Introduction to Sapta Matrika

Sapta Matrikas are the commanders of Goddess Adi Parashakti. Generally, idols for Sapta Matrikas are found in the outer parikrama of Shiva temples in South India. They are sculptured in a single stone and are found generally in a seated row. In some temples, we come across them seated separately. It is not customary to find them in standing position. They are seated with their left leg folded and right leg hanging down. The idols may have 2 or 4 hands. When they are depicted with 2 hands, they represent Abhaya and Varada mudra. When depicted with 4 hands, the front hands have mudra whereas hind hands carry weapons. It is a belief that after visiting a main Shiva temple, it is necessary to visit the Sapta Matrikas for receiving the benefit of visiting the temple. 

Manifestation: According to puran, when Lord Shiva fought with Andhakasur (darkness), from the blood of asura, a large number of asuras appeared. In order to destroy them, Lord Shiva created Shakti Yogeshwari from the fire in his mouth. In return Shakti Yogeshwari created Shakti Maheshwari. In order to assist them, Lord Brahma created his shakti Brahmi, Vishnu created his shakti Vaishnavi, Lord Indra gave his shakti Indrani, Kartikeya gave Kaumari, Lord Varah created Varahi, Lord Yama gave Shakti Chamundi. According to Markandeya purana, these shaktis were created to assist Devi in her battle with asura Shumbha and Nishumbha. We also find mention of Sapta Matrika in Matsya Puran, Devi Puran, Vishwakarma Sutra and other puran dealing with Shilpa Shastra. The Shilpa Shastra gives an account of Sapta Matrikas, their weapons, dress, alankar etc. We find that they hold the same weapons as that of their male counterparts from whom they manifested. 

In Devi Purana, they are mentioned as Ashta Matrikas and Naarasimhi is considered as eighth Matrika. In Nepal, worship of Ashta Matrika is more prevalent. In Shiva Purana it is mentioned that the Sapta Matrikas approached Lord Shiva in Kailasa to absolve themselves from the sin of killing the asuras. He advised them to have a holy dip (bath) at Rishabh Tirtha in Mayiladuthurai and perform penance at the nearby Shiva temples. The places where the Sapta Matrikas performed the penance are known as Sapta Sthanam. Later on, the temples were built where Sapta Matrikas performed their penance. These temples are mentioned below, except one place where Maheshwari worshiped Lord Shiva. All these temples are located along the banks of river Kaveri very near to Mayiladuthurai.

Name of the temple	Location	Name of sapta matrika who worshiped	Name of the Lord Shiva	Name of his consort	Sthala vruksha
Than-Thondri-Ishwarar	Thiru-indalur	Brahmi	Than-Thondri-Ishwarar	Oppila-nayaki	Bilva
Pashupathi-Eshwar Temple	Senthan-Kudi	Vaishna-vi	Pashupat-ishwarar	Parama-kalyani
Shakti-purishwar	KarunKuil-nathan Pettai	Mahesh-wari	Shaktipur-ishwar	Ananda-valli	Bilva
Dharmapur-ishwarar	Dharma-puram	Indrani	Dharma-Purishwar	Abhay-ambika	Aavala
Panchavat-ishwarar	Ananda-tandav-puram	Kaumari	Panchavat-ishwarar	Kalyan-sundari, Periya- nayaki	Peepal, Palasha
Vazuvoor-shiva Temple	Vazuvoor	Varahi	Kruti-vasagar	Bala-guj-ambika	Deodhar
Vadarany-eshwar Temple	Vallalar Kovil (Mayila-duthurai)	Cha-mundi	Vada-arany-eshwar	Gnan-Ambika	Bilva

Courtesy: Following sites 

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and

https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/

Vedaranyeshwar Kovil at Vedaranyam

This is the sixth in Sapta Vidanga sthalam. It is located at Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. This Padal Petra Sthalam is revered by Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar.

