Sri Vilwanatheswarar temple - Tiruvallam - Velore District

                 தென்னாடுடைய சிவனே போற்றி
                 எந்நாட்டவர்க்கும் இறைவா போற்றி

Moolavar Vilwanatheswarar Urchavar - Amman / Thayar Vallambikai Thala Virutcham Vilwa Theertham Neeva River, Gouri Theertham Agamam / Pooja - Old year 1000-2000 years old Historical Name - City Tiruvallam District Vellore State Tamil Nadu

This is one the 274 Shiva temples praised in Thevaram hymns.


General Information:

This is a big temple covering an area measuring 5 acres with a 7 tier Rajagopuram-main tower.  Lord Valampuri Vinayaka, Lord Vishnu, Lord Muruga, Sahasralingam, Lord Meenakashi Sundareswar, Bhairava, Sun and Padaleswarar have their shrines in inner corridor.  Nandi is big in size facing east.


 Greatness Of Temple:

Valam in Tamil means circumambulation.  This is the place where Lord Vinayaka established the truth that ‘world’ means Father and Mother and ‘Father and Mother’ mean world.  He went around his divine parents to show this truth.  As He did the Valam here, the place came to known as Tiruvalam and changed as Tiruvallam.  Lord Vinayaka got the mango fruit from Lord Shiva this way and is praised as Kani (fruit) Vangia (getting) Pillayar (Vinayaka).  He is sitting on His mouse vehicle.  He came to this temple with the Mango fruit – the wisdom fruit.

Saint Arunagiriar has sung in praise of Lord Muruga of the temple in his Tirupugazh.  There is a tub-like structure on the right of Lord’s shrine filled with water in which Lord Jalakandeswara graces in the name of Padalalingeswara.  Pujas are performed to Him praying for rain.

This is one the 274 Shiva temples praised in Thevaram hymns.

The monument of Sage Sanaka, disciple of Lord Dakshinamurthy is between Nandhi and Lord Vilwanatheswara shrine.  It is believed that meditating here relieves the devotee from sins of his/her past birth.  Also Saint Sivananda Mauna Guru Swamigal performed penance here sitting under the jack tree in the temple.  There is a mutt for him near the temple.  Special pujas are performed to the Swayambulingas in the Kanjan hill on all full moon days.  The event of Lord granting salvation to Kanjan at the eight places where his limbs fell is celebrated on the third day of Pongal festival.  


Temple History:
A priest living in Tiruvallam was fetching water from Kanjan Hills for Lord’s abishek.  Demon Kanja was giving him all troubles on the way.  Responding to the prayer of the priest, Lord Shiva directed Nandhi to control the demon.  Nandhi tore the demon into eight pieces.  But, with his deathless boon from Lord Shiva, the demon escaped.  Nandhi is facing the entrance of the temple (not facing the Lord according to tradition) to prevent the demon entering the place and the temple. 

Location :
Tiruvallam is 16 km from Vellore on the Ranipet route. 

Near By Railway Station :
Kadpadi 

How to Reach : 
From chennai to vellore get down at Muthukadai after valaja and catch a bus to Thiruvalam.

Temple Timing :
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs

 

Sri Subramanyaswami temple - Kundrathur

Moolavar : Subramanyaswami   Urchavar : -   Amman / Thayar : -   Thala Virutcham : Vilwa   Theertham : Saravana Poigai   Agamam / Pooja : Shivagama   Old year : 500-1000 years old   Historical Name : -   City : Kundrathur   District : Kanchipuram   State : Tamil Nadu

Temple History:

After conquering the demons in Tiruporur, Lord Muruga proceeded to Tiruthani in a happy mood.  He installed a Shiva Linga and performed Shiva Puja on His way with deep meditation.  This temple was later built by Kulothunga Chozha.  Lord Shiva, worshipped by Muruga graces in the name of Kandleeswarar in a separate shrine.


Temple's Speciality:

Lord Subramany-Muruga gracing with His consort Valli alone in Tiruparankundram facing North, graces in this temple with both Mothers Valli and Deivanai facing north. During Sekkizhar Guru Puja, Lord comes down from the hill temple to grace darshan to Sekkizhar in the footthill temple.

General Information:

Lord Vishnu, Lord Dakshinamurthy and Mother Durga grace on the sanctum walls of Lord Muruga shrine.  Lord Kasi Viswanatha, Mother Visalakshi, Lord Vinayaka, Bhairava, Navagrahas the nine planets and Nagar (serpent deities) shrines are in the prakara. 

Greatness Of Temple:

There are 84 steps to reach this hill temple.  The design of the sanctum sanctorum is noteworthy.  The devotee can see Lord alone if he/she is just in front of the shrine.  If the devotee looks at the shrine either from the left or right of the shrine, he/she can have darshan of the Lord either with Mother Valli or Mother Deivanai.  The Dwarapalakas (securities) at the entrance hold the weapons Vajram and trident.

The abishek Vibhuti (sacred ash) is offered as Prasad.  During the eight day Skanda Sashti festival, the event of destroying demon Surapanma takes place on the sixth day while Valli wedding festival takes place on the seventh day and that with Deivanai is celebrated on the eight day.  This is also the birth place of Sekkizhar, the author of Peria Puranam.  There is a temple for the saint at the foot hills.  As the place has a hill (Kundru in Tamil), it is named Kundrathur.  


Opening Time:
The temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Address
The Executive Oficer, Sri Subramanyaswami Temple, Kundrathur-600 069, Kancheepuram district.

Phone
+91- 44 - 2478 0436,93828 89430.

Location :
Kundrathur is 16 km far from Tambaram and 8 km from Pallavaram. Those travelling from southern districts have to get down at Pallavaram and can reach the temple easily. Bus facility is available to Kundrathur from Parrys Corner in Chennai.

Near By Railway Station :
Pallavaram, Tambaram