Sri Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu
The Temple of Sri Vadapathrasayanar, Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu
Vaidyanathaswamy temple [SIVA Temple], Srivilliputhur
Thiruvannamalai Temple-Srivilliputhur
Sathuragiri Hill Temple (சதுரகிரி மலைக்கோயில்)
Sri Andal Temple, Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu
Sri Andal is one of the 12 Alvar saints of South India. She is also believed to be an incarnation of Sri Bhumi Devi (Mother-Earth), the goddess Lakshmi,. She dedicated her entire life to the worship of Lord Vishnu. Thiruppavai, the compilation of Tamil devotional poems sung by her, is still recited in Vishnu temples during the month of Margazhi.
The Pillar-Hall, with an artistically designed front view, welcomes us. On either side of the hall, Vanamalai Jeear monastery with shops, and monasteries of Vedantha Desikar and Manavalla Saint are set up. The next to Pillar-Hall is the Divine Marriage Hall. It looks exquisitely beautiful with sculptured figures of Yali in big pillars. A statuette of Saint Appar is found in a pillar which is in the southern entrance. On the inside ceiling of this hall, the paintings of the Nayakkar Dynasty period’s Ramayana have been drawn. These paintings are getting defaced due to a lack of proper maintenance.
Passing the Marriage Hall, we come across the hall of Flag Staff. In the columns of this hall, the carved figures of Rama, Lakshmana, Arjunan, Karnan, Rathi Devi, Manmadhan, Gugan, Kalaimagal, Veerapathirar, Sakthi, Venugopalan, Viswakarma, Rudhra kanigai, Jalandhiran and Mohini look excellently beautiful. In the northern enclosure, Old Ekadasi Hall, Glass Hall, Ointment Room, extra kitchen house and the gateway to the Heaven are found. To the south of the Flag Staff, there is a hall made of wood and in which a highly decorated Goddess Gajalakshmi statue is also seen. Nearby, there is a temple for Lord Anjaneya also. In the corner of the southwest part of this enclosure, there are panchaloga statues of Rama, Sita and Lakshmanan. In the northwest corner, there are temples for Srinivasan and Sundararajan. In the southeast corner of this enclosure, one can see Lakshminarayanan, who was worshipped by the Vaishnavite poet Periyazhvar. Nearer to it is the Madhavi Pandhal which finds reference in the Andal Thiruppavai. Upon the walls of the enclosure, 108 Vaishnavite temples have been beautifully painted.
Dhuwaraga Palagar statues have been installed on both sides of the entrance to Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam. There is a Swing Hall inside the Big Hall, which is being called “Friday Kuradu”. The statues of Thirumalai Naikkar and Chokkappa Naikkar, with their consorts, are found carved in the pillars of this hall.
Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, Sri Andal, Rangamannar and Garudazhwar are sitting majestically on the Golden Throne. Only in this shrine, Garudazhwar can be seen sitting on equal footing with the God.