Mulavar: Vedaranyeshwarar, Thirumaraikadar

Devi: Vedanayaki, Veenaveda vilasini

Kshetra Vruksha: Shami tree, Punnaga (karanja, Punnai in Tamil)

Sacred Tirtha: Manikarnika and Veda

Puranik Name: Thirumaraikadar

Present Name: Vedaranyam

District: Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu

The temple is about 2000 years old and located on the southern bank of Kaveri. To the east of the temple, we have the sea at about 1 km. The central shrine faces the east. There is a five tiered rajagopuram. The temple complex has three prakarams. The Shiva Linga is a swayambhu and is of granite. The Linga is located in the central shrine. The Vidanga is known as Bhuvani Vidanga and the dance performed is Hansa Natanam, dancing like Swan. The idols of Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Nandi and Navagraha are in the corridor leading to the sanctum. In this temple, we come across separate Dhwaja-stambha for Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. The koshta murtis are Lord Dakshinamurti, Durga, Ganesha, Chandikeshwar, Bhairav, Lord Mahavishnu.

The Shiva Linga is an emerald linga (maragada). There is a shrine of Lord Ganesha at the western tower and is known as Veera Ganapati. In the outer corridor, we have a shrine of Devi Veena Vedavilasini. She is also addressed as Yaazhai Pazhiththa Mohiyal meaning the voice of Devi is sweeter and melodious than the musical instrument known as Yaazhai.

This is considered to be one of the Shakti Peetha. This shrine is to the left of Lord Shiva’s shrine. Adi Shankaracharya has praised the glory of Ambika in the 66th verse of Saundarya Lahari. He suggests this verse for gaining excellence in music.

The temple tank Manikarnigai is in the eastern parikrama and is considered as holy as Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri, Saraswati, Sindhu and Narmada. A small shrine of Kalabhairava faces the tank. In the next parikrama we have shrines for Saint Sundarar facing Thyagaraja, 63 Nayanmars, Sthala Ganapati, Subramanya, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati and south facing Durga Devi.

The Navagrahas are in a straight line looking in the same direction. It is believed that they were looking at the newly wedded divine couple - Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The idols of four shaiva saints are facing the supreme dance of Lord Shiva. 

The sanctum is slightly on a elevated platform. The divine couple who gave darshan to Sage Agastya are behind the Swayambhu Linga Vedaranyeswarar. This is according to the promise made by Lord Shiva before his wedding in Kailasa to Sage Agastya. 

In the shrine of Goddess Saraswati, she is without a veena. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the image of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is depicted on the wall behind the Shiva Linga. The water in the surrounding area is salty but the water in the well inside the temple is very sweet.

This water is supplied to the village for drinking purposes. Of the sixteen sabha (i.e. darbars) this is twelfth known as Deva Bhakta Sabha. Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga. 

Kshetra Puran:

According to the Puran, the four Vedas had taken human form. They had stayed at a village called Vedapathi. They had gathered flowers from a nearby village Pushpavan and were worshiping Lord Shiva at this place. At the beginning of Kaliyuga, they realized that there was no place here for truth, honesty etc. After informing Lord Shiva they locked the gate of this place and left. It is believed that they transformed into trees, shrubs, plants, surrounding the place and still worship Lord Shiva. As the main door was closed and locked, people used to go to the side door of the temple for worship. Since Vedas worshiped the Lord here, the place got the name Vedaranyam. Later on, the shaiva saints Appar and Sambandhar came to Maraikadu to worship Lord Shiva as Vedas had worshiped at this place. They saw people entering the temple through the side door as the main door was locked. Sambandhar requested Appar to sing sacred hymns so that doors will open and they can have darshan of the Lord. Appar sang ten sacred hymns and doors opened automatically. They went inside and had the darshan of Lord Shiva. On the way back, Appar asked Sambandhar to sing a hymn so that the doors could be opened and closed forever. When Sambandhar sang hymn and doors closed indicating the greatness of the place and the Shaiva saints. Since the voice of Ambika was sweeter than Saraswati, Ambika got the name Yaazhai Pazhiththa Mohiyal. Hence Goddess Saraswati is a Tapaswini without Veena at this place but has the sacred scriptures in her hand. 

