In Narada puranam, Skanda Srimushnam mahatmyam is written; british says these puranas are dated 400AD; but much earlier than this date but epigraphic evidences are available only fro chola periods. you tube version of those puranas https://youtu.be/O-Bfn1KMGIc 1 https://youtu.be/s-wCJPsZz4w 2 https://youtu.be/hE9cO3GdMjk 3 https://youtu.be/cl0P1q5VdaA 4 https://youtu.be/RAYNo-WVZXE 5 https://youtu.be/RxNESJd6Nu8 6 https://youtu.be/daMm0-hbA1g 7 https://youtu.be/Rs5wCFW8Whw 8 https://youtu.be/RLg6CAWl_SM 9 https://youtu.be/cwr7qqtl7Kw 10
https://youtu.be/GpfUH_xrkMc 11 https://youtu.be/4vWuriCzMWk 12 https://youtu.be/Zy_bw8BgEys 13 https://youtu.be/IiMnekGFUDQ 14 https://youtu.be/sdfyNnsiGKo 15 https://youtu.be/aUZf--bqqto 16 https://youtu.be/JwWtFnR8SWI 17 https://youtu.be/mq9MMvkGTcs 18 https://youtu.be/adsa1DGgamc 19 KR IRS 24825 On Sun, 24 Aug 2025 at 10:55, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *BHU VARAHASWAMY TEMPLE, SRIMUSHNAM, CUDDALORE DISTRICT-TAMILNADU-* > *COMPILED* > > Dear friends, > > Srimushnam is a town panchayat, and the headquarters of Srimushnam taluk, > in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The town is sacred to Hindus and > Buddhists. It is one of the *eight Svayam Vyakta Khsetras of Vaishnavism, > and is known for Bhu Varaha Swamy temple, which is dedicated to Varaha, the > boar-avatar of Vishnu, and his consort, Lakshmi.* > > The Bhuvaraha temple has been visited by Madhva saint Sri Vadiraja > Tirtha in sixteenth century and is written in his work Tirtha Prabandha*. > Jagadguru Madhvacharya visited Bhuvaraha temple many times and took even > Chatur Masya Deeksha here. During his Chatur Masya Deeksha he created a > Dhanda Tirtha, a pond with stick which can be seen even today.* > > Constructed in the Chola style of architecture, the temple is dedicated to > Varaha (Bhu Varaha Swamy), *the boar-avatar of the god Vishnu and his > consort Lakshmi as Ambujavalli Thayar.* > > The temple had contributions from Medieval Cholas of the 10th century > with later expansions by Thanjavur Nayak king Achuthappa Nayak. > > A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and the > temple tanks. There is a seven-tiered Raja gopuram, the temple’s gateway > tower. > > The temple is one of the few temples where Muslims are allowed to worship > till the Ardha Mandapam. > > > > *There is Varaha temple in Trivandrum also. The area itself is called > Srivaraham.* > > Today my posting is about the Bhuvaraha temple at SriMushnam. > > Hope a divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan 24-08-2025 > > > > Introduction > > Sri Bhoo Varahaswamy Temple is a Vaishnava Temple located at Srimushnam. > The Presiding Deity is Bhuvarahaswamy or Varaha Alwar and He is considered > as an incarnation of Maha Vishnu. The Consort of the Presiding Deity in > this Temple is known as Ambujavalli Thaayar. *It is considered as one of > the 108 Abhimana Kshethram.* > > Legend > > It is said that Demon King Hiranyakshan stole away the Earth and > concealed it in the Netherworld and hence *the Earth Goddess Bhoo Devi > Prayed to God Maha Vishnu to rescue Her.* > > Pleased with Her repeated requests Maha Vishnu appeared here in the form > of a Boar and He was called as Bhoo Varaha Swamy and He killed the Demon > Hiranyakshan and rescued the Earth. > > It is said that the sweat of the Demon King who was dropping dead fell to > the ground and created the Temple Tank. The Demon King while dying pleaded > with Maha Vishnu to turn towards him and Maha Vishnu in the form of > Bhuvarahaswamy obliged him. > > *The Temple is considered as one of the 8 Swayambhu Kshethras of Maha > Vishnu where the Presiding Deity is believed to have manifested on its own*. > > > > > History of the Srimushnam Temple > > Ancient Origins: The temple is considered ancient, but detailed > historical records are available only from the 16th century AD. > > Vijayanagar and Nayak Patronage:The Vijayanagar emperors, along with > their feudatories, the Nayak kings, played a crucial role in the temple's > development. They recognized the sanctity of Srimushnam and undertook major > construction projects. > > Temple Construction:The Nayak kings are credited with building the > Garbagriha (inner sanctum), Mandapas (halls), Gopurams (tower gateways), > and the surrounding Prakaras (enclosures). They also built shrines for the > Alvars and Acharyas, the processional deities (Utsavamurtis), and > established arrangements for regular worship and festivals. > > Royal Grants: In addition to structural development, these rulers made > princely gifts of villages