Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 15th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 15th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
This temple was
constructed by the Chola and Pallava dynasties. This is a very ancient temple.
The stone inscriptions available in this temple are from the periods of King Paranthaka
Chola-I to the last king of Vijayanagaram.
Earlier this village
was called Pazhayanur and the place where this temple was located was called
Alangadu. In the Devara Hymns, this place is mentioned as “Pazhayanur
Alangadu”.
Swayambu
Lingam was discovered under a banyan tree:
In ancient times this
region was a forest densely covered with banyan trees (Alamaram in Tamil). It
is believed that a Swayambu Lingam was discovered under a banyan tree. Later a
temple was constructed and the lord was named as “Sri Vadaranyeswarar” (Vadam
meaning banyan tree, Aranyam meaning forest and the Eswar represents Lord
Shiva). Since the celestial gods (Devas) are also believed to have worshiped
the lord of this temple, he is also praised as “Sri Devarsingaperuman”.
It is believed that
Lord Murugan, Goddess Lakshmi and Saint Thirumular have worshiped Lord Shiva in
this temple.
Oordhuva
Thandavam:
Two demons - Sumban and
Nisumban had worshiped Lord Shiva to seek his blessings. Impressed by their
rigorous penance, Lord Shiva gave them a blessing that every drop of their
blood that fell on the ground would turn into a lingam.
Having sought Lord
Shiva’s blessings, these two demons started terrorising the celestial gods who
in turn complained to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva asked Goddess Parvathi to create
“Bathra Kali” and this Kali was advised to go to Thiruvalangadu to destroy the
demons.
Kali fought with these
two demons, defeated them and drank their blood. However, since she had drunk
the blood of the demons, she started losing control of her senses and started
acting like a demon herself. She started terrorising the celestial gods, who won
again sought Lord Shiva’s intervention in this matter.
To solve this problem,
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy came to this place. Kali, who was not in
control of her senses, started fighting with Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma, Lord
Mahavishnu and Rishi Naradar intervened and made them accept a dance
competition instead of a fight, which the duo agreed to perform.
It is believed that the
dance performance was witnessed by Goddess Parvathy, Rishi Naradar, Sage
Munjikesa (Sage Anantha) and serpent Karkodakar. Lord Brahma and Lord
Mahavishnu are believed to have provided music for their dance. Lord Shiva
performed 17 types of dances which Kali also repeated. Finally, Lord Shiva
played his “Oordhuva Thandavam” – a dance with very fast movements. Lord Shiva
intentionally dropped his right earring on the ground, stood on his right leg,
picked up the earring with the toe of his left leg and wore it again during the
dance itself. Kali could not repeat this movement and admitted her
defeat.
Goddess Parvathy, who
was astonished to watch this performance is praised here as “Arukilirunthu
Viyantha Nayaki” (goddess who witnessed the spectacular dance performance). The
lord here is praised as “Andamura Nimirntharuliya Nayanar” as he performed the
Oordhuva Thandavam.
Kali was very angry to
accept her defeat. In order to appease her anger, Lord Shiva told her that he
would be performing a pleasing dance – “Raksha dance” at Thiruvirkolam temple
and she could have his dharisanam there.
The Natarajar idol of
this temple can be seen with its left leg almost touching the left ear. The
idol of Goddess Sivakama Sundari can be seen with her face reflecting her
astonishment.
Lord
Natarajar’s five Sabhas:
This is one of the five
places where Lord Shiva performed his cosmic dance - ‘Oorthava / Kali
Thandavam’. The hall where he performed this dance is called “Rathina Sabhai
(gem hall)”. The other four places are –
Chidambaram - Por
Sabhai (gold hall),
Madurai – Velli Sabhai
(silver hall),
Tirunelveli – Thamira
Sabhai (copper hall) and
Kutralam- Chithira
Sabhai (art/picture hall).
Karaikal Ammaiyar
Lord Shiva’s dance here
was also witnessed by one of his great devotees, Saint Karaikal Ammaiyar. She
is also one of the 63 Nayanmars. It is said that she went to Mount Kailash by
walking upside down on her head to see Lord Shiva. The lord addressed her as
“Mother” (Amma in Tamil) and advised her to go to Thiruvalangadu to see his dance.
She came to see the lord in this temple but a Shiva lingam started appearing
wherever she put her foot. In order to give respect, she decided to again walk
upside down on her head. She witnessed the dance performance of Lord Shiva,
rendered her pathigam (hymn) and attained salvation in this temple itself. It
is believed that her last resting place was at the feet of Lord Natarajar.
Since her pathigams are prior to the Moovars Devaram, they are called “Mootha
Thiru Pathigam”.
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar:
This this place is that
since Karaikal Ammaiyar had walked on her head at this place, Saint Thiru
Gnanasambanthar was afraid to set his foot on the soil. Not wanting to show any
disrespect towards Karaikal Ammaiyar, he decided to stay in a nearby village and
spent the night there without visiting this temple. However, Lord Shiva of this
temple appeared in his dream and asked if he had forgotten to praise him. Next
morning, he visited this temple and rendered a pathigam in which he mentioned
about the “Neeli story” and God’s reminder to praise him.
