On the wedding day with Mother Parvathi, the Lord appeared
as if to take a trip to Kasi with his wedding dress, he is also calledMappillaiswami (Mappillai son in law). The Mahamandapa or the great hall
appears as a marriage hall. There is also a Shiva Linga near the flag post called
(Dwajasthamba). There are also bat sculptures on the walls in the
hall where many celebrate their 61st birth day.
Wedding of Parvathi: Pleased with the severe
penance of Muni Kathyayana and his wife for a child, Mother Parvathi Herself
was born to them. When she grew into a marriageable age, the sage
prayed to Shiva that He should marry her. Responding to his prayer,
Lord Shiva took the hands of Parvathi on the Magam Star day in the month of
Chithirai (April-May). The sage also requested the Lord to give
darshan to all, all days in the same Wedding Form. The Lord appears
in the sanctum Sanctorum in the Wedding Form.
Name Thiruveezhimizhalai: Once this place was
dense with many trees, sandal, shenbagam, Jack and Vila all
collectively called Veezhi. A hunter named Mizhalai Kurumbar was a
devotee of Lord Shiva and offered him the Vila fruit for
nivedhana. Pleased with his devotion, the Lord taught him the 8 great
lessons called Ashtamasiddhi. The Vizha fruit is still found at the
feet of the Lord in the temple. Hence, the place came to be known as
Thiru+Veezhi+Mizhalai. A combination of the names of the fruit and the devotee
hunter.
Padikasu: Thiruveezhimizhalai once passed
through a dry period with severe famine. Gnanasambandar and
Tirunavukkarasar prayed to the Lord with their hymns to tide over the famine
condition and restore fertility in the land. The Lord gave each a
gold coin each day as promised by Him in their dreams to buy food and feed the
suffering people. He gave the coin to Gnanasambandar on the eastern side and
the other at the western side to Tirunavukkarasar. This is calledPadikkasu (allowance money as we call it now) and this peetam also is still in
the temple. It so happened that demon Chalandaran took of the disc of
Vishnu. He went to Lord Shiva to get it back from him. Lord Shiva
told Lord Vishnu that He was then among the Veezhi plants in Earth and that he
had to worship him there to get back the disc. Vishnu came to this place,
made a pond in his name and worshipped Shiva with this theertham and lotus
flowers. Yet it was short by one flower which Vishnu made up by taking off his
own eye to worship Shiva. From this day onwards, the practice of
offering eye symbols carved in silver, gold or copper came into being. Lord
Shiva pleased with the puja of Vishnu gave him back His disc. The
eye offered by Vishnu is still at the feet of Lord Shiva.
Moolavar: Veezhinatheswarar
Urchavar: Kalyanasundareswarar
Amman / Thayar: Brahat Sundarakushanmbikai
Thala Virutcham: Veezhi
Theertham: Vishnu theertham
Pathigam: Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar
Old year:1000-2000
years old
From Kumbakonam, take Thiruvarur road till Natchiyar Koil
and from there, take Natchiyar Koil to Poonthotam Road to reach Thenkarai. From
Thenkarai, cross the Arasalarur river in the north and walk 1 km to reach
Thiruveezhimizhalai temple.
Those who come from Chennai or Puducherry can come up to Mayavaram and take
Mayavarum to Thiruvarur Road up to Poonthottam. From Poonthottam, take
Poonthotam to Natchiyar Koil Road to reach Thenkarai and proceed from here to
Thiruveezhimizhalai temple. It is located about 10 Kms from Poonthottam on the
north bank of river Arasalaru. Nearest railway station is Poonthottam. Another
paadal petra sthalam Tiru Anniyur is located at a distance of 3 Kms to the
north from here.
Thiruveezhinathar kovil is a Mada Kovil. There is a paathala
nandhi under the steps leading to the main sannadhi.
This is the huge temple and the surrounding walls are really
massive, about thirty to thirty five feet high. There is also a huge temple
tank right in front of the temple. This east facing temple is one of the 275
padal petra sthalams of Lord Shiva. This temple is owned and maintained byThriuvavaduthurai Adheenam.
In the southern side of the outer praharam a shrine for Padikasu Vinayagar is present.
Somaskandar, Murugan, Mahalakshmi are present in the western side. Adhi
Dakshinamurthy is present in the northern side of the praharam. The vimanam of
the main shrine was supposed to have been brought from heaven by Vishnu, and
hence known as Vinnizhi Vimaanam.
People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage talks and
for child boon.
Devotees perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord
and Mother.
Sri Veezhinatheswarar temple, Thiruveezhimizhalai, Tiruvarur
District. Contact Number - +91 4366 273 050, 94439 24825.
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Don't s:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.