Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam

Padal Petra Sthalam, Nagapattinam District

God

Maraikatteesar (also Vedaranyeswarar, Vedavanadar), facing east

Goddess

Yazhai Pazhitha Menmozhiammai (also Vinavadavidhooshini), along with the main deity

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga, 63 Nayanmar, Ramanadalingam, Rama, Veerahathi Vinayaka, Chera Chozha Pandia Lingams, Nasiketu, Suvedhaketu, Juvaradevar, Saneeswara, Saraswathi, Annapoorani, Durga, Chozheeswaralingam, Nataraja, Surya, Chandra, Thiyagaraja

Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam temple has three Prakarams (outer courtyard) and a 5 tiered Rajagopuram. The Lingam is made of Maragatham (Emerald). This is one of the Saptha Vidanga Kshetras where the 7 idols of Thiagaraja in different dancing poses are found. Here Thiagaraja is found in the Bhuvanivi Vidangar form (Dancing with the gait of a swan). The other names of this temple is Aadhi Sedhu, Then Kailayam, Paramayanam and Gnanabhoomi.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Veda Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vanni (Prosopis cineraria), Punnai (Calophyllum inophyllum)

History

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar (7th – 8th Century CE) have rendered Thevaram Hymns for the lord here at Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam. The place was earlier known as “Tirumaraikadu” meaning the place where Vedas originated. The recorded history of Vedaranyam is found from the inscriptions in the temple which date back to the reign of Aditya Chola (871–907 CE), Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE), Rajendra Chola I (1012–1044 CE) and Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE) indicating various grants to the Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam temple.

Legend

A rat, which unintentionally, lit a lamp here at Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam was born as Emperor Mahabali in the next life. The temple doors were closed after reading the Vedas and were made to reopen by Thirunavukkarasar and again were closed by Thirugnanasambandar with their rendering of the Thevaram Hymns. Sage Agastya is believed to have seen the divine vision of the Lord’s marriage in Kailash here also. Lord Rama is believed to have prayed here at Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam.

Directions

Thirumaraikadu Vedaranyam is about 45 Kilometers south of Nagapattinam

Stay and Food

Vedaranyam has a few good restaurants.

Padal Petra Sthalams