Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Thiru Vanchiyam - Sri Vanchiyam – Sri Vanchinathar swamy temple is situated 10 km west of Nannilam and 18km northwest of Thiruvarur in Thanjavur District. This is one of the Thevara Padal Petral Shivasthalam located in Chola Nadu on the river banks of Cauvery. The most outstanding structure of this temple was built by the King Kulothunga Chola I during his regime. Later, King Rajaraja Chola II made abundance of additions and contribution to this temple.
The Presiding deity – Sri Vanchinathaswamy/ SriVanchi Lingeshwarar with his consort Goddess Mangala Nayaki/Valavantha Nayagi
Mangalasasanam – Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, Appar & Sundarar sung praising the glories of Lord Shiva in this temple.
Worshipped by – Goddess Ganga, Sri Mahalakshmi, Lord Brahma, Sage Parasarar, Sage Atri, Lord Indra and Lord Surya
Sthalavruksham – Sandana Maram (Sandalwood tree)
Pushkarani – Gupta Ganga. The other three water bodies found here are chakra Theertham, Lakshmi Theertham, Naga Theertham were instigated by Sri Chakkrathalwar, Sri Mahalakshmi and Lord Adishesha respectively.
Sannidhis – Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Yama, Lord Ganesha, Bala Murugan, Goddess Sugandha Kundalambikai, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Kubera, Vennai Pillayar, Yoga Bhairavar, Mahishasura Mardhini, Shanishwara, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Rahu & Kethu Sannidhi.
Festivals – Annual Brahmostavam in the month of Karthikai, Adi Pooram, Navaratri, Masi Makam
Sri Vanchinathaswamy – Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a sel-manifested Linga facing East and West, considered as the one of the most sacred temple.. This is the only temple in the south has prominent shrine for Lord Yama. Lord Yama worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple to get rid of the sins committed while performing his task. Lord Shiva pleased at the devotion of Lord Yama and blessed him to remain celestial vehicle of Lord Vanchinathaswamy. During the Tamil month Masi – Bharani Lord Vanchinatha Swamy and Mangalambika will be taken out for a village procession on Lord Yama as their celestial vehicle. This scared temple is treated as one of Mukthisthals and whoever takes holy dip in the Gupta Ganga would attain Salvation. The legened has that at the beginning of Kali Yuga Goddess Ganga was overburdened with the sins accumulated all the way through the sinners performing dip in the holy river. She prayed to Lord Vishwanatha in Varanasi to eradicate her accumulated sins and Goddess Ganga was instructed to take holy dip in the Gupta Ganga in Thiruvanchiyam. Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi prayed to Lord Shiva in this temple and got blessed her united with Sri Maha Vishnu. It is believed that whoever takes holy dip in the Gupta Ganga would get relieved from the sins committed in the present and previous births. Gupta Ganga provides the entire devouteness equivalent to a holy dip in the river Ganga and it is believed that a single visit to this place will provide the pieties of hundreds of visit to Kashi. Another significance of this temple is that Lord Yama has a separate shrine; Lord Yama continued to worship Lord Shiva in 150 Shivakshetras to avail the blessings of Lord. Finally Lord Yama arrived at Thiruvarur and listened to the divine instruction of Lord to undergo penance in Thiru Vanchiyam. He continued his penance for several years and at last the Lord was pleased at the devotion of Lord Yama and appeared before him in the Tamil month Masi – Bharani. Lord Vanchinatha Swamy blessed Lord Yama with a prominent place in this temple and whoever visits this temple should pay initial obeisance to Lord Yama as similar to Lord Ganehsa. Whoever worship Lord Yama would be freed from the fear of death and attain Salvation.
This is one of the holiest places to perform homages to ancestors similar to Kasi, Gaya, Rameshwaram, Thiruvenkadu and Prayag. The performance of Tharpan (last rites) especially during the days of Amavasya is treated as the most rewarding act. Whoever worships Lord Vanchinathaswamy in this temple would be freed from all the illness and mental agonies.
This temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 12.00PM in the mornings and 3.00 PM to 8.PM in the evenings.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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