हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Vedapureeswarar Temple, Tiruvazhundur (Therazhundur)

The Shiva temple of the village where a chariot sank before Agastya, across the street from the Divya Desam of Amaruviappan. Sambandar sang it.

Built: Medieval and later Chola temple with a west-facing five-tiered gopuramWhere: Tamil Nadu (Mayiladuthurai district)Deity: Bhagwan Shiva as Vedapureeswarar; Devi as Soundaranayaki11.05° N, 79.59° E
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 4.0

01Where the chariot came down

Ther is a chariot and azhundu to sink. The temple’s katha says a king flying in a chariot given by Brahma was halted in the air over this spot and brought down; below sat Agastya in tapas, and his power had stopped it. Shiva here taught the Vedas as a Brahmin under a sandal tree, so He is Vedapureeswarar, and a small linga and Nandi still mark the tree in the eastern prakaram. Sambandar was guided to this temple by Vinayakar when he could not tell which shrine was Shiva’s, and that Vinayakar is called Vazhikaatti, the one who showed the way. The Archaeological Survey has documented door-jamb inscriptions of the 34th and 44th years of Kulottunga I.

Visiting

About 15 km from Mayiladuthurai, with regular buses. The Amaruviappan Divya Desam is to the west, and Kambar’s mound, an ASI site, is nearby.

Nearby

Devadirajan (Amaruviappan) Temple, Thiruvazhundur (Therazhundur)Standing
The Age of Great Kingdoms

Devadirajan (Amaruviappan) Temple, Thiruvazhundur (Therazhundur)

The village where a king’s flying chariot sank to the ground, and where Krishna is the cowherd lord surrounded by his cattle. Kamban, poet of the Tamil Ramayana, was born here.

Ukthavedeeswarar Temple, Tiruthuruthi (Kuthalam)Standing
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Ukthavedeeswarar Temple, Tiruthuruthi (Kuthalam)

The island shrine of the Kaveri where Shiva wed Parvati exactly as He had promised, and where Sundarar bathed and was made whole. All three Tevaram singers sang it.

Kalyanasundareswarar Temple, TiruvelvikudiStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Kalyanasundareswarar Temple, Tiruvelvikudi

Where the velvi, the sacred fire rites before the wedding of Shiva and Parvati, were performed. Sambandar and Sundarar sang it, and Chola queens and kings endowed it.

Airavateswarar Temple, Edirkolpadi (Mela Tirumananjeri)Standing
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Airavateswarar Temple, Edirkolpadi (Mela Tirumananjeri)

The place where the divine bridegroom was received, a short way from Tirumananjeri. Sundarar sang it, and families come here to pray for good matches.