Thiru Evvul (Thiruvallur) Sri Veera Raghavar Pavithrothsavam 2025

Leiden   is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands.  A university city since 1575, Leiden has been one of Europe's most prominent scientific centres for more than four centuries. University buildings are scattered throughout the city and the many students from all over the world give the city a bustling, vivid and international atmosphere.   What could be its relevance here and what are these pattayams

 

Pic credit : - //digitalcollections.universiteitleiden.nl/ 

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

 

Not far away from the heart of metropolis Madras  [Chennai] is the Divyadesam popularly known as Thiruvallur [a District by itself] – known as ‘Thiru Evvul’.  It is approx 48 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.

 

Thiruvallur  (Thiru Evvul) is a famous divaydesam- sayanathirukolam of Emperuman famously Sri Vaidhya Veeraraghavar.  The new moon day is very auspicious day to have darshan here and the pushkarini would rid us of all our sins.   

The Battle of Takkolam (c. 949 CE) was a military engagement between a contingent of troops led by Rajaditya,  the eldest son of the Chola king Parantaka I (907–955), and Rashtrakuta king Krishna III (939–967) at Takkolam in southern India.  Rajaditya was defeated and died in the battle.  The battle is considered as the climax of the confrontation between the two imperials powers, the Cholas and the Rashtrakutas, for mastery of south India. ..  .. .. this place lies close to Thiruvallur (approx. 20 km away)  

                    The death of prince Rajaditya is unusually commemorated by the Cholas. The Chola version of the events can be found in Larger Leiden Grant  (1006 AD) of Rajaraja I and Tiruvalangadu Plates (1018 AD) of Rajendra Chola.  An account of the battle, which differs in some details from the Chola version, is found in the Atakur inscription issued by Krishna III and prince Butuga II   of the Western Ganga family.   

 

The District of Tiruvallur was carved out by bifurcating erstwhile Chengalpattu District. According to the said bifurcation Tiruvallur revenue division which included Tiruvallur, Tiruttani taluks and Uthukkottai and Pallipattu sub-taluks separated from Chengalpattu District along with Ponneri and Gummindipoondi taluks of Saidapet revenue division and formed this new District. At present this District is comprised of 8 taluks namely Gummindipoondi, Ponneri, Uthukkottai, Tiruvallur, Poonamallee, Tiruttani, Pallipattu and Avadi and three Revenue Divisions namely Ponneri, Tiruvallur and Tiruttani.    

In the far past, this region was under a chain of regimes commencing from the Pallavas during the 7th century ending with the Nawab of Arcot during the early part of 19th century when it came under the British rule. In 1687, the Golkonda rulers were defeated and the region came under the Moghul emperors of Delhi. The towns and villages of this region were the scene of Carnatic wars. Battles are said to have been fought in this region during the struggle for supremacy between the English and French.   

Sri Vaidhya Veera Raghava Swami thirukovil is a divyadesam – mangalasasanam by Thirumangai Azhwar and Thirumazhisaippiran.  Sri Vedanthachar  composed a Sanskrit poem named Kim Grihesha Stuti about this sacred place. Markandeya Puranam provides many details regarding this temple. The original names of this place were Punyavrata Kshetram and Veeksharanya Kshetram. It was also called Thiru Evvul which in course of time changed to Thiruvallur. The name Thiru Evvul is in connection with the temple tradition according to which Salihotra Muni visited this sacred place, bathed in the temple tank on Thai Amavasai day and performed penance.  Earlier this temple was administered by different dynasties like Pallava, Vijayanagara, Naicks etc.  Presently the temple is managed by   Sri Ahobila Math. The sacred tank here is known as Hrittapanasini.  Goddess Lakshmi here, enshrined in a separate sanctum in the prakaram of this temple is worshipped as Kanakavalli Thayar and also as Vasumathi Thayar.

 

The moolavar  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 ‘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. 13.9.2025 was concluding day of Pavithrothsavam here and here are some photos of Pavithrothsavam.  Rest of the photos were taken earlier and 3 attributed to  Leiden Univ.

 

 

முன்னோர் தூது வானரத்தின் வாயில் மொழிந்து, அரக்கன்*

மன்னூர் தன்னை வாளியினால் மாள முனிந்து அவனே*

பின்னோர் தூத னாதிமன்னர்க் காகிப் பெருநிலத்தார்,*

இன்னார் தூதனென  நின்றானெவ்வுள் 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 . 

 

THE copper plates preserved in Leiden University in the Netherlands, commonly referred to as the “Leiden Plates”, have a unique story to tell—of  the royal charter issued by a great Chola emperor granting resources and revenues to ensure the upkeep of a Buddhist vihara . Interestingly, it was for a monastery built by a distinguished king from the distant Malay region in close-by Nagapattinam.  This document spells out in great detail the legal tenets, fiscal stipulations and bureaucratic machinery involved in the assessment and execution of the deed. Drawn and executed in the 11th century, this deed is impressive in its thoroughness and precision.  

Leiden University, established in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, is the oldest university in the Netherlands and a leading international research university. It is located in the cities of Leiden and The Hague. The university is known for its strong reputation, producing numerous Nobel laureates, heads of state, and members of the Dutch royal family.   Leiden University is one of Europe's top universities, with thirteen Nobel Prize winners.  

The "Larger Leiden Grant" refers to a Chola copper plate inscription, specifically from the reign of Rajaraja Chola I's 21st year – it also draws great reference to the battle of Takkolam and the death of prince Rajaditya.   The plates are presently kept and preserved in the Leiden University in the Netherlands.  How they reached such a far off place and how many historic accounts were smuggled out of the country by colonisers would remain a mystery forever.

 

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
14.9.2025