17. SRI VAMANAPUREESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUMANIKKUZHI

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	49th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Nadu Naadu
Nadu Naadu	17th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

Lord Mahavishnu and Mahabali Chakravarthy celebrated Vishnu devotee Prahlada. It is believed that Mahabali was a rat in his previous birth. While eating the ghee from a lamp in this temple’s sanctum, it incidentally raised the lamp’s wicks which was about to burn out. Pleased that the rat had lit a lamp in the temple, Lord Shiva granted the rat a boon that it will be reborn in a family of asura (demon) kings. This is how Mahabali Chakravarthy came into existence.

Mahabali was very charitable by nature. He would be ready to offer assistance to anyone in need of help. The celestial gods were very jealous of him and they sought the help of Lord Mahavishnu to bring about his downfall. Lord Mahavishnu took the avtar of “Vamana Brahmmachari” to destroy Mahabali.

Vamana approached Mahabali seeking three feet of land which he readily offered. Lord Mahavishnu then took his Thiruvikrama avatar and measured the entire earth with a single step of his feet. His second step covered the entire space. He then asked Mahabali what he had to offer for the third feet. Left with no other option, Mahabali politely offered his head. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Mahavishnu pushed him down towards the underworld (“Pathalam”) and made him one of the “Chiranjeevis” - the immortals.

Lord Mahavishnu came to this place as a bachelor (Brahmachari), and worshiped Lord Shiva at the end of his “Vaamana Avathar”, to seek respite from his “Brahmhathi dosham”. Since Vaamana was of small stature and he would not have been able to see Lord Shiva face, Lord Shiva took a smaller form and appeared inside a pit (pit is called “kuzhi” in Tamil) to enable Mahavishnu to worship him. Since Lord Mahavishnu worshipped the lord here as a bachelor (bachelor means “Maani” in Tamil) and since the lord appeared inside a pit (kuzhi), this place is known as “Thirumanikkuzhi” (“Thiru” is a respectful prefix). The lord here is praised as “Sri Manikkavarathar” or “Sri Vamanapureeswarar”.Ancient name of the place is called “Udhavi”. Thirumanikkuzhi is the meeting point of both these rivers Gadilam and Swetha. The historical names of this place are Vamanapuri, Indiralogam and Bheemasangama Kshetram.

Lord Mahavishnu requested that there should not be any disturbances to his worship:

Lord Mahavishnu is always worshiping Lord Shiva here. He also requested Lord Shiva that there should not be any disturbances to his worship. Lord Shiva asked one of his “Sivaganams” (guards) -  Kubera Bheema Rudra, to stay back at this place, form a protective screen and protect Mahavishnu any interference. Lord Shiva also absolved Lord Mahavishnu of his sins.

It is to be noted that Pooja is first offered to Kubera Bheema Rudra to get his permission and then offered to Lord Shiva. Kubera Bheema Rudra’s image can be seen on the screen in front of Lord Shiva. This screen is closed after every Aarathi. This procedure is unique to this temple.

Lord Shiva saved a north Indian merchant:

Lord Shiva saved a north Indian merchant called Athri from thieves.  Hence the lord here is also praised as “Sri Udhavi Nayakar” and the Goddess Parvathy is called “Sri Udhavi Nayagi” (Udhavi means help in Tamil). This place was also earlier known as Udhavi. This name is mentioned in the stone inscriptions present in this temple.

Lord Suryan raised the temple:

This temple was raised by Lord Suryan (Sun God) to perform his poojas to Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva present with Goddess Parvathy:

It is believed that Lord Shiva here is always present with Goddess Parvathy as “Shivashakti”. The sanctum sanctorum itself is considered to be the bed room (“Palliyarai” in Tamil) of Lord Shiva.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This temple is considered to be significant for its three important attributes – Murthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple theertham.

·        The Sthala puranam says that the four pillars in the hall (mandapam) before Lord Shiva’s shrine represent the four Vedas. In the next hall, the six pillars represent the six sashtras. The 28 pillars in the corridors represent the 28 agamas.

·        This temple’s Sthala viruksham, Kontrai tree is very old and is said to have existed through the previous yugas.

·        It is said that this temple is the first among the 1008 renowned Shiva temples.

·        This east facing temple has three corridors (Prakarams) with a 5-tier main tower (Rajagopuram).

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Vamanapureeswarar, Sri Uthavinayagar, Sri Manikkavarathar
Ambal	Sri Ambujakshi, Sri Uthavinayagi, Sri Manikkavalli
Theertham	Swetha and Gadilam rivers
Sthala Vriksham	Kondrai

BELIEF:

Goddess Parvathi is holding two flowers in her hands - Lotus and Neelotpala. It is believed by devotees that worshiping the Goddess here would lessen their woes.

Devotees seeking “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon) come here and worship Goddess Ambujakshi and the devotees are advised to circumambulate the shrine eleven times wearing wet clothes on a new moon day. They are also advised to offer butter as “naivedhyam” and consume it for 45 days. 

This is the only Shiva temple where you cannot have dharisanam of the lord without the help of a priest. Devotees can worship the lord for a matter of 2 minutes when the screen is removed. As per the Sthala puranam, it is believed that this 2 minutes’ worth of worship is equal to performing Shiva Pooja for 12 days. If this darshan happens on a Prodosham day, it is considered to be equivalent to worshiping 3 times at Chidambaram, 8 times at Thiruvannamalai and 16 times at Banaras (Kasi).

On the day of the Rohini Nakshatram, thousands of devotees undertake Girivalam (circumambulation of the hill). This is similar to the Girivalam that takes place in  Thiruvannamalai temple on full moon days (Purnima).

During the Brahmotsavam, a lamp (called the moksha lamp) is lit on a hill opposite to the temple. This hill is called Jyothigiri or Rathnagiri.  

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Rohini Deepa Brahmotsavam (Car Festival)
Purattasi	Sept-Oct	Navarathri
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri

HOW TO REACH:

Thirumanikkuzhi is situated at a distance of about 10 kms from Cuddalore and about 5 kms from Thiruvahindrapuram on the Cuddalore to Panruti (via Palur) route. 

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Vamanapureeswarar temple,
Tirumanikuzhi Post,
Cuddalore,
Tamil Nadu – 607 401.

LOCATION: