Thiruevvul (Thiruvallur / Trivellore) Sri Veera Raghavar Nachiyar Thirukolam

"இண்டை கொண்டு தொண்டரேத்த எவ்வுள் கிடந்தானை' [பக்தர்கள், புஷ்ப மாலைகளை ஏந்திக் கொண்டு துதிக்கும்படியாக சயனித்தருள்பவனான பெருமான்] என திருமங்கைமன்னன் மங்களாசாசனம் பண்ணப்பட்ட பெருமாள் திருக்கோவில் திருஎவ்வுள் எனும் திருவள்ளூர் .

I had earlier posted on this Divyadesam situated not far away from Chennai - popularly known as Thiruvallur [a District by itself] – ‘Thiru Evvul’ in the words of Thirumangai Mannan. It is approx 45 km away from Chennai en route to holy Thirumala Tirupathi. One can pass through Poovirunthavalli, take right to Thirumazhisai and travel along to this Divyadesam. It is a puranic temple of epigraphical importance. This temple is under the administration of Ahobila Mutt.

Lord here is ‘Sri Veera Raghavar’ - in reclining posture, with Brahma coming out from his navel in a meditating posture. Perumal’s right hand extends to bless the Maharishi and all His devotees. In the Sthalapurana, sage Margandeya gives a detailed account the dialogue between the sage Salihothra and Devabakhruk in the age of krithiyuga (the age of virtues and the first of four aeons). Lord Himself in the form of an old Brahmin, appeared before Salihothra maharishi who was doing great tapas. Being fully satisfied of the offerings of the Sage, He is believed to have asked the maharishi “evvul,” meaning where he could rest; Salihothra showing his hermitage, humbly said that He could regard his hermitage as his own and take rest. Lord so pleased with the tapas, then revealing His Swarupa asked Salihothra as to what he wanted.

The sage Salihothra, feeling immersed in boundless joy and happiness and singing the glory of the Lord, prostrated before Him. With his speech faltering, he humbly said, “Lord, what else do I require after seeing your ‘Divine Form’ Lord and requested Him to be there. Graciously granting his wishes, the Lord lay himself full length placing his head in the south, direction with his left hand teaching Brahma who was born out of his navel, the pranava and placing his right hand on the head of Salihothra giving him his eternal protection and promising him. The Lord said, “As I asked Salihothra for ‘kingruham’or evvul (to rest where) and then having taken rest here, be that this place is called from now on ‘Kingruhapuram and in Tamil’ “Thiru Evvulur” and be that I am called “Kingruhesan” or “Evvul kidanthan”. I will be present here for ever.

The pushkarini here is very vast …. In fact water is contained in a smaller square and beyond lies vast sandy space akin to a big lake itself. This Thirukulam is called ‘Hrithapanacini. ‘Hrith’ means heart, ‘thapa’ means desires or sins and ‘nacini’ means that which removes. The holy water of the Temple tank would remove all desires and sins from the heart. It is believed that people would be ridden of their diseases by a dip in the tank and by mixing jaggery in the tank.

Sri Veeraraghavar is also known as Vaidya Veera Raghava Swami postulating the mystic power to absolve us of our sins and diseases. The Uthsavar is Sri Veera Raghavar and His consort is Kanakavalli Thayar @ Vasumathi Thayar.:

முன்னோர் தூது வானரத்தின் வாயில் மொழிந்து, அரக்கன்*

மன்னூர் தன்னை வாளியினால் மாள முனிந்து அவனே*

பின்னோர் தூது ஆதிமன்னர்க்காகிப் பெருநிலத்தார்,*

இன்னார் தூதனென நின்றான் எவ்வுள் கிடந்தானே.

நமது அற்புதமான இதி ஹாசங்கள் ஆன ராமாயண மஹாபாரத அவதார சிறப்புகளை கூறி : ஸ்ரீராமாவதாரத்திலே சிறிய திருவடி மூலமாக சீதை பிராட்டிக்குத் தூது சொல்லியனுப்பி, பிறகு அரக்கன் இராவணனுடைய லங்காபுரியை, தனது வில் மாண்டுபோகும்படி சீறிமுடித்து, பிறிதொரு காலத்தில் ராஜாதிராஜர்களான பாண்டவர்களுக்கு தூதுவனாக பெரிய இப்பூமியிலுள்ளாரெல்லாரும் இவன் இன்னாருடைய தூதன் என்று சொல்லும்படியாய் பெயர் பெற்ற அப்பெருமான், இந்த திவ்யத் தலத்திலே பள்ளி கொண்டுள்ளான் என்கிறார் கலியன் தனது திருமொழியில் .

On gleaning my archives, found these photos taken during Brahmotsavam at Thiruvallore on 16th Jan 2010 – ‘Nachiyar kolam’ and posting them now here.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan. {Srinivasan Sampathkumar} ..