Tiruvanchiyam (Srivanchiyam) Tiruvanchiyam lies about 18 km. north-west of Tiruvarur on the main road to Kumbakonam. The Lord of the local temple (Vanchisvara, Vanchinathar or) Vanchi-lingesvara has been sung by the three great JV nayanmars,as also by Manikkavacakar who sings of the miracle of the Naga-kannika who worshipped this Lord and became one with Him as Ammai-appan.
Vanchisvara (Vanchi-lingesvara) temple The earliest inscription here is found on a pillar of the Dakshina murti shrine in the temple. A mutilated record of the 39th year of Kulottunga I, it records a gift of land to the goddess ‘Tirup palliyarai Nam pirattiyar’, whose image was presented to the temple of ‘Tiru vanchiyam udaiya Mahadevar’ by a native of Momangudi (ARE 72 of 1911). On the walls of the central shrine itself, there are three records: a damaged one of the 18th year of ‘Tribhuvana-Chakravarti Rajarajadeva’ and two, of the 3rd and 11th years, of ‘Rajadhi-rajadeva’. Another record of the former’s days lists lands owned by the temple and its subordinate shrines (ARE 66 of 1911). From a later record, dated in the 10th year of jatavarman Sundara Pandya deva (ARE 68 of 1911), we get the alternate name of Rajagambhira chaturvedimangalam for Tiruvanchiyam: Rajagambhira was, as we have said earlier, one of the surnames of Rajaraja II. On the walls of the Mangalambika (Amman) shrine in the temple, there is an unfinished record of the 18th year of‘Tribhu-vana chakravarti Rajaraja deva’, which refers to the building of this shrine and the consecration of the image of the goddess ‘in the temple of Tiruvanchiyam Udaiya Nayanar’ (ARE 70 of 1911). There is also a damaged record of the 20th year of the same ruler: it seems to register gifts of land made to the temple in different years of the king’s reign and mentions the places Perumbarrap puliyur (Chidambaram) and Tiruvellarai (ARE 71 of 1911). There are also a number of Pandyan inscriptions here; we have already referred to one. On the basis of the above information, we may conclude that the original temple dates back to at least the days of Kulottunga I, and that the renovation of the entire temple and the building of the separate Amman shrine took place during the days of a Rajaraja who may be identified as Rajaraja II, especially in view of the village bearing the alternate name of Rajagambhira chaturvedimangalam. It is likely that the pillar in the Dakshina-murti shrine, referred to earlier, was earlier part of the original main shrine and that the Dakshinamurti' shrine itself was newly constructed (as was the Amman shrine), at the time of renovation of the main shrine, partly with material from the older structure. (Pls. 271-3). KR IRS 25825 On Mon, 25 Aug 2025 at 12:50, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *VANCHINATHASWAMY TEMPLE-SRIVANCHIYAM-TIRUVARUR DISTRICT- TAMILNADU-* > *COMPILED* > > Dear friends, > > Vanchinatha Swamy temple at Sri Vanchyam in the Tiruvarur District is > dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Srivanchiyam, in the Tiruvarur > District of Tamil Nadu. > > Shiva is worshiped as Vanchinadha Swamy, and is represented by the > lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The > presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, > the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and > classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. > > There is a separate sanctum for Lord Yama Dharma. First the devotes have > to worship Yama before going to other deities. There is a plantain garden > in the temple associated with worship. The specialty is if small plant > shooting from it is planted anywhere, it will get dried up. > > I have visited this temple 3 years back in an evening, as part of visiting > temples after my retirement. The temple is very crowded with devotees. > > Hope a Divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan former ITS (7024) > > > > Legends > > As per legend, once Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu had a fight with him > and left their abode, Vaikunta. *She came to earth and Vishnu followed in > search of her. He found a Linga (an iconic form of Shiva) in a Sandalwood > forest and started worshipping Shiva*. > > Shiva was pleased with the devotion and he restored Lakshmi to Vishnu. This > story is not mentioned in puranas. > > As per another legend, a sage named Sarva was performing penance on the > banks of river Sarayu. A divine voice told him that the Dharma would get > destroyed during Kaliyuga. The sage was running towards the temple shouting > "Shivaya Namaha, Thiruvanjiyam Abayam". Kali, another form of Yama was > running behind the sage. He was stopped by Shiva on the border of the > village. *Shiva appeared as Vanchinathar* to ward off the threat of Yama, > who is stationed in a shrine outside the first