SREE NETRAPRANESWARAR OF THIRUVEEZHIMIZHALAI NEAR THIRUVARUR
On 23rd February 2019, I was at Kumbakonam and from there I took a bus to Thenkarai (Thiruveezhimizhalai) on the way to Poonthootam in the morning. The temple is at a distance of 26 kms from Kumbakonam and 27 kms from Mayiladuthurai via Poonthottam and Thiruveezhimizhalai is 7kms from Poonthottam.
I had gone too early (at 7.30 AM and at the bus stop itself, there was a shop selling fresh flowers, though Malligai (Jasmine) was not available. The temple is around a kilometre from the Bus Stop and the temple is a big one with a large Teppakulam (Temple Tank) opposite to the Eastern entrance. Lot of parking space is available. People were cleaning the temple and told the Gurukkal was expected to come only at 08.30AM. But all prakarams could be reached and all those sannidhis the grilled door was closed but could have darshan.
TEMPLE COMPOUND
INSIDE PRAKARAM
The Mandapam in front of the entrance gopuram connects the temple tank. Also at the entrance, Appar and Gnanasambanthar's verses have been painted.
Temple Tank
This temple is unique in several ways as the raised mandapams have been named after month and week. The deity is also called as Mappillaisamy and the people around also call the temple as Periya Kovil. The place Thiruveezhimizhali got the name from Veezhi and Mizhalai. The place was once filled with tress of Jack fruit, vila, shenbagam and sandal collectively called as Veezhi forest. A hunter by name Mizhalai Kurumbar used to offer fruits from this vanam and pray lord. Lord Siva pleased with his devotion, taught him Ashtamasiddhi and the place also got the name Thiru+Veezhi+Mizhalai.
Varappadi (வாரப்படி) with 7 steps
Mathappadi (மாதப்படி) with 12 steps
There was severe drought once and Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) and Saint Thirugnanasambandar sang hymns in praise of the lord to overcome the drought (வாசி தீரவே காசு நல்குவீர்...) . Lord Siva came in their dreams and told he would give padikasu to feed the people. They were given Padikasu - Thirugnanasambanthar at the mandapam near entrance and appar at the western prakaram - and the people were fed with these given by the Lord himself. The present Ayyanpettai is the place where the sages exchanged the padikasus to materials and the temple here is Padialanthanayaki sametha Chettiyappar temple.
Thirugnanasambander gets Padikasu
Peedam, Padikasu to Appar
Lord Netrapraneswarar (நேத்ரபிராணேஸ்வரர்) is also called by the names: Sree Veezhi Azhakeesar (ஸ்ரீவீழிஅழகீசர்), Sree Veezhinathaswamy and Sree Kalyanasundaramurthy. Sage Kathyayana and his wife Sumangali were in penance here to get progeny and Lord pleased with the tapas, blesses them with a child and that was none other than Parvathi and she was named as Kathyayini. When she grew up and attained marriageable age, the Sage prayed to Lord Siva for a suitable groom for her. Responding to the prayers, the Lord appeared before him and said that he would marry his daughter as she was none other than Parvathi and would marry on the Tamil Month Chithirai (April-May) on a day with the star Magam. As said the wedding took place here and the sanctum here itself is a like Mandapam in a Marriage Hall with two pillars known "Arasanaikal" and "Panthakkal". The Lord also agreed to the wishes of the Sage to remain there in the sanctum in the marriage kolam to bless the devotees.
One more of the legend has it that Lord vishnu got the discus from Lord Siva here. It is said sthe Lord Vishnu's discuss (Chakrayutham) lost its sharpness upon hitting Sage Thatheesi and had become defunct. As told by devas, Lord Vishnu approached Lord Siva and got the one made by Lord Siva to destroy Chalandran. He brought the sanctum tower - Vinnizhi Vimanam- and placed the Lord Siva image and prayed. As Lord Vishnu prayed here with 1000 lotus flowers daily, Lord Siva took one of the flowers and Lord Vishnu plucked his eye and offered to make good the lost flower and Lord Siva appreciating the devout Vishnu restored the eye and called him as Kamalakannan and also gave the Chakrayutham. Saint Thirunavukkarasar has mentioned about the prayers of Lord Vishnu here in his hymn and Saint Thirugnanasambandar has refered to the sanctum tower, vimana, in his hymn.
The temple is also famous as people pray here to overcome fear of Yama. The story connected with that is - Swethaketu, the prince from North was predicted with early demise and he prayed Lord Siva here to overcome death at early age. At the appointed time, Yama took his life but the prince was holding the linga and praying at that time and yama pulled with his rope and thus Lord Siva appeared from the lingam and Yama was kicked and told that he cannot take the life when his devotees were praying on him. So the place is thronged by people to overcome yamabayam.
Sree Prananetreswarar Sannidhi Vimanam
Kalyanasundaramurthy - Mappillaisamy, Urchavar
As we come out of the first prakara, on the North Eastern side, there is a separate entrance to the Ambal Sannidhi with a separate enclosure and the Ambal here is called by the names: Sree Sundaragujambigai, Sree Kathiyayini and Sree Azhagiyavanmulaiammai. Picture of Sundaragujambigai is taken from Dinamalar website.
Sundaragujambigai
This is a very big temple with the deities having sanndihis - Vinayagar, Murugan, Padikasu Vinayagar, Natarajar with Sivakami, Kalasamharamurthy, Pitchandavar, Somaskandar, Thyagarajar, Dakshinamurty, Irattai vinayagar,Balasubramaniar, Ekambareswarar, Mayuranathar, Arunachaleswarar, Vaidyanathar, Pathala Nandhi, Chandikeswarar, Nalvar, Meikandar etc., There is a separate shrine for Sanesswaran. The temple is under the control of Thiruvavadurai Atheenam.
Sthala Vruksham is Veezhi tree.
Temple Timings:
8.00 AM - 12 Noon
5.00 PM - 8.00 PM