and other generous grants to ensure the proper > conduct of daily pujas and festivals. > > Inscriptions and Records: Authentic historical accounts of the temple's > history are found in inscriptions within the temple, the District > Gazetteer, and copper plate grants held at the government museum. > > > > Architecture > > There are two gopurams (temple-towers at the entrance) in the temple and > two precincts enclosed within large granite walls; the western tower is > seven-tiered and is the commonly used entrance. *The five-tiered one on > the eastern side is opened only during Vaikuntha Ekadashi*. > > There is a small image of Srinavasa Perumal (Vishnu) on the upper portion > of the inner side of the tower. Outside the temple, there is an 80 ft (24 > m) tall monolith pillar with the image of Garuda on its top facing the > presiding deity of the temple. > > The sixteen pillared hall is called Purushasuktha Mandapa and it is the > place where the hymns of Purushasukta are recited each day during sacred > ablution of the presiding deity. The vimana over the sanctum is called > Pavana Vimana and is surmounted by a gold-plated kalasha. The 16 columned > pavilion is considered a masterpiece of Nayak art built by Achutappa Nayak. > The columns are sculpted with images of musicians, dancers and miniature > idols. The ceiling has lotus medallion sculptures and scroll work. The > central shrine is topped by a conical roof. The decorated outer walls are > atypical of Chola Art. *There is a shrine of Garuda and Nammalvar facing > the sanctum away from the sixteen pillared hall. * > > Presiding deity > > The central shrine houses the presiding deity Varaha (Bhu Varahaswamy). > The 2 ft (0.61 m)-shaligrama stone image depicts the boar-faced Varaha > standing in a victorious posture with his hands on his waist; the human > body faces West, while the head is turned towards the South. > > The utsavar (festival icon), Patharaavi, is made of panchaloha (a > five-metal alloy) and is accompanied by two consorts as in most Vaishnava > temples. *The festival icon is housed in the Artha Mandapa, the hall > before the sanctum. *The temple has two dvarapala (guarding deities) on > both sides of the entrance of the central shrine made of panchaloha, one of > which is commissioned during the modern times. The older one on the left > side was confiscated during the Mysore war and was having a wooden replica > till it was replaced in 2004. > > *There is a separate shrine for Ambujavalli Thayar,* the consort of Bhu > Varaha Swamy in the second precinct which also houses the shrines of *Andal > and Ramanuja*. > > > > Sub shrines > > There are Sub Shrines for Venugopala Swamy and Vishvaksenar. There is a > garden on the northern side of the temple that houses a shrine of Rama. In > this temple there is a statue of Hanuman lifting Rama and Lakshmana on his > shoulders. > > > > Idols > > Idols of Vedantha Desikar, Thirumangai Alwar, Manavala Maamunigal, > Kulanthai Amman and Thirukkachi Nambi are also there . > > > > Poojas > > The rituals in the temple are followed as per Pancharatara agamas. The > temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily > basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the > Vaishnava community, from the Brahmin class. > > The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., > Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., > Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:30 p.m. Each ritual has > three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa > aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy Perumal and Sri > Ambujavalli Thayar. > > > > festivals > > Two yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Chariot > festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (April–May), being > the most prominent. > > The festival also symbolises Hindu-Muslim unity in the region – the flag > of the chariot is provided by Muslims; they take offerings from the temple > and present to Allah in the mosques. > > Other important festivals celebrated here are Sri Jayanthi, Navarathri, > Vijayadasami, Deepavali and Makara Shankaranthi. > > There are two Brahmotsavams celebrated in the temple, one each during the > Tamil month of Masi and other during the month of Chittirai (April–May). > During the first, the festival deity of Bhu Varaha Swamy is taken for seven > days around the villages of Srimushnam. The chariot festival is a symbol > of Hindu–Muslim unity in the region, with the flag of the temple chariot > offered by the local Muslims. They also accept the offerings from the > festival