T_500_223, Velladainatha Swami Temple, Thirukarugavur, Nagapattinam
T_500_223, Velladainatha Swami Temple, Thirukarugavur, Nagapattinam

Velladainatha Swami Temple, Thirukarugavur, Nagapattinam

Date built:–
Deity:Velladainatha Swami
Architectural style:Dravidian architecture
Major festivals–
Locale:Thirukarugavur
District::Nagapattinam
Address:Sri Velladainathaswami Temple,Pillayar Koil Street, Thirukarukavoor,
Vadakal post, Sirkali Taluk,Nagapattinam District
Phone+91- 9245 612 705
 Velladainatha Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the village of Thirukarugavur in the Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu. This Shivastalam is also known as Velladai is located close to Sirkali. It is one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalams. This is the 67th Deavaram Paadal Petra Sthalam and 13th Sthalam one the north side of River Cauvery in Chozha Naadu. Sundarar and Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This place is called as Kurukkavoor.

Presiding Deity is called as Velvidai Nathar / Vedhapureeswarar / Swetharishameswarar. Velvidai Nathar graces as a Banalinga on a square Peeta in the sanctum sanctorum. The Procession deity deity is Somaskanda. The goddess is Kaviaganni / Nilothbhava Visalakshi. There are shrines to Ganesha, Durga, Murugan and his consorts Valli and Deivayanai. Lord Vinayaka in the temple is on a Lotus seat with an umbrella above him and two fans called Samaram.  Lord Muruga, against the tradition of facing east, is seen facing the south, a direction attributed to Guru. Lord Muruga is revered as Jupiter-Dakshinamurthy in this temple. He graces with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. Special pujas are performed in his shrine on Thursdays, a day attributed to Guru.

There are shrines for Mother Durga with eight hands and Sattainathar. There is no shrine for Navagrahas – the 9 planets. Presiding deity is known as Velladaiyappar, Velvidainathar, Ratnankureswarar, Swetha Rishabaeswarar & Ambal is Kaaviyankanni and Neelotpala Visalakshi. The temple has a single prakaram and has a shrine for Vishnu (Kariyamanicka Perumal) also. The temple was rebuilt (of stone) in the 10th century, during the period of Uttama Chola.

See also  Kolathoor Brahmarakshi Temple, Chiramadam, Kanyakumari

Niche images around the sanctum and the ardhamandapam here include those of Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhavar, Brahmma, Durga, Vishnu and Mohini. Inscriptions from the times of Uttama Chola, Raja Raja  Chola, Rajendra Chola and Kulottunga Chola I are seen in this temple. Velvidai Theertham (a well), where the water, is believed to turn white on the new moon day in the month of Thai (Capricorn).

Temple Opening Time

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Festivals

Four worship services are offered each day here. New Moon day in the month of Thai (January-February) and Full Moon day in the month of Chithirai (April-May) are the festivals grandly celebrated in the temple. The event of Shiva blessing Sambandar with water is enacted on Thai Amavasai. The water turns white on this day. On this day, the procession idol of Gnanasambandar is brought to this temple from the Sirkali Brahmapureeswarar temple. The Presiding deity of this temple (Velladainathar) and Goddess (Kaviaganni) grants audience to Sambandar and give him the Theertham.  Sambandar returns to Sirkali in the evening.  This is celebrated as grand festival. The Feeding event is celebrated as a great festival on the Full Moon Day of the month of Chithirai (April-May) in the temple. The event of Shiva blessing Sundaramoorthy Nayanar is enacted on Chitra Pournami. Skanda Sashti is also celebrated here.

Prayers

Those who had committed anything wrong unknowingly are blessed with mental peace if they sincerely pray to the Lord. Devotee performs Abishek and vastras to lords and Ambal.

Architecture

Legend / Local stories

Lord Shiva feeding Sundarar:

See also  Chenganmaaleeswarar Temple, Chenganmaal, Thiruporur, Kanchipuram

During his pilgrimage, Saivite Saint Sundarar came to this place to worship Shiva, but could not find the temple as the place was a dense jungle then. He sadly continued his journey with his followers. When he felt very hungry, an old man came to him and said that he was feeding Shiva devotees at a nearby place and asked him to come there for a lunch. Sundarar and his followers enjoyed a good feast coupled with hospitality of the host.  After the lunch, Sundarar slept for a while as he was very tired then.

When he woke up, he found neither the feeding camp nor any sign of feeding event. He realized that it was Lord Shiva who quenched his hunger. Lord Shiva appeared before Sundarar and showed him the temple. This Feeding event is celebrated as a great festival on the Full Moon Day of the month of Chithirai (April-May) in the temple. Devotees believe that worshipping the Lord here would ensure them a life free of hunger.

Tirugnana Sambandar prayed to Lord Shiva for absolving his sins for killing Jains:

Tirugnana Sambandar as a child devotee of Lord Shiva and blessed with a high degree of poetic abilities by Mother Parvathi, fought the Jains who waged a war against Saivism. According to the literary history of Tamilnadu, it was Child Sambandar and the ripe old Saivite saint, who had a firsthand knowledge and experience of the Jain designs, fought the war together. In the various challenges Sambandar was drawn, he defeated the Jains and re-established the glory of Saivism in Tamilnadu and almost eliminated Jainism from the Tamil soil.

As was agreed between Sambandar and the Jains, the latter were hanged after Sambandar won every challenge. However, Sambandar had to incur the sin of causing the death of the Jains and wanted to go to Kasi to make amends for the sin. He prayed for the permission of Lord Shiva in Sirkali to proceed to Kasi. Lord appeared before Sambandar and brought Ganga here itself. The child saint had a dip in holy Ganga and got relieved of the sin. A temple was erected here later.

See also  Periya Nayagi Amman Temple, palani

River Ganga sprang in the well here on the New Moon day in the Thai month (January-February). Based on this story, the holy spring is opened for the use of devotees on this day only and will be closed during the rest of the year.

Vishnu in the form of Rishaba worshipped Shiva here:

Vishnu is said to have taken the form of a white Rishabam and prayed to Shiva, hence Velvidai, Rishabapuram, and Vishnupuram.

Shiva made Kuberan to gift Gems to poor devotee:

It is also believed that Shiva caused Guberan to provide a poor devotee with a gift of gems hence the name Ratnankureswarar.

Story behind the name Kurukavur:

Agni in the guise of a pigeon had tested King Sibi and to regain his original form, created a river and offered its waters in prayer to Shiva, hence Kurukavur.

Photo Gallery

How to Reach:

Thirukarukavoor is 5 kms far from Sirkali. Bus facilities are not convenient. The devotee has to get down at the Vadakal stop from Sirkali and can reach the temple from there at a distance of one kilometer. Auto facility is available. Nearest Railway Station is located at Mayiladuthurai and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.

Contact Details

Sri Velladainathaswami Temple,
Pillayar Koil Street, Thirukarukavoor,
Vadakal post, Sirkali Taluk,
Nagapattinam District
Mobile: +91- 9245 612 705

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