Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Ramagiri Sri Vaaleeswarar

Ramagiri village is situated in Andhrapradesh, about 95 kms northwest of Chennai, enroute to Puthur from Uthukkottai after crossing Suruttuppalli and Nagalapuram, on the right hand side.

This small yet beautiful temple is situated under a small hill amidst picturesque view.

The deity here is Sri Vaaleeswarar and Goddess Sri Maragadhambikai.

Lord Shiva has 5 faces; Isaanam, Thathpurusham, Vaamadhevam, Sathyojaatham and Agoram. There are 5 Shiva temples (called Pancha Brahma Sthalams) near Chennai, representing each of the 5 faces of the Lord. Out of 5, this temple represents the Isaana face of Lord Shiva.

The other 4 being Aarani Sri Sampangi Pitchaaleeswarar (Vamadhevam), Suruttuppalli Sri Pallikondeeswarar (Thathpurusham), Ariyathurai Sri Varamoortheeswarar (Sathyojaatham) and Karungaali Sri Chinthaamaneeswarar (Agoram). Interestingly, these entire 5 temples lie on the banks of Brahmaranya (Arani) river, till the river merges into the ocean at Karungaali.

Though this is a Shiva temple, the Pradhana Murthy (Primary Deity) here is Sri Kala Bhairavar, also called as Santhaana Praapthi Bhairavar.

Here Sri Bhairavar is worshipped by childless couples to be blessed to get a baby. Many childless couples perform pooja here and are blessed with a child.

There is an interesting story behind this temple. In Ramayana, after defeating Ravana, Rama reached Rameswaram, on his way to Ayodhya. As he killed Ravana, he was caught by Brahmahathi Dhosha. One will suffer from this Dhosha, if he kills a Brahmin. Ravana, though being a demon king, was a Brahmin as he was born to a Rishi. Rama was advised by His Guru Sage Vasishtar to get a Shiva Lingam from Kaasi (Varanasi) and perform poojas to Lord Shiva to get relieved from the Dhosha, so that he can proceed to Ayodhya to take charge as the king.

Rama took his Guru’s advice and sent Anjaneya (Hanuman) to bring a Shiva Lingam from Kaasi Kshethra. Anjaneya took the order of his master and went to Kaasi and brought a Shiva Lingam.

On his way back, he was passing through this place called Kaalinga Madu Karai or Thirukkaarikkarai, where Lord Kala Bhairavar was present. Kala Bhairavar saw Anjaneya with the Shiva Linga and wanted Lord Shiva to take abode in His place here. He wanted to play a trick for His dream to come true. He requested Lord Surya (Sun God) and Vaayu (God of Air) for cooperation. Suddenly Sun started shining heavily emitting high temperature and dry wind blew all over. Anjaneya became thirsty because of this act. He landed up there and saw a boy wandering with his cows who was Lord Kala Bhairava in disguise.

He enquired the boy for any water source nearby. Lord Kala Bhairava prayed to Mother Ganga (Ganges) and a water pond hit Anjaneya’s sight. Anjaneya requested the small boy to hold the Shiva Lingam till he comes back as it should not be kept on the ground. The boy agreed and while Anjaneya was quenching his thirst, the boy told Anjaneya, that the Shiva Lingam was too heavy for him to hold anymore and kept it on the ground and went off.

Anjaneya came back and saw the Shiva Lingam on the ground. He tried lifting hit but he couldn’t. He roped around the Shiva Lingam with his lengthy tail and tried to pull it up using all his strength. The Shiva Lingam tilted a bit but never came off the ground. Anjaneya realized that it is impossible to lift it and started to Kaasi again to bring another Shiva Lingam for Lord Rama. When he started, he felt that the atmosphere was normal. Suddenly, the heat of the Sun came down and there was cold breeze. He understood that it was a trick played by someone.

Out of anger, he cursed the pond to become a hill. The pond became the hill here, on which a Murugan Temple is situated now. The Shiva Lingam which was brought by Lord Anjaneyar is situated in the temple at the foot hill.

