Vayalur Murugan Temple

Introduction to Vayalur Murugan Temple

Trichy is a traditional city located at the heart of Tamilnadu. It is well-known for its religious temples. As per history, many influential kingdoms like the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, and the Nayak dynasty held sway here. Vayalur Murugan Temple stands amidst a lush green landscape. It is dedicated to Murugan, the principal deity, and is 7 km from the city's center.

Legend of Vayalur Murugan Temple

Vayalur Murugan Temple has been praised in the famous work, Thiruppugazh, which was composed by Sri Arunagirinaathar here.

Muruga blessed Arunagirinaathar with the first few lines of "Muthai Tiru" at Tiruvannamalai. After writing these lines, he went into deep meditation. Muruga commanded him to reach Vayalur to sing Thiruppugazh. He was overwhelmed and pleaded with Muruga to show the presentation mode. Initially, Arunagirinaathar wrote a verse on Sri Poiya Ganapati Kaithala Nirai Kani, followed by the Thiruppugazh verses. Thus, Vayalur gained great importance as Thiruppugazh, the main gospel for Muruga devotees, bloomed from here.

The Architecture of Vayalur Murugan Temple

The Cholas built this temple around 1200 years ago. Once, it was bounded by green paddy fields (the Tamil word for paddy fields is 'Vayal'); hence, the temple earned the name Vayalur Murugan Temple. As urbanization spreads, devotees can only see a few paddy fields now. Its inscriptions portray that this temple received many royal gifts and monetary assistance from the Cholas, Paranthagan I, Raja Raja Cholan I, Rajendra Cholan I, Kulothunga Cholan I, and Rajakesari I. Later, Sri Kripananda Variyar contributed hugely to the further development of this temple.

This sacred place had the name Tenkarai Brahmadeyam Nandivarma Mangalam and Uraiyur Kutrattu Vayalur, as per the temple's inscriptions. Kumara Vayalur, Vanni Vayalur, and Adi Vayalur are the other temple names.

The temple tank, Sakthi Theertham, is in front of the temple. Supposedly, Murugan's Soolayudham was created in it. Near the tank, one can find the Teradiyan temple. Entering through the main door, pilgrims can see Vanni Maram, Sthala Vriksham, and a well in the first Prakara.

The second Prakara is next to the Sthala Vriksham. Devotees can see the new Gopuram here. Shiva has a sanctum in the name of Agnishwarar, an idol in the second Prakara. Just behind the Shiva temple, one can see Muruga's sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Subramanyaswami, with a single face and four hands, is in a standing position with his two consorts, Valli and Deyvanai, on each side. His divine vehicle, the peacock, is behind him, and he faces the east direction. Unlike in other temples, the deity supposedly created a water spring called Sakti Thadagam with his Vel.

Arunagirinathar and Vinayagar temples are in the south direction, and Mahalakshmi and Navagraha shrines are in the north. In the Navagraha temple, Surya is accompanied by his two consorts..

Devotees can see pictures from Kanda Puranam painted on the Prakara mandapam walls. The outer Prakara is in the north-south direction, sprawled 320 feet in length and 87 feet in breadth. Moolavar Subramanyaswami is also called Vayaluran, Adi Kumaran, Vannitalakumaran, and Muthukumara Swami. Kīla Pillayar and Mela Pillayar temples are in the second Prakara. Nataraja blesses his devotees in Chatura Thandava Posture, a rare form. Adi Nayaki, Ayyanar, Dakshinamurti, Nalvar, Durga, Jyeshta, and Chandikeshwara idols are installed in the temple.

Festivals of Vayalur Murugan Temple

Daily Poojas are performed six times. Vaikasi Visakam, Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram, Aadi Krithikai, Thiru Karthikai, and Kanda Shasti are the most important festivals in this temple. Rituals like Somavaram, Sukravaram, Pradosham (bi-monthly), Kiruthigai, Sathurthi, Amavasai, and Pournami are regularly performed here.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Vayalur Murugan Temple

Devotees with Naga Dosha affliction come here to take a dip in the holy tank to relieve them from marriage obstacles. They pray in the Vayalur Murugan Temple for longevity, good health, education, marriage, jobs, and overall success in life.

An Interesting Fact about Vayalur Murugan Temple

This temple is famous for child adoption. Infertile couples reach the temple for adoption formalities. It is said that when adopting abandoned children here, the couples will be free from all negativities and experience a better life.