The Thiruvaheendrapuram Sthala Puranam & an appeal

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Dear Prapatti Members,

 

Srimathe Tharanga Mugha Nandini Hemambja Nayaki Samedha

Sri Devanatha Parabrahmane Namaha.

 

Sri Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha.

 

 

Thiruvaheendrapuram, situate 5 kms west of Cuddalore, the historical

coastal city, is one among the two "Nadunattu Thirupathigal" among the

108 Divya Desams sanctified by the visit of Alwars. The temple of

Lord Devanatha is flanked by the inspring Oushadagiri, a herbal drop

on the Lap of Time from the hands of speeding Anjaneya to the

battlefield of Lanka and the serpentine holy river Garudanadhi. The

importance of this sthala has found place in many Puranas.

 

Thirumangai Alwar has hailed the Presiding Deity of this temple as the

Godhead of Trinity viz. Siva Brahma and Vishnu ( Moovarahiya Oruvan).

True to the appellation of "Adiyavarku Meiyan" Lord Devanatha's charm

and sakthi attract thousands of pilgrims day in and day out from

all over the country.

 

The structure and inscriptions found in the temple bear testimony to

the association of later Pallavas, Chola and Pandya dynasty rules.

 

Since the place was constructed by Aheendran ( Adhisesha), it is called

Aheendrapuram. The waterbody brought up by Garuda flows as Garudanadhi

whereas the one brought by Adisesha is available as Sesha Theertham.

Legend has it that when Lord Devanatha was feeling thirsty he asked for

water. Garuda made Garudanadhi by ploughing the earth with his beak

and Adisesha did so by carving the earth. Adisesha was first to come

back with water and the Lord quenched his thirst with that. On seeing

this Garuda was sad and to cheer him up, the Lord chose water from

Garudanadhi from Thirumanjanam and from Sesha theertham for nivedhanam.

People offer pepper,salt, milk, honey, turmeric and others into this

Sesha Theertham as part of their prayers and still it is indeed a divine

wonder that the water is used for preparing the daily nivedhanam to the Lord.

 

 

To the Vaishnavites, the very mention of thei Sthala conjured up the

diving figure of Vedantha Desikar (1268-1370 AD) who spent eventful

years here. Born in Thoopul near Kanjeepuram with the blessings of

Lord Venkatesa, he blossomed into a peerless sage in this sacred

divyadesam.

 

Lord Devanatha gravitated him to this Sthala where he performed Tapas

on Oushadagiri and invoked Garuda who initiated him to Hayagriva

Mantra. Uniquely peculiar to this place is a separate shrine for Lord

Hayagriva, the God of learning - an Avatar of Lord Vishnu with Horse

Face. Blessed with the effulgent vision of Lord Hayagriva, Sri

Desikar composed monumental works in Sanskrit, Tamil and Manipravala

in praise of Lord Hayagriva, Lord Devanatha, Lord Rama and Lord Rajagopala

in this temple elucidating the Vishitadvaidic philosophy and making it

invincible. Some of the works of this great Acharya include Hayagriva

Sthothram,Garuda Panchasath, Devanatha Panchasat,Achchutha

Sathakam( Prakrutham), Raghu Veera Gadhyam ( also known as

Mahaveera Vaibhavam), Gopala Vimsathi,Mummani Kovai (Tamil), and

Navarathna Malai (Tamil).

 

The place where Swami Desikan lived here in Thiruvaheendrapuram is

preserved as Desikan Thiru Maaligai. The vigraham of Swami Desikan that

graces the public was made by Swami Desikan himself and a well

constructe4 by Swami Desikan to show that he is indeed "Saravatantra

Swathanthrar" ( a title conferred upon him by Sri Ranganachchiyar) is

still there in the Thiru Maaligai.

 

 

Some details on the temple.

 

(P.S. I have tried to transliterate the names and it may be prone to

errors. Please forgive me for errors)

 

Moolavar: Devanthan - Deivanayakan - Facing East - Standing Posture.

