Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy Temple (Purana Sthalam) — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

Old Vaishnav Temple...Srimushnam Bhoo Varahaswamy

This is one of the 8 Swayambu Kshetrams Lord Narayana brought back Goddess Earth after killing Asura Hiranyaksha and appeared here in Srimushnum Located 35kms West of Chidambaram in the Kattu Mannar Koil Taluk is the historical Bhoo Varaha Swamy temple in Sri Mushnum. Unlike typical moolavar deities in Vishnu temples, the Lord here is in the form of a small idol signifying the Varaha Avataaram. A visit even once to this temple and sincere prayers to Lord Bhoo Varahaswamy is said to help attain moksham in this lifetime, such is the power of Bhoo Varahar.

Swayambu Kshetram Srimushnum is one of the 8 Swayambu Kshetrams in India. The others are Srirangam, Tirupathi and Vanamaamalai in South India and Saligramam, Naimisarinyam, Pushkaram and Badri in North India.

Bhoo Varaha Perumal is a Saligrama moorthy and the speciality of the temple is that there is a Thirumanjanam every day for the Lord.

The Story Hiranyaksha, the brother of Hiranyakashipu, wanted to be a dominant force. To achieve this, he rolled over the earth and took it into the nether world, from where he ruled.

Bhoo Devi undertook penance seeking help from Lord Narayana to protect her from the Asura. Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha (a boar), went into the sea and killed the asura. He brought back the earth on his Adisesha and appeared here as a Swayambu idol.

Legend has it that he created the Pushkarani with the sweat emanating from his body after his battle with Hiranyaksha.

Lord’s Face turned South On his death bed, Hiranyaksha prayed to the Lord and as his final wish wanted the Lord to turn to turn in his direction. Hence Bhoo Varahan’s face is seen turned in the direction of the asura towards the South. An interesting feature of the moolavar deity at this temple is that the face, in the form of a boar, is turned towards South, while the body bearing a human shape is facing West in the direction of the devotees

Utsava Deity Goddess was worried that people may turn away from here because of the Lord’s pig face. Hence, she undertook penance and requested him to display his handsome stature. Answering her prayers, Lord’s Utsava idol features as Yagya Varahaswamy with conch and chakra.

Prarthana Sthalam This is a Prarthana Sthalam for childless couples. Ladies, who have bath in the Nithya Pushkarani, go around the Arasa tree 12times, offer milk and fruits to small kids and recite the Varaha Kavacham are said to be blessed with Children.

This is also a prarthana sthalam for the unmarried. Lord is also said to help devotees in the purchase of house and car.

Similar to Tirupathi While in Tirupathi Divya Desam, one first visits Varahar before darshan of Moolavar Srinivasa perumal, here at Srimushnam, one is to visit the Srinivasa Perumal Sannidhi at the Western entrance before a darshan of Bhoo Varahaswamy.

Special Prasadam at this temple One of the specialities at this temple is the offering of Korai Kazhangu as prasadam to the Lord

Temple Construction While BhooVarahar is a Swayambu idol, the temple here in Srimushnum is said to have been constructed by Four Nayak kings- Achuthappa, Ananthappa, Govindappa and Kondappa Nayak.

The story goes that Ananthappa Nayak developed severe stomach pain when they camped at Rajendrapatnam, 8kms East of Sri Mushnum. He was relieved of his pains when Lord Vishnu came in his dreams and touched his stomach with his leg. Delighted at this, he came here and constructed the temple. To this day, one can see the five fingers of the Lord below his left stomach. Event marking Muslim-Hindu Unity In Maasi, the Utsava deity goes on a 20 day procession to Killai and other nearby villages near Chidambaram. An interesting feature of this festival is that the Muslims in the area offer prasadams to the Lord Yagya Varaha and they take back the flower of the Lord and offer it to Allah. The Muslim devotees are said to thank Allah for having brought Varaha Swamy to their place. It is the only temple that brings together such unity between Muslims and Hindus and this event...

One of the many iconic temples places in Tamilnadu, Sri-Mushnam where this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu whose size is very small(about 2-2.5feet in size)in the form of BOAR giving Darshan to the demon king HIRANYAKSHA after slaying him, where the deity's face is facing southwards whereas body is facing Eastwards. The temple contains many neat sculptures in pillars, ceilings, though there are similarities in artisanship/sculptures of pillars in Mayuranathar temple & Rama temple in Mayavaram(Mayiladudhurai) & Perumal temple in Ariyalur respectively. The distinctive fact is that sculptures of ladies show ways that they were styling their hairs, desiger necklaces indicating that they were far more advanced than what our history books have been teaching for generations over 2 centuries. It's said to be one of the 8 Vishnu Sthalams across 🇮🇳 India. A fantastic place to visit & enjoy the sculptures & architectural beauty made possible by our ancestors... Bhoo-Varahaswamy(Vishnu) Temple at Sri-Mushnam in Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu & is worshipped as Bhoo Varahaswamy, his consort Lakshmi is worshipped as Ambujavalli Thayaar. The interiors & exteriors of the temple are eye soothing & pleasing, includes the creators/builders/funders of this temple building, the ways ladies used to style their hair in those times, types of ornaments they used to wear etc. Priests of the temple say the deity existed as swayambhu since 2000 years & temple was built later, & it is said that many kings from 560 to 1614 AD have put in their equal efforts towards building this temple.

