This is the fourth mayanam temple of Lord Shiva. It is located near Peralam and Poonthottam. It is about 10 kilometers from Poonthottam on the bank of Arasalaru (a tributary of Kaveri) on the southern bank of Kaveri. This is about 27 kilometers from Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur route.
This is one of the Padal Petra Sthalam. Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar have sung sacred hymns on Lord Shiva at this place. This temple is about 2000 years old.
Mulavar: Sri Nethrabaneshwarar, VeezhiNathar, KalyanaSundareshwarar
Utsav Murti: KalyanSundarar
Devi: Sundar Gujambika, SriKatyayani, Sri Azhazhiyavanmullai Ammal,
Sacred Teertha: Vishnu Teertha, Damodar Teertha and 25 other teerthas
Kshetra Vruksha: Veezhi Tree (Sandalwood Champa Jackfruit and Wood apple trees are together known as Veezhe in Tamil).
Puranik and Present Name: Thiruveezheemalai,
District: Thiruvarur, Tamilnadu, Taluka:Kudavasal
Once this place was completely covered by dense Sandalwood, Champa, Jackfruit and Wood apple (Kavatha in Marathi) which are all together known as Veezhee in Tamil.
This temple is considered as parihar sthal for marriage obstacles. This temple covers an area of 4 acres. The temple has seven tiered Rajagopuram and three prakarams. There is a 100 pillar mandap known as Vowal (bat in Tamil) mandap. Stone inscriptions dating to the early 10th centuries are found in this temple. The temple is east facing. The temple looks like a fort. The temple tank is very huge. The temple is a madakovil style constructed by Chola king.
There is a very old (about 100 years) papaya tree. The shiva linga is swayambhu linga. The nandi at this temple is known as Patal nandi. The temple is built in such a way that one feels that it is built over nandi.
Lord Shiva is dressed in his bridal dress and hence he is known as Mappillai Swami(bridegroom). There are no koshta murtis in this temple.
The idol of Lord Shiva and Ambal are in their bridal dress and the idol is about 15 feet in height.
Other idols and shrines:
There are no koshta murtis. In the south parikrama we have a shrine of Vinayaka known as Padikkasu Vinayaka. In the west parikrama shrines of Somaskanda, Lord Muruga, and Goddess Mahalakshmi are found. On the northern side we have the shrine of Chandikeshwar and the shrine of Nataraja with Shivagami. Balipeeth is in the east and west corners of the temple. Sanctum sanctorum is supported by sixteen lions. The inner gopuram looks like a chariot. Lord Indra looks like a charioteer and Lord Shiva is seated as bridegroom. We also come across the idols of Bhikshatanar, Kalasamhar murti, Thyagaraja. We have a separate shrine for Lord Dakshinamurti, the four shaiva saints known as Nalvar and shrine of twin Vinayaka known as Irattai Vinayaka in Tamil. Besides this we come across idols of Bala Ganapathi, Bala Subramanya, Shiva Lingas, Mukta Devi and five lingas representing pancha bhutas, MayurNathar, Surya, Bhairav, Meykandar in the corridor. There is a separate shrine of Shaneshwarar. Goddess Parvati is in a separate shrine with a separate corridor along with the shrines of Lord Muruga and Lord Ganapati. The procession idol (i.e. utsav murti) of Lord KalyanaSundarar has the idol of Lord Mahavishnu offering his eye.
Salient features:
Saints Appar and Sundarar stayed here in a mutt. There is a hole in the wall of the sanctum sanctorum through which a parrot is believed to be coming daily for worship of Lord Shiva.
Kshetra Puran:
Sage Katya and his wife performed severe penance and got Goddess Parvati as their daughter who was named as Katyayani. Acceding to the request of the sage, Lord Shiva married Katyayani in the Tamil month of Chithirai on Magha nakshatra. At that time the Sage requested the couple to stay at this place in their bridal attire. And grace all the devotees. Hence Lord Shiva and Parvati appear in their bridal attire.
A hunter named Meezhilaikurumbur used to worship Lord Shiva daily with a wood apple. Lord Shiva graced him and gave him ashta-maha-siddhi. People still believe that they can see the wood apple offered by the devotee even today at the feet of Lord Shiva. Hence this place is known as Veezheemalai.
Once when Appar and Sambandhar stayed at this place a huge famine took place. They sang sacred hymns in praise of Lord Shiva to get over the famine. Lord Shiva appeared in their dream and told them that he will give one gold coin daily so that they can feed the people and avoid starvation. Lord Shiva gave one gold coin to Appar in the west balipeeth and one coin to Sambandhar in east balipeeth daily. These balipeethas can be found even now. And they are known as Padikkasu Balipeetha. Lord Vinayaka at this place is known as Padikkasu Vinayaka.
Demon Jalandhar had snatched discuss of Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva advised Lord Vishnu to come to this place and worship him (as Lord Shiva was among Veezhee plants) so that he can get back his discuss. Lord Vishnu came to this place and made a pond known as Vishnu Teertha and worshiped Lord Shiva with lotus flowers. He found one lotus flower short and he tried to make up for that by offering one of his eyes. Lord Shiva who was pleased with his worship got the discuss back. It is believed that the eye offered by Lord Vishnu is still at the feet of Lord Shiva. The mulavar Vimanam is believed to have been brought by Lord Vishnu.
A plant known as Veezhee grows in abundance at this place, hence this place was known as Veezhekadu.
It is believed that Lord Shiva gave darshan as Thoni Appar at this place.
It is stated in purana that king Shwetaketu (from North) came here and worshiped Lord Shiva. He was told that he had a very short lifespan and can be saved only by worshiping Lord Shiva at this place. He was saved by Lord Shiva from Yama at this place.
Those who worshiped here: Sage Vasishtha, Sage Katya, celestial cow Kamadhenu, Ratidevi (wife of Kamdev), Lord Vishnu and King Manu.
Festivals:
Chithirai (Apr-May) - 10 day brahmotsav
Avani (Aug-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi and Mula nakshatra
Aipassi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek
Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Deep and skanda shashthi
Masi (Feb-Mar) - Mahashivaratri
Adi (July-Aug) - Puram - ardra nakshta, navaratra, pradosh
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