Saptha Vidanga Sthalams / Temples - Thiruvaimur [Thanjavur]

Thiruvaimur is on the road from Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi, about 5 Kms from Thiruvarur. Neelothpalambika is the Goddess. The main deity in this temple is Vaimurnathar. The lingam is extremely small, and is always kept covered with a kavacham.

This is the place where Sri Thyagarajaswami is known as "Neela Vidangar" and His dance is " Kamala Natanam" and the Abhishekam is performed at 9:30AM everyday.

However, this again is not the original one, but an emerald one substituted very many years back, for the one that was stolen. In addition to this, a Spatika lingam has also been installed. If any of the devotees want to have a peep at the Lingam, the priest in the temple offeres to show the lingam , even though it is not abhishekam time, for a token fee.

An interesting thing about this temple is the presence of Ashta Bhairavars – eight forms of Kala Bhairavar. There are special shrines for Natarajar and Navagrahas also. Rishaba Dakshinamurthi, a rare idol, is enshrined in this temple.

Saptha Vidanga Sthalams / Temples - Thirukkuvalai [Thanjavur]

Thirukkuvalai or Thirukkolili, is 3 Km from Ettukudi and is about 5 Kms from Kachinam, on the road from Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi. This temple is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva.

The Lingam made of white sand, is said to have been installed by Brahma Himself. The main deity in this temple is Brahmapureeswarar, a small swayambhu lingam, kept covered with a kavacham. Abhishekam to the moolavar is performed only on every Amavasya (new moon days). Abhishekam is performed everyday at 9AM and 6 PM. His consort is Brihannayaki.

It is said that the Navagrahas worshipped Lord Shiva here, to absolve themselves of their sins.

The Processional Deity of Lord Thyagaraja is known as "Avani Vidangar" and His dance is "Bringa Natanam".

Saptha Vidanga Sthalams / Temples - Nagapattinam [near] Thanjavur]

Nagapattinam is situated about 25 Km away from Thanjavur. This temple is dedicated to "Karayoganaswami" and "Neelayadakshi". This place is hailed as one of the Shakthi Peetams.

The main deity in this temple is Karayoganaswamy – it is believed that the lord blessed his devotee Sage Pundari to attain moksha with his body. The rishi also asked for moksha for his descendants, and till this date, when anyone from the sage’s family passes away, the body is brought to the temple gate, where the lord’s clothes and garlands are brought to adorn the body, thus blessing it.

The goddess, Neelayadakshi, is the one with the blue eyes. She is in the form of a pubescent girl, and is believed to be one of the Shakti Peethams. She is also considered to be one among the five most important goddesses, all in different stages of life. These are – Visalakshi [Kashi – Child], Kamakshi [Kanchi – young girl], Neelayadakshi [Nagai – pubescent], Kamalambigai [Thiruvarur – young woman] and Meenakshi [Madurai – married woman].

Lord Thyagaraja is known here as "Sundara Vidanga" and He performs "Paaraavaara Tharanga Natanam". The intricate workmanship of "Panchamukha Vinayaka" seated on a lion, is indeed noteworthy.

Abhishekam is performed at 9 AM and 8 PM everyday. However, this one is not one of the original lingams; The original Lingam is said to have been stolen ages ago, and recently replaced by a Gomedakam lingam.

There is another temple located nearby which is dedicated to Sri Soundararaja Perumal. This is one of the 108 Tirupathi's. His consort is Sundaravalli Thayar.

Saptha Vidanga Sthalams / Temples - Thiruvarur [Thanjavur]

Thiruvarur is located at a distance of 55 Km from Thanjavur. The principal deity in this temple is Sri Vanmikanathar, a Swayambu Lingam, enshrined in an ant-hill. His consort is Somakulambigai. She is never taken out of the temple precincts. To the right of the sanctum is the shrine of Sri Thyagaraja.

The Thyagaraja idol [Veedhi Vidangar] and that of His consort Kondi, sitting on an artisitc Ratna Simhasanam is very impressive. The Processional Deity is known to perform "Asaba Natanam". The Saptha Lingam is kept in a golden box inside the shrine. The Nandhi is in standing posture.

One can also find the images of Saint Sundarar, His wife Paravai Nachiyar and Cheraman Peruman installed in this temple.

Navagrahas are placed in a row, opposite to the sanctum, in a shrine. The Rudra Durga shrine, in the second prakaram, attracts a large number of devotees, for the Rahukala Puja, in particular.

The Sthala Vinayaka in the innermost prakaram is called Vathapi Ganapathi, which has been brought from Vathapi.

