This Shiva temple is located at Thiruvedikudi near Thiruvaiyaru. This is one of the 276 Shiva temples revered by Naayanmars. This temple was revered by Shri Appar and Shri Sambandhar. This is the fourth of Sapta Sthanams.
Mulavar: 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
The shiva linga in this temple is a swayambhu linga. Shri Shiva manifested from the roots of a banana tank (madu) and hence he is known as Shri Vazhai-madu-nadar. This temple was built by Chola kings about 1500 years ago. The temple is east facing and rajagopuram is 3 tier. There are 2 parikramas. The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of 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. There is an idol of Shri Manonmani Ambika whose idol is found with Shri Shiva on the northern side. The idol of Shri Ardhanarishwarar is on the wall behind sanctum sanctorum and has a special feature.
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.
The unique feature of Shri Ardhanarishwarar is that Shri Shiva generally has Shri Parvati Devi on the left. But in this place she is on the right of Shri Shiva. This is to indicate the greatness of women, in particular Shri Parvati Devi. That is why she is known as Shri Mangaiyar-arasi (queen of women). As Shri Brahma and four vedas worshiped Shri Shiva at this place, this place is known as Thiruvedikudi and Lord is known as Shri Vedapureeshwarar. Shri Brahma worshiped Shri Dakshinamurti at this place.
Idols and shrines:
In the prakaram, we have the idols of Shevi (ear) Saytha (bent) Vinayaka (ShreviSaythaVinayak). Shri Vinayaka’s head is lightly bent as if he is hearing the four vedas. So, he is known as Shri Vedavinayaka. And he is in a separate shrine. In the corridor, we have 108 Shiva Lingas, Shri Subramanya, Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Ardhanarishwarar, Shri Durga Devi, Shri Mahalakshmi Devi, Shri Nataraja and Sapta Sthana Lingams. In a stone inscription Shri Shiva is addressed as Shri Thiruvedikudimahadevar and Shri Parakeshari-chaturved-mangalam-mahadevar. The renovation work of this temple was done by the Pallava kings. As there were a lot of 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 lord was also called Shri 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 Shri Lakshmi Narayana; the idol of Shri Anjaneya is found worshiping him and he has a crown.
Kshetra Puran:
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 Shri Shiva at this place, the vedas also followed him. It is believed that Shri 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 Shri Shiva on these days.
A demon had stolen vedas from Shri Brahma and hid them in the deep sea. Shri 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 Shri Shiva at this place. So Shri Shiva is known as Shri Vedapurishwarar.
A Chola king who was worried by the delay in the marriage of his daughter came to this place and worshiped Shri 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: Shri Surya, Shri Indra, Shri Brahma, four vedas, Sage Vyasa and shaiva saints Shri Appar and Shri Sundarar.
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
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
No comments:
Post a Comment