Presiding deity : Krupapureeswarar
Reputation : Swayambu
Goddess : Mangalambikai
Holy tree : Bamboo
Holy spring: Thandu theertham
Hymn : Thevaram
Place : Vennainallur
Scriptural name: Thiruvarulthurai
District : Villupuram
Saivite Saint Sundarar sung his first song on God in Thiruvennainallur Prayer, prayer commitment,speciality of the temple, reputation of the place, general information, festivals and history.
Prayer:
No Shiva devotee can afford to miss a visit and worship of Krupapureeswarar in Thiruvennainallur temple. Mental peace, oratory skill and educational recognitions are the rewards awaiting the devotee here.
Pollapillayar:
Lord Vinayaka in the temple is not an idol chisled by the sculptor. At the age of 5, sage Meikanda Thevar was initiated by this Vinayaka. Those who are dumb, regain speech abilities, if they worship Poallapillayar.
The Goddess blesses the devotees with children who light lamps here with oil blended with Dil oil, Coconut oil, Iluppu oil and Castor oil .marriagege, trade development, promotions in life etc. are the boons the devotee gets here.
Prayer commitments:
God of Dharma (righteousness) himself is believed to be in the temple in the form of Nandhi (bull vehicle) and those expecting to be married offer a garland to the Nandhi and wear one for themselves.
Devotees visit the temple even from Japan for relief from the sins of the past. The other speciality of the temple is that the Linga worshipped by the nine planets is also here only.
Devotees performing a puja for the holy tree and light five lamps get relieved of the adverse effects caused by planetary transits.
Abishek is offered to the Lord with Dil oil, turmeric powder, flours, milk, curd, fruit juices, sugarcane juice, honey, tender coconut, panchamirtham, rose water, sacred ashes and offered clean dry clothing.
Reputation:
Thiruvennainallur is closely related with the history of Saivite Acharya Sundarar.. The saint was in his wedding attire to marry the daughter of Sadangavi Sivachariya. Lord Shiva of the temple intervened in the guise of an old man and claimed Sundarar as his slave and produced documentary evidence signed by his father to substantiate his claim. Sundarar stoutly refuted the claim and called the Lord a lunatic. Unmindful of the retortation of Sundarar, the Lord dragged Sundarar to the Temple and simply disappeared. Realizing that the old man was none other than the Lord himself, Sundarar shed tears of apology. The Lord asked Sundarar to sing on him and suggested that he could use the word Pitha (lunatic) for a start which he used while refuting his claim.
That was the first famous hym of Sundarar on Lord beginning with the line “Pitha Pirai Soodi” (Oh! Lunatic Lord wearing the moon) reverently chanted by the devotees. Then he proceeded to the Shiva shrines throughout Tamilnadu and sung his praise.
After entering the temple, on the right side north a mandap could be seen, where the Lord and Sundarar argued and the Panchayat took place. People carry the sand from the place and keep it for their worship. Also the sandals which the lord wore while coming to claim Sundarar is also still available in the temple.
The temple is named Thiruvarulthurai meaning that it is the abode of the grace of Lord. The court Mandap still exists where both fought for their rights. The Goddess appears with four hands in a standing posture.
The temple also has the Vijayalinga that gave Arjuna a son. The Sundaralingam worshipped by Indira the king of Devas and the Sankaralingam worshipped by Mahavishnu are also here. Thiruvennainallur is the place where Lord Muruga gave Darshan on his Peacock to Saint Arunagiriyar.
In the place of Nandhi before the Goddess, a Lion is installed as this is the place where the Goddess shed her anger after killing the Demon Mahishasura and having a dip in the river. This is a place of Mangalam meaning that everything is pleasant. Hence her name Mangalambikai. The Goddess appears with Sanganidhi, Padmanidhi and Srichakra.
Arjuna, got relieved of the sin of seeing his brother Dharma with Panchali while they were in privacy. He also got a boon for a son. A Brahmin, Vidha Gothirar by name made repentance here by worshipping the Lord and The Goddess for sacrificing a pregnant cow for his Yagna. Great philanthropist Sadayappa Vallal also lived here who encouraged Poet Emperor Kambar to write the immortal epic Ramayana. Thiruvennainallur enjoys the highest reputation in the Saivism world in the Nadu Naadu region.
General Information:
Thiruvennainallur is 62 kms from Thiruvannamalai, 50 from Cuddalore,23 from Villupuram, 25 from Thirukoyilur, 22 from Ulundurpettai. Those who are visiting the temple with family may stay in lodges in Villupuram and Thirukovilur, the charges ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500.
The temple lies on the Cuddalore-Tirukovilur route with a diversion and the temple is just 7 kms from there. Bus facilities are conveniently available. The nearest railway station is Thiruvennainallur Road, Villupuram and the nearest airport Chennai.
Festivals:
2 day Adi Swathi (July-August) Sundarar festival is devotionally celebrated. 10 days car festival in Panguni (March-April), Arudra festival during December – January, Avani (August-September) Pudding festival, Skanda Sashti are the important festivals.
All pradosha days, as in all Shiva temple, Mondays in the month of Karthikai (October – November) are regular monthly special puja days drawing huge number of devotees. Tamil and English New year days and Pongal also are celebrated grandly.
The presiding deity is also known as Arulkondanathar, Aatkondanathar and Venupureeswarar. The Goddess is also called Mangalambikai and Verkanmangai. The Vinayaka Pollapillayar and Muruga Shanmuganathar. Other holy springs are Thandu theertham, Pennai river theertham, Neeli theertham, Sivaganga theertham, Kama theertham, Arulthurai Theertham, Pandava theertham, Vaikunda theertham and Veda theertham. A holy soil and temple adored by Sundarar. Shanmuganathar is praised in the hymns of Arunagiriyar.
History:
The Rishis of Tharukavana became very proud of the strength of their penance and performed a yaga to kill Lord Shiva Himself but could not as they were absorbed by the Lord. Realizing their guilt, they shed their pride and performed penance on Lord Shiva seeking his pardon. As the Lord granted Arul (pardon) the place came to be known as Arulthurai. As he granted them Krupa (also pardon), the lord came to be known as Krupapureeswarar.. TheL ord was in the form of Fire during their penance period and existed as swayambu.
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