HISTORY

As per Hindu tradition, the demon king Hiranyaksha dominated earth & was creating terror on the land & even harassing Bhu Devi, divine ruler of the nether land. She prayed Vishnu & asked almighty to release her from clutches of evil demon king. Lord Vishnu was pleased by her prayers & immediately took form of a BOAR, killed the king & thereafter appeared at the place on her request. During the time of my darshan visit here, the Bhoo-Varaha Swamy Utsava Murthy was getting ready for Oorvalam on MAASI-MAHAM day to a place called KILLAI(near Pichaavaram/Chidambaram) where(it is said), a Muslim priest performs pooja to arrived Lord's Utsava Murthy & later the return journey of the Lord starts. The total time would be a fortnight as said by the local priest.

IMPORTANCE/SIGNIFICANCE

People here do have great sacred feeling & devotion for this temple deity. Here Vishnu is considered to be one of the eight swayambus of Kshetras around, where deity presiding on its ownself. The temple is designed as per Sangam Architecture & lot of carvings of ancient times can still be seen in this temple. It's said people come here to feel the bliss of eternal times. In the premises, there is also a statue of Lord Hanuman lifting Ram & Lakshman which is very rarely seen. According to locals this place is very sacred & has special place reserved in the heart of Vishnu, & hence people come here wishing or praying almighty for their future endeavors.

FACTS/BELIEFS

Its believed childless couple & unmarried people visit the temple for better futures. Also people who while driving their own vehicles happen to collide with a roaming pig, such people come here, & do pooja to Lord Bhoo-Varaha Swamy & later sell his/her vehicle, because they believe that continuing to own the same vehicle will be disastrous. It's believed that the purchasing person's future will become glorious. I have come across one such person who had faced such problems with his bike 🏍 earlier, & after he sold the life of the purchaser grew skywards... In three steps the rituals are conducted: alankaram(decoration), neivethiyam (offering of food) & deepa aradhnai for God Vishnu/Goddess Lakshmi. The five tiered gopuram of the temple on the eastern side is prayed & worshipped during Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Daily poojas at Ushakaalam (around 7.30 am), Kala-Shanthi at 8.00 am, UchiKaalam- at 12.00 pm, Saya-rakshai at 6.00 pm, & IrundaKaalam(night) during the night are done...

Beauty, Grace and Grandeuer : Bhu-Varaha Swamy Temple

During our visit to the Pallava Monuments in Dec 2020 we came across a few Chola Monuments which had it's origins with Pallavas, and this was later expanded and built on a larger canvas by the Chola Rulers.

One such monument is Bhu-Varaha-Swamy-Temple. True to it's name, it is dedicated to An Avatar of Vishnu - Varaha.

Interestingly the Avatars of Vishnu is a biology lesson showing the evolution of life form from Matysa (fish - aquatic), Kurma (tortoise - amphibious), Varaha (animal - terrestrial), Narasimha (animal-man), Vamana (Neanderthal), and so on to Parusharama, Rama...

This temple is located in Srimushnam, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu. This temple which was set for a modest begining by late Pallavas (circa 875 CE).

With patronage of Virarajendra Chola (circa 1063 CE), to Achuthappa Nayak (circa 1568 CE), the temple expanded to a grand 25 acre temple, with exquisite carvings, and a monolith Garuda perched on a height of 80 ft, facing the presiding diety.

As a tribute to evolution, celebration was rife in all forms and shapes. The sixteen pillared hall is called Purushasuktha Mandapa and it is the place where the hymns of Purusha sukta are recited each day during sacred ablution of the presiding deity. This was through the exceptional foresight and leadership of Achuthappa Nayak (circa 1568 CE).

As a trivia, in the same year 1568 CE, Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri finished his epic work of Narayaneeyam, praising Lord Krishna in his 100 Chapters.

From depicting warfare of the times with use of cavalry, to elephants in procession for the celebrations, to the Apsaras, there is very careful attention to the detials of costumes of the "natya-sundari" - pay special attention to their robes and the hair styles and adornments.

Also embellished in the temple mandapa are equisitely carved miniature carvings into which sculptors have been able to breathe life.

Please take time to view the exquisite sculptures and zoom into these and the high resolution videos.

I hope you enjoy viewing these as much as we enjoy sharing these.

#temple #templephotography #culture #cultureofindia #heritage #heritageofindia #history #historical #photography...