Arulmigu Vaaymoornaathar Tirukkoil

Overview

The Arulmigu Vaaymoornaathar Tirukkoil is located in Tirukkuvalai and is dedicated to God Arulmigu Vaaymoornaathar.

About the temple

On the banks of a pond opposite to the temple is God Vinayaka. The three - tier Rajagopuram is seen facing east. On the outer circle are the shrines of Naalvar and Bhairavar and in the inner circle are God Vinayaka, God Subrahmanya with his Spouses Valli and Deivayani, and Mahalakshmi. A court of God Nataraja as a beautiful icon can also be seen. In this place, the nine planets are in a row. On the southern side of the presiding deity is the sanctum of Thiagarajar – Neelavitankar and on the northern side appears Vedaranyeswarar. Many inscriptions seen around the temple reveal the fact that the temple had been built up by the Pallava and Chola kings.

About the Deity

Vitankam is a small form of the Shiva Lingam. The temple here has the God in the Vitanka form as he is in his heavenly abode.

Legend and stories

The God desired to have this form on earth also. God Indra once prayed for this Vitanka form of God shiva. The God told Indra that this Lingam could not be worshipped in the Indralokam, a world of pleasures. However, as God Indra was insistent, he gave the Vitanka Lingam to God Indra. Fully realizing the significance of the Lingam, God Indra was carrying on the poojas in an appropriate manner. But, the God wanted the Lingam to be on earth. Once, under the rule of Emperor Muchukuntha the people were suffering due frequent attack of wild animals. The Emperor went off on a hunt and after completing the hunt in the northern part, he came to the banks of river Kaveri. On a Shivrathiri night while he was hunting, a few sages passed that way. They told him that they were proceeding to the Vilvaaranya Kshetram to perform Shiva Lingam pooja during Shivrathiri night. According to the scriptures one should not hunt animals on Shivrathiri. The king then gave up his royal attire, donned ascetic clothes and went with the sages. God Shiva appeared before the king who repented for having killed the animals. The God told him to retrieve the Shiva Lingam, which was with God Indra and install it on earth. At that time, God Indra was seeking help to put down Vaalaasuran and he had offered as a reward, his elephant Iraavatham, his white umbrella and any other gift the slayer of Vaalaasuran wanted. The God advised the king to kill Vaalaasuran and get the Shiva Lingam as a gift. The king was a wise man so he requested God shiva: "I'll do so. But God Indra may appease me by giving a Lingam similar to the Vitanka Lingam. How do I differentiate the Vitanka form?" In reply to his request a flood of light spread all over the place. Apart from Emperor Muchukundan and the sages, the entire Devalokam thronged there. An emotion - filled Muchukundan urged the God thus: "O God! Thou be in the Indraloka as well as here as Thou are now. I"ll raise a temple for Thee!" The God accepting their plea and remained here in this sacred place.

Festivals

Sivarathiri, Aippasi annabhishekam, Markali Tiruvathirai, and Brahmotsavam is celebrated in Vaikaasi Visaakam. The usual festivals are conducted. Pooja is offered to Lord Bhairavar in Ashtami. On the first day of the Aippasi month special abhishekam is peformed for Lord Thiagarajar.

Address

Arulmigu Vaaymoor Naathar Tirukkoil,
Tiruvaaymoor P.O. Tirukkuvalai – 610 204,
Tiruvaarur Taluq,
Nagappatinam District.