Thiru Erukkattham pulior / Thiru Kumaraswamy Temple, Rajendra Pattinam, Cuddlore District.

Thiru Erukkattham pulior / Thiru Kumaraswamy Temple:

The place is about 12 kms south of Vrudhachalam. The temple is one of the Nadu Nadu Devara Sthalam. This place is birth place of Thiru Neela kanda Yazhpanar who is one of the 63 nayanmars.

The Main Raja gopuram is of five storeys. There are two prakarams in the temple.

Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arulmigu Thiru Kumaresar / Swetharanyeswarar facing east and his consort known as Veeraamulai Amman / Abinna Kusa Nayaki seen in separate sanctum. Here the rays of Sun fall on Lord Siva from March 16 to 20.

Sthala Vruksham is Vellerrukku plant. The Errukku plant has medicinal value of curing Leprosy.

Here Teertham is known as Gandha, Sengkazhuneer and Neela Teertham.

As we go around the inner prakaram, we see sanctum of Siddhi Vinayakar, Nardhana Vinayakar, Subramanyar seen with Valli and Devasenai , Kasi Viswanadhar, Visalakshi Amman, Lakshmi, Narayanar, Dakshina murthy, Chatta nadhar, Brahma, Chandikeswarar, Arunachaleswarar, Nalvar, Sooryan, Bairavar, Saneeswarar and Navagraham.

We see Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar and Madhangasulamani Ammai sculptures in the outer prakaram.

Sthala Purana says Deva Ganas worshiped Lord Siva, to know about the sacred Siva Sthalam where one can attain Mukthi. Lord Pazhamalai Nadhar said Urukattham Pulioor. Deva Ganas came to this place and worshiped Lord Siva, hence the place is known as Ganesuram. 

King of Madhurapuri stayed in this place and worshiped Lord Siva to bless him with a child. By Lords grace he was with blessed with child who was named as Rajendran hence the place is known as Rajendra Pattinam.

A Brahmin was penancing for Lord Siva’s blessings in this place, for sake of a child. Here, when  a Tiger was about to attack the Brahmin, a hunter killed the animal. Due to the good deed, he was born as sage with Tigers feet, and he worshiped Lord Siva of this place and the place is known as Pulioor.

King Suvedhan who was ardent devotee of Lord Siva was infected with Leprosy due to his past sins. The King had dip in the pushkarani of this temple and worshiped Lord Siva here. The king was relieved of Leprosy. 

Once, Lord Siva was preaching about the meaning of Vedas and Agamas to Goddess Parvathy Devi in Kailash. Parvathy Devi was not very attentive about what Lord Siva was preaching. She was punished for this act to be born on Earth. Lord Murugan did not like this and in anger he threw the Vedas in sea. Lord Siva cursed him for his act to be born dumb in trader’s community. Lord Murugan in the name of Rudrasanman was born dumb by birth to Talapathy and Gunasalini. When he grew old he visited many Siva temples seeking relief. When he visited this place Erukkatham Pulior and worshiped Lord Siva here, who blessed him with speaking skills. Hence the Lord here is known as Arulmigu Thiru Kumaresar. There is an idol for Rudrasanman in this temple.

Gyana Sambandhar, Sundarar and Thiru Navukkarasar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this temple. Arunagiri Nadhar sang Thitupugazh on Lord Murugan.

Vedaranyeswarar: Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam.

Vedaranyeswarar: Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam.


The place Thirumarai kadu / Vedaranyam is about 45 Kms from Nagapattinam. This is One of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam. The temple is One of Saptha Vidanga Sthalam.







The main Raja Gopuram of Vedaranyam temple is of five tiers and two Prakaram.






As we enter through the main Raja gopuram we see a 16 pillar mandapam and the pushkarani is seen to our left.







As we cross the mandapam, we see small sanctum for Ganpathy.






After having darshan of Ganapthy, there is one more pillar mandapam to cross and enter in to the inner Gopuram of the temple





Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Vedaranyeswarar and his consort known as Veda Nayaki Amman / Veena Vadha Vidushani. The temple is One of 64 Sakthy Peetam known as Sundari Peetam. Thayagarajar here is known as Bhuvani Vidangar. The dance of Thyagesar here in this temple is known as Hamsa Natanam.





Sthala Vruksham is Vanni Maram and Punnai Maram.








Teertaham is Manikarnikai and Veda teertham.







The temple prakaram is very big and it was full of water.



Importance: Vedas worshiped Lord Siva here in this place. After their worship the temple main door was locked from inside. There was another door from the side which people were using to enter into the temple. Thiru Navukkarasar and Thiru Gyana Sambandhar reached this place on their visit to temples in the south. They were surprised to see the main door closed and came to know the reason. Sambandhar asked Navukkarasar, to sing on Lord Siva to open the door for devotees. Lord Siva was pleased by the Hymns, which he sung and the door opened on its own. Sambandhar was requested to sing to keep the door closed and opened here after. Sambandhar sang hymns on Lord Siva the temple main door closed on its own. From that day onwards the main door is used by devotees to enter in.



Goddess voice is melodious like Veena, hence she is known as Veena Vadha Vidushani.
So here we Saraswathy Devi without Veena and instead she is in the form of meditating with palm leaf in her hand.







Durgai in this temple is facing south and she is worshiped as Kaval Deivam.









Agasthiyar had darshan of Siva and Parvthy marriage in this place.



A rat climbed on the lamp, to drink the ghee in it. The light was becoming dim. The rat tried to taste the ghee, in this act the string which was in the lamp got disturbed, and it started glowing bright. By this act which happened without the knowledge of the rate, in his next birth it was Mavali Chakkravarthy.



This place Thirumarai kadu is birth place of Paranjyothy Adigal who is the composer of Thiru Vilayadal Puranam.(Siva Leela).



Others like Manu Maandata, Dasaradha, Rama, Mavali, and Pandvas worshiped Lord Siva of this temple and were blessed.



The ”Four Vedas” which worshiped Lord Siva here, left the place when the kali yugam started and they are worshipping Lord Siva in the form of trees and Vruksham. The place is called as “Vedaranyam.”



Sundarar Thiu Navukkarasar and Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place. Arunagiri Nadhar sung Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan known as Melakkumaran.