precinct following the > legend. > > History > > The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the > 11th century, while later expansions are attributed to Vijayanagar rulers > of the Thanjavur Nayaks of the 16th century. The five-tiered Rajagopuram, > which is 110 feet high, was built by Rajendra Chola in 850 AD. This temple, > which is about 558 feet long and 320 feet wide, has 3 towers and 3 prakaras > . > > > > Architecture > > The temple complex covers an area of 2 acres and houses two gateway towers > known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a > height of 108 feet (33 m) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of > Vanchinathaswamy, Yama and Mangala Nayagi Amman being the most prominent. > > Presiding deity > > The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva in the name of Vanchinathan and > the name of the Goddess is Mangalambika. > > Yama Shrine: > > On entering, there is a separate temple for Yama on the left, In the > Agni corner of the temple both Yama and Chitragupta facing south. Since > Yama was cursed by everyone because he had the position of taking all > lives, and in order to get rid of the Brahmahatti dosha caused by taking > many lives, Yama came here and did severe penance to Lord Shiva to atone > for his sins. The Lord granted a boon that the sin and punishment of > taking lives would not reach Yama. He also granted that those who worship > Lord Shiva at this temple would not be reborn and would be given a peaceful > final life . > > Similarly, he granted a boon that Yama, who is the king of the Kshetra, > should first be worshipped at this temple before worshipping the Lord. > > Accordingly, the first worship and aradahanas are performed for Yama every > day. It is a tradition that one should first bathe in the Gupta Ganga > Theertha here and worship Yama first and only then worship others in the > temple. > > Those who are afraid of death come here and worship, and they will be > relieved. Those who die in this temple do not suffer from Yama. No matter > where a death occurs in this temple, the temple is not closed like other > temples . Yama appears in a sitting position with four arms (Pasam, > Katha, Sulamendhi), his left leg folded, his right leg hanging, and his > feet crossed. > > Sub deities > > If one goes inside after worshipping Lord Yama he will see the shrines > of Vinayagar and Subramaniyar. After crossing the inner gate, there is > the shrine of Ambal on the right. There is a flag pole and an altar. Next > is the shrine of 'Nattuvan Pillayar'. If you go inside, Lord Siva appears > as Swayambu with a slightly larger Thirumeni. The joy that comes to the > mind when you see and worship him cannot be described in words. *It is > believed that worshiping him will remove mental confusion and fear of > death.* > > If one walks around the inner courtyard, you will find shrines of *Veena > Pillayar, Vinayagar, Subramanya, Panchabhootha Lingams, Jeshta Devi, and > Lord Shani*. > > Next to that, there are shrines of Shivalingas, which are considered to be > equivalent to Kashi, such as Agoreshwar, Panchanatheswar, Mayuranatheswar, > and Mahalingesar. > > There is a shrine of Bhairava in the inner courtyard. Bhairava is seen > here in a yoga posture. Next to the shrine of Bhairava is the shrine of > Rahu-Ketu. Their idols carved out of a single stone are also a special > feature of this temple. > > When milk is offered to Rahu-Ketu, the milk turns blue. Devotees believe > that worshipping Rahu-Ketu in this temple removes obstacles in marriage and > cures nervous diseases. Since Lord Shiva is the one who bestows all > blessings in this temple, there is no separate shrine for the nine > planets here. > > There is no separate shrine for Durga; the embodiment of Durga is > Mahishasuramarthini, who appears as a gigantic heroine. > > *Lord Ganesha is applied with butter in this temple* > > > > Poojas > > The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. > The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a > daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to > the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed > six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., > Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 > p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: > abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food > offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Vanchinadha swamy > and Mangala Nayagi. > > There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), > fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new > moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and chathurthi. > > Festivals > > Twelve yearly festivals on its calendar, with the Masi Magam festival > celebrated during the Tamil month of Maasi (February - March) being the > most prominent. During the festival the festival image *of Shiva is taken > in the mount of Yama* around the streets of Srivanchiyam. During the > Tamil month of Kaarththigai (Nov-Dec), Theerthavari (sacred water splash) > is conducted in the Guptha Gangai (temple tank) on all Sundays. It also > includes a ten-day festival and a car festival at the end of the month. > > In all temples, the Tirthavari is conducted only after the Brahmotsavam is > over. On that day, the Lord is bathed in the Tirtha of the temple. In this > temple, since the Tirtha is very glorious, the Tirthavari is conducted on > the second day of the Masimagam Brahmotsavam. The second day is the > Tirthavari here. On that day, Vanchinathar rides in the Yama Vahana. On > the last day, a festival is held for Murugan. Tirthavari is also held in > the early hours of the Sundays of Karthigai. > > Temple tree > > The sthala vriksham (sacred tree of this temple) is Sandalwood tree. > > Temple tanks > > The sacred tank of this sthalam (place) is called the Gupta Gangai which > is square in shape with 150 metres (490 ft).Other tanks associated with the > temple are *Yama Theertham, Agni Theertham and Lakshmi Theertham.* > > It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. > > Specialties > > It is one of the rare temples where there is a separate shrine for Yama, > the god of death. Yama is sported in seated posture with Chitragupta by > his side. This temple is a place that dispels fear, those who worship > Lord Shiva at this place will not be reborn and will attain a peaceful > final state. > > It has two nandhis facing both sides of Vanchinadha. > > Rahu-Ketu, carved out in a composite sculpture. > > There is a separate sannithi for Shani. > > Srivanchiyam are considered equivalents of Kasi. There is a sacred tank in > which goddess Ganga herself bathes to cleanse herself from the sins. A > holy dip in this tank is equivalent to that of Ganga in Kasi. > > It is customary for all temples to be closed during the eclipse period. > However, this temple is will be open. A special abhishekam (anointing) > ceremony will be performed for Lord Shiva during the eclipse period. > > Similarly if any death occurs with in temple premises or nearby, the > temple is not closed, kept open. > > There is a saying that visiting this Temple once is equal to visiting Kasi > 100 Times > > Literary mention and religious importance > > Appar, the 7th century Tamil saivite saint poet and nayanar has revered > Kumbeswarar and the temple in his verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth > Tirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal > Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. > The temple is counted as the seventh in the list of temples in the southern > banks of Cauvery. > > Other singers about this temple are Sundarar, Sambandar, Arunagirinathar. > > It is the 70th temple among the southern banks of the Kaveri that has > received the Thevara hymn . It is the 133rd temple among the 276 temples > that have received the Thevara hymn. > > > > What are the benefits of worshipping at Srivanjiyam Temple? > > Worshipping at Srivanjiyam Temple is believed to remove Yama's fear (God > of Death), improve longevity and health, and cleanse past-life sins and > karmic doshas, leading to a peaceful life*. The temple's unique feature > is a separate shrine to Yama, and performing special parihara pujas here is > thought to bestow blessings of good health, happiness, and prosperity. * > > Location > > The Srivanjiyam temple is near the villages of Pandaravadai and > Kumbakonam, with Kumbakonam being the most convenient town for travellers, > as it offers bus services directly to Srivanjiyam and is also near the > temple. Kumbakonam has a railway station, making it the most practical hub > for reaching the temple. > > Etymology > > This temple is called Srivanchiyam because it is the place where Vishnu, > desiring to regain his separated daughter, attained the blessings of Lord > Shiva through penance. > > Administration > > The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and > Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. > > Opening hours : > > From 5.30 am to 12.30 pm, from 4.00 pm to 8.30 pm. > > Contact Numbers: > > 04366 – 228305 , 94424 03926 , 93606 02973 > > Temple Phone Number: Swaminatha Gurukkal 98421 81507 (Devotees can call > only between 1 PM to 3 PM) , Raja Gurukkal 94424 03926 > > -- > 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/2142682857.617151.1756106407158%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2142682857.617151.1756106407158%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]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZop3Gf2fn_75MKjfvwcAdZE-g%3DzuXcqe%3DNSo88Pg9vv7Lg%40mail.gmail.com.