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Translated from Tamil by Professor. Dr. M. Shanmugam, Ph.D., Thiruvalluvar College of Engineering & Technology, Vandavasi – 604 505, India
Official Website of Sri Andal Temple-click here
Pooja Timing
| VISWA ROOPAM | 6.30 AM |
| KALA SANATHI | 8.30 AM |
| UCHIKKALAM | 12 NOON |
| NADAI SARTHAL | 1.00 PM |
| NADAI THIRAPPU | 4.00 PM |
| SAYA RATCHAI | 6.00 PM |
| ATTHALAM | 8.00 PM |
| ARAVANAI | 9.00 PM |
Festivals at Sri Andal Temple
| Chiththirai | Chitritsavam (9 Days) Procession of Andal And Mannar On Chitra Pournami Day |
| Vaigasi | Vasantha Utsavam (Gotha Stuti) Nammazhvar Utsavam (10 Days) |
| Aani | Periazhvar Utsavam (10 Days) Muppazham for Andal on Full Moon Day |
| Aadi | Day 1 – Dwaja Rohanam , Night – Pathinaru Vandi Chapparam Day 5 – Morning – Periazhvar Mangala Sasanam, Night – Garuda Sevai Day 7 – Sayana Sevai At Krishnan Kovil Day 9 – Car Festival Day 10 – Muthu Kuri |
| Aavani | Periazhvar Thirupavitra Utsavam (7 Days), Krishna Jayanthi |
| Purattasi | Peria Perumal Bramotsavam (11 Days) Garuda Sevai for Srinivasa Perumal (All Saturday) |
| Aippasi | Unjal Utsavam for Andal And Mannar Unjal Utsavam for Periaperumal |
| Kaarththikai | Chokkappanai on Thirukarthigai Day Thirumangaiazhvar Utsavam – Adorning the Deity With 108 Shawls on Kausika Ekadasi |
| Maarkazhi | Ennaikkappu and Thirumanjanam (Daily) Pagal Pathu |
| Thai | Mangala Sasanam for Manavala Maamunigal |
| Maasi | Theportsavam for 3 Days from Masi Magam |
| Panguni | Andal Mannar Thirukkalyana Bramotsavam (10 Days) |
Aadi pooram [ஆடிப்பூரம்]
Aadi is the fourth month in the Tamil calendar. Pooram is one of the 27 Nakshatras in the Astrology. Aadi pooram is celebrated as the birth day of Sri Andal. It is also believed that Goddess Shakthi herself descends to the earth on this auspicious day to bless her devotees. Aadi Pooram is observed in all Vishnu Temples in Tamil Nadu as a 10-day celebration by offering special poojas.
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The Temple Of Sri Vadapathrasayanar, Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu
It is believed that this temple was established several centuries before the construction of the temple of Sri Andal. It was only in this temple that Periyazhvar had been doing his Godly service. The big tower of this temple stands as the emblem of Tamilnadu Government. This 196 feet tower has 11 tiers. During the period between 765 – 815 A.D., it was constructed by a Pandian King.
The presiding Deity in this temple is called Vadapathra Sayanar. He attained this name because of his lying on a banyan leaf in the milky ocean. There are two floors in this temple. In the Sanctum Sanctorum of the upper floor, facing eastward, the Lord Vadapathra Sayanar is lying on the bed of five headed snake called Adhiseshan, accompanied by this consorts Sri Devi and Booma Devi. In the ground floor, we find the Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple. We find a stone edict in the tower, which has the poem of tamil poet Kamban who equates the big tower with Mahameru mountain. The flower garden where Sri Andal got her divine birth is located in the southern enclosure of this tower.
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Vaidyanathaswamy temple [SIVA Temple], Srivilliputhur
Vaidyanathaswamy temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Siva. It is located in Madavar valagam, Srivilliputhur. The temple was believed to be built 1000 years ago. It is one of the holy places where Lord Siva performed his miracles (Truvilayadalgal). The temple has a nine-tiered gopuram with a height of 134 feet.
The main shrine is Vaidyanathar as lingam in the innermost sanctum. Metal images of Somaskanda and stone sculptures of Nataraja, Durga, Dakshinamoorthy, Surya (Sun god) are in the first precinct around the sanctum. The shrine of Sivakami is located to the right of the sanctum. There is two separate entrance to both Shiva and Sivakami shrines. The Sthala Vriksha (temple tree) is margosa (Azadirachta indica) which possesses medicinal properties. The temple has two water tanks, one located opposite the temple and one right to the main gate. There are paintings from the Nayak period in the ceiling of the hall leading to the sanctum.
CONTACT
Arulmigu Vaidyanathar Temple,
Madavarvalakam,
Srivilliputhur.
Pincode : 626 125.
Phone.No : 04563 261262
Mobile.No(E.O) : 99766 23784
E-mail : vaithaiyanathaswamytemplesrivi@gmail.com
Pooja Timings
| 1) Thiruvananthal | 6. 30 AM |
| 2) Vilarapooja | 7. 30 AM |
| 3) Kalasanthi | 9. 00 AM |
| 4) Siru Kalasandhi | 9. 30 AM |
| 5) Uchikalam | 11. 30 AM |
| 6) Sayaratchi | 5. 30 PM |
| 7) Arthajamam | 8. 30 PM |
Official website:
http://www.madavarvalakamvaidyanathartemple.tnhrce.in
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Thiruvannamalai Temple-Srivilliputhur
This holy place Thiruvannamalai, being called South Thirupathi, is on the top of a small hill, just 3 Km away from Srivilliputhur. Here, Lord Srinivasa Perumal is in standing posture. The appearance of this Deity is the re-embodiment of Lord Venkatesa Perumal of Tirupathi. The adoration of this God can be equated to a pilgrimage to Tirupathi.
At downward slope of this hill is the Gopalswamy temple, in the eastern part. Vanappechi Amman temple is found in the western side. A tank called “Koneri” is at the foot of the hill. On the bank of this tank, a 12′ height and 8′ breath statue of Lord Vinayaka exists.
There are broad steps to climb up to this hill. At present, a ceiling has been set up over these steps for providing shadow to the climbing devotees. Here, every Saturday is considered to be significant for worship.
During all the 5 Saturdays of ‘Purattasi’ month, Garuda Sevai festival is celebrated in grand mannar. Special buses are operated from all parts of the district to this holy place. People from in and around of Madurai, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari visit this place for worship. Everyday from morning to night, State Transport Corporation buses and Mini buses are operated from Srivilliputhur bus stand to Thiruvannamalai.
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Sathuragiri Hill Temple (சதுரகிரி மலைக்கோயில்)
Sathuragiri Hill has located 10 km from Watrap (Wathirairuppu) near Srivilliputhur. Two main temples namely Sri Sundara Mahalingam Temple and Sri Santhana Mahalingam Temple are situated on Sathuragiri Hills. At Santhana Mahalingam Temple, separate sanctums are found for 18 Siddhars, Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Navagrahas, Santhana Mahadevi (Sakthi), and Santhana Mahalingam (Lord Siva). Thousands of people visit Sathuragiri hills for aadi amavasai festival every year.
The Five Kaala Pooja are conducted according to the Kaarana Nagama Pooja system.
1 Kaalasandhi Pooja at 06:00 A.M
2 Uchikkala Poojaa (Noon Pooja) at 12:00 Noon
3 Saayaraksha Pooja (Sunset Pooja) at 04:00 P.M
4 Ardhajama Pooja (Night Pooja) at 07:00 P.M
There are many temples/sanctums in Sathuragiri and on the way to Sathuragiri. At the foothills (Vathirairuppu), we find temples of 1. Vinayagar/Ganesha, 2. RajaKali Amma, 3. Paechi Amma and 4. Karuppasamy. Of these, Paechi Amma and Karuppasamy were installed by Siddhars for guarding the southern side of the Hill.
On the way to Sathuragiri (after foothills till Sundara Mahalingam): there are
Two sanctums of Sivalingams inside two separate caves at Kora Kunda (Gorakkar Cave), Two Lingams in a single sanctum called “Irattai Lingam” or Sankaran Narayan Lingams, Vana Durgai Amma temple, and Pilavadi Karuppasamy temple.
Pilavadi Karuppasamy & Kali, are the guardian of the Sathuragiri Hills. Vana Durgai Amma is the guardian of Sundaramahalingam temple. They safeguard the area from evil forces. The pradistai of these three guardian angels/gods were done by the Siddhas of Sathuragiri hill.
As the temple location is within the reserve forest area, permission is needed from the forest department to visit this place. People would be allowed only between 4 am to 4 pm on the permitted days.
Temple Administrative Office Postal Address
Arulmigu Sundhara Mahalingam Swamy Temple, 117/42 Agraharam Nadu Theru, Sathuragiri, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District. PIN CODE: 626 132
Phone : 04563-288155,04563-293155
Mobile : 98422 97390
Official temple website: http://www.sathuragiritemple.tnhrce.in/
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