Thiruvedagam

Padal Petra Sthalam, Madurai District

God

Aedaganadhar, facing east (Swayambu – self occurring)

Goddess

Elavar Kuzhal Ammai facing east. Another name is Sugandhakunthalambigai

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga, 63 Nayanmars, Dakshinamurthy, Somaskandar, Thirugnanasambandar, Lingotbavar, Pancha Linga, Sabdamadar, Nagalakshmi, Durga, Chandikeswara, Nataraja, Navagrahas, Vallaba Ganapathy, Sastha, Chandra, Karthigai Maadhar, Chandikeswari

Thiruvedagam is a large and grand ancient temple with two separate shrines and 5 tier Rajagopurams for the god and goddess.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Brahma Theertham (Temple Tank), Vaigai River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilvam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Thirugnanasambandar (7th century CE) has rendered Thevaram hymns for the Lord here at Thiruvedagam. Several Kings of the Pandya dynasty have contributed to the growth and betterment of this temple.

Legend

Thirugnanasambandar is beleived to have cured a king (Koon Pandian, a hunchback) of leprosy challenging the Jains who failed in their approach and who had earlier converted the King to Jainism here at Thiruvedagam. Challenged further in word and act Thirugnanasambandar won in both. The latter by writing a Thevaram verse on an ‘Aedu’ (palm leaf) and floated it on the Vaigai river. While that of the Jains got carried in the flow and reached elsewhere, that of Thirugnanasambandar floated against the current and reached the opposite bank. thus the name of the lord here at Thiruvedagam is Aedaganadhar.

Directions

Thiruvedagam is about 18 Kilometers on the Madurai to Sholavandan road.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Madurai

Padal Petra Sthalam Temples

Tamilnadu Temples