Neeli
Story:
Associated with this
place is that of a lady called “Neeli”. It is believed that she was killed by
her husband as he had suspected her of infidelity. After her death, she could
not move on to her next birth and started roaming around this place in the form
of a ghost. Incidentally, in his next birth, her husband was travelling through
this place. Seeing her former husband, Neeli decided to seek revenge. She
assumed the form of his present wife and wanted to go with him. He was
surprised to see his wife here, he sensed that something was wrong and he
refused to let her accompany him.
Neeli went to the
locals (velalars) and complained that her husband was abandoning her. The
locals interfered and asked him to stay with her at a nearby place and travel
with her the next morning. He tried explaining to them that she might not be
his wife but they refused to his pleas. Instead they vouched for his safety by
saying that if anything were to happen to him, they would also give up their
lives.
As soon as they went
inside the house that the locals had given to them, Neeli took her original
form of a ghost and killed him. In the morning when the locals found him dead,
they decided to end of their lives and keep the promise that they made to him.
The legend is that 70 velalars gave up their lives by self-immolation
(Theekuliyal in Tamil). It is also believed that Lord Shiva gave salvation to
all of them. It is interesting to note that the old Tamil proverb “Neeli
Kanneer” (crocodile tears) originated from this story only.
The hall where these
velalars gave up their lives can still be seen near the Sakshibootheswarar
temple in Pazhayanur (at a distance of about one kilometre from Thiruvalangadu
temple). It is said that the heirs of those velalars still go to Thiruvalangadu
temple for worship and for offering their services.
Mantheeswarar:
Sani Bhagawan (Saturn)
advised his son, Mantheeswarar who had accrued a sin (dosham) when a lizard
fell on him, to go to Thiruvalangadu and worship Lord Shiva there. Pleased with
his penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him by absolving the
sin.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is one of
the five places where it is believed that Lord Natarajar competed with Goddess
Kali in a dance performance.
·
The Natarajar
mandapam (hall) of this temple is called “Rathna Sabhai (Gem hall)”.
·
This is one of
the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where all the “Moovars” have rendered their
pathigams.
·
Karaikkal
Ammaiar also rendered her “Mootha Thirupathigam” about Lord Shiva here.
·
This temple with
main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers
·
A separate temple for Goddess Badhra
Kali is situated at a distance of about one kilometre from this temple. It is
said that after being defeated in the dance performance by Lord Shiva, she
stayed in this temple.
·
The Thiruvalangadu temple, the Mukthi
Theertham (the temple’s tank) and Vada Badhrakali temple are considered very
auspicious. The order in which the devotees should worship here is - first by
taking a dip in the Mukthi Theertham, worshipping goddess Badhrakali and then
worshipping Lord Shiva.
·
This temple has a beautiful 100-pillars
hall where Lord Natarajar’s abishekam is performed.
·
In Lord Natarajar’s shrine, there are
two shiva lingams - one made of Spadigam (crystal) and the other one made of
Maragatham (emerald).
·
Saint Arunagirinadhar has also sang in
praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.
·
Saint Pattinathar has also sang in
praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
·
It is said that Saint Karaikkal
Ammayar's jeeva samadhi can be seen at the end of Lord Natarajar’s hall
(Sabha).
TEMPLE
INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Vadaranyeswarar, Sri Alavana Nathar, |
|
Ambal |
Sri Vandar Kuzhali Amman, Sri Brahmarambal |
|
Theertham |
Mukthi Theertham, Sentradu Theertham, Siva Kara
Theertham |
|
Sthala Vriksham |
Banyan tree |
BELIEF:
This temple is
considered to be a place where one can attain salvation.
This is a parihara
sthalam for Bharani Nakshathiram (star). Those who are born during the period
of Bharani nakshathiram can perform special poojas here.
This is an important
place for Mantheeswarar pariharam and poojas can be performed on Saturdays.
Mantheeswarar pariharam is performed for removal of obstacles in marriage
proposals, to help married couples get the blessing of child birth and to seek
relief from debts.
Since Mantheeswarar is
the son of Lord Sani (Saturn), poojas related to Sani doshams can also be
performed here.
Also, those aspiring
for mastery in the art of dance can pray to Lord Vadaranyeswarar here and seek
his blessings.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiruvalangadu
is at a distance of about 17 kms from Thiruvallur en route Arakkonam. From
Arakkonam also this place is about 17 kms.
Thiruvalangadu
has a railway station on the Chennai – Arakkonam rail route and the temple is
about 4 kms away from the station.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Vadaranyeswarar
Temple,
Thiruvalangadu,
Thiruthani,
Thiruvallur ,
Tamil Nadu – 631 210.
LOCATION:
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