Pranava Vyakrapureeswar Temple

Overview

Omampuliyur Thuyartheertanathar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Omapuliyur in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Umapuliyur. This is the 31st Sthalam on the northern side of river Cauvery. The presiding deity is Shiva.

About the Temple

The temple at Omampuliyur for God Pranavavyakrapureeswarar with his consort Goddess Pushpalathambigai was constructed over a thousand years ago by Kulothunga Chola and has stone inscriptions of the Cholas and the Pallavas. The temple spreads over an acre and faces the east. A big pond exists in front of the temple from where perhaps water was drawn during earlier times for the various temple activities. This is named Gowri Theertham. There are two more water sources, one on the southern side of the temple and one on the northern side named Varadhanankuttai and Kollidam perar respectively. As we enter the temple gates we first reach the enclosure of God Nandi, the celestial vehicle of God Shiva. God Nandi always faces God Shiva awaiting instructions except at God Vedapureeswarar's Temple at Chengam where as per the God's instructions he faces away from him to chase away vandals who would come to create disturbance when the God was teaching the Vedas (Vidaithangi Nandi). After praying to God Nandi we move to the frontage of the main Gopuram, a three tiered structure of modest height. On the gopuram we observe Dwarapalakas, who, fiery looking, keep a watch on who enters the temple and also safeguard the place. We then enter the sanctum sanctorum of God Shiva who is in the usual phallic form with a five headed cobra over him. God Shiva appeared to be in a state of meditation, calm but watchful of what was going on in the Universe. The temple priest by name Sri Jagadisha Gurukkal was getting things ready for the evening poojas. On seeing us he performed Mangalarthi (camphor) to the God and offered the same to us. While normally the garba-griha of the Goddess would be in line with that of God Shiva, at this temple, God Dakshinamurthy has a place of importance as he is in between God Shiva and Goddess Parvati and both facing the southern direction. The one another temple where such an arrangement exists is at the Gurustalam at Tittai. God Dakshinamurthy (Guru) draped in yellow, looks beautiful and is seen showering bountiful blessings on his devotees.After the darshan of God Dakshinamurthy, we arrive at the garbagriha of Goddess Parvati who is also named as Pushpalathambigai. She is facing south and is observed, offering her pranams to God Shiva, who explains to her the meaning of Mukthi (salvation). Coming out of the main complex, circumambulating, we arrive before the idols of God Ganesha, God Subramanya and Goddess Mahalakshmi. This temple with 3 level Gopuram (Tower) confronts east. As indicated by the legend, Shiva Dakshinamurthy is said to have uncovered the Pranva Upadesam to Parvati, and subsequently this sthalam is known as Omaampuliyur (Om Aam Puliyur). Pictures outlining the stala puraanam of this temple are found in the front mandapam. One of these portrays Shiva favoring Vishnu with the Chakrayudam while alternate delineates five of the Puliyurs. A stone picture of Nataraja is seen on the specialty saved for Dakshinamurthy in the sanctum, while Dakshinamurthy involves the stupendous Sabha, typically set for Natarajar. The Dakshinamurthy temple is of essentialness here. The Sacred Tree or the Sthala Vriksham is the Ilandai Tree. The Thevaram is Sambandar. Jupiter transition day is celebrated annually in the temple.

About the Deity

He is called as Pranava Vyakrapureeswar. His consort is known as Poongodi Nayaki.

Legend/Story

Interestingly, at vicinity to the considerable sanctuary for Lord Shiva as Lord Nataraja in his moving structure at Chidambaram, it being one, there are sanctuaries for Lord Shiva in four different spots finishing with the addition Puliyur-which means the tiger's spot. The sanctuaries in these five spots viz Perumpatrapuliyur(Chidambaram), Omampuliyur, Perumpuliyur, Erukkattampuliyur, Tiruppathiripuliyur were worshiped by Sage Vyakrapada why should accepted have had the eyes and feet of a tiger. There is a fascinating part concerning how Sage Vyakrapada got his name. Being an enthusiastic fan of Lord Shiva, Sage Vyakrapada would never neglect to offer blossoms to Lord Shiva even on a solitary day. To find and gather the sweet scented blossoms for the Lord the venerated sage would go into the woods during the evening as he had watched that amid sunrise the creepy crawlies would have left their spit on the blooms and would have dirtied the same while gathering nectar. Such was his confidence. He in this way decided to cull the blossoms during the evening however this assignment was getting to be burdensome as he was inclined to assaults. He then eagerly appealed to Lord Shiva for an answer. Satisfied with his genuineness, Lord Shiva favored him with the eyes and paws of a tiger. Along these lines Sage Vyakrapada earned his new name, his prior name being Bala Munivar. As per legend, once, Goddess Parvati craved to know the means of Mukthi and watched a compensation for the same under an Ilandai tree (Badri Tree-Chinese dates). Seeing her situation Lord Shiva showed up before her as Lord Dakshinamoorthy and disclosed to her which means of Mukthi the wellspring of which is Pranavam (Mystic-OHM). Master Shiva subsequently earned the name Lord Pranavavyakrapureeswarar particular to this spot. Another fanciful conviction identifies with how Once on his approach to see Lord Nataraja, Sage Vyakrapada is accepted to have lost his direction and came nearabouts Omampuliyur. Disillusioned, he respectfully got out for Lord Nataraja. Master Nataraja heard his pleadings and educated him to offer petitions to God and lo, gave him a darshan at this sanctuary. Another conviction identifies with a seeker. When a seeker was searching for a prey in the timberland around Omampuliyur. A tiger which had come that way seen him and spoke the truth to assault him. The seeker is accepted to have climbed a Bilva tree to secure him. Be that as it may, the tiger was not surrendering and was sitting tight for the seeker to get down. Night gradually swung to night. So as not to nod off the seeker unconsciously initiated culling the sacred Bilva leaves and dropping them down which were falling on Lord Shiva. Satisfied with this lord by name Sadanand eprosy. Being down and out he came to Omampuliyur and subsequent to showering in the sacred water Varadanankuttai he appealed to the Lord consistently. Satisfied with his dedication the Lord disposed of his pain.Two Ghandarvas living in paradise were once reviled to go to earth and live like a pig and a Dasi because of their misdeeds. When they were followed by a tiger. To get away from the tiger, they ran and bounced into the Kollidam waterway and implored Lord Pranavavyakrapureeswarar. Satisfied with their petitions to God, the Lord conceded their wish to come back to paradise.

Festivals

Jupiter transition day is celebrated annually in the temple.

Significance

This is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanars Tirugnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar. Folks anticipating that their kids should accomplish scholarly magnificence accompany them to the temple; perform abishek and archanas to God Dakshinamurthy.

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