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| Vanchinadha SwamyTemple, Srivanchium. /templesoftamilnadu.co.in |
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| idol of Shiva on the Yama Vahana, Srivanchiyam temple, TN. /prtraveller.blogspot.com |
Srivanchiyam Temple, located at Tiruvanchiyam (17 km from Tiruvarur) near Nannilam and Kondeeswaram in Tiruvarur district is a huge one dedicated to God Shiva who is referred to as Vanchinathan and his consort is Goddess Mangalambika. The sthala vriksham (sacred tree of this temple) is Sandalwood tree. Believed to be a muktistalam (place where you get salvation), it
is here the holy Gupta Ganga theertham is popular and the belief is
demi-god Ganga herself bathed here to cleanse her sins in this theertham, so those who bathe here and pray to the presiding deity, can get rid
their
sins - a religious act very much similar to bathing in the river Ganges in Khasi, UP. The large holy water
tank is close to the temple. Yama Theertham, Agni Theertham and Lakshmi Theertham are the various bodies of water associated with the temple. This temple, one in the series of 'Tevara
Stalams'', is on the banks of the Cauvery river and is one of the six Shiva temples that are considered equivalent to the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple in UP. The six holy temples that are on the sacred banks of the Cauvery river are: Aiyarappar Koil, Thiruvaiyaru, Mahalingeswarar Koil, Thiruvidaimarudur. Mayuranathaswamy Koil, Mayiladuthura. Chayavaneswarar Koil, Sayavanam, Swetharanyeswarar Koil, Thiruvenkadu, Srivanchinadhaswamy Koil, Srivanchiyam.
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| Demi God Yama/commons.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Yama or Yamaraja is a god of death, the south direction, and the underworld belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. In Sanskrit, his name can be interpreted to mean "twin".In the Zend-Avesta of Zoroastrianism, he is called "Yima". According to the Vishnu Purana, Yama is the son of sun-god Surya and Sandhya, the daughter of Vishvakarma. According to the Vedas, became Yama was the first mortal who died by virtue of precedence, he became the ruler of the departed, and is called "Lord of the Pitrs". In Buddhist mythology in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka he is referred to as as a Dharmapala under various transliterations, but often called as "Dharmaraja" His vahana is water buffalo and his weapon to take life of people is a rope called Paasakkayaru in Tamil
The legend has it Goddess Mahalakshmi who was separated from Lord Vishnu, prayed to Shiva
here and was at last, united with Mahavishnu here. Mahalakshmi`s `Vaanchai` and her prayers were
answered by the lord, hence the name Tiruvanchiyam. Other deity Brahma, demi-gods Indra and Yama, and sages like Parasarar and Atri are said to have worshipped here. The sandal tree, the stalavriksham (temple tree) of this temple, gives the name
Chandanaranyam to the shrine.
Occupying on a land of three acres of land, this old temple has three prakarams - prathakshana paths and many towers/gopurams and vimanams. According to the original stone inscriptions, the structure dates back to Kulottonga Chola I (1075-1120) who ruled this region. Renovation of the entire temple and the shrine took place during the rule of Rajaraja Chola II (1146-1172 CE).
It is said that a bath in the temple tank on Sundays in the month of Viruchigam - Scorpio is considered sacred here and the wishes will be fulfilled. Included on the temple premises are two separate shrines for Dakshinamurthy and Yama, the demi-god of death. The unique tradition of this temple is in the month of Maasi (Bharani star), God Shiva is taken out in a procession and his mount being Yama. Indeed, a rare tradition and, it is said, at no other Shiva temples the procession(al) deity is taken out on Yama Vahana. In the shrine dedicated to him, Yama is seen in seated posture with Chitragupta, his associate by his side. Shashitabthipurthi (60th birthday of the couple) or Sadhaabishekam (80th birth day of the couple) is also celebrated here. But, the Thirukadiyur Shivan temple near Mayavaram is the preferred destination for many couples.
Occupying on a land of three acres of land, this old temple has three prakarams - prathakshana paths and many towers/gopurams and vimanams. According to the original stone inscriptions, the structure dates back to Kulottonga Chola I (1075-1120) who ruled this region. Renovation of the entire temple and the shrine took place during the rule of Rajaraja Chola II (1146-1172 CE).
It is said that a bath in the temple tank on Sundays in the month of Viruchigam - Scorpio is considered sacred here and the wishes will be fulfilled. Included on the temple premises are two separate shrines for Dakshinamurthy and Yama, the demi-god of death. The unique tradition of this temple is in the month of Maasi (Bharani star), God Shiva is taken out in a procession and his mount being Yama. Indeed, a rare tradition and, it is said, at no other Shiva temples the procession(al) deity is taken out on Yama Vahana. In the shrine dedicated to him, Yama is seen in seated posture with Chitragupta, his associate by his side. Shashitabthipurthi (60th birthday of the couple) or Sadhaabishekam (80th birth day of the couple) is also celebrated here. But, the Thirukadiyur Shivan temple near Mayavaram is the preferred destination for many couples.
Demi-god Yama - ''Dharmaraja" wanted to get rid of his sins of deciding the death of living things and mortals almost daily as part of his duty. 'He felt unhappy as he made countless people unhappy over death in their families. So, he came to this place, once a sandalwood forest - Gandharanya Kshetram and meditated on God Shiva,. God Shiva not only removed his sins and asked him to be his Vahana here so that devotees who worship her will have better longevity. Here, Yama is worshiped first and then puja is done to other deities. Daily pujas are done to Yama at his shrine by the temple priests.
Yet another belief is a Naga kannika (Snake princess),
who had worshiped Shiva for a long time, one day became one with Him
as Ammai Appan. It has two shrines facing both sides of God Vanchinadha.
Rahu-Ketu, carved out in a composite sculpture. On Sundays during Ragu kalam, Raghu kala abhisekham is done to get rid of delayed marriages. There is a separate
sannathiv- shrine for Shani (Saturn) Bhagawan. Yoga Bhairavar is in the inner Prakara and is worshiped by Vanni leaves. The powder from the leaves, it is said, is good for nervous ailments.
The annual Bhrammotsavam celebrated in the month of
Karthikai gets lots of people. Aadi Pooram, Navaratri are other temple
festivals held here . Normally, ''Sundays'' in
the month of Karthigai are considered sacred because in this month (Nov-Dec), a special temple ritual
called Theerthavari (sprinkling of sacred water) is held in the Gupta Gangai temple tank before a large gathering of devotees; it is done on the 2nd of May every year. It also includes a ten-day festival and a
car (Chariot) festival at the end of the month.
http://templesyatra.com/Kumbakonam-temples.html
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