Goddess Durga is a parivar devata. She is in a koshta facing the south. She is considered a guardian deity. She is in a standing position with an ugly face. This is one of the 64 shakti peeth known as Sundari Peetham. There are seventy three idols i.e. 63 Nayanmars and 10 Thyagaraja. The Sage Paranjyoti who (wrote, sang Thiruvilayadal puran) belongs to this place. 

On the Shami tree, the raw fruits are long and thorny on one side and round without thorns on the other end. 

Those who worshiped at this place: Manu, Mandhata, Dashrath, Shriram, Pandavas, Mahabali, Four Vedas. 

According to puran, Lord Shriram is believed to have visited here as an atonement for killing Ravana (due to Brahmahatya dosha). The footprints of Lord Shriram are preserved in a nearby place known as Ramarpadam. 

A rat had climbed to drink a ghee from a lamp. In the process, the wick got disturbed and the lamp began to burn brightly. This act was appreciated by Lord Shiva and he made the rat to be born as Chakravarti Mavali. 

Prayer: The eastern side of the temple is known as Adi Setu. Bathing at this area once is equivalent to taking a bath in Rameshwaram 100 times.

Festivals:

• Masi Magam (May-June) - 29 days of Brahmotsavam. The temple doors are opened. Lord Shiva goes to the sea on Magha nakshatra. Procession of 63 Nayanmars and 10 other devas is taken out. The procession of Lord Shiva is taken in Kailash Vahan. 
• Aadi (July-August) 10 day Adi Puram festival dedicated to Ambal
• Avani (Aug-Sept) Ganesh Chaturthi
• Aippasi (Oct-Nov) Skanda Shashthi
• Pradosha puja on every pradosha day

Special puja on Diwali, Sankranti, Tamil and Sanskrit new year days.

The temple has six rituals daily from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Weekly rituals are held on Mondays and Fridays. Monthly rituals (new moon day, full moon day). During the full moon day of Adi and Thai people have a holy dip in the sea.

Courtesy: Following sites 

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and
https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/

Vaimoornadar Temple at Thiruvaimoor

This Shiva temple is fifth in Sapta Vidanga temples. Thiruvaimoor is about 20 km from Nagapattinam on Thiruthurooaipoondi route. This Vidangar is known as Neelavidangar and dance performed is known as Kamalanatanam (dance like a lotus that moves in a breeze). 

Mulavar: Vaimoornadar

Devi: Kshiropavasini, Paalinum Mohiziyal

Kshetra Vruksha: Jackfruit

Sacred Tirtha: Surya Teertha, Indra Teertha, Prachanda Marut Teertha, Harishchandra Nadi

Puranik Name: Thiruthen Thiruvaimoor

Present Name: Thiruvaimoor

District: Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu

The temple is about 2000 years old. It is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam on southern bank of Kaveri. Shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. Appar and Sundarar have sung sacred hymns (padigam). The temple is spread over 2 acres. The east facing temple has 3 tiered rajagopuram with 2 parikramas. The original temple was of brick and mortar. Later it was reconstructed by Vikram Chola.

There are several stone inscriptions denoting the repair work and grants made by chola king. 

The Thyagaraja is called as Neelavidangar and is very small in size. The temple is also comparatively very small. The Lord has three shrines in the complex namely Thyagaraja shrine, Vaimoornadar shrine and Vedaranyeshwarar shrine. The last two are small sand shiva lingas. And covered by kavach. Vedaranyeshwarar blessed shaiva saint Appar at this place. When Appar enquired with Lord Vinayaka about Lord Shiva (Lord Vinayaka’s father), he pointed to the place where he was. So Lord Ganesha is known as Kai (hand) kattiya (show) Vinayaka. In this shrine, the idol is pointing his finger towards Lord Shiva.

Three Shiva lingas facing east are next to each other in Thyagaraja sabha. 

