Vilamal Patanjali Manohar Temple / Pathanchali Manohar Temple / விளமல் பதஞ்சலி மனோகரர் கோயில், Vilamal /Thiruvilamar, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 207^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 90^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. The temple is on the banks of River Odampokki. This  Vilamal was called as Thiruvilamar during 6^th to 7^th century. 

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukaraveeram.

நீடுதிரு வாஞ்சியத்தில் அமர்ந்த முக்கண்

        நீலமிடற்று அருமணியை வணங்கிப் போற்றிப்

பாடுஒலி நீர்த் தலையாலங்காடு மாடு

        பரமர் பெருவேளூரும் பணிந்துபாடி

நாடுபுகழ்த் தனிச் சாத்தங்குடியில் நண்ணி

        நம்பர் திருக்கரவீரம் நயந்து பாடித்

தேடுமறைக்கு அரியார் தமவிளமர் போற்றித்

        திருஆரூர் தொழநினைந்து சென்று புக்கார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

மத்தகம் அணிபெற மலர்வதொர் மதிபுரை நுதல்கரம்

ஒத்தக நகமணி மிளிர்வதொர் அரவினர் ஒளிகிளர்

அத்தக வடிதொழ அருள்பெரு கண்ணொடும் உமையவன்

வித்தகர் உறைவது விரிபொழில் வளநகர் விளமரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                -“திணமைக்

களமர் மகிழக் கடைசியர் பாடும்

விளமர் கொளும் எம் விருப்பே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pathanchali Manohar

Consort    : Sri Mathurabhasini, Then Mozhi Ammai

Some of the salient features of this temple are.….

The Temple is facing east with an entrance arch / base of the Rajagopuram.  Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai ( Ashtabhuja Durgai or Raja Durgai ) . Moolavar is made of sand and hence there is no abhishekam done to moolavar.  Temple tank is in front of the temple. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of ardha mandapam

Ambal Madhura Bhashini is in a separate sannathi facing south. Patanjali and  Vyaghrapada statues are in maha mandapam. Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandran Suryan, Nalvar, Gajalakshmi and Chandikeswarar Sannathis are in the prakaram. Bhairavar ( with Chandra on the head ) is in a separate sannathi. There is no navagrahas sannathi.  Maha Vishnu is holding Lord Shiva’s leg on his head is of unique in nature.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum antarala and artha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is over the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 6^th to 7^th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period and further extended during Nayakas period.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 30^th August 2004 and 12^th September 2018, after renovations. The temple is under the administrative control of Velukuruchi Adheenam ( Thirupugalur ).

LEGENDS

There is an unwritten statement that one has to visit this temple for Shiva’s feet darshan after the  face darshan of Thyagaraja at Thiruvarur. To have the darshan of Shiva’s feet we have to remove shirt and banian.

This place was called as Thiruvadi kshethram, Sivapatha sthalam during ancient times, during Thevaram times as Thiruvilamar and now as Vilamal.  

As per the legend the sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada did a penance on Lord shiva for his dance darshan at Chidambaram. Pleased with the penance Lord Shiva gave the Ananda thandava darshan at Chidambaram. They also requested for the darshan of Ajaba and Rudra Thandavam. Lord Shiva advised them to go to Thiruvarur and pray him. At Thiruvarur ma Parvati advised them to go to this place and worship Lord Shiva. Pathanjali, made a Shiva Linga out of sand and worshiped. Hence Lord Shiva of this temple is praised as “Patanjali Manohar”. Also blessed with “ajaba” dance with thiruvadi darshan at this temple. Hence his place is called as Thiruvadi Kshethram and Sivapatha sthalam and Lord Shiva’s feet is known as “Rudra Padam”. Some people claims Thiruvadi means “Vilamal”. It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship Thiruvadi of Lord Shiva at this temple. 

It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Devas, Brahma, Musukunda Chakravarthi, are blessed with dance darshan of Lord Shiva. It is further believed that Dasaratha worshiped Lord Shiva for a child boon. 

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Annabhishekam is done on all new moon days. The Annabhishekam on Mahalaya Amavasya day in the month Purattasi ( Sep – Oct ) will be celebrated in a grand manner.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Aadi pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makara Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The mobile numbers  +91 98947 81778 and +91 94894 79896, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

The temple is village Vilamal is on the Thiruvarur to Thanjavur Road. Long route buses will not stop, we have to depend one town bus which goes to  medical college. Better to take an auto from Thiruvarur bus-stand.

The place Vilamal is 3 KM from Sri Thyagaraja Temple, 30 KM from Nagapattinam, 26 KM from Mannargudi, 30 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, 39 KM from Kumbakonam, 42 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 42.3 KM from Karaikal and 300 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---