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TEMPLES

13 Oct 2021

Vadhaanyeswarar temple
(
Vathanyeswarar temple)

Vathanyeswarar temple dedicated to Lord Siva is located in Mayiladuthurai (also known as Mayavaram or Mayuram), originally a part of Nagai district. The Ambal is Sri Gnanambikai.  The temple is also known as Vallalar koil.
Vathaanyam means one who gives in abundance.  Vallal also means the same.  

There is a Nandi in the shrine of Sri Medha Dakshinamurthy (Medhaa).  Nandi Deva is said to have been Dakshinamurthy's chief student / disciple here.

Legends
Nandi Deva is said to have been vain and conceited that he was so great and strong to be able to carry Lord Siva.  To teach him a lesson, Siva dropped a single hair off his matted locks.  Unable to bear the weight of this single hair, Nandi begged forgiveness and prayed to the Lord to bless him with his Gyaana upadesam (divine enlightenment).  Nandi Deva following Siva's guidance bathed in the holy Thula Kattam, (the mouth of the river Cauvery) and worshipped Lord Vadhaanyeswarar.  There is an idol of Nandi Devar doing tapas in Thula Kattam river.

The rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi had been polluted and the three river Devis prayed to Kasi Viswananthar, who bade them to bathe in Thula Katta Cauvery for the whole Thamizh month of Aippasi and worship him.  With the guidance of sage Durvasa, they reached Mayiladuthurai and worshipped as instructed.  On Aippasi new moon day (amavasai) the Lord gave darshan as Sri Medha Dakshinamurthy and blessed them so that they were rid of their impurities. Lord Siva adorned his locks with the Ganga again.  Because of this, he is also called "Ganga anugraha Sri Medha Dakshinamurthy". Every Aippasi new moon day, devotees gather to take a holy dip here.

Another story associated with this temple is that of Deva guru Brihaspati.  Once, he is said to have lost his Guru position due to a dosham.  He rid himself of his dosham by worshipping the Dakshinamurthy in this temple.  Hence, this temple is also considered a Guru Parihara Sthalam.

Reference : M.Raghavan, Sakthi Vikatan, Nov 2019