Moolavar : Veeratteswar, Kruthivasar
Amman / Thayar : Iangilai Nayaki
Old year : More than 2000 years old
Historical Name : Tharuka Vanam
City : Thiruvaluvoor, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. Of the Atta Veera sthalas, this temple is the sixth in the rank. This is the only Shiva temple where devotees can have the Feet Darshan of Lord.
There are five wells in the holy spring-theerthas of the temple known as Pancha Mukha wells. In his celebrated hymns, Saint Tirugnana Sambandar had made special mention about this temple. Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Selva Vinayaka.
Majority of the devotees seek wedding and child boons from the Lord. People use to bathe in the holy spring in Lord’s shrine on new moon days and pray for removal of evil effects on their children. Lord Gaja Samhara Murthi is the special Lord of the temple. A Yantra is installed behind this shrine where people pray for total release from spells and witchcrafts and other such evil magic. People praying to presiding deity Kruthivasar are blessed with mental peace. People also pray for employment, progress in trade and profession, promotions also.
Devotees perform archanas to Lord after having a bath in the holy spring on new moon day-Amavasya. Those seeking wedding boon offer Kalyana Malai with conch and Kalasa abisheks. They also cover Lord with sandal paste. Abisheks are offered in rice flour, turmeric, cosmetic powder, oil, milk, curd, green coconut, panchamirtha, lime fruit juice, honey and sandal mixtures. Some devotees arrange Annadhana-feeding, distribute nivedhana offered to Lord to other devotees and perform usual abishek and aaradhanas.
Lord Gaja Samhara Murthi is praised as the Special Lord of the temple. The idol-sculpture is so realistic showing the tearing of the elephant (Gaja) keeping His feet on its head and wearing its skin. The idol is huge in size. Mother Uma is holding Her child Lord Muruga in fear. Lord Muruga as a child points His finger on Lord.
Pancha Brahmma Thertham (spring) is in between the Lord and Nandhi. People bathe here for child boon. Saraswathi Theertham blesses the devotees with wisdom and high education. Yantra Pratishta is behind Lord Gaja Samhara Murthi as the Rahasya Pratishta in Chidambaram. Samahara Murthi graces from the Gnana Sabha-Court of Wisdom. The feet darshan of Lord Shiva is available to devotees in this temple only.
Sani Bhagwan in the temple appears fighting with King Vikrama Raja. Defeated by Sani, the king fell in the theertha the holy spring. Bathing in the spring, the king worshipped Lord for relief. Sani Bhagwan sought the pardon of Lord. His leg got damaged. There is a separate shrine for Sani in the temple holding a bow.
The structure of the temple is different here. It begins from Nandhi followed by a tank, then the sanctum sanctorum. Of the nine dances of Lord Shiva, Gaja Samhara dance is praised as Oordhva Thandava.
48,000 sages had performed penance in this place gaining wisdom. Of the Theerthas in the temple, the one before Lord’s shrine known as Patala Ganga or Eesana Theertham is praised as the most sacred in the temple.
As the place eluded (Vazhuvudhal in Tamil) destruction by pralaya floods, the place is called Vazhuvur. The name in scriptures is Tharuka Vanam.
The sages in the Tharukavanam grew proud that no divine grace was required as every thing they get came from their penance and own power. Their wives too shared their opinion. To teach them a lesson and erase their pride, Lord Shiva came there as a Bikshadana the beggar and Lord Vishnu as an enticing woman. The sages lost themselves at the sight of the Mohini and their wives on Lord Shiva’s handsomeness. Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva created Aiyanar and disappeared. Realizing that they were cheated, they performed a yajna and brought out Fire, tiger, deer, axe snakes, demon Muyalaga to attack Lord Shiva. Failed in their attempts, they finally created a wild elephant to kill Him. Lord Bikshadana entered into the belly of the elephant. The world became dark. Mother held Lord Muruga in fear. Lord churned the belly of the elephant which cried aloud unable to bear the pain. He came out dancing tearing its belly. The sages fell at the feet of Lord and sought His pardon. As Lord Shiva killed the Gaja-elephant, He is praised as Gaja Samhara Murthi.
