the River Kollidam changed its course and came to this spot much later.