The image of Goddess Nilothpalambika, in a standing posture, is in a separate shrine. She is depicted as Blessing the child,Muruga , with Her left hand. There is an inscription and sculptural representation of the story of King Manu Neethi Chola who ordered his son to be crushed under the wheels of a Ratha or Chariot because he killed a calf by driving his carriage negligently over it. Lord Shiva is said to have intervened and revived the boy and the calf.

Kamalalayam, the much celebrated Tank, is on the western side of the temple and in the middle, is the shrine of Sri Naganathaswamy. Here is a rare musical instrument called "Panchamukha Vadhyam" [with five faces of Shiva], and also a Shiva Lingam made of Sapphire, known as "Maragatha Lingam".

Thiruvarur is the birth place of the Great Musical Trinity, Sri Thyagaraja, Sri Shyama Sastri and Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar. During the festival, the idol of Sri Thyagaraja, is taken round the streets in a magnificient Ratha called "Azhi Ther"

This is the most important of the Vidangar Temple, and one should not miss to watch the abhishekam to this beautiful lingam. As the milk flows over the translucent green stone, amid the chanting of mantras, even the atheist will feel some kind of attraction which might actually be devotion and faith. The Vidangar abhishekam timings is at 8:30AM and 5:30PM everyday. One can go there an hour earlier and engage a priest. You can see the other deities in the temple and stay for the abhishekam, which takes a few minutes only. This is a unique event and devotees should go early, and, see to it that they do not miss this rare abhishekam.

This is the only temple celebrating ‘Nithya Pradosham’. In all Shiva temples, the Pradosha puja on the specific days during the evening is a special puja, when the lingam is bathed with various materials. Here, this abhishekam takes place everyday at evening during the Pradosham time.

Opposite the temple is a lake with a temple in the centre. Every day, after 5:30PM, the lingam in the temple is worshipped to. From 5PM, a boat service is available to take devotees to this temple.

This is a beautiful temple, worth the money spent and also the efforts taken.

Saptha Vidanga Sthalams / Temples [Thanjavur]

It is time now to go to the next set of Temples/Sthalams. In the following posts of mine, I will be writing on the Saptha Vidanga Sthalams/ Temples which are mainly in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu.

A brief note of the Vidanga Murtis':

Vidanga Murti's are worshipped in seven temples, known as Saptha Vidanga Sthalams, located in and around Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. The main deity for worship in these temples is "Thyagaraja or Somaskanda Murti". Each of these Murti's has a special name attached to it and is known to perform a unique "dance" during processions.

Lengend says that the Chola King by name Muchukunda Chakravarthi was a great and valorous king. He was once approached by Indra for help during the war between Devas and Asuras. Muchukunda gladly agreed to help the lord of the Devas, and joined in the war. Finally, with Muchukunda’s aid, the Devas succeeded in routing the Asuras, and Indra was extremely grateful to the king. He offered the king a gift of his choice, and Muchukunda, a devout man, asked for the lingam worshipped by Indra. Indra was stunned. He did not want to part with his precious lingam, but the king wouldn’t accept anything else. He finally decided on a deception, and showed Muchukunda seven lingams and asked him to choose the one he wanted. Muchukunda was a smart king, and prayed to Shiva to identify the correct lingam. Shiva was pleased and helped him identify the original lingam prayed to by Indra. Indra was so impressed by this that he gifted all the seven lingams to the king. Muchukunda returned to earth with the seven lingams and installed them at various places in his kingdom. The original one he kept at the temple at Thiruvarur, and the others at Thirunallar, Vedaranyam, Thiruvaimur, Thrirukaravasal, Thirukkuvalai and Nagapattinam. These seven temples are collectively known as Saptha Vidanga Sthalams.

Vidanga means something that has not been chiseled out. These seven lingams are believed to be divine – not made by chisels. Normally, it is the top portion of the lingam – the ellipse which is believed to be swayambhu. The base – avudayar- is made by hand. In all these seven lingams, the whole lingam – the base as well as the top portion – form a single piece, and are believed to have appeared just the same way, without being made, and hence the name. All the seven lingams are of different sizes, though they are made of the same material called maragatham or emerald. However, it looks more like Jade than emerald, as it is translucent. The biggest one is at Thirunallar, while the one at Thiruvarur is of medium size. However, it must be mentioned that these two are the only two of the original lingams left. One is not too sure of the originality of the 5 other lingams, because at 2 temples, it is said that the originals had been stolen ages ago, and the lingams presently there had been installed by saints in their place. At one temple, the new lingam was to be installed the next month. The two lingams at Thiruvarur and Thirunallar are however worth a trip.

An interesting thing about all these temples is that the Vidangar is believed to rule over all the planets, and the Navagrahas are seen in a single file facing the lingam.

The first of the Saptha Vidanga Sthalams/Temples will be on "Thiruvarur in Tanjavur District,TN.....