 

Uthsavar: Achchuthan, Sthirajyothis Aneka Jyothis,Mevu Jyothi,Vevinai

Marundhu, Moovarahiya Oruvan, Moovarahiya Moorthi,

Adiyavarku Meiyan, Devanathan, Vibhuthanathan, Dasasathyan,

Deivanayakan, Dvishannathan, Vaikundanathan, Vasudevan.

 

Swami Desikan exclaims that "Nin Vadivazhagai Maravaadaar

Piravaadhare" (Those who don't forget your divine beauty

are indeed birthless). Considered as elder to Lord Venkatesa at

Thirupathi and offerings to Lord Venkatesa can also be done

here.

 

 

Thaayaar: Hemabujavalli, Ambhuruvasini, Hemabjanayika, Bhargavi,

Tharanga mugha Nandini, Sengamala valli, Vaikunda Nayaki,

Mahavara Prasadhini.

 

 

Prathyaksham: Chandran performed Pooja here. Garuda, Brahma, Shiva,

Indra, Bhoomadevi, Brughu, Markandeya Maharishi,Thatheesi

worshipped the Lord here. To show that He himself is the

the Trinity to a Chola King who was going on a demolition

spree of Vaishnavite temples, the Lord has the Padhmam,

Jadai,Third eye in the forehead,and Panchayutham.

Thirumangai Alwar Mangalasasanam. (1148-57).

 

 

Other Sannidhis: Chakravarthi Thirumagahan Sri Raman (Raghuveera

gadhyam mangala sasan by Swami Desikan), Sri Venugoplan

(Gopala Vimsathi), Chakrathalwar,Pallikonda Perumal,

Sri Rajagoplan, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan, Aheendrapuranathan,

Aandal, Garudan (Garuda Panchasat) Vishwaksenar,

Alwars, Acharyars,Swami Desikan. The Hayagriva vigraham

worshipped by Swami Desika graces the devotees in the

Devanatha Sannidhi. At the foothills, Sri Anjaneya

Sanndidhi is there facing North. Atop the hill,

Lakshmi Hayagrivar, Yoga Hayagrivar,Yoga Narasimhar,

Venugoplan, Garudan are all present in the Hayagrivar

Sannidhi.

 

 

Vimanam: Sudhdha Saiva Vimanam, Chandra Vimanam.

 

Theerthas: Garuda Theertham and Sesha theertham at the foot of

the hill and Brahma Theertham, Bhoomi Theertham and Thayar

Thirukularm atop the hill.

 

 

Pooja : Performed according to the Vaikanasa Agama. All the six

kala poojas are performed. Vedaparayana-Adhyavaka goshtis

are performed.

 

 

The Brahmatsavam for Lord Devanatha is held every year during the month

of Chithra and for Swami Desikan during the month of Purattasi. But

there will be some form of Utsavam going round the year in this

historic temple. The other important ones being Vaikunda Ekadashi

festival during the Margazhi-Thai months extending for 30 days, Masi-

Makam (sea bath) at Devanam Pattinam and Adi Pooram festival.

 

 

AN APPEAL.

 

The last Samprokshanam to the temple was performed on 17-May-1972.

Now, a committee has been formed to perform renovation of all Vimanas,

Gopurams, Mantapams, renewal of flooring, provision of drinking water

and pilgrim shelter and other amenities at a cost of Rs. 10.5 lakhs.

The committe appeals for donation from the public for this noble

cause.

 

The committee is confident that Lord Devanatha, Lord Hayagriva and Swami

Desikan will spur the devotees and the philonthropists of our hoaryland

to contribute liberally for the abovesaid work and bless them

copiously.

 

The contributions may be sent to the Executive Officer/Secretary and

Treasurer, A/M Devanthaswamy Tiruppani Committee, Thiruvaheendrapuram,

Cuddalore 607 401, India.

 

 

AdiYen,

 

 

Venkatesan N R