As Anjaneya brought the Shiva Lingam here, which was meant for Rama, the place came to be known as Ramagiri.
Since Anjaneya tried to pull the Shiva Lingam with his tail, the Lord here is called as Vaaleeswarar. (Vaal means Tail in Tamil & Vaalam is the Sanskrit word for tail)

This beautiful temple is under Archeology department of Andhrapradesh now.

Here even today, the Shiva Lingam is seen in a tilted position towards North, as it was pulled by the tail of Hanuman. Also there are marks of the tail on this Shiva Lingam.

Another unique feature of this temple is Lord Anjaneya is present in front of the sanctum between the deity and the Nandhi facing Lord Shiva in a praying gesture. Such Shiva temple is not seen anywhere else.

The temple pond which is situated in front of the temple, is called Nandhi Theertham. There is a small Shiva Lingam with a Nandhi nearby. Nandhi’s front half is seen protruding from the wall of the pond. The water originating somewhere from the hill, reaches a small well and from there it passes and comes through this Nandhi’s mouth and flows into the pond. Native villagers say that they have never seen this water flow stop, since their memory. Also they are not sure about the source from where the water reaches Nandhi.


Also one can see Sri Bhairavar only in the praakaarams of Shiva Temples. But here, Sri Kaala Bhairavar has a separate shrine located in such a way that one has to visit Him first before proceeding for the dharshan of Lord Shiva.

As the Shiva Linga here is brought by Anjaneyar from Kaasi, it is said that by worshipping Sri Vaaleeswarar here, one gets the benefit of worshipping Lord Shiva of Kaasi.

Sivaraathri and Pradhosham days are celebrated well here.

20 comments:

  1. Nice Writeup. Ever since I heard about this temple, I was eager to see a photo of the Nandhi from whose mouth, water is coming out perennially. I got it with the proper comments, thanks. Also, as I told in my Blog, http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/visit-to-ariyathurai-sri-varamoortheeswarar-temple/
    this temple is one of the five faces of Lord Shiva. 1) Ramagiri alias Thiru Arikarai - Ishana face
    2) Pallikondeswaram alias Suruttapalli - Tatpurusha face
    3) Vamadhevapuram alias Arani near Periyapalayam (not North Arcot) - Vamadheva face.
    4) Varamoorthy Kshethram alias Ariyathurai - Sadhyojatha face
    South Gokaranam alias 5) Chinthamaneeswaram - Kattur near Minjur, the place where Brahma Aranya river merges with sea represents Aghora face of Lord Shiva.

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  2. hi,

    even i went to this temple and it is marvelous. One thing u forgot to mention is that the nandhi theertham has medicinal value for those who are suffering from nervous problems. If you visit this temple in future, do carry some theerth for ur family and friends.

    Kala Bhairavar is powerful.

    Karthikeyan.

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  3. Very Interesting and useful info. Keep it up.

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  4. Dear Saravanan,

    The information on Ramagiri is very useful. The photographs added to the blog is awe-inspiring.I hope you will publish more Indian temples in the near future.

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  5. THE INFORMATION ARE VERY MUCH USEFUL,I USED TO GO TO SIVA TEMPLES ON SIVARATHIRI. THIS TIME I WENT TO SURUTTAPALI ON 12 th OF THIS MONTH. THERE I CAME TO KNOW FROM ONE OF THE TEMPLE STAFF ABOUT RAMAGIRI TEMPLE. THEN I WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND FOUND THE NEAR BY VILLAGE PEOPLE CELIBRATING SIVARATHIRI BY CONDECTING DRAMAS AND BAJANS. THE TEMPLE IS VERY OLD BUT NOT MAINTAIND PROPERLY.I FELT VERY BAD SUCH A ANCIANT AND HISTORICAL TEMPLE IS NOT MAINTAINED IN GOODWAY.I SAW THE NANDI IN THE WALL OF THE POND,THE WATER COMING OUT FROM NANDIS MOUTH IS VERY CLEAR BUT THE WATER IN THE POND IS NOT.I JUST WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TEMPLES LIKE RAMAGIRI.THANKS MR SARAVANAN

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  6. hi this temple is very nic i'll go tha temple

    I am Ramesh Rajesh

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  7. Ramesh From Ramagiri

    this my cell namber +91 9640720904

    this my Mail id rameyramesh@yahoo.com

    any person u'll com to temple condact for

    my namber

    tx my frnd

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  8. very sweet now only i know the full details about this temple thanks a lot

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  9. I went to the temple twice.wonderful place.A calm place with divine atmosphere.

