This temple is at a distance of 12 kms from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Karaikkal route. This is about 4 kms from Thiruneelkudi and Konerirajapuram. This is one of the Padal Petra Sthalam revered by all 4 Shaiva saints namely Naalvar. This is a Maad kovil built by king Kochengat Cholan. This temple must have existed even before the 7th century and it was later rebuilt by Chola kings. Extensive work was done by Vijaynagar kings. This temple is considered to be equal to Kailash. It is on the southern bank of Kaveri. Vaikal is derived from Vaiy-kuru-kal. The present condition of the temple is not good and is almost in ruins and it seems there is no one to take care of it (visited sometime in 2008). This is a part of 3 temples around this place. They are considered as the 3 eyes of Lord Shiva. Right eye – Shri Kashivishwanathar and Vishnu temple; Left eye – Bramhapoorishwarar temple; forehead (3rd eye) Vaikalnathar temple. As these represent 3 eyes of Lord Shiva, they are known as Mukkan kshetra (mukkan mean 3 eyes in Tamil). All these are located in the radius of 1 km.
Moolavar: Shri Vaikalantheshwarar, Shri Vaikalnathar, Shri Shenbagaranyeshwarar
Devi: Shri Vaikalambika, Shri Kombialkodai, Shri Shakakomal valli
Sacred teertha: Shenbag teertha
Kshetra vruksha: Son-chafa in Marathi (Shenbagam in Tamil)
Puranik name: Shenbaga aranyam, Mumurthi sthala, Nityavaaspuram
Kshetra purana:
1. According to purana, Bhudevi requested Lord Vishnu to marry her. Heeding to her request he married her. Goddess Mahalakshmi (Sridevi) got wild with anger and she left for Shenbagavan (this place) for doing some penance on Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu along with Bhudevi came in search of her to this place. Lord Brahma also came in search of them and reaching here worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva convinced Goddess Lakshmi to accept the marriage of Lord Vishnu with Bhudevi.
2. According to sthala purana, an elephant came in search of its calf and accidentally damaged an ant hill. The ants bit the elephant and killed it. Later the calf and ants prayed to Lord Shiva who consoled the calf for the loss of his mother and pardoned the ants for their sins. He gave them salvation.
3. Kochengat Chola was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. Also, he was one of the 63 Nayanmars. He is believed to have attained the spiritual rebirth of a spider which fought with an elephant in the previous birth over the worship of Lord Shiva. He was born with red eyes and stayed in mothers womb a little bit longer than normal period. When his mother saw his red eyes, she named him Kocheng kanna. After becoming king, he built 70 maad kovils.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Brahma, Goddess Bhudevi, Lord Indra, Surya, Devas and Sage Agastya.
Special features:
1. One of the 70 Maad kovil built by Chola king.
2. Sanctum is on elevated platform, hence we have to climb to have darshan of Lord Shiva.
3. Temple is considered to be equal to Kailash.
4. Goddess Parvati is present as Kombialkodai.
5. As it is situated at Vaikal village, it is named as Vaikalmaadkovil.
6. The 3 temples together represents 3 eyes of Lord Shiva
About the temple:
This is an east facing temple with a single parikrama. The Rajagopuram is unfinished and has no tiers. This Shiva linga is a swayambhoo stone linga. On the left side of the entrance to the temple, we come across the shrine of Lord Ganesha and on the right we find the shrine of Lord Muruga. We have to climb a few steps to reach the sanctum as it is on a higher elevation. The steps to the sanctum are from the south side of parikrama. Entrance to the sanctum is narrow. Nandi and balipeetham are facing the sanctum. The sanctum is shaped in the form of a linga. Lord Dakshinamoorthi is found on the koshta wall. To the right of the sanctum we find Ambika in a separate south facing shrine. We come across the shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Vishnu with Bhudevi and Sridevi, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Lord Chandikeshwar with Chandikeshwari, Lord Surya, Lord Kalabhairava, Lord Shanishwarar. There is no Navagraha shrine. There is a Kashivishwanathar temple where we find Kashivishwanath along with his consort, Vishalakshi. There is a shrine for Bramhapoorishwarar where moolavar is Bramhapoorishwarar, Devi is Shri Periyanayaki. We come across Nandi, Dhwajastambha, Baleepeeth at the entrance of the sanctum. Besides these, there are shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya with consorts, Lord Dakshinamoorti, Goddess Durga, Lord Brahma, Surya, Chandra, Naalvar, Goddess Gajalakshmi and Navagraha.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship Lord Shiva for removal of marriage obstacles, wealth and prosperity
2. Devotees believe that they can get rid of, the fear of death by worshiping Lord Shiva at this place
Pooja: Only one puja is done daily.
Some important festivals:
Mahashivaratra in the month of Maasi, Navaratri in the month of Purattaasi, Anna abhishek in Aippassi are important festivals.
Besides these, all festivals and special pujas connected with Lord Shiva are performed here.
Temple Timing: 7 am to noon; 3 pm to 8 pm
It is advisable to contact the temple priest for puja and darshan
Priest phone numbers: 0435-246-5616; +9197889992860
Address: Shri Vaikalnathar kovil at Vaikal village, Post Melaivyur via Aduthurai TN 612101
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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