Sri Vilwa-naatheswarar Temple, Thiru-Valam, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu

Sri Vilwa-naatheswarar Temple, Thiru-Valam, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu

Compiled by

Elango  Kadhirvel

Location

Ø  ThiruValam (also called Thiru-Vallam), Vellore District, Tamil Nadu State

Ø  At a distance of about 130 kilometers from the state capital, Chennai & about 220 kilometers from Bangalore

Presiding Deities

Ø  Lord Shiva as Sri Vilwa-naatheswarar

Ø  Goddess Parvathi as Sri Vallaambikai

Ø  Lord Ganesha as “Kani Vaangiya Vinayaka” meaning “Vinayaka Who Got the Fruit”

o   The Idol Is seen as Lord with the fruit

History

Ø  Believed to about 2000 years old, this is a big temple covering an area measuring 5 acres with a 7 tier Rajagopuram

Ø  The Goddess shrine is said to be of great significance here

o   Originally, the Goddess was addressed as "Thee-Kaali Ambaal", a fierce Goddess

o   Later SHE is believed to have been pacified by Sri Shankarcharya Bhagwatpaada

Specialties

Ø  Nandhi is facing the entrance of the temple (not facing the Lord)

o   A priest living in Tiruvallam was fetching water for Lord’s Abishek

o   A Demon was giving him all troubles on the way

o   Responding to the prayer of the priest, Lord Shiva directed Nandhi to control the demon

o   Nandhi tore the demon into eight pieces

o   Nandhi is facing the entrance of the temple to prevent the demon entering the place and the temple

Ø  Sage Sanaka Jeeva-Samaadhi

o   The monument of Sage Sanaka, disciple of Lord Dakshinamurthy is between Nandhi and Lord Vilwa-naatheswara shrine

o   It is believed that meditating here relieves the devotee from sins of his/her past birth

Ø  Vilwa/Bilwa Leaves as Prasad

o   As Lord Shiva is addressed as Sri Vilwa-naatheswarar, Vilwa/Bilwa leaves are offered as Prasad

o   Consuming the Prasad, according to faith, relieves bodily problems and grants wisdom

Legend

Ø  It is believed that Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya had a quarrel for a mango fruit offered by Sage Narada

Ø  A contest was conducted that whoever goes around the world first and comes back here would be offered the fruit

Ø  While Lord Subramanya went around the world, Lord Ganesha encircled His Parents and got the fruit as a token of appreciation

Ø  Valam in Tamil means circumambulation

Ø  This is the place where Lord Vinayaka established the truth that “world” means Father and Mother and “Father and Mother” mean world

Ø  He went around His Divine parents to show this truth

Ø  As He did the Valam here, the place came to known as Tiruvalam and changed as Tiruvallam

Quotes/Hymns – Tamil Hymn by Saint Poet ThiruGnanaSambandar

தாயவன் உலகுக்கு, தன் ஒப்பு இலாத்
தூயவன், தூ மதிசூடி, எல்லாம்
ஆயவன், அமரர்க்கும் முனிவர்கட்கும்
சேயவன், உறைவுஇடம் - திரு வல்லமே!

Transliterated Text

Thaayavan ulagukku, than opu illaath

Thooyavan, thoo mathi-chudi, yellam

Aayavan, amararukkum munivar-katkum

Seyavan, Uraivu Idam – Thiru-Vallame!

Translation

The Lord Shiva at ThiruVallam/ThiruValam!

                YOU Are The MOTHER to all livings beings in the world

                YOU Are The Holiest with no par

                YOU Pervade all things – YOU Are That

                YOU Are Wearing a spotless Crescent (Moon)

                YOU Are Beyond the comprehension of the worldly mortals and sages

Reference

http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/sp/spt_p_vallam.htm

http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=119

https://hiramprakash.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/thiruvalam-vilwanatheswarar-temple/

http://www.ifpindia.org/digitaldb/site/digital_tevaram/U_TEV/DM1_113.HTM