Goddess : Ilamulaiambikai
Muruga : Shanmugar
Vinayaka : Nardana Vinayaka
Holy tree : Palm tree
Holy water: Manasa Theertham
Hymns : Thevaram
Place: Cheyyaru
Old name: Thiruvothur
District: Thiruvannamalai
History
Othu means Vedas. It is here that the Lord taught the Vedas to the Rishis and Devas. Hence the name Othur. Adding an adjective Thiru, the place is called Thiruvothur. The temple is devoted to Lord Vedapuresswarar who came here and imparted his spiritual knowledge regarding the Vedas.Thirugnanasambandar sang 11 hyms and brought in fertility to the palm trees here. They are yielding well now-a-days and by Gods grace palm tree is still growing here. Those who eat the fruits are cured of infertility and get children and cured of diseases. Arunagirinathar, a devotee of Lord Muruga worshipped the Lord in this temple.
Vedapureeswarar temple is an ancient temple, formerly kown as Vedanadeshwarar temple sits on the northern banks of the Cheyyar River. Cheyyar was previously known as Thiruvothur which is in Tiruvannamalai District near Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. Travelling time from Chennai would be approximately 2hrs 30mins. This is one of the padal petra sthalam, by legend Thirugnana Sambandar. The Ancient name for Cheyyar River is Seiyaru with the meaning of the river created for a child to play.There is also an ancient temple - Pattchieeswarar temple and another ancient Temple - PATHALA VINAYAGAR KOVIL. Yet another temple is the ANJANEEYAR KOVIL (near the CHEYYAR SUB COURT).
History says that Goddess Parvathi (Balakusalambigai or Ilamulainayagi) made a line on the earth's surface with her Trisul to make a river for her son, Lord Muruga to play.
Prayers:
Devotees are relieved from depression. Performing Abishekam to the Nagalingam here ensures a progeny. The palm fruits of the holy tree (palm tree) has proved to be an effective medicine for infertility. The effect of the fruit is proved even by foreigners asking for it and they are sent to other countries also. The Nagalingam is formed above Bhumadevi, a fish above her, a tortoise above, 11 elephants above, 11 serpents above, a Linga above them and 11 serpent heads above that. Those who worship Saturn here each Saturday between 9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. (Rahu Kalam) are relieved of the anger of the serpents (Naga dosha). The main deity Vedapureeswarar blesses His devotees all peace and happiness. People come here for employment chances, business development, promotions in offices and other material gains.
Devotees perform Kalayana Utsavam (marriage festival for the Lord and His Consort), offer snake jewel (Nagabaranam), ghee for the temple lamps, perform abisheks with milk, curd, oil, tender coconut, sacred ash, rose water, sandal paste, offer cloths to the deities, feeding the visiting devotees. During Adi Puram and Krtuhika month the Goddess and the Lord are bathed in Pot water and Sangu (Kalasabishekam and Conch pouring). The devotees also prepare Nivedhanas to the Gods through the temple and distribute it to the visitors.
The Palm Tree: This is the tree that speaks volumes about the temple. The tree did not yield fruits at all and was infertile. The hymns of Gnanasambandar cured the tree of infertility and was converted to a female tree and is still speaking the glory for more than a century.
The other speciality of the temple is that the Nandhi is not facing the Lord but the opposite direction. While the Lord was teaching Vedas to the Devas, the Nandhi was monitoring the place so that nobody enters and create any disturbance to the teaching diverting the attention of the Sishyas. The other story is that that the Lord was encouraging Thondaiman to proceed against his enemies and sent Nandhi for his assistance.
The great speciality of the temple is that one will be able to have the dharsan of the Lord, Goddess, Lord Muruga, Lord Ganapathy and the Palm tree standing in a single place which is not possible in other temples.
Reputation:
There are 8 entrances for the temple and the devotees can reach the Moolavar from any entrance. Sun rays fall on the presiding deity and very specially on the Ratha Sapthami day. There are separate Sannidhis for the Panchabhudas. The temple has 11 hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar. The Goddess holds the Rudraksha Mala in one hand, a lotus bud in the other, one allaying the fears of devotees and one offering blessings.
General Information:
It is 33 Kms from Kancheepuram, 33 kms from Arani, 33 kms from Arcot, 34 kms from Vandavasi. Private lodges are available in Cheyyaru charges ranging from Rs. 200 to 400. Hotels are available in Thiruvannamalai, the ditrict capital. Hotel Akash, Phone No. 22151, Hotel Lodge, 23291, Hotel Brindavan, 22693, Hotel Dhoumagal, 22208 charges ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 5,000 Buses are available to Cheyyaru from Chennai, Thiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Nearest railway station is Kancheepuram and the airport Chennai.
Important Festivals:
10 days Brammotsavam with street processions and Kailash Darshan festival for Ravaneswaran on the last day, Laksha deepam (One lakh deepas) Festivals for Gnanasambandar and Sundarar, Monthly Deepa Puja for the Goddess, Abishek to the palm tree each Tamil Month, Deepavali, Tamil and English New Years day and Pongal are the days of festivity in the temple.
Unique Features:
This ancient temple enshrines Vedapureeswarar - Shiva and has been sung by the Saivite Saint Poets. It has a 1000 pillared hall, and some unique works of sculpture.
This temple has a few unique distinctions. The Nandi, which usually faces the Shiva Lingam, is facing the opposite direction. One can also worship all the Pancha Bootha (lingams) in this temple.
