Tiruvalanchuzhi Valanchuzhinathar Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Tiruvalanchuzhi in kumbakonam.The
story of churning the milk ocean to get nectar with Mandara mount as
the churning stick (Mathu in Tamil) and Vasuki snake as the churning
rope is popular among Hindu believers. Unable to bear the speed and
weight during this operation, Vasuki spit its venom threatening total
destruction of all worlds.
Devas surrendered to Lord Shiva. He said
that they began the work without worshipping Lord Vinayaka and advised
them to correct the error. Devas returned to milk ocean, made an idol
of Lord Vinayaka with ocean foam and prayed to him and succeeded, thus
goes the Sthala Purana. Vinayaka thus made of the foam is praised as
Swetha Vinayaka. He is the Ishta Devatha of the Devas.
The sage came to Thiruvalanchuzui and prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva
through His voice (Asareeri in Tamil and Sanskrit) said that Cauvery
would not come out unless a sage with Jadamudi-thick and long hair- or a
king with such Jada entered into the hole.
The king was ready to do
this. But the sage himself entered the hole and made Mother Cauvery
come out to benefit a huge number of people in the state. Mother
Cauvery came out from the hole at a place called Melacauvery near
Kumbakonam. As Cauvery came up, the place is named Melacauvery and
Tiruvalnchuzhi as She came circumambulating Lord Shiva.
Temple Timings:
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Temple Festivals:
Maha Shivrathri in February-March; Tirukarthikai in November-December
and Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September are the festivals celebrated
in the temple.
Lord Valanchuzhi Nathar is a swayambumurthi. Lord Vinayaka idol is made
of the foam of Milk ocean (Tiru Parkadal), hence praised as Swetha
Vinayaka ? Vellai Vinayaka.The beautiful tower of the temple is facing east.
Ambica graces the devotees in her wedding
posture on the right side. Mother Ashta
Buja Kali, very furious earlier appears with a minute damage (in the idol) to
calm down her anger, it is said. There
is a separate shrine for Sani Bhagwan.
Devendra
(Indira) came down to earth with Swetha Vinayaka seeking relief from
the curse caused by his wrong behaviour towards Agalya. He came to this
place finally after worshipping various Shiva temples. Lord Swetha
Vinayaka, till then with Indira, wished to stay in this place for ever
and prayed to Lord Shiva for the purpose. Lord Shiva came before Indira
as a little boy. Indira asked the boy to keep his Vinayaka till he
came back after worshipping Lord Shiva.
The boy simply put the
Vinayaka on the floor and disappeared. Indira could not find either the
boy or his Vinayaka. He finally found his Vinayaka under the Bali
Peeta in the temple but could not lift despite all his efforts. Indira
brought Deva Shilpi (sculptor of great skills), made a Rath ? car
covering the surroundings of the Bali Peeta and tried to pull Vinayaka
to his place, but in vain.
A voice said that if Indira worships
Vinayaka in this place on each Vinayaka Chaturthi day , he would reap the benefit of worshipping him each
day. It is believed that Indira visits the temple on each Vinayaka
Chaturthi to worship Lord Swetha Vinayak.
Lord Swetha Vinayaka is made from sea water foam. Hence, no abishek is offered nor flowers,
vastras or sandal placed on Him. Only powdered Borneol (Pachai
Karpuram) is sprayed on the idol without hand touch.
Do's:
Do pray Your Ishta Devata before Pilgrimage to temple
Do Contact Temple Devasthanam information center for inquiry ,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 your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only
Don't s:
Do not come to Temple for any Purpose other than worshiping 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 Dharshanam. 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