Veera Raghava Swami Temple, Thiruvallur

Veera Raghava Swami Temple, Thiruvallur

Architecture

Legend / Local stories

Thiruevvul:

The legend connected with this temple says, that one Thai Amavasya day a wandering sage named Salihotra reached Thiruvallur where he met a congregation of sages. They were engaged in taking bath in the tank Hrith-Thapa-Nasini and he was also advised to take bath before performing his daily rituals. The bath changed the mind and Sri Salihotra decided to stay at the bank of that Holy tank and start a penance without food or water for one year. The next year on the same Pushya Amavasya day he completed his penance and took a holy dip in the Hrith-Thapa-Nasini tank and observed his morning prayers.

As he was fasting for one year without food and drink, he collected on that day some paddy and prepared prasadam using rice flour. At this juncture Lord Narayana took the form of an old Brahmin and came the way where Salihotra was waiting to offer a share to a guest. He immediately offered the food to the Brahmin who ate up the offering. Salihotra understood that the old Brahmin was very hungry and immediately offered his share also to the guest too. The guest was satisfied and left the place. Another one year of penance continued without any food and drink.

Again, on the day of Pushya Amavasya Salihotra took his holy bath and after his prayers prepared food as he did the previous year. He offered the food to Narayana and was waiting for a guest. This time also Lord Narayana took the form of an old Brahmin and he was welcomed by Salihotra to his hermitage. The old Brahmin expressed that he was feeling extremely hungry and thirsty and needed a place to rest. After taking prasadam the old Brahmin expressed to Salihotra, ‘where is the place for me to lie down?’ (Evvul?) ‘In this hermitage’, (Ivvul), answered Salihotra.

The old man was pleased at this offer and stretched his body in the hermitage putting his head towards south. Immediately the old Brahmin transformed himself into the form of Sri Narayana and Adisesha appeared with his thousand hoods to serve as couch and canopy. On request from Salihotra Maharishi, the Lord promised that he would permanently stay there and that he would bless and relieve everyone who prays to him after taking bath in the tank of his/her diseases and miseries. Hence, he is called Sri Vaidhya Veeraraghava Swamy.

Amavasya Day:

The holy city of Thiruvallur, one among the important 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams, is well known for its significance on Amavasya or New Moon Day. Sri Vaidya Veeraraghava Swami’s greatness as a heeler God is well known based on the Sthala Puranam. It is said the Lord made a solemn promise to Sri Salihotra Maharishi that those having darshan on Lord Veeraraghava on Amavasya day will get relief from all their problems and illness. It is believed that people get relief from their illness or other personal problems if they pray here on Amavasya day. Having darshan and offering Kaanikkai on 3 or 6 consecutive Amavasya days is believed to be even more desirable. Hence thousands of people come to this temple on that day. Long hours of darshan is arranged by the temple authorities to facilitate the devotees.

Lord Vishnu married Mother Lakshmi here:

As per another legend, Vishnu appeared in the place to marry Lakshmi, who was born as the daughter of Dilipa, the king of Dharmasenapura. He appeared in the place and married her.

Other Names:

The place is also called Thiruevvul and Veekshaaranya Kshetram

Lord Vishnu taught Brahma here:

Legend has it that Vishnu revealed the Vedas to Brahmma here.

Vijayakoti Vimaanam:

Legend also has it that Vishnu vanquished the demons Madhu-Kaidapas, and protected devotees here. The Vijayakoti Vimaanam is named after this victory over demons.

Lord Shiva got relieved of Brahmahatti Dosham here:

Legend also has it that Shiva was relieved of the Brahmahatti Dosham of killing Daksha upon visiting this shrine. There is a shrine to Shiva on the banks of the temple tank.

Vaidya Veeraraghava Perumal:

It is believed that bathing in the temple tank, and worshipping Veera Raghava Perumal with symbolic offerings of salt and pepper here, is a cure to many a physical ailment, and hence the deity is also known as Vaidya Veeraraghava Perumal. It is also believed that barren couples beget progeny upon worshipping here.

Hrutatapanasini:

The sacred tank, Hrutatapanasini in the temple is considered more sacred than holy Ganga and a dip cleanses.

Photo Gallery

How to Reach:

Tiruvallur is situated on the highway linking Chennai and Tirupati. This Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Tiruvallur, 4 Kms from Thirupachur, 11 Kms from Poondi, 18 Kms from Thiruvalangadu, 21 Kms from Sriperumbudur, 24 Kms from Thirumazhisai, 19 Kms from Pattabiram, 23 Kms from Avadi, 16 Kms from Thiruninravur, 36 Kms from Arakkonam, 40 Kms from Thiruthani, 102 Kms from Tirupati and 52 Kms from Chennai.

By Road:

The Temple is located at about 150 meters from Theradi Bus Stop and 500 meters from Tiruvallur Bus Stand. Tiruvallur is on the Chennai Tirupati highway. A diversion takes you to the temple. Share autos are the common mode of transport to the temple, although Public transport buses are also there connecting the bus stand and railway station. The temple is close to the bus stand.

