It is the staunch belief of the
devotees that worshipping Mothers Tiruverkadu Balambikai, Tiruvalidayam
Jagadambikai and Tiruvottriyur Vadivambikai in a single day would pour on them
the choicest benefits both during this life and the life later. People
believe that continuous bathing in the sacred spring on Sundays would cure them
of any skin problems. The temple was built by a Chola king.Lord
Shiva once told Mother Parvathi that any one thinking of this holy place, stay
here for a while or even pass through this place would be awarded with total
salvation to the devotee.
While Lord Vinayaka was playing in
the milk ocean, Lord Vishnu witnessing the play, his conch slipped and fell
into the ocean. He got it back with the grace of Lord Shiva of this
temple. Along with Lord Vishnu, Adisesha also worshipped Lord here
and promised that He would not bite any one living within the boundaries of
this place. Since that day, no death had occurred in this place due to
snake bite. Hence, the place has the name Vidam Theenda Pathy means place where no snake bite occurs.
Lord Muruga created a spring here
near the Velvela tree and made amends for not releasing Lord Brahmma from his
captivity as directed by Lord Shiva. Sages Athiri, Parasara, Brugu,
Kuchara, Angirasa, Vasishta, Gautama, Kashyapa, Dindi, Mundi, Valakilliar
Viradagni and others had worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. Pandava
brothers, Emperor Shibi Chola, Vana, nine planets and deities of the 8
directions Ashtadhik Balakas had worshipped here. Lord Muruga is
praised in the Tirupugazh hymns of Saint Arunagiriar.
This is birth place of Moorka
Nayanar. He resolutely followed the principle of taking his food
only after feeding Shiva devotees. He was unable to stick to the
dharma, he used his gambling skill and made money. When the losers
refused to pay him the dues, he used violence to recover the money and
continued the habit with the proceeds. As he behaved brutally with
the losers, he was named Moorka Nayanar (violent Nayanar). He was
cleansed by Lord as the intention of Nayanar was high. There is a shrine
for Moorka Nayanar in the outer corridor of the temple. A festival
dedicated to Nayanar is celebrated on the Kruthika star day in
Karthikai (November-December) month.
When all sages reached the border of Himalayas to witness the Wedding of
Mother Parvathi with Shiva, due to their total weight, the ground went below
causing the rising of the south. Lord
Shiva asked Sage Agasthya to go to south to balance the ground level. For the sake of the safety of all,
Sage Agasthya had to sacrifice the great opportunity of joining the divine
celebrations. Lord Shiva
assured the sage that he would grant the wedding darshan to him on his way to
south. When Sage Agasthya
reached Tiruverkadu, Lord granted darshan with Mother Parvathi. Due
to the curse of Sage Brugu, Lord Vishnu was born as Parasurama to Sage
Jamadagni and Renuka Devi. When
he came here to worship Lord Shiva here, his mother Ranukadevi also accompanied
the son. That Renuka temple
is now the famous Karu Mariamman temple in Tiruverkadu. Lord Shiva wanted to create the world
after it was destroyed by the great floods-pralaya-tsunami. He ordered the four Vedas are Rig, Yajur,
Sama and Atharvana to become Velvela trees. These trees are the sacred trees of
the temple. Hence the place
is named Verkadu means jungle of vela trees with the auspicious prefix (Tiru)
Tiruverkadu.
Moolavar: Vedapureeswarar
Amman/Thayar: Balambikai
Thala Virutcham: Velvela Maram
Theertham: Veda theertham, Pali River
Old year: 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name: Tiruverkadu
The temple is on a land covering 1.5 acres with a five tier Rajagopuram
facing east. It has three prakaras-corridors. The Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is of
Gajabrushta design.
The shrine is praised in the Thevaram hymn of Saint Tirugnana Sambandar.
This is 23rd Shiva temple in Thondai region praised in Thevaram hymns.
Festivals:
1. Maha Shivrathri in (February-March)
2. Navarathri in (September-October)
3. Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in (December-January)
4. Panguni Uthiram in (March-April)
are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthy. Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathy are
behind the Linga in their wedding form, a special feature in the temple. This
is the birth place of Saint Moorka Nayanar, one of the 63 celebrated Saivite
Saints.
Devotees believe that bathing continuously in the sacred spring on
Sundays will cure skin diseases.
Realizing their wishes, devotees perform abishek to Lord offering
vastras.
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.