This temple is at a distance of 14 kilometers from Thiruvarur on Thiruvarur-Nagapattinam route and it is at a distance of 13 kilometers from Nagapattinam, 8 kilometers from Sikkal and 54 kilometers from Kumbhakonam. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri. This is a Maad Kovil built by King Kochengat Cholan. It was rebuilt later by Chola King. Extensions were carried out by Marathas. This place is known as Kubera Sthala. There are 2 stone inscriptions belonging to the period of Rajarajachola and Maratha king Tulajaji. This is built on a hillock known as Chitrakuta parvat. Shaiva Saint Appar and Sambandhar have sung sacred hymns on Lord Shiva at this temple. Hence this place must have existed even before the 6th century. At this place Lord Shiva was worshipped by his son Lord Muruga. Hence the name of the place is Velur. Lord Muruga is also praised as Velan as he carries a spear (Vel).
Moolavar: Shri Kediliyappar, Shri Akshayalinga Swamy, Shri Akshayalingeshwarar
Devi: Shri Sundargugambaal; Shri Vanamulai Nayaki
Sacred Theertha: Sravan Theertha, Agni Theertha, Shesha Theertha, Brahma Theertha, Surya Theertha, Chandra Theertha, Kubera Theertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Badri tree (Bor in Marathi) – Indian plum or Indian Jujube Elanthai.
Puranik Name: Keezhvelur, Thirukeezhvelur
Kshetra Puran:
1. According to the Sthala Puran, Lord Muruga was inflicted with the sin of Veerhatti dosha due to the killing of demon Soorapadman. In order to get rid of this sin, he sought advice from Lord Shiva. He was advised to perform penance at this place. After reaching this place with his warriors and 9 army chiefs, he first made a small idol of Lord Vinayaka with turmeric and then started the worship. He created a tank with his spear (Vel). Hence the place got the name Velur. With the help of Lord Indra and celestial sculptor Mayan, he built this beautiful temple of Lord Shiva. The place where he performed penance is known as Manjadi which is at present Keezhvelur. During the course of his penance, he encountered disturbances from the Veerahatti in the form of various maayajaals. He sought the help of Lord Shiva to overcome this disturbance. Lord Shiva directed Goddess Parvati to protect the penance of Lord Muruga. She appeared as Bhadrakaali and she protected the four directions and the sky. As she protected the five directions, she is praised as Anju-Vattathu-Amman (In Tamil Anju means five and Vattathu means circle). According to the Sthala Puran, Goddess Badrakaali went in a circle for 5 times in the sky and she danced in the sky. Hence she got the name Anju-Vattathu-Amman.
2. A king named Singhadhwaja, while hunting in the forest, became thirsty. On reaching a Sage’s ashram, he loudly ordered for water to be brought to him (with the ego of being a King). The Sage who was in deep meditation was disturbed by his loud shouting. He cursed the king to become a donkey. Another asura, who was in Vindhya parvat, was tormenting those who went to meet Sage Agastya, who was doing penance there. Sage Agastya cursed him to become a donkey. They were born as donkeys and were serving a merchant. Once these two donkeys drank water from Brahma theertha at this place. Soon they realized their past birth. They started conversing amongst themselves in human language. Hearing the donkeys speaking to each other, the merchant ran away leaving them. They did penance at this temple and were blessed by Lord Shiva. At this time a celestial voice directed them to drink water from Brahma theertha, from the month of Aadi, till Chaturthi so that they can regain their original form. They did as directed by celestial voice and regained their original form.
3. According to the Puran, Sage Agastya performed penance at this place. Lord Shiva was pleased by his penance, he allowed Sage Agastya to witness his wedding as well as his cosmic dance i.e. with left leg on the ground and right leg up. It is believed that at that time Lord Mahavishnu played the drum, Lord Brahma played Thaal, Goddess Mahalaxmi clapped her hands, Goddess Saraswati played Veena, Lord Indra played flute, Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga sang songs. This was witnessed by Sage Agastya, Sage Patanjali and Sage Vyaghrapada. The procession idols depict this dance and are in the main mandap.
4. It is believed that Lord Kubera visited this place on Akshay Trutiya and received nine pots of wealth which included Sanganidhi (shankha) and Padmanidhi. Hence Lord Shiva is praised here as Lord Akshaylingeshwarar.
5. According to the Puran, Lord Brahma had once lost his ability for creation. He came to this place, created Brahma theertha. He took bath in the sacred teertha and worshiped Lord Akshaya-Lingeshwarar and then he regained his strength.
6. Lord Indra took a dip in sacred theertha and got rid of his curse.
7. Once Sage Markandeya started his nitya pooja and there was a pralaya. A celestial voice directed the Sage to come to this place and worship Lord Kediliyappar. Sage Markandeya reached this place and worshiped the Lord. Hence there is a belief which states that this place will not be destroyed even during pralaya.