deity and present it to Allah in the mosques. The Muslim > devotees thank Allah to have brought Bhu Varaha Swamy to their place. > > > > Temple tree and tanks > > The Sthala Viruksham is Ashvatha Tree and the Sacred Tank or Pushkarani is > Nithya Pushkarani. > > > > Administration > > The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and > Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple is administered > by the Hindu Religious and Charitable The religious head, the Pedda Jeeyar > of Tirupati is the permanent trustee of the temple. > > > > Specialties > > It is peculiar in this Temple to have a small Sub Shrine of Srinivasa > Perumal in the upper floor of the Rajagopuram and Devotees may have to > climb narrow steps to reach there. The Temple has 2 sets of Divine Feet to > be prayed. > > This is one of the rarest of rare Hindu Temples which allows the Muslims > to come inside till the Artha Mandapam. > > Srimushnam is considered a Swayambhu Kshetram, meaning the deity, Lord Bhu > Varaha Swamy, is self-emanated, not installed by humans. > > According to legend, Lord Bhu Varaha Swamy granted the sacred land to Lord > Venkateswara Swamy to reside on the Seven Hills of Tirumala, and as a > gesture of thanks, granted Lord Bhu Varaha Swamy the privilege of first > darshan (viewing) and first naivedyam (food offering) at Tirumala. > > The temple is considered one of the eight Sywayambu Kshetras of Vishnu > where presiding deity is believed to have manifested on its own. > > Divine ablution is performed daily for the presiding deity, unlike other > Vishnu temples where it is performed only occasionally. In Tirumala, > devotees are supposed to visit the Bhu Varaha temple before they worship > Lord Venkateshvara but in Srimushnam devotees visit the Srinivas temple > in the western entrance before visiting Bhu Varaha Swamy. > > The temple is frequented by childless couple seeking children and > unmarried people seeking marriage. The local belief is that the worship > done to Saptha Kannigaigal in the temple leads to right match. > > Legend- Hindu Muslim Unity > > As per legend, a local Nawab on the county was ailing with Carbuncle and > was given up by all the doctors. *He is believed to have prayed Bhuvaraha > and was cured off all his ailments.* He made generous contributions to > the temple and was later named Bhura Sahib. Each year the deity is taken > to the village when his descendants make offerings to the deity. > > A unique tradition of the temple involves Hazrath Syed Sha Rahmathulla > Shuttari, a revered Sufi saint who settled in Killai. He was granted 400 > acres of land by Nawab Mohammad Ali Walajah. *The Dargah trustee later > sought assistance from a local tahsildar, Uppu Venkatarao, to demarcate the > land, and in gratitude, 26 acres were permanently leased to the Sri Bhoo > Varaha Swamy Temple Trust.* > > This gesture of goodwill laid the foundation for a tradition of mutual > respect. During the Masi Maham festival, the temple procession halts at > the Dargah, where both communities exchange offerings—Tulsi leaves and a > silk shawl from the temple, and rice, dry fruits, and prayers from the > Dargah. This longstanding practice is a testament to the enduring harmony > between Hindus and Muslims in the region. > > Control by Madhwa brahmins and Iyengars > > The temple is under the control of Madhva Brahmins and Iyengars. Madhva > Brahmins and Sri Vaishnavas do Vedaparaya during pooja. The Madhvas > specifically recite Gajendra Moksha and Srimushnam Puranam every day. > > Temple Timings: > > 6 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM > > How to reach the temple > > By Air-Air : The nearest International airports is Chennai (200Km ). > Another nearest Air Port is in Pondicherry has charter flights located 25KM > from Cuddalore. > > By Train : 1. Chennai – Villupuram – Cuddalore – Thanjavoor – Trichy > Railway route is available running via Cuddalore Town the District head > quarters.. From Chennai after Villupuram get down in Vridhachalam and can > reach via road to Srimushanam. > > By Road : Road transport is very good in Cuddalore District. National > highways NH45 , NH45A are running through Cuddalore. > > Contact Details of priests: > > 04144 245090, Parthasarathy 90959 05865, Manikandan 73971 31717, 87785 > 16498 and 99524 21072 > > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/649339593.438031.1756013134612%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/649339593.438031.1756013134612%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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