Sri Valampuranathar Temple, Thiruvalampuram, Mayiladuthurai - 275 Shiva Temples

44. Sri Valampuranathar Temple, Thiruvalampuram, Mayiladuthurai (Chola Nadu - South of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Thiruvalampuranathar, Sri Thiruvalampuri Udaiyar
Name of Goddess : Sri Vaduvakirkanniammai, Sri Thadangan Nacchiyar
Holy water (Theertham) : Brahma Theertham, Lakshmi Theertham, Shiva Gangai Theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Palm
Thevaram : Thirunavukkarasar ; Thiru Gnana Sambandhar ; Sundarar
District : Nagapattinam.
Location : Mayiladuthurai.
Timings : 06:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 04:30 p.m. to 07:30 p.m

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This is the 44th sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thiruvalampuram or Melai Perumpallam or Mukthisthalam is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located in Tharangampadi, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu. This is one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva built by the King Ko-Chengan Chola widely known as Madakkovil. In this temple Lord Shiva worshiped in the form of a self-manifested Linga. Legend holds that Vishnu is worshipped Shiva to receive a Valampuri Shankh here. Near this town is Tiruttalaichankaadu, another Shivastalam associated with the same legend. Also in Talaichankaadu is the Vaishnava Divya Desam Talaichanga Naanmadiyam, where a priceless conch adorns the image of Vishnu. Heranda Muni who went into the ground in search of Kaveri at Tiruvalanchuzhi , is said to have re-emerged here.

Important Features:

• This temple classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
• Vishnu worshiped Shiva to receive a Valampuri Sanghu. Vishnu left back Lakshmi with Goddess to do penance. He returned with sanghu & chakra & in this place he got hands to hold it.
• Heraranda muni who entered into the ground (phila dwara) in Thiruvalanchuzhi in search of Cauveri river came out here. He has a separate sanctum and the lingam he worshiped is present.
• Dananjaya the King of Magada asked his son to dissolve his bones after his death in the theertha and here it bloomed into flowers.
• When Saint Pattinathar had his meal here the king was relived of his sin occurred due to a lady curse.
• Since the place is to the west (right side) of Cauvery river, the place got its name.
• Moolavar is of Piruthivi Lingam. There is a shallow on the top. Sambrani and Punugu sattam is applied.

This temple covers an area of about 2 acres. The image of Bhikshatanar here depicted as playing on the veena is one of great beauty. Appar's Tevaram here (7th century), refers to Shiva holding a veena in his arms, moving around as Bhikshatanar, and this image is a later Chola (12th - 13th century) artiste's expression in metal, of Appar's description! Shiva here is also known as Dakshinapureeswarar. The completely rebuilt stone structure existed even during the period of Vikrama Chola (1121), as seen from inscriptions here. Images of Natarajar and Sivakami, Palliyarai Nachiyar, Tandanganni Nachiyar etc. were added during the period of Vikrama Chola and Rajadiraja II. The bronze image of Kiratamurthy here is of great workmanship.

Gallery Of Valampuranathar Temple:

Please click on above images to enlarge.

History / Legend:

The legend has that the River Cauvery was gracefully flowing through these lands, there appeared Adishesha with its thousand heads plunged into the river created a Biladhwaram/perforate. Due to the sudden thrust of Adishesha with its massive body, River Cauvery descended down to the burrow and got trapped in to the hole without any free flow at Thiruvalamchuzhi. The Chozha King who was ruled this city was witnessing this incident and shocked at this sight. Soon he could listen to a mysterious voice affirmed that the Biladhwaram would disappear when a sage get into this hole and wholeheartedly give up his life. The King met with the sages who were undergoing severe austerities in the woodlands and narrated the incident. The sages were agreed to do anything for bringing out the River Cauvery on the surface of the Earth. Sage Heranda went inside the Biladhwaram, instantly the River Cauvery spurted out from the Biladhawaram and started flowing as generously as ever. Sage Heranda circumambulated this land all the way through the tunnel; finally regained himself from this and appeared on this place on Earth. Hence this place has got the name ‘Thiruvalampuram’.

King Dhanajyaya who was ruling the City of Magada at his death bed revealed an earnest desire to his son to immerse the remnants of his corpse in a place where it turns out flowers. He visited many sacred places on the earth with the remains of his deceased father. Finally, he arrived on this sacred land and witnessed the miracle of residue turned into flowers and immersed them on the pond situated here.

Another legend has that the King who was ruled this city went for a hunting expedition. He mockingly sent back his messenger to his Kingdom with false information that the King was died in an accident. The queen was in a state of utter grief and shock after listening to the saddest news. Due to this the King was afflicted with a sin. In order to get rid of the sin he was advised to feed the devotees of Lord, if the charity turns out fruitful that would cause ringing the bell hanging at the entrance of his palace. In the meantime, Pattinathar paid a visit to the palace at the time of meal. As he was so hungry and tired, he went directly into the kitchen and requested to serve food. But the people who were serving the food were hesitant to provide him with meal. He silently got out of the place and walked towards the outlet of the kitchen where the water from the cooked rice was released. Pattinathar merrily slurped the water from the outlet and waved off his hunger. Instantaneously the bell hanging in front of the palace was started ringing repeatedly, as a result the King got relieved from the curse. The entire crowd assembled to witness the miracle had watched Pattinathar blissfully seated. The King with due respect and honor invited Pattinathar to his palace and revealed his gratitude.

People who are cursed by women in previous births face similar treatment in this life. Some families lost their good life within 20 years of time if they are not properly disciplined by elders. For those people especially male's who have ragu and venus combination in their birth chart or venus and ketu combination in a female's chart, visting Melaperumpallam Sri Valampuranathar temple 24 times is important to remove the curse caused by female's in this birth or previous birth. Those who are having this astrological planet combinations and running ragu dasa or venus dasa visiting this temple is a must.

Minimum one has to visit 6 times and on atleast on one friday in ragu kala, one has to light 108 ghee lamps and has to chant om siva siva om mantra by sitting on yellow cloth specially used for chanting mantra's before Sri Valampuranathar to get rid of women's curse.

If visiting this temple on week days is not possible, one can visit it on 24 sundays and can light 108 ghee lamps from morning 11-12am or 4.30 to 6.00 pm.

Location: To reach this temple, one has to travel on the Mayiladuthurai - Taragambadi road and has to turn into the road which branches off from the main road to Poompuhar. The temple is 2 Kms from this road junction. This sivasthalam is at a distance of about 16 Kms from Sirkazhi and about 20 Kms. from Mayiladuthurai. This temple is located near Melayur on the bus route Seerkazhi to Kaviripoompattinam.

Temple Address & Contact Details:

Sri Valampurinathar Temple,
Melaperumpallam,
Thiruvalampuram,
Mayiladuthurai Taluk,
Nagapattinam district,
Pin code: 609 304.
Phone: +91- 4364 - 200 890, 200 685.