SRI VEDAGIRISWARAR TEMPLE THIRUKALUKUNDRAM

Temple's Speciality:

English	Hindi
Arabic	Japanese
Bengali	Philipino
Chinese	Portuguese
Dutch	Russian
French	Spanish
German	Tamil

Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the temple. It is a contradiction here that Nandhi before the sanctum sanctorum is absent in this temple. There are 565 steps to reach the hill temple. A great festival known as Pushpakara Mela as great as the Kumbh Mela in north is celebrated here once in 12 years with one lakh deepas on the Jupiter transition day to Virgo sign. A conch is born in the theertha once in 12 years. It is noteworthy that the tank in the temple is one containing herbal properties. It is the experience of the people that a mentally retarded person is cured completely with a dip in the theertha and prayer to the Lord.

Address:

Sri Veda Giriswarar Temple. Tirukazhukundram–603 109. Kancheepuram.

Phone: +91-44- 2744 7139, 94428 11149.

Opening Time:

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Festivals:

10 day Chithirai festival draws huge devotee crowd in April-May; Aadi Pooram 10 day festival for Mother Ambica in July–August; Full moon days; new moon days; pradosha days ; Tamil and English New Year Days, Deepavali, Pongal are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Special abishek and aaradhanas are performed during these days. Next to Tiruvannamalai, Girivalam is observed by devotees here too on full moon days. Lakhs of people join the event.

Temple History:

Two sages Poosha and Vruddha performed penance on Lord Shiva seeking Sharoopa status. Lord modified their demand and granted the Sayujya status and promised elevation to Sharoopa later. The sages refused to accept the offer and were adamant on their demand. The ngry Lord cursed them to become eagles.

Since then they are in this hill known as Shambu and Aadhi and are worshipping the Lord with the Pakshi Theertha they had created. It is believed that these eagles use to bathe in Rameswaram, eat in Kazhukundram and stay at Kasi each day. The feeding of the eagles is going on for thousands of years, it is believed. King Suraguru, to whom the Lord granted darshan was instrumental for the creation of this sacred place.

Greatness Of Temple:

Kazhugu in Tamil means eagle and kundram the hill, hence the name of the place Tiru Kazhu Kundram. Even today two eagles visit the temple every day to accept the rice offered to them. This is the place where Saint Sundarar got gold from Lord. Crores of Rudras and Siddhas performed penance and attained salvation here. The environment is so suitable for those to do meditation peacefully.

The glory of the place and Lord of the temple are praised by saivite saints, Pattinathar and great poets. Lord granted darshan to Saivite Saint Manickavasagar in this place. Devotional poet Arunagiriar describes the place as the one equal to Amaravathi the capital of Indira. King Suraguru had Lord's darshan. Sage Markandeya blessed by Lord of Kasi came to this place and performed abishek to Lord when a conch appeared in the abishek water.

This theertha praised as Markandeya theertha produces a conch even now once in 12 years. There are 12 theerthas–sacred springs–around the hill named 1) Indira, 2) Shambu, 3) Rudra, 4) Vasishta, 5) Meignana–true wisdom. 6) Agasthya, 7) Markandeya, 8) Kausika, 9) Nandhi, 10) Varuna, 11) Akalika and 12 Pakshi theerthas.