Tiruvanchiyam is located in the Kaveri river basin, 10 km west of Nannilam (railway station) and 18 km northwest of Tiruvarur. Kondeeswaram is located at about 7 km east of Tiruvanchiyam. It is about 14 kms from Kumbhakonam. It is 1 km from the place Achutamangalam, a place on the Kumbhakonam-Nannilam road.
Vanchinathar temple
This Shivastalam is a vast temple and a muktistalam (land of attainment of salvation). It is considered to be the 70th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. It is ranked 1/16 times above Kashi. References are seen in the Puranas in which Lord Shiva has told Parvati that he is very fond of this place.
Legend - Goddess Ganga is said to have bathed in the Gupta Ganga theertham here to rid herself of the blemishes of those bathing in the Ganges. So, Srivanchiyam is considered to be holier than Varanasi (Kasi).
Mahalakshmi is said to have prayed to Shiva and united with Mahavishnu here. Mahalakshmi's 'Vaanchai' (yearning) for Vishnu, and the fact that her prayers were answered here imparted the name Tiruvanchiyam to the place and Shri Vanchinathar to Lord Shiva. There is also a story that Lord Vishnu prayed to Lord Shiva to get united with Goddess Mahalakshmi.
Suriyan (Sun) had prayed Lord Shiva here to get rid of his sins and get back to his shining best during Karthigai (Nov-Dec).
Yama has worshipped Lord Shiva at this shrine to rid himself of the Brahma hatya dosham which he incurred while performing his duties of taking the life of all living things. Lord Shiva blessed him that people living and worshipping at this place will not have the fear of Yama.
Brahma, Parasarar, Atri, Indra have also worshipped the Lord Shiva at this shrine.
The temple is said to have withstood the period of great deluge and hence considered very sacred.
All three of the Tevaram saints have sung praises of this shrine. Appar is said to have visited this temple with Sambandar. Manikkavacakar also sings of the miracle of a Naga kannika (Snake princess) who worshipped Shiva and became one with Him as Ammai Appan.
Legend - Goddess Ganga is said to have bathed in the Gupta Ganga theertham here to rid herself of the blemishes of those bathing in the Ganges. So, Srivanchiyam is considered to be holier than Varanasi (Kasi).
Mahalakshmi is said to have prayed to Shiva and united with Mahavishnu here. Mahalakshmi's 'Vaanchai' (yearning) for Vishnu, and the fact that her prayers were answered here imparted the name Tiruvanchiyam to the place and Shri Vanchinathar to Lord Shiva. There is also a story that Lord Vishnu prayed to Lord Shiva to get united with Goddess Mahalakshmi.
Suriyan (Sun) had prayed Lord Shiva here to get rid of his sins and get back to his shining best during Karthigai (Nov-Dec).
Yama has worshipped Lord Shiva at this shrine to rid himself of the Brahma hatya dosham which he incurred while performing his duties of taking the life of all living things. Lord Shiva blessed him that people living and worshipping at this place will not have the fear of Yama.
Brahma, Parasarar, Atri, Indra have also worshipped the Lord Shiva at this shrine.
The temple is said to have withstood the period of great deluge and hence considered very sacred.
All three of the Tevaram saints have sung praises of this shrine. Appar is said to have visited this temple with Sambandar. Manikkavacakar also sings of the miracle of a Naga kannika (Snake princess) who worshipped Shiva and became one with Him as Ammai Appan.
Temple - This temple with 3 prakarams and several gopurams and vimanams occupies an area of about 3 acres. The main Raja gopuram is five layered and 200 feet high. The original stone structure of the temple dates back to the period of Kulottonga Chola I (1075-1120). Renovation of the entire temple and the building of the shrine to Mangalanayaki took place during the rule of Rajaraja Chola II (1146-1172 CE).
The presiding deity is Lord Shiva known as Vanchinathan. The Shivalinga here is "swayambhu" and it faces on both the directions East and West. Hence pujas are conducted on both the sides of Shivalingam. This Shiva linga is considered to be the most ancient one out of the 64 other swayambhu lingas all around the world. Lord Shiva is known as Vanchilingeswarar or Vanchinathar. Utsava murthy is Natarajar.
There are 2 separate shrines to Dakshinamurthy here. There is also a shrine to Yama towards the south-east side of the outer prakaram.
Lord Shiva's consort is known here as Mangalambika or Vazha vandha Nayaki. This shrine is in the second prakaram.
One of the rare deities in Tiruvanchiyam is Yoga Bhairavar. Next to it is the Rahu-Ketu shrine, in a single form and known as "Chanda Rahu".
