Srivanchiam is a tiny village situated 16kms from Tiruvarur & 2 kms away from Achuthamangalam village in Kumbakonam to Nagapattinam bus route via Nannilam town.We shall see about Sri.Vanchinatha Swamy temple here.Let us see the speciality of this temple. Sri.Maha Vishnu was very much desiring to marry Goddess Mahalaxmi,done penance in this place,so this is called "Srivanchiam after that. ஸ்ரீயை வாஞ்சித்து (மகாலக்ஷ்மியை அடைய விரும்பி )திருமால் தவம் இருந்த இடம் . Most famous because of Deity,holy place & sacred theertha OR sacred tank. Even undestroyable during deluge time.Sacred than Kasi .Separate Sanctum for Deva Yama who takes away the lives after there life period decided by their good or bad deeds in the previous & current birth. Yama is the guardian of this temple.Yama incurring the hatred of the people due to his type of duty,felt sad & approached Swamy Thyagaraja of Tiruvarur.He advised him to go to Srivanchiam . He does penance here.When Vanchinatha swami(Shiva) appeared before him,He got the following boons from Shiva.He would be the guardian of that place(kshetra balagar).People won't blame him for their end ,(diseases,ageing & accidents took the credit from Yama). He is given the responsibility of carrying Shiva & His consort Mangalambigai.( வாகனம்) . Yama was also given a special status that devotees coming to worship there ,first worship Yama & then God Shiva. Another speciality. Ganga Complained to God Shiva that when people come & take a holy dip in her ,she gets all the sins from them & how she could drive away all this sins.Shiva advised her to reach Srivanchiam.After leaving her one thousandth of her power there , she hides here secretly with remaining 999 power, in a sacred tank called Gupta Ganga.Six places on the banks of River Cauvery is said to be most sacred & equal to Varanasi( Kasi).They are Thiruvengadu,Tiruvaiyaru,Sayavanam,Mayiladuthurai,Tiruvidaimarudur & Srivanchiam.God Shiva is said to have told Parvathi that this place is " One - sixteenth" more sacred than Kasi.(காசியிலும் வீசம் அதிகம் ) .In "gretha yuga " Goddess Magalaxmi leaves Vishnu in anger & disappears from him & Vishnu does penance here.All devas also approach Shiva ,who in turn softens Laxmi's anger & unites Her with Vishnu.Surya Deva when attended Dakshan's Yagna who insults Shiva & his daughter Daksayini ,was punished by Veerabadra as per the instruction of Shiva.Sun loses all his shining power & as per the advice of great saints,does penance here & regains his lost power . Surya took holy dip in theertha here in the Tamil month of Karthigai on sundays,& he gains lost power.So bathing here on Karthigai Sundays will bring you lot of good. Bhairava is said to be guardian of Kasi Kshetra.He punishes all people for their sins committed during their life period at least for few minutes before their end.He is under the direct control of Shiva.He always stands without any dress with a dog in his backside with teeths coming out from his mouth end in north east corner in Shiva temple. Here he is in a sitting pose as Yoga Bairavar & also without his Dog Vahana. He remains harmless to the devotees worshipping Shiva here.As Yama,Bhairava all are softened here, there is no sanctum for Navagrahas. Performing Poojas on the birth star of individual said to increase his life period here. Rahu & Kethu have separate identity in temples .Here they are carved out in a single statue.So this is also a Parikara sthala for eliminating Rahu & Kethu dosha. Doing Dharpana in newmoon days would bring you blessings. Shastiapta poortthi done here said to bring longer life to the couple.If someone suffers fatal accidents & if a close relative of him performs pooja in Yama's sannidhi followed by poojas in Shiva & Goddess sannidhi would bring immediate relief. This temple is praised by Saints Sambandar,Thirunavukkarasar,Sundarar & also by saint Arunagirinathar in their hymns. Festivals celebrated here:Aadi pooram ten days including Aadi 18th day,Aavani moolam for Shiva,Navarathri for Gooddes,Eippasi Annabishagam(Cooked white rice is covered over entire Shiva linga &after performing pooja,holy rice is offered to devotees which is considered most sacred among Shiva Worship) Kandhar shasti for God Muruga 6days ,All 5 sundays in Karthigai month & finally ends with Sangabishegam(Sacred water kept in 1008 conches after reciting Mantras praising Shiva is poured over Shiva linga, also another must for all Shiva devotees to witness in Karthigai Monday ). Devotees who come here should first sprinkle holy water on their head( Taking a full bath is good),Worship Vinayaga,then worship in Yama sanctum, & then Lord Shiva. Goddess Durga is also most powerful deity here. This temple is one of the biggest in size wise in Thanjavur district(558 feet in length &320 feet in width covering 5 acres of land. Raja Gopuram (Main temple Tower ) is with 5 tier & is 110 feet tall. There are 17 stone inscriptions of earlier Kings in between 10-17 A.D .Try to worship in this temple at least once in your life time. Thanks to Hr&ce.
Very nice designs, really I love them so much, In my school days I used to participate in the rangoli designs competition and won 1st prize.
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