ThiruValanChuzhi (திருவலஞ்சுழி )
This temple is loacted on the way to Swamimalai and has a beutiful Gopuram. Also, as you enter the temple, the way enroute to the main deity is beautiful on either side with lots of coconut trees.
The
presiding deity is Kapardiswarar, a form of the Hindu god Shiva and his consort
Brihannayaki. There is also the Swetha Ganapathi/ வெள்ளை பிள்ளையார் (White Ganesha) and Ashta
Bhuja MahaKali.
The temple
is associated with a sage called Herandar, who, according to legend, is
believed to have gone through an underground passage to (save the area which
was flooded) the nether world and made the Kaveri River flow into the Bay of
Bengal. It is believed he came out of the passage in Poombukar, the place where
the river Cauvery reaches the Bay of Bengal. At Poombukar, at the place he came
out, there is a temple built in his remembrance. Since the river took a
convoluted direction in its flow, the place is called Tiruvalanjuzhi. There is
an image of Herandar in the temple beside the deity Kapardiswarar. The Sage
Herandar stand as a symbol of sacrifice. It is believed that when the river
Kaveri was flooded, either the King or some sage had to go through the
convoluted Passage that was formed in the river to drain out the water. The
Sage Heranandar announced that he would go through it an prevented the King who
was ready to go in to the passage.
As you enter
the temple, after the Kodi Maram is a beautiful Mandapam in which is seated a
very beautiful White Ganesh. It is believed that this statue of the God ganesh
was brought by Devendran, the head of the devas and placed here. It is also
believed have been formed from foam.The Mandapam has lot of minute architectural
details. There is also a Balcony with small square holes which must have been
very hard to make those days. The entire Mandapam is beautiful. Both the sides
have windows and you can enter and leave the Mandapam from the sides. You can light lamps in front of the God. The
trunk of the elephant-headed god, Ganesha (Vinayagar) swirls towards the right.
In Tamil, Valam means Right and Chuzi means Twist. Twist towards the right,
hence the name ValanChuzhi
One another
important deity of this temple is AshtaBhuja(one who has eight hands) Kali. It
is believed that the great king Rajaraja Chozha Worshipped this Kali devi
before all his Wars and gained victory in all his ventures. Hence, believed to
be more powerful. The deity of Kali is to the left of the Brihannayaki devi
Sannathi (the consort of the lord Shivs, Kapardiswarar).
For more details/ photographs/ refer the links below
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