Thiruvottiyur Vadivudai Amman Temple | Thyagaraja Swamy Temple

Vadivudai Amman Udanurai Thyagaraja Swamy Temple/ Thiruvottiyur

Who else other than mother Shakti can be eternally beautiful, and so she is aptly named Vadivudaiamman, in the temple at Thiruvottiyur. This temple has many historical references and in fact it can lead to pages when one talks about the glory of the temple. The temple is a “paadal petra sthalam” meaning that the hymns are sung on this temple by those who sung the Devaram. The deity here is Lord Shiva, who is a “Swayambu” meaning that the linga was not manmade. The anthill is in the form of linga, and it is believed that Lord Vasuki, the snake, which served as a rope when amrita or the elixir was spurn out by the devas and asuras. Lord Vasuki listens to the prayers of the devotees from this place.

Temple History and Specials

The temple has a history of 2000 years, which is widely accepted and has evidence, but it dates back to centuries when the eternal floods destroyed the world, and this is supposed to be the first place for lives to spring up. But, evidences exist for the history of 1000 to 2000 years. Sundarar, who is a popular devotee of Lord Shiva, was stopped from getting married to his love by none other than Lord Shiva. This left Sundarar understand his past, and he started travelling to various Shiva temples around the land. Later he married Sangili Nachiyar, his love, with blessings of Lord Shiva. When he reached Thiruvottriyur, he fell in love with Paravai nachiyar, and asked Lord Shiva to make his love agree to get married. Paravai Nachiyar was skeptic and asked if Sundarar was a bachelor, and if he had never married. In reality, he had a wife, and threatened Lord Shiva that he would never sing his praises, until he had joined hands with Paravai Nachiyar.

 Lord Shiva who was deep in love with Sundarar’s Tamil hymns, obliged and lied to Paravai Nachiyar and helped his devotee get married. But when the truth is revealed, Sundarar is cursed to be blind by his wife. The entire event is celebrated during the month of Maasi, which falls from the mid of February to March every year. The Magizham tree is where Lord Shiva stood and promised Paravai Nachiyar that Sundarar is an unwed bachelor, and this is the reason, the event is still called Maghizhadi Sevai.

The temple has many other mythological stories which would definitely keep coming on this blog.

Temple Timing:

Timing – 5:30 to 12 AM, and 5 to 8 PM

On Fridays the temple is open from 5 Am TO 9 PM

Contact:

Phone Number: 044-25733703

Address:
Vadivudaiamman Temple

Thiruvottiyur

Chennai – 19

How to reach?

Thiruvottiyur is 10 KM away from Chennai Central.
By Train: Nearest railway station is Thiruvottriyur. Any trains that move towards Gummidipoondi and Sulurpet can be boarded to get down at Thiruvottiyur.

By Bus: Bus stop to get down is Theradi, Thiruvottriyur.

By Air: Nearest Airport- Meenambakkam, Chennai.