VASHISHTEESWARAR TEMPLE VEPPUR – MELVISHARAM -VELLORE DISTRICT – TAMILNADU.
The heat emanating from the Tapas of Shakthi was unbearable. The land surrounding her became bereft of life, unable to bear the heat in spite of torrential rains. The river Vegavathi was brimming with water and started flowing into the land with force of her floods. Devi Parvathi in the form of Kamakshi was praying to Mahadev, in the form of a lingam made out of sand (Prithivi Lingam) under the mango tree known as Ekambaranathar, in the town of Kancheepuram. So steadfast and strong was her penance, to win over Mahadev to become his better half, that the moment she saw the floods, she embraced the Shiva Lingam to protect it from getting washed away.
Mahadev filled with compassion appeared before Parvathi and wished to marry her. The marriage was celebrated in the town of Kancheepuram, to which lot of distinguished guests including the Deva’s and Rishi’s were invited. Since the small town was too crowded, the Saptha Rishi’s stayed outside Kancheepuram and established their separate maths in the forest of Shadaranya near the bank of river’s. All the seven sages consecrated a Shiva lingam each and prayed to it daily, which were converted to temples at a later date.
The Shiva Lingam consecrated by Brahma Rishi Vashishtha is in the village of Veppur named after the forest of Neem (Veppam in Tamil means Neem & Ur means Place.) on the southern banks of the River Paalar, in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. Vasishta Muni installed Siva Lingam and worshiped Him in standing posture. There is a small sculpture of Vasishta Muni in the temple in standing posture.
The Main deity is Swayambu Shiva Lingam known as Vasishteshwar and with his consort Devi Parvathi known as Balakujambal in a separate sanctum.
The exact date of construction of the Main Garbhagriha on the Swayambhu Lingam would be very difficult to ascertain. However, the addition to the temple in terms of the Mahamandapam & Ardhamandapam were done by Veera Sampanna Sambuvarayar in the year 1169BC, making it a 3188-year-old temple. Needless to say, the temple has passed on from dynasty to dynasty including the early Chalukya’s, Pallava’s, Chola’s, Pandia’s, Vijayanagara kings, Nayaks of Madurai. The Adhisthana also has the 16th to 17th Century Nayak period inscriptions speaks about donations made to this temple.
“Sambava” people believe that the Word Sambho is derived from "Sambho Mahadev" a honorific term used by Shaivites to praise Lord Shiva. Some believe that the word Sambavar came from "Sambuvarayar" a dynasty of chieftains who ruled Thondaimandalam in ancient Tamil Nadu. Somebody believe that the term Sambavar came from the Tamil word Sambal (Ta: சாà®®்பல்) meaning 'ash' in relation to the sacred ash that is smeared on body by devotees of Lord Shiva. There is also the dominant belief in the community that they are descendants of Lord Shiva himself. Among tamil konar / idaiyar caste, there is a clan named as sambavar. These sambav idaiyars are also said to be direct descendants of sambuvarayar who ruled thiruvannamalai area.
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the south. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and a Nandi mandapam confront you as you enter the temple tower. A Nayak period mandapam is between Sanctum entrance and the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum antarala and arthamandapam. Vasishta Maharishi is in the Arthamandapam facing Mahadev. A Vesara vimana ( a combination of Nagara and Dravida architecture)is above the sanctum. In koshtha Vinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durga.
In the outer Prahara Devi Balakujambal is in a separate temple like sannadhi facing east. The other shrines are that of Mahasarabeswarar, Maha Prithyangara Devi, Vinayaka, Sri Valli Devasena with Subramaniya, Kailashnath with Visalakshi, Saptha Mathrikas panel, Veerabhadra, A Shiva Linga with Manikavasakar, Surya, Navagrahas and Chandikeswar.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The mobile number 98429 11671 may be contacted for further details.
Shadaranya Kshetra: Arcot Temples.
The temples of Shadaranyam are very old Temples.“Shat “denotes number six and Aranyam means Forest (kadu in Tamil) hence the place is known as Aar-Kadu or anglicized to Arcot. Around Arcot, the saptha (7) Maharishis lived in 6 forests and worshipped Lord Shiva. In all these temples, the respective rishis are present right in front of Lord Shiva, in sitting posture in the North of Palar river and in standing posture in the South of Palar river . Only after showing aarthi to the rishis, the aarthi is shown to Lord Shiva.
The Shadaranya kshetra temples are, where Saptha Rishi's (Vasishter, Valmiki, Baradwaja, Athri, Agasthiya, Gowthama and Kasyapa Muni) stayed there in their Ashram and worshiped Lord Siva.
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