Those who worshipped here: Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Muruga, Lord Indra, Lord Kubera, Lord Agni, Lord Vaayu, Lord Yama, Lord Chandra, Navagrahas, Sages Agastya, Vasishtha and Markandeya, Shaiva Saints Appar and Sambandhar.
Salient features:
1. The temple is huge and beautiful.
2. There are 2 adjacent vimanams (gopurams) in the Sanctum Sanctorum, one each for Lord Shiva and Lord Somaskandhar
3. The tower of Lord Shiva’s shrine is built of granite.
4. The idols of Lord VeenaDakshinamurti, Lord Bikshadanar and Shri Katchi-alitha-nayakar (Lord Shiva who gave darshan) are beautiful.
5. It is believed that the same sculptor made an idol of Lord Muruga at Thiruchendur and at this place.
6. The Anju-Vattathu-Amman kovil is very famous amongst devotees.
7. The idol of BhadraKaali and the huge Nandi are made of sand (sudhai in tamil).
8. The idol of Lord Natraja is very unique.
9. This temple has been glorified by Saint Muthuswamy Dikshithar.
10. Shiva linga is small with a large avudayar.
11. There are beautiful sculptures of Yaali (mythical lion).
12. In Navagraha shrine all the grahas are facing the sanctum in three rows.
About this temple:
This is a very huge temple with 7 tier rajagopuram and has two prakarams. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhoo Linga which is about twenty one feet tall and most of it is under storeyed structure. In Tamil, Lord Shiva is praised as Kediliyappar (Kadi in Tamil is destruction or evil) i.e. one who saves you from destruction or evil.
The Dhwajastambha and Baleepeetham are near the Nandi. The shikhar of Sanctum is of stone. Lord Dakshinamurti is praised as Lord Veena Dakshinamurti and he is in a sitting position.
Koshtha Moorties: Lord Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti as VeenaDakshinamurti, Lord Brahma, Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Nataraja. Both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s shrine face east and Ambika shrine is to the right of Lord Shiva which is a wedding posture. In a lower level koshtha, we come across Lord Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Lingothbhavar, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Durga.
In the outer prakara, we come across the shrines and idols of Lord Ganesha, Sage Agastya, Goddess Gajalaxmi, Lord Jambukeshwarar, Lord Kailashnathar, Lord Bragatheshwarar, Lord Annamalayar, Lord Ekambareshwarar, Lord Chozheshwarar.
All the Navagrahas are facing Lord Shiva in three rows, 63 Nayanmars, Goddess Anju-Vattathu-Amman, Lord Kaalhastishwarar, Lord Vishwanathar, Lord AshtabhujaBhairava, Lord Jwaradevar, Lord Venkatachaleshwarar, Lord Anjaneya. There is a stucco image of Goddess Kaali, hence only Punugu and Sambrani are applied.
Goddess Ambika is in a separate shrine.
We also come across the shrines of Lord Badhrivinayaka, Lord Muruga, Lord Natraja and Lord Somaskandhar, Lord LaxmiVinayaka, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Lord Kubera, Lord Kashivishwanatha, Goddess Mahalaxmi, Lord Indra, Lord NarthanGanapati, Lord Kalyansundareshwarar, Lord Chandikeshwarar. The idol of Lord Natraja is unique. He has 10 hands. He is resting his left leg on Muyalagan instead of right leg as in Madurai. Shiva Linga under the Kshetra Vruksha is believed to have been worshipped by Sage Agastya. Navgrahas are in a straight line in three rows of three.
A manifestation of Goddess Bhadrakali known as Anju-Vattathu-Amman is present in this temple as an idol. It is believed she protects the devotees during calamities and appears from all four directions in the sky. Hence she is praised as Anju-Vattathu-Amman. According to the Sthala Puran, it is stated that once she circled in the sky for five times and performed a dance. It is believed that she protects devotees during travel.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship here for eradication of all sins.
2. This place is a parihaar sthala for all doshas including pitru dosha.
3. Devotees worship Anju-Vattathu-Amman for safe travel before commencing a journey.
Poojas:
6 rituals daily, Pradosha pooja, Pooja on Full Moon and Sankatahara Chaturthi
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): Bramhotsav with Rishabh vaahan, Saptasthana utsav
Aani (June-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-Aug): Aadi Puram (Festival on Poorva Phalguni nakshatra day)
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattassi (Sept-Oct): Navaratra
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhisheka and Skandhashashti
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Somvar and Thirukarthigai
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makara Sankranti
Maasi (Feb-March): Mahashivratra
Panguni (March-Apr): Panguni Uttiram (festival on Uttara Phalguni nakshatra day)
Time: 6.30 am to noon; 4 pm to 9 pm
Address:
Shri Akshayalingeshwara Swamy Temple,
at Post Keezhvelur,
Tamil Nadu 611104
Phone number: +91-4366276733
Contact number for priest: Shri Balasubramanya Gurukkal +91-9688622618
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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