125. SRI VEDARANYESWARAR TEMPLE TIRUMARAIKKADU (VEDARANYAM)

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	242nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	125th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)

HISTORY:

This vast temple is one of the 7 Saptavitanka Shrines special to Tyagarajar - associated with the Mucukunda Chola legend: Bhuvani Vitankar - with Hamsapada Natanam. This is also one of the 64 Sakthi Peethams (Sundara Peetham) of India. This shrine is regarded as the 125th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola Region south of the river Kaveri.

The seven Vitankastalams are Tiruvarur, Tirukkuvalai, Tirukkaaraivaasal, Tirumaraikkaadu, Tiru Naagai, Tirunallaaru and Tiruvaimur.  

Rama is said to have bathed in the sea and worshipped Shiva on his victorious return to Ayodhya. Bhrama is said to have worshipped Shiva prior to commencing his work of creation. Agastyar was blessed with a vision of the divine marriage here. The doors of the temple which had remained shut for ages, reopened when Appar composed his Patikam and shut themselves upon Sambandar's request with a Patikam. Viswamitrar worshipped Shiva to work his way towards the status of Bhrammarishi.  It is believed that Rama attempted to build a bridge to Sri Lanka from Vedaranyam first and was directed by Shiva to proceed to Rameswaram to build a bridge from there on.. The Pandavas are believed to have installed the Pancha Lingams here.

The image of Tyagarajar at Tiruvarur   is the foremost of the 7 from which Indra is believed to have asked Muchukunda Cholan to pick the original image of Somaskandar worshipped by Mahavishnu. . Muchukunda Cholan is believed to have picked the right one (the image at Tiruvarur) , and Indra is believed to have rewarded him with all of the 7 images, which the latter installed at 7 different places within his territory, and it is these 7 temples which constitute the 7 Vitankastalams.

Veerahatti Vinayakar here was worshipped by Rama. Sundarar visited this shrine with Cheraman Perumaal and Sambandar with Appar.

There is an image of Uma Maheswarar behind the Shivalingam in the sanctum. Agasthyar is said to have obtained a vision of Shivas marriage here. There is also a separate temple for Durga here. There are inscriptions here from the Chola, Vijayanagar and Maratha periods here.

This Shiva temple at Vedaranyam (Tirumaraikkaadu) is one of the Sapthavidanga Sthalams of Lord Shiva. The Sivalingam of the presiding male deity Maraikattunathar alias Vedaranyeswarar is a Swayambu Lingam and is facing east.. The shrine for Thyagesar is also very famous here. The 5 tier gopuram of the temple is facing east. The Manikarnigai Theertham (tank) inside this temple is considered to be very sacred because it is believed that a holy bath in this well is equivalent to taking bath in the sacred rivers of Ganges, Yamuna, Narmada, Cauvery etc. The presiding female deity's shrine is also facing east and She is known as Yazhinum Iniya Mozhiyal in Tamil which means that the voice of the Goddess is sweeter and melodious than the sound of Veena (a musical instrument). Hence it is pertinent to note that the Shrine for Saraswathi in this temple is different in the sense that Goddess Saraswathi is seen here without her Veena in her laps as normally seen everywhere. There are also shrines for Lord Muruga and Goddess Durgai. Navagrahas in this temple can be seen standing in a straight line. Lord Shiva is believed to have given the vision of His marriage with Parvati to Sage Agasthiyar at this sthalam. The marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati is depicted as a stucco image behind the main Sivalingam inside the sanctum sanctorum. Sage Agasthiyar, Gowthamar, Viswamitrar, Vashistar, and Lord Brahma are reported to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this thalam.

It is also interesting to note that the water in all the wells in this place taste salty and the well situated inside the temple alone gives good drinking water and used by the people of this village.

The four Vedhas RIG, YADUR, SAMA AND ADHARVANA took the form of human beings and stayed at the nearby place known as Naluvedhapathi and worshipped Lord Shiva at Vedaranyam. When Kaliyugam started, the Vedhas left this sthalam closing for ever the front main door of this temple. People were entering the temple through a small opening in the side wall and were worshipping the deity here.

Tirunavukarasar and Sambandar once came together to this Shivasthalam and found the main entrance to the temple in a closed condition. On enquiry, the people living in the sthalam told them that the door could not be opened in spite of their best efforts. Tirunavukarasar then sang a Pathigam in the praise of the Lord Maraikattunathar and at the end of the 10th song the doors of the main entrance to the temple opened all by itself. At the request of Tirunavukarasar, sambandar sang 1 Pathigam and the doors closed by itself on the completion of the first song itself.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This vast temple abounds in sculptural wealth. Pillared halls with interesting images, Yaalis with stone irremovable - rolling pillars in their mouths, images of the 12 zodiac signs and the 27 asterisms are some of the interesting features here. The structure of this temple resembles that of the Tiruvarur temple.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Maraikkaadanaar, Sri Vedaranyar
Ambal	Sri Panmozhi Ammai
Theertham	Manikarnika Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Punnai

BELIEF:

It is the staunch faith of the people that hardships any nature caused due to sins committed, adverse serpent aspects, evil spells would vanish if the devotee surrenders to Lord in the temple. A bath in the Manikarnigai spring blesses with the benefit of bathing in holy rivers as Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Sindh and Cauvery. Even sins of high severity as Brahmmahathi caused by murder will disappear. The worship also brings them the benefit of doing charity, performing yoga and penance for a long period.

The sea at the eastern side of the temple is known as Aadhi Sethu. Bathing in this sea once is considered equal to 100 baths in the sea in Rameswaram.
Thousands bathe in the Kodiakarai Aadhi Sethu and Vedaranyam sea on Thai New Moon day in January-February, Aadi New Moon day in July-August, Mahalaya New Moon day in September-October and finally at Mani Karnika and worship Lord and Mother in their wedding form seeking child boon, education and wisdom, prosperity and healthy life.

They are blessed with happy mental peace, employment opportunities promotions in jobs and progress in professions. Devotees place cradles in temple tree for child boon. Those aspiring for marriage offer Wedding Garlands to Lord and Mother. They perform necessary remedial pujas for various adversities they face. Devotees offers vastras and abishekam with sandal paste, cosmetic and turmeric powders, oil, milk, curd, rose water, green coconut, sacred ash, panchamirtha to the Lord and Mother. Many organize feeding-Annadhana. They also offer nivedhana to Lord and Mother and distribute to visitors. Many contribute for the renovation of the temple.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Brahmotsavam

HOW TO REACH:

This paadal petra sthalam temple is located at Vedaranyam, a seashore town. It is situated at about 45 Kms to the south from Nagapattinam and about 65 Kms. from Tiruvarur via Tiruthuraipoondi. Other Paadal Petra Sivasthalams in the vicinity are Agasthiampalli, 3 Kms from here and Kodikkarai, 12 Kms from here.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Vedaranyeswarar Temple,

Tirumaraikkadu,

Vedaranyam,

Nagapattinam,

Tamil Nadu.

LOCATION: