- Special FeaturesFoundation Year1000-2000 years oldSthala TreeVanniTheerthamBrahmma TheerthamRathamArchitectureOther SpecialitySun God places his rays at the feet of Lord Shiva each morning.
- Sthala Puran
Total salvation, no rebirth should be object of every soul according to our philosophy. Lord Viswanathaswami accompanied by Mother Vedanta Nayaki promises this boon to His honest devotees. The construction of this ancient temple is quite contradictory to Agaama rules. All deities in the temple are in different forms. It is also said that only those blessed with total salvation would visit this temple. During the destructive pralaya floods, this place alone was spared. Every step of Brahmma became a lotus flower and He himself was confused.
Brahmma approached Lord Shiva for clarification. Lord Shiva said that there is no clarity to know the truth. He then approached Lord Vishnu who said that only if one takes three Avatars – Maya, Human and Animal could uncover the riddle. Brahmma went to Maha Ganapathy, who said that He could not do it without the sanction from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva granted permission.
Lord Maha Ganapathy took three avatars and changed the Devas and the Ashtathik Palakas as skulls and wore them as a belt. He said, “This is the piece of Land where Mother Aadhi Sakthi performed severe penance. She made a pot and placed all the deities in it. She pulled one by one. When she pulled Ganapathy, He called Her Oh! Mother. That expression was an attachment of motherhood. Maha Vishnu called Her Oh! my sister expressing fraternity. Mother set aside both and finally took Lord Parameswara from the pot who expressed lust. Mother decided that He was the person she was seeking for and asked Him to come to her chamber. Calling her at the chamber, Lord Parameswara demanded Maya (mother) to give Him in writing that she was his slave. She wrote the promise with mercury in a palm leaf saying that she would concede to His demand if he held the leaf without dropping the liquid down. While catching the leaf, it fell on the knee of Lord and spilled over. Mayanidhi laughed at Lord Shiva. Furious Shiva burnt Maya by His forehead eye.
Devarajapuram is the place where the ash and mercury fell. Many events followed then. Mother Vedanta Nayaki with all Her philosophical wisdom and power, as Her very name suggests, cooled down Lord Parameswara. Sage Narada, Makarantha Maharishi, Sage Agasthya and many holy souls came to the sport to confirm the truth that only those blessed with total salvation after this birth could have the darshan of Lord Viswanathaswami. One sage performed pujas to Lord Shiva with Rudrakshas.
Based on these stories, Rudraksha Kavacha Alankara is dedicated to Lord Viswanathaswami in pujas on Pradosha, Shivarathri days. This is the only temple in India where Rudraksha Kavacha Alankara is done to Lord Shiva. One devotee from Tiruchi had helped in making this Kavacha.
- Architecture
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is built with limestone mixed with honey, according to history. Sun God places his rays on the presiding deity offering his prayers through the window gaps provided in the main doors. It is only then, the temple is opened. A big snake from nowhere, picks up a few leaves from the Vilwa tree in the temple, places them on the head of Shivalinga and disappears then. Lord Kabala Ganapathy has His shrine in the Kannimoola corner of the sanctum.
Who is Kabala Ganapathi? His eyes are not like that of an elephant but of humans. So are His fingers and toes. During the pralaya–destructive floods, though the whole world submerged in the water, this region alone was protruding above the floods. Lord Brahmma meditated on Lord Vinayaka. Appearing before Brahmma, Lord Vinayaka told him that this was a sacred place where Lord Shiva would appear and only those blessed with total salvation having no rebirth will have the luck of His darshan. “I will also be here with my eyes, nails, fingers and other parts of the body as a human. My belt will be of skulls. I will bless people praying to me free of sins and with all prosperity” he added.
The Kabala belt would be visible during abishek times. Lord Nandhi graces from the Mahamandap in the eastern entrance. Lord Brahmma came down to see the inundated place and found Lord Shiva present here in the form of jyothir Linga While Nandhi was coming down to the place, He slipped on the right side injuring his left ear. Lord assured Nandhi that He would bless people who narrated their grievance in its right ear. Devotees experience their grievances settled when they speak to the right ear of Nandhi. There is a shrine for Lord Dakshinamurthy in the temple. He is praised as Annadhana Dakshinamurthy. Lord Muruga has His shrine with His consorts on the northern side.
Lord Maha Vishnu graces devotees from the north Ghoshta. He offers gifts to His sister Vedanta Nayaki during the Navarathri festival (September-October) and takes Her to His temple. There is a Vishnu temple nearby from where this festival is conducted. There are two Chandikeswaras in the temple, one big and the other small. Also, there are two Durga shrines in the temple one with 8 hands and the other with 4 hands. Both are facing northwest. Lord Kabala Vinayaka has His own shrine.
- Alankar of Deity
- Prayers and BenefitsSpecial Vratas and Prayers
Devotees pray to Sani Bhagwan for relief from his adverse aspects. People pray to Lord Annadhana Dakshinamurthy for relief from serpent planets and for wisdom. Kabala Vinayaka is the source of relief from any wrongs committed knowingly or unknowingly and for success in efforts.
Offerings to DeityDevotees perform Kumkum archana to Mother Vedanta Nayaki for pleasant settlement in marriage alliance talks. Devotees offer water choked rice as nivedhana tp Lord Dakshinamurthy as He would not leave His devotee ever hungry.
Stotras and Mantras
- FestivalsMonthly Pradosha pujas and abisheks, monthly Shivarathri and all Shiva related festivals are duly observed in the temple. Navarathri in Purattasi – September-October is grandly celebrated.
- Sodasha Upcharas
- Prasadhas
- Social ActivitiesAnnadhanMarriageEar BoringHead ShaveDanaasEducation FacilitiesSocial DrivesOther Activities
- Arjita Seva
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