Other shrines and idols:

Shrine of Ambika is in the outer Parikrama. She is known as Kshiravachana Nayaki and she is blueish in color. At present this temple is famous as Bhairavar temple. Viral (finger) Kattiya (showed) Vinayaka is in the inner parikrama. The Rishabh Dakshinamurti is in the outer parikrama. There are separate shrines of Ashta Bhairava, Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga. The shrine of Paalinum Mohiziyal is facing the south. The Navagrahas are housed in a separate shrine and are in a straight line. Koshta murtis are Bhairava, Nalavar, Vinayaka, Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivayani, Mahalakshmi, Lord Dakshinamurti. There is an idol of Shaiva saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar. 

The idol of Nataraja is very beautiful. The sacred teertha are in the west and Marut teertha is on the front side of the temple. 

When shaiva saint Appar was staying in Vedaranyam, Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and directed him to visit this temple. Appar followed the instruction and came to the temple. When he reached the temple, he could not find the shiva linga. Lord Ganapati showed him the exact place inside the temple where the shiva linga was. There is an idol of Lord Ganesha pointing his trunk towards the shiva linga. Sambandhar who followed Appar also had the darshan of Lord Shiva like Appar at this place. It is believed that Surya worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. The ray of the Sun fall on the Shiva Linga and the Devi on the twelfth and thirteenth day of panguni. The place is known as Leela Rahasyapuram in Sanskrit. In this temple, it is believed that Sambandhar got to see the divine dance of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Brahma and other devas who were afraid of Tarakasur came as birds to this place and they took bath in the Prachanda Marut Tirtha. To ward off their sins they worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. 

Festivals:

• Masi (Feb-Mar) Mahashivaratri
• Margazhi (Dec-Jan) Thiruvadharai
• Special puja for Bhairav on Ashtami
• Aippasi (Oct-Nov) Special puja for Thyagaraja on the first day of
• Vaikasi (May-June) Eighteen day Vasantotsav

People pray for knowledge, prosperity and removal of obstacles in marriage.

Courtesy: Following sites  https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/

Arulmigu Thyagarajar Kovil at Thiruvarur

This temple is also known as Thyagaraja temple. 

The temple is situated at Thiruvarur in Tamilnadu. This is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam. This is also one of the Saptha Vidanga sthalam. Thiruvarur is about 70 kms from Tanjavur and 42 kms from Kumbhakonam. Shaiva saints Sambandhar, Appar, Sundarar and Manikvachagar have sung glory of the lord of this temple. The temple is located on the southern bank of river Kaveri. The temple is about 2000 years old. 

Mulavar: Thyagarajar, Vanmikanadar

Goddess: Kamalambika, Neelotpalambal

Sacred tirtha: Kamalaalayam, Shankha Teertha, Gaya Teertha, Vani Teertha

Kshetra Vruksha: Padri Tree (Trumpet Flower Tree)

Historic or puranic name: Aroor (Arur).

Earlier this place was also known as Kshetravarapuram, Devayagapuram, Mukundapuram etc

The name of the vidanga is Veedhividangar which is ShivaLinga.  The dance performed during the festival (by Shiva) is AjapaNatanam (dance without chanting, a-japa, resembling the dance of Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu’s chest)

This place represents the Muladhara chakra and hence this place also known as Muladharasthalam.

The present structure was built by the Chola kings in the ninth century and later on, additions were done by Vijayanagar kings in the thirteenth century. The temple is revered from the olden days for dance and music festivals.

The temple is spread over 30 acres. It has four gopurams and four entrances. The eastern entrance gopuram is 118 feet high and it is four tiered. In this complex, we have a large number of small shrines. The most prominent shrine is that of Thyagaraja (Veedhividangar) and Neelotpalambal. The main deity is Vanmikanadar (Lord Shiva). Totally, there are nine gopurams inside the complex and five parikramas. Lord Shiva (Vanmikanadar) is an ancient structure on an anthill. In this temple, all Navagrahas are in a straight line facing south in the northwest corner of the first parikrama. There are thirteen mandapas and 365 shivalingas representing the days of the year and about 100 shrines, 8 Ganesha idols. The major shrines are Neelotpal Ambal, Asaleshwarar, Adageshwarar, Kamalambal and Annamaleshwarar. The foot of Lord Thyagaraja is always kept covered with flowers. The left leg is kept uncovered on the day of uttara nakshatra in the month of Panguni Uttaram and on the night of Thiruvathurai. People can have darshan of Lord’s feet in Vilamal which is 3 kilometers from this place. Here in this temple we find Nandi in a standing position. There are a large number of pillars which have stone carvings and the walls are covered by sculptures.

