Veeraraghava Swamy Temple

Sri Veeraraghava Swami Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Tiruvallur
Location
Location	Tamilnadu, India
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

Thiruevvul, also called Thiruvallur is a temple near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Moolavar (deity) here is Lord Veeraraghava Perumal(Vishnu) with his Thayaar (consort) Kanakavalli . It is one of the 108 Divya desam. The Lord here is in reclining posture on Sesha facing east and his right hand blessing the devotee. Lord Brahma is also seen meditating on a lotus from the Lord's navel.

The temple

The temple is under administration of Ahobila Mutt. It has five tiered Rajagopuram (main gate). It was built by Pallavas. There are separate shrines for Kanakavalli, Ganesha, Alwars, Gajalakshmi Thayaar. Here, the Lord married Vasumathi the daughter of a king Dharmasena. There are also shrines to Ganesha, Gopalan, Nammazhwar, Chakrattazhwar, andal, Vedanta Desikan, Ramanujacharyar, and Lakshmi Narasimhar. There are inscriptions ating back to the 2nd half of the 9th century Pallava dynasty reign here. Local folklore claims that the temple is around 5000 years old. Lord Vishnu as Veera Raghavar is the presiding deity of the Veera Raghavar temple. The Lord is known as Vaidya Veera Raghavar, in view of His ailmentcuring abilities. In this temple people submit small metal sheets with a specific human organ engraved on them as a request to god to cure the illness or problems with those organs. It is believed that those suffering from incurable diseases are cured if they visit the Lord for three no moon days (amAvAsya). Devotees come here for marriage finalization, progeny, and for relief from hardships. The water in the tank is considered more sacred than that of Ganga. A dip in the tank is believed to relieve the devotee from sins he committed in thought as well as action. Abishekam to the Lord is done only with sandalwood oil. The deity is in a recumbent position facing east on a dais at an elevation of 15 feet. His right hand blesses the sage Salihotra and left hand in gnana mudra preaches to Brahma. The Thayar is called Kanakavalli. She is also known by the name Vasumati. The Vimanam is called Vijayakoti Vimanam as it is a symbol of victory against Madhukaidapas asuras who were killed by the Lord. The sacred tank is called Hrutatapanasini.

Legend

A Rishi (Munivar/sage) named Saalihothirar lived in Thiruvathari Ashram (Badrinath). There is a story to be expained how he got this name.

Saali means measurement instrument which is used to measure the weight (or) quantity of Rice. Saalihothirar's parents did a homam which has to be done for 1 year using 28 Thousand Saali Rice. As the result of that homam only, he got his birth and got the name as "Saalihothirar".

To get the Paramapadham (lord's abode/liberation), he came to this Veeksharanya Shetram to worship the God here. He came to the Kshetram on Thai Amaavasai. On the same day he came, he took bath in Hiruthaapanasana Theertham and on the north shore of this theertha (Holy Pond), he started the silence fasting (mouna viratham - observing silence) for one year. Daily he collected some rice and after a year of fasting, he purified it, he collected about 3 padis (a small quantity) of rice. Then he cooked that and some part of the rice is did Naivedhyam to God and after it is done, he kept the rest of the rice for himself to eat. He waited for some Adhithi (A Guest, probably a muni or rishi) to come, so that he can offer them something to eat and after that, he can finish the fasting.

At that time Sriman Narayanan came there as an old muni, keeping Kamandalam in this right hand and an umbrella in his left hand and chappel on his feet. He seems to be so hungry and thirsty and as if he has travelled a long way. On seeing him, Saalihothirar greeted him and made him to sit, facing East direction. He was offered only a quarter part of the rice. But, the old muni (the Perumal - Lord Vishnu) wanted all of the rice to eat.

Saalihothirar gave all of the food to the old muni. After eating the entire food, he asked where can he sleep? ( Evvullil Urangalam ) (Vul - means a place) For this, Saalihothirar asked him that he can sleep in his hut itself and he will do the Paadha seva to him. The old muni slept keeping his head along the south direction and it this Kidantha kolam (Resting Posture) the Emperumaan is giving his seva in this sthalam.

Since he asked Salihothirar muni that in which place (Vul) he can take rest, the name of this sthalam is called "Evvulor" or "Thiru Evvuloor".

On collecting rice, everyday for one year and doing fasting and finally dedicated that to Sriman Narayanan, he asked for all the food for himself. On hearing this, he gave only some part and after the muni asked for all the food, he gave all the food to himself. This shows how he had bhakthi on God and his followers. But he could not understand the Muni who had asked all of his food was Sriman Narayanan. But, Sriman Narayanan not only took the rice from him, but at the same time he took the bhakthi of Saalihothirar. He not only gave his food but also his place of stay. Sriman Narayanan wanted to explain how the Bhakthi (true devotion) towards him should be through Salihotira munivar,to the world.

Moolavar is Shree Veera Raghava Perumal, in Bhujanga Sayanam in Kidantha Kolam and his right hand is kept on the head of Saalihothira Muni. Naan Mugan, Brahma (Four Headed Lord Brahma) is shown the Paramathma Soroopam (One way of the showing his body (or) seva) and showing the Gnana Muthirai in his left hand as the symbol of Vedas. This is the way the Moolavar gives the seva to the world.

The Perumal here is Veeraraghava Perumal and he is capable of curing diseases so he is called "Vaithiya Veeraraghavan".

The god married the Thaayar, who borne in this sthalam as the daughter of King Dharmasenan and was named as "Vasumathi".

There is another legend that Lord Shiva got rid of his Brahmahathi Dosha after worshipping Lord Vishnu in this sthala. There is a small Shrine for Lord Shiva in this temple premises.

This Sthalam is under the control of Ahobila Mutt Jeeyar.

Prasadam (gifts to the deity)

Puliyodharai (Tamarind Rice), Dhadhyannam (Curd Rice), Pongal, Chakkarai Pongal, Vada, Adhirasam, Murukku are offered to Lord as Prasadam.

Darshan, Sevas and Festivals

New Moon Day is auspicious for this Kshetram. During Fridays Thayaar will be taken to a separate mandapam for puja. Two annual festival are celebrated. Chitra Festival is also important here.

Composers

Thirumangai Alvar, Thirumalisai Alvar have composed beautiful Paasurams on Lord Veeraraghava Swami. It is one of the compositions in Naalayira Divya Prabandha.

Travel and Stay

There are many lodges at Thiruvallur and also bus services are available from Chennai, Chengalpet, Arakkonam, Poonamallee, Avadi, Tambaram, Periyapalayam, Uthukottai, Redhills, Tirupati, Thiruttani, Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai.

Tiruvallur railway station is one of the railway station in the Chennai Central–Arakkonam section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It is one of the terminal stations in the network where some of the suburban trains originates and terminates. It serves the neighbourhood of Tiruvallur, a suburb of Chennai, and is located 41 km west of the Chennai Central railway station.

Tiruvallur railway station is 5 km from the temple. There is regular bus service from the railway station (Railadi) to the temple (Theradi) from morning 5 AM to evening 9.30 PM.

From Koyambedu CMBT the buses plying to Tirupati (bus route number 201) and Thiruttani paas through this town.

External links

• About Thiruvallur Temple
• DivyaDesam
• Ashtalakshmi.com
• http://svdtiruvallur.com - official web site of the temple

Gallery

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  The Temple view of Tiruvallur
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  The Temple view of Tiruvallur