Raju’s temple visits: Virinchipuram Shiva Temple

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

There is an update to my Blog with a travelogue to Virinchipuram

Margabandheeswarar Temple near Vellore:

 

http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/virinchipuram/

<http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/virinchipuram/>

 

 

 

Significances:

 

* 1300 years old temple - the oldest and the biggest temple of

Vellore district

* Gowri Devi, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Sriharan had

worshipped here

* The temple is famous for its prahara walls and the sculptures.

`Virinchipuram Madhil Azhahu' is a popular saying

* There are miniature Rajagopurams on the temple wall itself on

two sides. If a small Rajagopuram itself can be built on the temple

wall, the grandeur of the temple wall can be imagined. Also, this

has a sacred significance that the Siddhars, Sages and Celestial Gods

are believed to come here for worship during the nights through

these exclusive entrance for them where the normal humans can not

enter.

* Aadhi Shankarar had done the Beejakshara Pradhishtai to the

Simha theertham of the temple

* Lord Brahma who could not reach the head of Lord Shiva once

was born here and Lord Shiva bowed his head to accept the abhisheham

from him as a small boy

* Arunachala Puranam, Siva Rahasiyam, Kanchi puranam and many

other holy books have described this temple

* Sung by: Appayya Dikshithar, Thirumoolar, Pattinathar,

Appar, Sambhandhar, Arunagiri nadhar and many others

* This is the birth place of Sri Appayya Dikshithar (1520-1593),

the greatest interpreter of Advaitha Sidhantha after Adhi Sankara.

His Margabandhu stotram on this Margabandheeswarar is for the

protection of people while on journey. By reciting this one can have

Lord Shiva with them as Marga-bandhu (protector during journey)

along their journey.

* The speciality of the temple being that there are two

dwajasthambams, one for the main shrine and another one exclusive

for the Amman shrine.

 

Regards,

 

Raju