The temple complex is in the form of Sri Chakra. Second enclosure represents seven bases of Sri Chakra. When we leave the inner parikrama we come to the Kamalambal Sannidhi. There is a point in this shrine from where we can observe all seven gopurams.  

The Kamalalayam temple tank is the largest temple tank in the country and panel of Sapta Matrika is nearby. In this temple, there are separate shrines of Veedhividangar, Vinayaka and Achaleshwarar.

We have the shrines of Kamalambal, Neelotpalambal, Rudra Durga, Runavimochan, Lord Dakshinamurti, Annamaleshwarar and Vottu-Thyagareshwrar temple where Thyagaraja is worshiped. Shrines of Anandeshwarar, Siddheshwarar, are also present. In the parikrama, we come across lingas worshiped by Lord Indra, Cheranatha, Pandyanatha, Adikeshwarar, Pulastya Rishi, Lankeshwara. We have the linga of Bhaskareshwarar, Vishwanatheshwarar, Padaleshwar shrines. At the entrance to the Rajagopuram we have the shrine of Lord Anjaneya. It is believed that by worshiping him at this place people can get back the kings lost by them.

In Devi shrine’s inner parikrama, we have shrines of Lord Dharmashasta and Lord Vinayaka. There is a canal near the temple. Generally in the temple facing the east, the procession begins from east entrance but in this temple it begins from North East entrance. Lord Dakshinamurti in the Devi’s shrine is seen with six disciples instead of usual four. Devi Neelotpalambal is in a separate shrine where a maid holds an infant Lord Muruga in her hands. Goddess Saraswati is with a Abhaya Mudra without Veena. And she is believed to be doing penance at this place. There is an idol of Lord Hayagriva performing Shiva Puja. Akashbhairav is the custodian deity and is found in the Gopuram of Kamalambika shrine. Lord Bhairava is addressed here as Siddhi Bhairava. On the right side of Sanctum Sanctorum of Kamalambika, we have Kamalamuni Siddhar Peetham. On the corridor of Lord Shiva’s shrine we have a tall idol of Lord Surya. The shrines that are found in this temple are 1. Ganapati, 2. Adikeshwarar, 3. Chandikeshwar, 4. Durga, 5. Kamalambal, 6. Achaleshwarar, 7. Thyagaraja, 8. Vanmikanadar, 9. Chariot and stone carvings. In short, we observe that it will take one full day to go through this temple completely.

Special features in this temple:

In Lord Shiva sanctum sanctorum, we have Thyagaraja who is the king of all devas. The temple is also the greatest of all temples as well as one of the oldest. It is believed that even you go to Thirunallar for relief from Shanideva, you have to go to Thiruvarur for complete relief. According to the purana, there was a king named Sadayagupta. He got affected by Shanidosha and he fought with Navagrahas. The Navagrahas, out of fear, complained to Lord Shiva at this place and sought his refuge. Lord Shiva saved them from the attack. Hence the Navagrahas stand in a line at this place facing Lord Shiva. We have an idol of Lord Ganesha in the Navagraha shrine. It is believed that he keeps watch over the Navagrahas so that the Navagrahas do not trouble devotees of Lord Shiva.

There are four famous Vinayaka shrines (out of 84) in this place. In Devi’s parikrama we have  1. Nadukkam Vinayaka, 2. near west Gopuram we have Matru-Uraitha Vinayaka. He checked the purity of gold given to Sundarar by Lord Shiva. 3. Muladhar Ganapati is in the first corridor of Lord Shiva shrine. Here he is in the middle of a coiled five headed serpent performing narthana (yoga) form, 4. Vatapi Ganapati revered by Muttuswamy Dikshitar. 

