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This temple is one of the ancient temple in south part of tamil nadu situated in Thiruvarur district.Millenniums ago the world was destroyed by the great flood.  Lord Shiva asked Lord Vishnu to create the world again.  Lord Vishnu first created Lord Brahmma from his naval and ordered Him to create a new world. 

Even during the great pralaya the floods, one place stood unaffected with Vilwa trees.  Wondered by the glory of the place withstanding the devastating currents of floods, the planets including the serpent planets installed a Linga each on the banks of Agashya River and performed penance on Lord Shiva for 1000 years. 

Lord Shiva appeared before them, organized the new world into different zones and appointed each planet as the head of a particular zone and empowered them to treat people with rewards and punishments based on their good or bad deeds.

Lord Brahmma came to this place and named the place as Navagrahapuram pleased with the planets.  Devendra came here and installed the Vellimalainathar Linga.  Mother was named Brhunnayaki-Perianayaki.

Temple Timings:

The temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Temple Festivals:

Special pujas are celebrated in the temple on Vaikasi Visakam day in May-June.

Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. There is also Navagraha Lingas in the temple comprising the attributes of the nine planets.This is a small ancient temple with no great festivities. 

The Navagraha Lingas named after the planets-Sun, Moon, Mars-Sevvai or Mangal, Mercury the Budha, Guru the Jupiter, Venus the Shukra, Sani the Saturn and the two serpent planets Rahu and Ketu are maintained safely in the temple. 

These Lingas are in the prakara in a line in various sizes-big and small.It is the faith of the devotees that all adverse planetary aspects will be relieved by worshipping these Lingas that had merged with Lord Shiva during a Rahu-Ketu transition period.  Besides these Lingas, the temple has the traditional Navagraha shrine too. 

The shrine of Mother Perianayaki is on the right side of the entrance. Mother Mahalakshmi had stayed in this holy place performing penance on Lord Shiva.  There was a tank here with both white and red Lotus flowers.  It is now dry.  Lord Shiva in this land of the Goddess of Wealth Mother Mahalakshmi assures all prosperity to devotees.

Lord is also known as Rajathagiri Easwara Rajatha in Sanskrit and Velli in Tamil mean Silver and Giri means mount.  The temple is facing west.  It is believed that west facing temples are more merciful than the ones facing east. 

A great Saint Vamadeva had said in his treatise that West looking Shiva darshan will be 1000 times more beneficial to the devotee.  So is the power of the Avudayar bearing the Linga.  No great festivals are celebrated in the temple.  Only usual pujas are followed.

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