Description

Thirumanikuzhi Vamanapureeswarar Shiva Temple is located at Thirumanikhuzi village in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vamanapureeswarar & Manicka Varadar. The theertham for the temple are Swetha & kedhila rivers. In temple, lord Shiva is worshipped as swayambumurthi. According to the history of Vamanapureeswarar temple, the temple was raised by Surya Dev i.e. the Sun God. The Surya Dev used to perform pujas to the lord at this temple. Tirumanikuzhi is located 15 km east of Cuddalore. There are buses available to reach the temple from Panruti and Cuddalore. The nearest railway station is Cuddalore at 15 km. And the nearest airport is Chennai which is around 200 km.

History

Mahabali who was the grandson of Prahlada, the renowned Vishnu follower, had the charitable traits. Lord Vishnu was born as the twelfth child of Kashyapa & Atithi as Vaman Brahmacmachari. Vaman wanted 3 feet of land from Mahabali. Thus he approached him for the same. Lord Vishnu measured the entire earth by one foot. The second foot covered the entire space. For the third foot, he asked Mahabali and he reciprocated by offering his head. This type of devotion pleased Lord Vishnu. He inculcated his name on the list of Chiranjeevis i.e. the immortals. Though he was holy with the Vishnu's boon, he had to take the blame of society for the method he employed in that event. At this temple, he worshipped the Lord for relief. This is why place is known as Thiru (a respectable prefix), Maani (Lord Vishnu's name) and Kuzhi means place. Thus name of the place is Thirumanikuzhi.

Importance/Significance

There is the incarnation of Shiva & Parvathi at the temple. Thus, lord Shiva cannot be worshipped alone here. The mother parvathi is along with the lord to teach wisdom to devas. Lord in the temple is worshipped as Udhavi Nayakan that means the helping lord. The saint Sambandar praised the lord of the temple in his hymns. He has also praised the lord in Thevaram hymns. The temple is a majestic temple with a five tier Rajagopuram. There are three corridors (prakaras) in the temple. The inner Prakara consists of sanctorum for Selva Vinayaka & Udhavi Vinayaka, sixty-three nayanmars, Arumugha, saptha Madhas, Pancha murthys (Five Idols), Yuga Lingas, Vishnu Linga. It also consists of Gurus of Saivite faith, mata Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas (Nine Planets), Bhairaya, Surya (Sun) & Chandra (Moon). Tirisangu & Harichandra, the kings of ancient era, has refurbished the temple in their reigning times. Kedila River symbolizes the grace of Goddess Mahalakshmi. The Swetha River represents the form of Goddess Saraswathi. Both the rivers have confluence at this place.

Facts/Mythology

Festivals/Events/Gatherings

The couples who want to have child go eleven rounds of Ambica shrine with wet clothes on New Moon Day. They have to offer butter as nivedhana to fulfill the custom. Consuming it for 48 days as a part of ritual realizes the boon. Purattasi Navarathri is celebrated at the temple with great zeal at the temple in September-October. Also, Maha Shivratri and other important Shiva related festivals are celebrated in February-March