Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu









Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalangadu


       This ancient Siva Temple is situated at a distance of 64 kms on the Madras - Arakonam railway line. The Temple is at a distance of 4 km from the railway station towards northern side. The presiding deity is called Vadaranyeswarar or Oorthuvathandaveswarar. Ambal here is called Vandar Kuzhali Amman.  This is one of the 276 Thevara padal petra temple and the three Saivite saints Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar have sung their Thevara hymns on the presiding deity of the temple. Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthi and it is one of the five places where the Lord competed with Goddess Kali in dance performance.  It is the home to “ Ratna Sabai”.  The Nataraja idol of the temple can be seen with its left leg almost touching the left ear.  The idol of Sivakami Sundari is expressive with astonishment on its face. Karaikal Ammaiyar has also sung about the Lord here.


       The temple traces its origin to Pallava era and followed by expansion and renovation during Chola and Vijayanagar period. The Thirusutru Mathil has the emblem of Varaha/wild boar on its walls every ten feet indicating that it must have been constructed during Vijayanagar era. The village was called Pazhayanur earlier.  The temple has inscriptions from the period of Parantaka to Vijayanagar era on its walls.The Thiruvalangadu copper plates of the 6 th year of Rajendra Chola I gives a genealogy of Chola kings and grants made to the Temple.


       The legend of the Temple says that this area was a densely covered forest where a Swayambu lingam was found under a Banyan Tree. A temple was constructed and the Lord  was called Vadaranyeswarar . ( Vadam means Banyan treee and Aranyam meaning forest). There is a separate temple for Badrakali on the north west outside the temple walls near the Temple tank. The temple Tank is called Mukthi Teertham. It is said that the Kali temple should be visited first before going to see Lord Shiva.  An ancient temple with rich heritage.

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