There is Vinayagar known as "Vennai Pillayar". Butter is applied to this Vinayagar and then consumed, to get rid of stomachaches. Mahishasuramardhini at this temple, seen standing while riding a lion, is worshipped to get rid of all evils.
There are also shrines for Murugan, Kalaimagal, Shaniswarar and Tirumagal (Mahalakshmi) Idols of the 63 Nayanmars are seen on the south prakaram.
This shrine is considered to be on par with Benares along with 5 other shrines along the course of the river Kaveri, the five being Tiruvidaimarudur, Tiruvenkaadu, Mayilaaduthurai, Tiruvaiyaru and Vedaranyam. Shivalingams corresponding to these shrines - Mahalingeswarar, Aghoreswarar, Mayuranathar, Panchanadeeswarar and Vedaranyeswarar are located in this shrine.
The Chandana Maram (sandalwood tree) is the stalavriksham and imparts the name Chandanaranyam to the shrine.
The temple tank Muni Thirtam or Gupta Ganga thirtham is a huge pond surrounded by tall coconut trees.
There are 3 more thirthams in this temple viz Chakra Thirtham, Lakshmi thirtham and Naga thirtham. These three are found in front of the shrines of Chakarathazhwar, Goddess Lakshmi and Adhisheshan respectively.
Prayers and Festivals - Mother Ganga is believed to secretly reside here in the Muni Thirtham 999 parts out of 1000. The remaining 1 part she resides in Kashi. Hence, the power of Mother Ganga here is much more than at Kashi.
A dip in the Gupta Ganga Thirtham on Sundays in the Tamil month of Karthigai is considered sacred and is said to wash away all sins. During these days Lord Shiva and Parvati are taken around the temple in a procession and give darshan to the devotees on the eastern bank of the Thirtham.
The accepted custom is that after taking a dip in the Gupta Ganga, one has to worship Lord Yama first before going to worship the other deities.
It is believed that if one takes bathe in the Lakshmi Thirtham on Fridays in the Tamil month of Avani, he will be reunited with the lost members of the family, by taking bathe in the Naga thirtham on the Thiruvonam star days in the month of Vaigasi one is rid of Naga dosham and taking bathe in the charka thirtham the next day after observing Ekadasi vratam in the month of Avani, one is rid of Brahmahatya dosham.
Six worship services are offered each day.
The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of Kartikai. Aadi Pooram, Navaratri and Sundays in the month of Kartikai are also considered special.
Shiva is taken in procession on the Yama mount on the Bharani asterism in the month of Maasi. Pujas are performed to Vanchinathan using sandalwood leaves.
Pujas are performed to Yoga Bhairavar using "Vanni" leaves. It is believed that one gets cured of nervous disorders and diseases if he consumes daily, the powder made from vanni leaves that are used for puja. Yoga Bhairavar is worshipped here to get rid of all evils directed towards a person. Pujas using "red arali" flowers for 6 Krishnapaksha ashtami days (eighth day of waning moon) are performed to beget children. Special prayers on Amavasya days (new moon days) offering Curd Rice, Coconut Rice and Honey helps one to be victorious in all his deeds and to gain profits in business. To get married soon, pujas are performed during Rahu Kaalam on Sundays offering vada made of lentils and ghee.
When abhisekaham is done to the Rahu-Ketu with milk, the milk is seen to change into blue colour. Devotees also worship Rahu-Ketu here for removing obstacles to marriage and also for getting relief from nerve related diseases.
Special pooja for Goddess Mahishasuramardini here involes worshipping her with 108 lotus flowers during Rahu kalam.
Srivanchiyam is a lesser-known parihara sthalam for Kethu and Kalasarpa dosham. Pariharam for Rahu is also done here.
It is believed that Yama will not trouble the people who die at this place and that whoever dies here his right ear will always be to the top in to which Lord Shiva chants his panchakshara mantram. For those living in this place, it is believed that their account of punya karmas (good deeds) will always keep increasing.
Unlike those who die in Kashi, it is believed that for those who die here, they will get Mukti as well as they are spared from punishment of Bhairavar.
The presiding deity is Lord Shiva known as Vanchinathan. The Shivalinga here is "swayambhu" and it faces on both the directions East and West. Hence pujas are conducted on both the sides of Shivalingam. This Shiva linga is considered to be the most ancient one out of the 64 other swayambhu lingas all around the world. Lord Shiva is known as Vanchilingeswarar or Vanchinathar. Utsava murthy is Natarajar.
