SRI VAANCHIYAM - Siva Temple
near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu
The Ganges is considered a holy
river. A dip in the Ganges is said to cleanse the devotee of all
his sins.
Ganga Devi, the river Goddess prayed
to Lord Siva to rid herself of all the sins that she had thus collected.
Lord Siva directed her to Sri Vaanchiyam, which is situated on the way
to Kumbakonam, Nannilam Nagapattinam, about 1 km from Acchuthamangalam.
Ganga Devi is said to have bathed in the Gupta Gangai, the theertham in
this temple & rid herself of her sins.
The Lord is Sri Vaanchinaathar.
Brahma, Vishnu, Indran, Suryan, Yaman, Bairavar, Agni & other Gods
& Devas have worshipped Lord Siva at this sthalam & got his blessings.
The great saints Gautamar, Jamadakni,
Kaachiyabar, Athri, Viswamitrar, Baradwaajar, Vasishtar, Paraasarar, Vaalmiki,
and others have received the blessings of the Lord here.
There is a separate sannadhi for
Lord Yaman. Yama is the vahanam (vehicle) of Lord Siva at this temple.
Every year during the month of Maasi, on the day of the Baranai star, the
Lord is taken in procession on Yama vahanam. Devotees have to worship
Lord Yama first at this temple before getting the darshan of the other
Gods. Since Yaman is the Adi Devathai of Lord Saniswaran, obstacles
due to Lord Sani can be reduced by offering prayers to Lord Yama at this
temple.
This is also considered to be a shtalam
for Kethu Bhagavan. Rahu Bhagavan & Kethu Bhagavan give darshan
together. There is a separate sannadhi for Sani Bhagavan. Devotees
bathe in the Gupta Gangai & offer special prayers during Raahu &
Kethu Peyarchi.
The Chola, Pandya & Nayak rulers
have contributed to the temple. The saivite saints Thirugnanasambandar,
Thirunaavukarasar, Sundarar, Maanickavaasagar, Arunagirinathar, Raamalinga
Vallalaar, Muthuswami Dikshitar have sung the praise of this Lord.
|
