MARGABANDHEESHWARAR TEMPLE - LORD, FRIEND & GUIDE

MARGABANDHEESHWARAR TEMPLE - LORD, FRIEND & GUIDE - VIRINJIPURAM

MARGABANDHEESHWARAR TEMPLE – VIRINJIPURAM – VELLORE DISTRICT – TAMILNADU

Seven tiered Rajagopuram

Brahma the creator and Mahavishnu the Preserver were bragging about their own greatness, when a large fiery Lingam grew in between them. In order to prove their might over the other Brahma in the form of a swan flew skywards to touch the head of the Lingam and Vishnu in his Varaha Avatar – Boar went digging into the earth to find the feet of the Lingam. After many years, Vishnu came back and accepted that he could not see the bottom of the Lingam. While returning back Brahma saw the Ketaki flower’s falling from the heavens, he went and lied to Vishnu that he had seen the head of the Lingam and the Kethaki flower is his Proof. Bhagavan Shiva cursed Brahma (no festivities or Temple dedicated to him) to be born on earth and pray to him to attain moksha. Kethaki flower (Thayampoo in tamil) is not used in Shiva pooja.

Lingaodbhavar

Brahma was born as Shivasharma in the family of the priest who did the Pooja’s to Bhagavan Shiva in a place called Virinjipuram. The word VIRINJAN refers to Brahma hence the place is known as Virinjipuram. At a very young age of Shivasharama, his father passed away. Shivasharma was initiated in the practice of Shiva Pooja.

Shivasharma the young child while performing Pooja’s to Paramashiva, could not reach the Head of the Lingam to place flowers. Bhagavan Shiva bowed his head for the Child Brahma to reach his head and place the flower and gave him Moksha.

The Lingam is SWAYAMBHU & facing east in this Temple and is an elongated one, protruding forward in a north-easterly direction (symbolizing his grace on Brahma) in a bow for little Shivasharma to place flowers on the head.

Shivasharma doing abhishekam to Lingam

Dhanapalan a merchant trading in pepper passing through the area, was on the verge of being looted by dacoits, He prayed to Bhagavan Shiva here to protect him. Shiva came in the form of a warrior riding a horse and led the merchant Dhanapalan to safety by accompanying him till Kancheepuram. Since Bhagawan Shiva himself accompanied Dhanapalan to safety, he is known as “MARGABANDHEESHWARAR”. Marg (Path) + Bandhu (Friend)+ Eswarar (God). The one who shows the path to salvation is also known as Vazhi + Tunai + Nathar in Tamil. Devi Parvathi is known as “Maragathambikai”.

Shri Appaya Dikshitar the great Shiva devotee and a vedic scholar was born in Virinjipuram.The original temple is supposed to have been built by Raja Raja Chola, which would date it around 1000 years ago. But the Pallavas have also been involved in the construction of the Temple, who predate the medieval Cholas. The huge temple compounded with walls were established in the 13^th century, extensions to the temple were done by many a dynasties, including the Pallavas, Hoysalas,Medieval Cholas, Pandiyas, Vijayanagara Kings & the Nayak’s.

Nayaka imprints

Vijayanagara Insignia

Mahavishnu

God Shiva is in the form of a Swayambhu lingam with an elongated and stooping neck, in a Garbhagriha which has Rudraksha Pandal. The Garbhagriha in itself is Apsidal or in the form of Gaja Prishtha (back of an elephant) including the Vimana. The Koshtha Devata’s including Ganesh, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Dakshinamoorthy and Vishnu Durga are uniquely placed on high stone pedastals without any sub- shrines.

Narthana Ganapathy

Brahma

Dakshinamurthy the Guru.

Vishnu Durga

The temple has a huge Rajagopuram with seven Tiers facing the east making it the tallest gopuram in Vellore district at 152 feet. The inside compound is about 456000 sq ft and has five Praharas. The walls on all the four sides are of 60 ft high with a straight line of miniature carvings in the centre.

60 ft wall with miniature carvings in a line in the centre

Entering the Rajagopuram, in to the 1^st compound on the left is the Simha Teertham a well with an entrance through a lion’s body. There are two separate mandapams for Bhagwan shiva and Devi Parvathi. The Mukhamnadapam has pillars with exquisite sculptures of gods and goddesses which in the center has a Dhwaja Sthambam, Bali Peetham and a Beautiful nandi with a curved elongated neck facing God Shiva. Before entering the Ardhamandapa, there are altars of the Airamba Ganapathi, Dandayudapani, & Sorna Ganapati .

Dhwajasthambam

Nandi

Eramba Ganapathy

Devi Parvathi has a separate shrine onto the left of God Shiva in a separate compound facing east. Instead of Nandi she has the Lion or Simha as her Vehicle.

All the Praharas have sub-shrines dedicated to many gods and goddess including Nataraja & Sivakami, a shrine consisting of 1008 Lingam & 108 lingam in a single Lingam and a Panchamukha Lingam,Subramania, Suriya,Kalabhairava & kalabhairavi, Kashi Vishwanath . The outer praharam has many halls including the 16 pillared hall which are again beautifully carved. The western entrance has a 5-tiered gopuram.

Unique Sculptures on Pillars of the Temple