Shri Vedapureeshwarar Temple at Thiruvedikudi

This temple is at a distance of 5 kms from Thiruvaiyaru and 3 kms Kandiyur. Kandiyur is 16 kms from Tanjavur from Tanjavur-Thiruvaiyaru route.

This is one of the 276 Shiva temples revered by Naayanmars. This temple was revered by Appar and Sambandhar. This temple must have existed even before the 7th century. It was reconstructed during Aditya Chola I’s reign.

There are stone inscriptions in the temple which give an account of endowments made by Chola kings. This is the fourth of Sapta Sthanams. 

Moolavar: Shri Vedapurishwarar, Shri Vazhai-madu-nadar, in Tamil - vazhai means banana plant. Madu is tank
Devi: Shri Mangaiyar-arasi
Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva
Sacred teertha: Ved teertha
Present and Puranik name: Thiruvedikudi
District: Tanjavur, Tamilnadu

Kshetra Puran:

1. The pranav mantra Om is considered as the peak of all vedas. Hence it is believed that vedas follow pranav mantra everywhere. As the pranav mantra worshiped Lord Shiva at this place, the vedas also followed him. It is believed that Lord Shiva gathered (collected) the priests (vedhiyars) for Nandi’s marriage from this place. The Sun’s rays fall on the Shiva Linga on the 13th, 14th and 15th day of Tamil month Panguni (March-April). Hence it is believed that Sun worships Lord Shiva on these days.  

2. A demon had stolen vedas from Lord Brahma and hid them in the deep sea. Lord Vishnu recovered the vedas by killing the asura. As the vedas were handled by the asuras, they became tainted (they acquired dosha). In order to make them purify, the vedas worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. So Lord Shiva is known as Lord Vedapureeshwarar. 

3. A Chola king who was worried by the delay in the marriage of his daughter came to this place and worshiped Goddess Mangaiyar-arasi seeking a boon for his daughter’s wedding. As his boon got fulfilled in a very short time, as a token of gratitude to the devi, he changed the name of his daughter to Mangaiyar-arasi. 

Those who worshiped here: Lord Surya, Lord Indra, Lord Brahma, four vedas, Sage Vyasa and shaiva saints Appar and Sundarar.

Salient features:

1. The unique feature of the temple is that there are 276 shiva linga representing 276 padal pethra sthalam. By visiting this place one gets the benefit of visiting all 276 shiva temples.

2. The Shivalinga was found in a banana tank.

3. The idol of Lord Dakshinamurti is very beautiful, it is believed that it was worshiped by Lord Brahma.

4. This is a Parihar sthal for delays in marriage.

5. The unique feature of Lord Ardhanarishwarar is that Lord Shiva generally has Goddess Parvati on the left. But in this place she is on the right of Lord Shiva. The idol is not in good condition as it is damaged.

6. The sanctum and sanctorum tower are built of granite. 

7. Sun's rays fall on the Shivalinga from 13th to 15th day in the Tamil month on Panguni.

8. As many scholars, well versed in four vedas lived at this place, the place was praised at Chaturved-mangalam.

9. The sanctum sanctorum is in the shape of a semi-circular moat.

10. As Lord Brahma worshiped at this place, the place is praised as VedhiKudi and Lord Shiva is praised as Lord VedaPureeshwarar.

11. Lord Anjaneya is in a worshiping posture, without a crown.

About the temple:

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum antarala and ardha-mandap. The entire temple of the temple sanctum up to shikhar was built with stone. The temple is located a few feet below the ground level. This is an east facing temple with a 3-tiered RajaGopuram and two parikramas. The balipeeth, Nandi and Dwaja-stambha are after the RajaGopuram. 

The Shiva linga in this temple is a swayambhu linga. Lord Shiva manifested from the roots of a banana tank (madu in Tamil) and hence he is known as Lord Vazhai-madu-nathar. The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of a semi-circular tank (agazhi in Tamil). The sanctum sanctorum gopuram is completely made of granite stone and the lord is seated below it. On the four sides of the vimanam, we have four Nandis representing the four vedas. The rays of the Sun fall on the ShivaLinga on the 13th, 14th and 15th days in the Tamil month of Panguni. 

Koshta murtis are Lord Vinayakar, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ardhanarishwarar, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga. Lord Chandikeshwarar’s shrine is in the usual position.

Idols and shrines:

In the prakaram, we have the idols of Shevi (ear) Saytha (bent) Vinayaka (SheviSaythaVinayak). Lord Vinayakar’s head is slightly bent as if he is hearing the four vedas. So, he is known as Lord Vedavinayakar. And he is in a separate shrine. In the corridor, we have 108 Shiva Lingas, Lord Subramanya, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ardhanarishwarar, Goddess Durga, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Nataraja and Sapta Sthana Lingams. In a stone inscription Lord Shiva is addressed as Lord Thiruvedikudimahadevar and Lord Parakeshari-chaturved-mangalam-mahadevar. The renovation work of this temple was done by the Pallava kings. As a number of brahmins who had learnt all four vedas, the place was also known as Chaturved-mangalam. The shiva linga was on the bank of a tank containing a special kind of fish known as Vazhai. Hence the lord was also called Lord Vazhai-madu-nadar. As devi is depicted as the queen of all women (mangala ambika) and as she bestows boons and suhasini status to those who worship her, she is addressed as Mangalambika. There is an idol of Lord Lakshmi Narayana; the idol of Lord Anjaneya is found worshiping them.

The unique feature of Lord Ardhanarishwarar is that Lord Shiva generally has Goddess Parvati on the left. But in this place she is on the right of Lord Shiva. This is to indicate the greatness of women, in particular Goddess Parvati. That is why she is known as Goddess Mangaiyar-arasi (queen of women). As Lord Brahma and four vedas worshiped Lord Shiva at this place, this place is known as Thiruvedikudi and Lord is known as Lord Vedapureeshwarar. Lord Brahma worshiped Lord Dakshinamurti at this place.

Prayers:

Devotees believe that worshiping at this place would remove their marriage obstacles. Students worship at this place to learn Vedas and attain mastery over it. Parents bring their children for worship before starting their learning, on the day of Saraswati pooja in Navratri. This is a parihar-sthal for Mangal dosha.

Pooja:

Daily rituals are performed regularly.

Pradosh pooja is performed regularly.

Festivals: 

Chitrai (April-May): Sapta Sthanams festival and Brahmotsav
Avani (August-Sept): Ganesh chaturthi
Purattasi (sept-oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makar Sankranti
Masi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri. Besides this, the daily rituals, weekly pujas and fortnightly pradosha pujas are conducted. Arudra darshan is celebrated

Temple timings: 8:00 am to 12 noon, 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Temple address: Shri Vedapureeshwarar Temple, Thiruvedikudi, At-post : Kandiyur, Taluka : Thiruvaiyaru, District : Tanjore, TN 613202.

Phone: +91-9345104187, +91-4362262324, 9842978302

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs