Monday, February 18, 2008

Vallakkottai Sri Subramanyar

Vallakkottai is about 50 kms from Chennai and about 12 kms South of Sriperumbudur.

This small village houses a beautiful temple with presiding deity as Sri Subramanyar along with Sri Valli and Sri Devasena.

The main deity is about 7 ft tall and such tall murthy for Lord Muruga is not seen in any other Murugan temple in this country. This temple is over 1200 years old.

According to temple legend, a king called Bagirathan was ruling a place called Chalankondapuram. Sage Naradha once visited this king and the king didn’t offer any due respect to Naradha. Naradha, who got angry with him, saw an Asura (demon) called Goran, on his way in the forests, who was doing Dhig Vijayam to various territories to defeat various kings.

Naradha advised Goran that his trip would be fulfilled only if he defeats Bagirathan. Goran took Saint Naradha’s words and defeated Bagirathan. Bagirathan lost all his kingdom and started wandering in the forests. One day he met Saint Naradha on his way. He apologized and prayed the saint to show him the way to gain back his kingdom. Saint Naradha directed him to meet Dhurvasa Rishi to get back what he lost. Bagirathan with much pain went and met Dhurvasar, who asked him to fast on Fridays and worship Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree to gain back the kingdom.

Bagirathan formed a temple for Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree and started worshipping. After his sincere prayers, Goran, who captured his kingdom, met Bagirathan and handed it back to him.

The place where Bagirathan made a temple for Lord Muruga near Paadhiri tree is Vallakkottai.

Vallakkottai is named after a king called Vallan, who was ruling this part of the country and was atrocious to everyone. Everyone including Devas took refuge in Lord Muruga who fought a battle with Vallan and defeated him. Vallan realized his sins and apologized. He also prayed God that the place should be called after his name. From then this place was known as Vallan Kottai which later corrupted as Vallakkottai.

This place also has references by the name Kodai Nagar and Lord Muruga as Kodai Aandavar.

Once Lord Indra wanted to worship Lord Muruga and he requested Deva Guru Sri Brahaspathi to guide him to the right place. He was directed to Vallakkottai. He came here and made a pond out of his weapon Vajraayudham and performed Abishegam to the Lord. As Vajraayudham was used to create the pond, the Theertham here is called Vajra Theertham.

Arunagirinathar who was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga once visited Thirupporur temple near Chennai. After his dharshan there, he wanted to go to Thiruthani for having dharshan of Lord Muruga the next day. He rested at Thirupporur temple for the night and Lord Muruga appeared in his dream and asked him “how did you forget to visit me at Vallakkottai?”

Arunagirinathar came here to Vallakkottai before proceeding to Thiruthani. He had stayed here and sung about 8 Thiruppugazhs praising the Lord here.

In his Thiruppugazh, Arunagirinathar mentions this place as Kodai Nagar.

Other deities of this temple are Sri Vinayagar, Utsava Murugar, Sri Shanmugar and Sri Ambaal. The Mayil Vaahana is seen near the Bali peetam outside the sanctum.

There is a beautiful Dwajasthambha on the praakaaram, has lovely carvings of Lord Muruga and Vinayagar.

There are also some beautiful sculptures on the pillars of Ardha Mandapam like Thapas Kamakshi (as in Maangaadu), Sri Rama embracing Sri Anjaneyar etc.

Auspicious occasions like Skandha Sashti, Sura Samharam, Aadi Krithgai, Masi Krithigai, Tamil New Year’s day and Thaippoosam are celebrated well in this temple.

11 comments:

  1. Very interesting. Again, I am fascinated by the depth and breadth of your knowledge. Do you read up about these temples before visiting them, or do you learn these details by talking to people at the temple? You should think of compiling all this into a book.
    Kamini

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  2. Respected Saravanan Sir,
    I take this as my pleasure to convey my heart felt thanks to know more about "Vallakotai". Yes I visited this temple during june 2006 for the first time. and I wondered how nice to stay there permanently as a resident. Today, after having blessed to see your great works on this temple, I feel the same again. Million thanks to you.

    L S S Subramanian
    New Delhi, 25-2-2008,\.

    ReplyDelete
  3. this is also a nice temple....
    Many devotees are taking Padhayathirai from Chennai.
    Thx Mr.Saravanan... for bring out such nice temples here.
    Saravanan, have you seen a small temple near the main temple.. near the tank???
    AnBuDaN
    N.Jayakumar

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  4. Hi Raj

    Someone recently told me to visit on the midnight of pre-kirthigai, that is bharani to have my wishes fulfilled. Never knew about this temple before. Just am going thru your blogspot and am plannning to visit in a couple of days in the night. Do you think it will be open? Anyhow thanks for the guidance here. You must have been a few selected soule by the gods to do this type of lasting work for the world to see.
    Warm Regards
    S V Ramakrishnan

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  5. Wonderful Info's. Keep it Going!If you can include temple timings and phone numbers also in your archives it'll help a lot.

    Seshadri.T.V

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dr.Kaliappan and Dr.KanthimathiMonday, January 11, 2010 12:48:00 PM

    Sir,13th jan,2010 ,we arevisiting the Temple, very many thanks forthe rich infomation. 11-01-2010

    ReplyDelete
  7. dear saravanan,
    you are doing a yeoman service to elders like us to visit temples and pray from our home
    very many thanks
    bhilai gopalan

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi,

    Thanks. How to go to this temple. I am in Chennai. can i catch a local train and go till chengalpattu and from ther on, how should I go?

    Thanks,
    suresh.

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