Sunday, July 9, 2017

Thiruvantheeswarar Temple, Gudimallur, Vellore

Thiruvantheeswarar Temple, Gudimallur, Vellore
Thiruvantheeswarar Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Gudimallur in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. Thiruvantheeswarar temple most popularly called as Athreeswarar Temple. There is a type of lily (Malli) called ("Guda") and this village is renounce for that and named as "Gudimallur”. Presiding Deity is called as Thiruvantheeswarar. Lord of this Temple is Swayambu Moorthy. Mother is called as Thiripurasundari.





Legends
Once, Goddess Parvathy penanced at Kanchipuram (Prithvi Sthalam) which is one of the Pancha Boodha Sthalam. Lord was pleased with her penance and married her. Rishi’s and Devas from heaven came down to Kanchi, to participate in the heavenly marriage of Lord Siva and Kamakshi Ammai. The place was so crowded; Rishi’s who came to participate in the marriage stayed in the forest near to Kanchipuram. They had to perform their daily rituals unobstructed. Each one of them chose a place in the forest to worship Lord Siva. All six places where they worshiped are known as Shada Aranyam. Since Six Rishi’s worshiped Swayambu Lingam in these six places it is considered holy to visit and worship Lord Siva here. The temples in these places were big in size with Rajagopurams once. Athri Maharishi installed and worshiped Lord Siva here for long period in sitting posture. Lord was pleased and blessed him. There is a statue of Athri Maharishi in sitting posture.


The Temple
The temple is facing towards South. It comprises of "Kodi Maram" and "Balipeedam" located near the big Nandhi. Presiding Deity is called as Thiruvantheeswarar. Lord of this Temple is Swayambu Moorthy. Mother is called as Thiripurasundari. The entrance is located in the North. The Goddess Thiripurasundari is facing towards the South.





The God Thiruvantheeswarar is facing towards the East. Athri is present straight to the God Thiruvantheeswarar near Nandhi. Kumbabishekam of the temple was held in year 1979 by Halasiyanadha Iyer and in the year 1998 by W.H.Panchatcharam and W.H.Ambikapathy. The temple will be open full day during Maha Siva Rathri from 5:00am to the next day 5:00am.





Temple Opening Time
The temple is opened from 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The devotee may get in touch with the priest in advance for convenient darshan of the Lord.
Festivals
Shivarathri is celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. Besides this temple, on Shivarathri day, devotees also visit simultaneously other nearby Shiva temples at Karai, Veppur, Pudhupadi, Melvisharam, Vannivedu and Avarakkarai. To facilitate darshan to the devotees, all the temples are kept open during the whole night.
Prayers
There is a belief that if you worship this temple and revolve around it for three times and meditate all your obstacles / problems will be resolved.
Connectivity
The Temple is located in between Pudhupadi Dam and Walajah Town on the North bank of River Palaru. The Temple is located at about 32 Kms from Vellore, 8 Kms from Ranipet, 8 Kms from Walajah, 15 Kms from Kaveripakkam, 20 Kms from Sirukarumbur, 5 Kms from Arcot, 30 Kms from Sholinghur, 50 Kms from Arakkonam, 54 Kms from Thiruthani and 115 Kms from Chennai. Nearest Railway Station is located at Walajah and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.

References