Vallalar Kovil is situated near the banks of river Cauvery in Uttara Mayuram. The main deity here is Lord Vathaanyeswarar and He faces East. His Consort is Goddess Gnanambigai and She is in a separate shrine facing South. This temple is more famous as Vallalar temple. This temple is a Guru Parihara Sthalam and is also known as Medhaa Dakshinamurthy Temple.
Medhaa Dakshinamurthy at Vallalar Kovil, Mayiladuthurai
Legend goes that Rishabha Deva grew very proud of himself and thought he was superior to the others because he was carrying Lord Shiva on his head. Lord Shiva decided to teach him a lesson and placed a strand of His hair on Rishaba Deva’s back. Rishabha Deva was unable to bear the weight and realised his folly. He prostrated to Lord Shiva and begged for His forgiveness. Lord Shiva not only forgave him, he also blessed him with Divine Knowledge. Since the Lord here bestows abundance of knowledge, wealth and good health on His devotees, He is known as Vallalar. Vallal in tamil means, one who gives abundantly.
Sthala Puranam in Tamil, Vallalar Kovil, Mayiladuthurai
Sthala Puranam in Tamil, Vallalar Kovil, Mayiladuthurai
Medhaa Dakshinamurthy is very popular. Medhaa means knowledge or wisdom. At this temple, Dakshinamurthy is seen holding “chin mudra” in his right hand and a book in his left hand. The Lord is seen sitting on the Nandi and is bestowing knowledge to Rishabha Deva who is seated in front of Him. Planet Jupiter is said to have worshiped Dakshinamurthy here and was bestowed with the power to grant boons to devotees worshiping him. This is a Guru Parihara Sthalam and Guru Peyarchi is an important festival here. Devotees from far and wide throng here during Guru Peyarchi.
One of the Saptha Mathas, Chamundi was afflicted by dosha for having killed the demon Mahishasura. She prayed to Lord Shiva here and attained absolution. The holy theertham here is “Gnanamruth Saras”. It is also known as Pancha Brahma theertham.
Bhairava Ashtakam and Bhairava Gayatri in Tamil, Vallalar Kovil, Mayiladuthurai
Sri Nandhi, had sung eight verses in praise of Lord Dakshinamurthy to get rid of arrogant qualities and to attain wisdom. The Lord asked Nandi to stay at Mayiladuthurai in the middle of Cauvery river. Legend says that He also asked the Ganges and other holy rivers to flow into Cauvery on New Moon day in the Tamil month of Aipasi. The New Moon day of Aipasi is celebrated in this temple with pomp and glory. All the Deities are brought to the Rishabha Theertha Ghat. Ganga Devi is carried on a makara vahanam.
This temple is maintained by the Dharmapura Adheenam. In the tamil month of Karthigai, a grand Abhishegam or ablution is performed for Medhaa Dakshinamurthy.
Temple Location:
Temple Timings:
7.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m.
4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Temple Address:
Sri Vathaanyeswarar Temple (Vallalar Koil),
Mayiladuthurai-609 001,
Nagapattinam district.
Phone Number: +91- 4364 – 228 846, 242 996