In the Ashta Durga shrine, Muttuswamy Dikshitar has sung hymn on Mahalakshmi and Ashta Durga. In the northwest corridor, we have a stone chariot. It is believed that if Lord Indra wants to get back vidanga, he stands on the east entrance. Hence the procession of Vidanga avoids eastern entrance. King Muchukunda had installed original vidanga he got from Indra at Thiruvarur. Indra decided to get Vidanga back and he stood at the eastern entrance to pick up the vidanga when it brought out in procession. Hence people take out vidanga’s procession in Ishanya (south east) disha. So most of the people avoid eastern entrance. 

Devi Kamalambika resides in this place as mentioned in Lalitasahasranaam. Hence the sacred teertha is known as Kamalalayam. It is believed that bathing in this teertha during Panguni Uttaram one gets benefit of bathing 12 times in Mahamagha tank at Kumbhakonam during Mahamagha festival. There is a shrine of Nagadevata in the middle of this tank. People worship here for eradication of Naga Dosha. At this place, pradosha puja is held daily between 4.30 and 6.30 in the evening and is known as Nitya pradosha puja. It is believed that all 33 crores of devas come for darshan during this pradosha puja. 

Kamalambika wears a crescent moon like Lord Shiva in her shrine. She has a flower in her right hand and left hand on the waist sitting in yogasana and appears like a queen. This temple is considered to be older than any other temple. The chariot of the temple is the largest in Tamil Nadu. Lord Shiva has performed 364 miracles at this place. It is stated that those who are born in Thiruvarur attain mukti and hence Lord Yama has no work here. So he plays a role of Chandikeshwar at this place. Behind sanctum sanctorum, there is believed to be a secret known as daiva rahasya. 

Kshetra Purana:

Once there was an argument in Devaloka about the greatness of a person or deva in delivering justice. At that time Sage Narada, king of calamity, stated that the Chola king Manuneedhi Cholan was the greatest in all three lokas. In order to test him, Lord Yama took the form of a cow and went to Thiruvarur with a calf which was the kingdom of Manuneedhi. Yama enacted a scene in which the prince accidentally kills the calf by driving his chariot over it. The calf reached the court of the king seeking justice for killing the calf. In order to have same sort of suffering as that of the cow, in losing its calf, the king drove the chariot over his son and killed him in order to experience the same suffering as that of cow which he considered as the only justice that can be done. Yama blessed the king after manifesting in true form. And accepted the king to be the greatest in delivering the justice.

About festivals and puja:

Nitya puja is performed between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm. There is no daily abhishek for Thyagaraja. Abhishek of the small Shiva Linga worshiped by Lord Indra is done at 8.30 am and 7 pm after that it is placed in a small silver casket amongst the flower. This casket is always kept to the right of Thyagaraja. This is a shakti peeth known as Kamala Shakti Peeth.

Festivals:

1. 10 day Panguni Uttaram festival. Flag hoisting on hasta nakshatra in the month of Maasi. Car festival on the tenth day signifying darshan of Lord Shiva to Sage Vyaghrapada.
2. Arudra utsav - Lord's legs can be seen on that day
3. Vasant utsav - this festival was performed originally by Manmada and Rati for Lord Thyagaraja in the month of Panguni for their reunion. 
4. Thiruvaduthurai festival in the month of Margashirsha (Dec-Jan)
5. Adi puram festival for 10 days - This festival is held for the Utsav Murti of Devi. 
6. Masi Magam festival 
7. Chariot festival in April-May 

Puja is performed during Diwali, Pongal, Makara Sankrant, Tamil and English new year

Besides this, pujas are performed 6 times a day. The chariot is the largest and is about 90 feet in height. It is the second largest in Asia.

Prayers:

People perform Rahu Kaal Durga puja for obtaining boons. People pray to Lord Vanmikanadar for various boons on Purattasi Navami Tithi. People worship with milk and rice for eradicating enmity. At this place, people pray Thyagaraja for marriage, child boon, upliftment in education and for wealth. People worship the Nandi behind the Vanmikanadar for rain. 

Courtesy: Following sites 

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and

https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/