Vedhapureeswarar temple, Tiruvothur
Location: Tiruvothur (now known as Tiruvaththipuram)
Deity known as: Vedhanathar, Vedhapureeswarar
Female Deity: Bala Kusambikai, Elamulai Nayagi
Pathikam: Sambandar - 1
Gallery - Vedhapureeswarar Temple
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is situated on the banks of the River Seyyaaru, about 33 km south-west of Kancheepuram, along the Kancheepuram–Vandavasi bus route. The temple is located just 1 km from the Seyyaaru Bus Stand. Regular bus services are available from Kancheepuram.
Temple Address
Tiruvathipuram
Seyyaaru Post
Seyyaaru Taluk
Tiruvannamalai District
PIN 604407
Temple Hours
Morning: 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Evening: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Nearby Temples
| 1 | Kuranganilmuttam - 27 kms | |
| 2 | Tiru-Maakaral - 34 kms |
Temple Layout and Significance
The temple holds great historical and spiritual significance, as it is believed to be the sacred site where God Shiva imparted the teachings of the Vedas to the Devas and Sages. Owing to this divine act of preaching, the place came to be known as “Oththur,” meaning “the place of teaching or preach.” With the revered prefix “Tiru,” the sacred site is referred to as TiruOthur or Tiruvothur.
Temple Architecture
Situated on the northern banks of the Seyyaaru River, the temple complex extends over an area of about 5 acres. It features a majestic east-facing Rajagopuram with seven tiers, surrounded by two concentric prakarams. An elongated front enclosure lies beyond the main gateway, which leads to a secondary gopuram with five tiers, enhancing the grandeur of the temple layout.
Main Deities
Located between the two gopurams are the Dwajasthambam, Nandi, and Balipeetam. Uniquely, Nandi faces the entrance rather than the presiding deity, symbolically serving as a guardian—preventing the unworthy from accessing the sacred wisdom of the Vedas. The presiding deity, Sri Vedhapureeswarar, is worshipped as a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Linga, enshrined on a square Aavudayar (the base or middle part of the Linga). This sacred kshetra is also revered as the site of Lord Shiva’s legendary valourous dance, adding to its profound spiritual and mythological significance.
Unique Feature - Nandi's Orientation
In this temple, Nandi faces the entrance instead of the presiding deity, symbolically acting as a guardian who restrains the unworthy from accessing the sacred knowledge of the Vedas. This distinctive orientation of Nandi is a rare feature, found only in very few Shiva temples.
Sthala Vruksham - The Sacred Palm Tree
'Sthala Vrukahsham' palm tree is seen in the northern side of the outer prakaram. This is one of the five temples which have the palm as their associated sacred tree. The other four are:
The group of temples where the Sthala Vruksham (sacred tree) is the palm tree (Panai maram) are:
- Puravar Panankattur
- Tiruvothur
- Tiruvanpaarthan Panankaattur (Tirupanankaadu)
- Tirupananthal
- Tiruvalampuram
- Tirupanayur
Sambandhar's Miracle
While circumambulating the inner prakaram, particularly at its south-eastern corner, one encounters a remarkable sculpture depicting a palm tree beside a Shiva Linga, with Tirugyanasambandhar standing in reverence next to the Linga. This evocative artistic representation commemorates a significant episode associated with Sambandhar’s visit to the temple, serving as a lasting visual testimony to that sacred event.
Upon his arrival at the temple, Tirugyanasambandhar encountered a devotee entrusted with the maintenance of the temple premises, who had cultivated palm trees within the sacred grounds. The caretaker expressed his distress to Sambandhar, lamenting that the trees were male and hence non–fruit-bearing. Moved by this concern, Sambandhar sang a sacred pathikam, and in a miraculous turn of events, the male palm trees transformed into female, fruit-bearing trees. Owing to this divine occurrence, the palm tree is revered as the Sthala Vruksham of this temple.
Prakaram Sannidhis and Deities
The inner prakaram houses various sannidhis:
- Vinayaka
- Subramanya
- Naganathar
- Nataraja
- 63 Nayanmars
- Saptha Mathas
- Pancha Bhootha Lingams
Pancha Bhootha Lingams - Special Significance
The 'darshan' of these 'Pancha Bhootha' Lingams is as spiritually beneficial as visiting Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvanaikka, Chidambaram and Kalahasthi.
Goshta Murthas
Vinayaka and Dakshinamurthy adorn the walls around the sanctum as 'goshta murtha's.
Unique View from Maha Mandap
Additionally, the central space of the Maha Mandapam provides a distinctive and unparalleled darshan, wherein Goddess Devi Balakusambikai is seen along with Vinayaka, Muruga, and the Navagrahas. This rare spatial and iconographic arrangement is unique to this temple and is not known to be replicated elsewhere, adding to the temple’s exceptional spiritual and architectural significance.
NagaLinga - Remedies for Naga Dosha
The presence of 'NagaLinga' in the inner prakaram adds another layer of significace to this temple.
Historical Event
To the south of Tiruvothur, in a region known as “Punathagaikuttu,” a significant episode is said to have taken place. It is believed that the Jains invoked a fearsome five-headed serpent from a sacrificial pit, intending to challenge Tirugyanasambandhar.
In a dramatic turn of events, God Shiva manifested as a snake charmer, effortlessly subduing the fierce serpent and safely leading Tirugyanasambandhar into the temple. Within this sacred precinct, Shiva is believed to have established Himself in the form of a Shiva Linga, which is revered as Nagalingam, commemorating this divine act of protection and grace.
Remedial Powers
This sacred Naga Linga is believed to possess the divine power to alleviate Naga Dosha, a condition associated with the influence of serpentine energies in Hindu astrology. Furthermore, the presence of Sani Bhagavan positioned opposite the Naga Linga is traditionally believed to offer remedies for various doshas when worshipped with devotion, enhancing the temple’s significance as a parihara sthalam.
Special Worship: It is traditionally believed that lighting a lamp before the Nagalingam on Saturdays during the Rahu Kalam can help remove obstacles to marriage and aid the marriage prospects of those who remain unmarried.
Devi Balakusambikai - The Female Deity
The female deity, Devi Balakusambikai, is enshrined in a separate sanctum, encircled by its own prakaram. The Goddess radiates divine grace, standing in a gracious posture with four benevolent hands, blessing devotees with compassion and protection..
Sacred Water Bodies
The River Seyyaaru, flowing outside the temple, and the KalyanaKoti Theertham located within the temple premises are the two sacred water bodies associated with this revered shrine.
Aadhi Keshava Perumal
There is also a sannidhi for Aadhi Keshava Perumal within the temple.
The Sannidhi of Muruga & Tirupugazh Reference
The sacredness and eminence of this temple are further elevated by the belief that Muruga himself worshipped the presiding deity, Sri Vedhapureeswarar. Within the prakaram, to the north-west of the main sanctum, stands the sannidhi of Muruga, where He is depicted with twelve divine hands, accompanied by His consorts and facing east. The greatness of this manifestation of Lord Muruga was extolled by the revered poet Arunagirinathar in his celebrated composition, Tiruppugazh.
Sambandhar's Pathikam
he pathikam composed by Tirugyanasambandhar, which miraculously transformed the male palm trees into female, fruit-bearing ones, is recorded in the first Tirumurai.
Gallery - Vedhapureeswarar Temple