There are 2 separate shrines to Dakshinamurthy here. There is also a shrine to Yama towards the south-east side of the outer prakaram.
Lord Shiva's consort is known here as Mangalambika or Vazha vandha Nayaki. This shrine is in the second prakaram.
One of the rare deities in Tiruvanchiyam is Yoga Bhairavar. Next to it is the Rahu-Ketu shrine, in a single form and known as "Chanda Rahu".
There is Vinayagar known as "Vennai Pillayar". Butter is applied to this Vinayagar and then consumed, to get rid of stomachaches. Mahishasuramardhini at this temple, seen standing while riding a lion, is worshipped to get rid of all evils.
There are also shrines for Murugan, Kalaimagal, Shaniswarar and Tirumagal (Mahalakshmi) Idols of the 63 Nayanmars are seen on the south prakaram.
This shrine is considered to be on par with Benares along with 5 other shrines along the course of the river Kaveri, the five being Tiruvidaimarudur, Tiruvenkaadu, Mayilaaduthurai, Tiruvaiyaru and Vedaranyam. Shivalingams corresponding to these shrines - Mahalingeswarar, Aghoreswarar, Mayuranathar, Panchanadeeswarar and Vedaranyeswarar are located in this shrine.
The Chandana Maram (sandalwood tree) is the stalavriksham and imparts the name Chandanaranyam to the shrine.
The temple tank Muni Thirtam or Gupta Ganga thirtham is a huge pond surrounded by tall coconut trees.
There are 3 more thirthams in this temple viz Chakra Thirtham, Lakshmi thirtham and Naga thirtham. These three are found in front of the shrines of Chakarathazhwar, Goddess Lakshmi and Adhisheshan respectively.
Prayers and Festivals - Mother Ganga is believed to secretly reside here in the Muni Thirtham 999 parts out of 1000. The remaining 1 part she resides in Kashi. Hence, the power of Mother Ganga here is much more than at Kashi.
A dip in the Gupta Ganga Thirtham on Sundays in the Tamil month of Karthigai is considered sacred and is said to wash away all sins. During these days Lord Shiva and Parvati are taken around the temple in a procession and give darshan to the devotees on the eastern bank of the Thirtham.
The accepted custom is that after taking a dip in the Gupta Ganga, one has to worship Lord Yama first before going to worship the other deities.
It is believed that if one takes bathe in the Lakshmi Thirtham on Fridays in the Tamil month of Avani, he will be reunited with the lost members of the family, by taking bathe in the Naga thirtham on the Thiruvonam star days in the month of Vaigasi one is rid of Naga dosham and taking bathe in the charka thirtham the next day after observing Ekadasi vratam in the month of Avani, one is rid of Brahmahatya dosham.
Six worship services are offered each day.
The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of Kartikai. Aadi Pooram, Navaratri and Sundays in the month of Kartikai are also considered special.
Shiva is taken in procession on the Yama mount on the Bharani asterism in the month of Maasi. Pujas are performed to Vanchinathan using sandalwood leaves.
Pujas are performed to Yoga Bhairavar using "Vanni" leaves. It is believed that one gets cured of nervous disorders and diseases if he consumes daily, the powder made from vanni leaves that are used for puja. Yoga Bhairavar is worshipped here to get rid of all evils directed towards a person. Pujas using "red arali" flowers for 6 Krishnapaksha ashtami days (eighth day of waning moon) are performed to beget children. Special prayers on Amavasya days (new moon days) offering Curd Rice, Coconut Rice and Honey helps one to be victorious in all his deeds and to gain profits in business. To get married soon, pujas are performed during Rahu Kaalam on Sundays offering vada made of lentils and ghee.
When abhisekaham is done to the Rahu-Ketu with milk, the milk is seen to change into blue colour. Devotees also worship Rahu-Ketu here for removing obstacles to marriage and also for getting relief from nerve related diseases.
Special pooja for Goddess Mahishasuramardini here involes worshipping her with 108 lotus flowers during Rahu kalam.
Srivanchiyam is a lesser-known parihara sthalam for Kethu and Kalasarpa dosham. Pariharam for Rahu is also done here.
It is believed that Yama will not trouble the people who die at this place and that whoever dies here his right ear will always be to the top in to which Lord Shiva chants his panchakshara mantram. For those living in this place, it is believed that their account of punya karmas (good deeds) will always keep increasing.
Unlike those who die in Kashi, it is believed that for those who die here, they will get Mukti as well as they are spared from punishment of Bhairavar.
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