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  10. There is a 108 Shivalaya at Papanasam near Swamimalai in Tanjore dist / Tamilnadu which has
    108 separate (big) lingams in one temple. Here
    Rama, on the way back from Rameswaram, worshipped Shiva to get rid of the curse that was following him even after worshipping at Rameswaram. He instructed Anjaneya to bring a lingam from Kasi and since it was getting delayed, Rama made lingams from river sand and started worshipping. Anjaneya brought the lingam late and his lingam is kept separately in a shrine called Hanumantha lingam. Persumably, Anjaneya's first lingam got stuck in Ramagiri and so he had to go to Kasi again and bring another lingam. See how the legend of Papanasam and Ramagiri go along very well. It just proves that temple legends are not (cooked-up) stories.

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  11. can anyone advise whether there is a aghora shiva temple in or around chennai

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  12. Thousands of thanks for sharing this useful information about the temple at Ramagiri. The informations so nicely explained makes one to feel to rush to this temple immediateoly. I will do so in the near future.

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  13. IT IS VERY IMPORTATANT TO NOTE THAT TEMPLE TIMINGS ARE FROM 8.00 a.m. TO 11.45 a.m. AND THEREAFTER FROM 3.00 p.m. TO 5.45 p.m.

    THE TEMPLE WOULD BE CLOSED BEFORE SUNSET.

    IT IS VERY SPECIAL ON ASHTAMI DAYS. ABHISHEKAM TO KALA BAIRAVAR WOULD BE PERFORM ON THAT DAYS AT 8.00 a.m. IN A VERY NICE MANNER. PLEASE VISIT ON THOSE DAYS AND GET THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD.

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  14. Hello Saravanan-
    You're to us what Shekizhar was to Saivaism. Merely going through the mythology behind each temple on this site itself will enlighten one spiritually. But here you are, having visited in person, so having your darshan alone will rid one of all sins. You're the reincarnation of one of the Nalvars.

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  15. Vaaleeswarar swamy is not Anjeneya but Vaali. Vaali while passing here saw this Swayembu Lingam and wanted to lift it but could not. He used his tail and trying so he fell tired exhausted and could not get up. On his prayer to Lord Shiva, shiva came disguised as gypsy with dogs and taught him how to regain his energy. Since there was no water for him to drink Lord Shiva asked Nandi to get water for him. Nandi fetched water then gushed the water through his mouth for Vaali to drink and regain strength.

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  16. Last line seems to worng. Pradhosam is not celebrated her due to Hanuman Statue placed between Lingam and Nandhi

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  17. saravanan sir, very nice. i am srinivasan from chennai one of the visitor to this great Ramagiri temple from 2006 ( if not mistaken) with family at least once a year. no words to describe the beauty of the temple,place and the power of the deities. just today only i visited your site and since i know this temple i visited this first. i am hopeful i will enjoy the other places also.
    kindly note, i also have the same idea and visiting best possible old temples and your site i think will be of great help to me. tks. my mobile 9884383358 for what it is worth

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  18. Thanks for the write up, now I got to know the sthala puranam, yesterday i've been there and had dharshan of Bhairavar, Vaaleeswarar, Marakathambikaa, Hanuman and had nandhi theertham , it was a great experience. It would be great some one refurbish Siva lingham sannadhi nearby pushkarani.

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  19. Thanks for the write up, yesterday I've been there and had dharshan of Bhairavar, Vaaleeswarar, Marakathambika, Hanuman and had Nandhi theertham. It was a great experience, now I got to know the the sthala puranam.

    It would be geat some one refurbish Sivalingam sannidhi near by pushkarani, this sannidhi almost in the edge of life.

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