From Koyambedu CMBT the buses plying to Tirupati and Thiruthani pass through this town and bus services are also available from Chennai, Chengalpattu, Arakkonam, Poonamallee, Avadi, Tambaram, Periyapalayam, Uthukottai, Redhills, Tirupati, Thiruthani, Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai.

By Train:

The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Tiruvallur Railway Station. This Temple is located at Tiruvallur, a railhead on the (suburban) railroad between Chennai and Arakkonam.

By Air:

The Temple is located about 45 Kms from Chennai International Airport

Temple Opening Time

The temple remains open from 5.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Prayers

In this temple people submit small metal sheets with a specific human organ engraved on them as a request to god to cure the illness or problems with those organs. It is believed that those suffering from incurable diseases are cured if they visit the Lord for three no moon days (Amavasya). Lord Veera Raghava Perumal is all merciful a physician. Any sick person praying here continuously on three new moon days is cured of diseases as stomach pain, defects in hands and legs and fever.

Devotees come here for marriage finalization, progeny and for relief from hardships. The water in the tank is considered more sacred than that of Ganga. A dip in the tank is believed to relieve the devotee from sins he committed in thought as well as action. Devotees offer Papli Tupatti – an upper cloth to Perumal. This is not available in shops. This is sold in the temple office only priced at Rs. 300. They offer special archanas and Aaradhanas and distribute Nivedhanas to visitors.

Devotees also offer 9-yard length silk sari to Mother. For removal of pimples in faces, they dissolve milk and jaggery in the temple tank and put salt and pepper in the mandapam. Salt and pepper offered to the god is believed to cure diseases and restore good health to the devotee. It is a believe that by offering salt and pepper by the bali peetam near the Dwajasthambam (holy flag mast) diseases are cured. Another popular ritual is to dissolve jaggery in the Pushkarani (sacred tank).

Festivals

The temple follows the traditions of the Vadakalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Pancharathram Aagama. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 8:30 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Veera Raghava Perumal and Vasumathi Thayar.

During the last step of worship, nagaswaram(pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) and Nalayira Divya Prabhandham are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple witnesses a huge devotee crowd in thousands during the two Brahmotsavams, the first of 10 days in Chithirai (April-May) and the second 10 days in Thai covering January-February. The crowd is equally big for the Pavithra Utsav lasting seven days. Two Theppotsavam, (float-festivals), each for three days- one in Ani (mid-June to mid-July) and another in Masi (mid-February to mid-March), both starting from new moon day.

During Chittirai, Brahmotsavam, the festival deity is taken in procession around the streets of the temple in different mounts each day and the float festival is celebrated on the last day. Pancha Parva festivals (Occurring on Ekadesies, Pournami, first day of each Tamil month and Amavasya), Birth stars of Lord Veeraraghava and Swami Desikan viz Chithirai and Shravanam (Thiruvonam), Friday festivals for Thayar Thirumanjanam(Abishekam) and Purappadu of Perumal are conducted on Pancha Parva and Chithira Star, Thayar on Fridays and Swami Desikan on Shravanam(Thiruvonam).

It is believed that people get relief from their illness or other personal problems if they pray here on Amavasya day. Having darshan and offering Kaanikkai on 3 or 6 consecutive Amavasya days is believed to be even more desirable. Hence thousands of people come to this temple on that day. Long hours of darshan is arranged by the temple authorities to facilitate the devotees. It is considered auspicious to visit this temple on new moon days. Fridays are marked by a procession of the processional image of Thaayar to the Vellikkizhamai mandapam.

The other festivals associated with Vishnu temples like Krishna Jayanthi, Saturdays of Tamil month Puratasi, Navratri, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Vijayadasami are celebrated during the respective days. Puliyodharai (Tamarind Rice), Dhadhyannam (Curd Rice), Pongal, Chakkarai Pongal, Vada, Adhirasam, Murukku are offered to Lord as Prasadam.

Pooja Timings

• Vishwaroopam – 06.30 AM
• Sevarthi Darshan – 06.30 AM to 07.30 AM
• Kalasanthi Pooja – 07.30 AM to 09.00 AM
• Sevarthi Darshan – 09.00 AM to 12.00 PM
• Sevarthi Darshan – 04.00 PM to 06.30 PM
• Rituals – 06.30 PM to 07.15 PM
• Sevarthi Darshan – 07.15 PM to 08.00 PM
• Cleaning of Sannathi – 08.00 PM to 08.30 PM
• Ritual – 08.30 PM to 08.45 PM
• Bedtime Seva – 09.00 PM

Contact Details

Veera Raghava Swami Temple,
Tiruvallur – 602 001
Thiruvallur District
Phone: +91 44 2766 0378
Mobile: +91 97894 19330