The bull on the warpath
P. V. V. MURTHI
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The Ponnai is said to have changed course, obeying Nandi's command.
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READY TO POUNCE: The Nandi here is different.
Innumerable are the temples for Lord Siva and 1,008 of them are famous. One among them is the Sri Dhanumathyambal Samedha Sri Vilvanatheeswarar Temple in Tiruvalam in Katpadi taluk, about 25 km from Vellore.
This is also one of the 32 temples in Thondai Mandalam, which have been sung by Tamil poets, Arunagirinadhar and Pattinathar.
The temple lies on the western banks of the Neeva (Ponnai) river. The deity is said to have been worshipped by the nine planets, a king called Vallalan and an Asuran called Theekkali. It was called Theekkali Vallam, which later came to be known as Tiruvalam.
EULOGISED BY POETS: The Vilvanatheeswarar temple.
The Nandi here is linked to an interesting story. When Kanjan, an asura, prevented a priest of the Tiruvalam temple from taking water from Kanjangiri, lying in his domain, about five km from Tiruvalam, to perform abhishekam to the presiding deity, the Nandi (bull) stabbed the wicked man with its horns and made Suyambu Lingams out of his blood and flesh, and placed them in a far exalted position than the Asura in Kanjangiri. The demon realised his mistake.
River changes course
Here Nandi faces east, unlike in other temples, indicating that it is on the warpath.
Legend also has it that the Nandi beckoned the river (Nee Vaa) going in a different direction. The water, which changed its course and flowed towards Tiruvalam was used to perform the abhishekam. The Ponnai also came to be known as Neeva. The temple was built by Eerayiravan Pallavarayan, an employee of King Rajendra Chozhan (1050-62 A.D.) with the help of the gold donated by another employee. The temple was patronised by Rajendra Chozhan and the successive Chola rulers, Raja Mahendran, Jayasimhan and Rajamahendra Vikramadithan. Vast areas of land were donated by the beneficiaries of the Chola kings. Sekkizhar has sung about the temple in Thiruthondar Puranam (Periya Puranam).
CHOLA EDIFICE: One of the beautiful mandapams.
Special pujas are offered for the Swayambu Lingas on Pournami days in Kanjangiri. The Jothi darshan on Chitra Pournami is of special significance since the flame can be seen up to a height of about three to 18 feet.
Those who wish to visit the temple should board a Vellore-bound bus, alight at Walajapet and take another bus to Tiruvalam, which lies on the Chennai-Mumbai Trunk Road.
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