Monday, July 10, 2017

Vasishteswarar Temple, Veppur, Vellore

Vasishteswarar Temple, Veppur, Vellore
Vasishteswarar Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Veppur in Vellore District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Vasishteswarar and Mother is known as Balakujambal. The place is located at Southern Banks of Palar River. The forest in this place was filled with Neem Tree hence the place was known as Veppur. Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Subramanyar of this temple.



Legends
Shada Aranya Kshetrams:
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.  Vasishta Muni installed Siva Lingam and worshiped him in standing posture. Lord was pleased and blessed him. There is a small sculpture of Vasishta Muni in the temple in standing posture.
Veppur:
The forest in this place was filled with Neem Tree hence the place was known as Veppur.
Guru Sthalam:
The temple is considered as Guru Sthalam since Vasishta Guru of Lord Sri Ramachandra Murthy worshiped Lord Siva here. 
The Temple
This is a large east facing temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram in the south. The temple is on the southern bank of the Palar River with a temple tank in the north and west. Main deity is Swayambu Siva Lingam known as Vasishteswarar and with his consort known as Bala Kujambikai in separate sanctum. Here Lord is seen in Kalyana Kolam. Both Lord and Mother are facing east. Dakshina Moorthy is seen facing south in the prakaram. 



Sage Vashista should be worshipped before worshipping Lord Shiva. Vasishta Muni installed Siva Lingam and worshiped him in standing posture. There is a small sculpture of Vasishta Muni in the temple in standing posture. A stone inscription says the temple is more than 1000 years old. Later in the year 1169 A.D by Veera Sampanna Sambuvarayar constructed Maha mandapam, Artha Mandapam and Main sanctum of this temple.



Other deities seen in the temple are Selva Vinayakar, Subramanyar with Valli and Deivanai, Prathyangira Devi, Sarabeswarar, Sapthamadhas, Kasi Viswanathar, Akora Veerabhadrar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswarar, Eesana Lingam, Manickavasagar, Navagrahas, Surya, Saneeswarar and Kala Bairavar.



Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from 7.00 A.M to 10.00 A.M in the mornings and 5.00 PM to 7.00 P.M in the evenings.
Festivals
Shivarathri, Pournami and Avani Valarpirai Panchami are celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. Besides this temple, on Shivarathri day, devotees also visit simultaneously other nearby Shiva temples at Karai, Gudimallur, Pudhupadi, Melvisharam, Vannivedu and Avarakkarai. To facilitate darshan to the devotees, all the temples are kept open during the whole night.
Prayers
People pray here for child boon and Marriage. If anyone from nearby village dies, relatives of the deceased do special poojas to Lord Shiva on third day from their death. Also they light Moksha Deepam on Navagraha Sannidhi, considering the deceased will get salvation.
Contact
Vasishteswarar Temple,
Veppur, Vellore District
Mobile: +91 98429 11671
Connectivity
The Temple is located at Southern Banks of Palar River. The Temple is located at about 23 Kms from Vellore, 19 Kms from Ranipet, 21 Kms from Walajah, 33 Kms from Kaveripakkam, 38 Kms from Sirukarumbur, 10 Kms from Arcot, 34 Kms from Sholinghur, 59 Kms from Arakkonam, 60 Kms from Thiruthani and 117 Kms from Chennai. After crossing the Palar near Arcot continue for about a kilometer, cross the green thunder theme park and you will see a small board directing to the temple on the right hand side. Nearest Railway Station is located at Arcot and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
References