This is one of the 108 divya sethrams and had been visited alwars ( Thirumangai alwar, thirumazhisai alwar )
This temple has been constructed by Pallavas and we can see several writtings on the walls of the temple and hope archaeological groups have did their work on these writings.
Temple is open from morning to 12 PM and will be re-opened by 4 PM in the evening.
Temple has the following deities.
Sri Veeraraghava Perumal
Sri Kanagavalli Thayar
Sri Kothandaramar
Sri Venugopala krishnan
Sri Ramanujar
Sri Lakshmi narashimar
Sri Chakarathazwar
This temple is very famous during amavasya days and will be fully crowed. People who has sickness and other health related issues were adviced to take bath in the Hrittapanasini pond (picture below) and submit salt to Sri Veeraraghavar and their health issues will be cured. Luckily when I went there the pond had waters ( see picture below ).
Usually people are advised to visit 3 to 6 amavasyas by then their problems will be solved. Also the main deity is called as "Sri Vaithya VeeraRaghava perumal".
The main deity Sri Veeraraghava Perumal is in reclining position on Nagarajar which is similar to Srirangam Perumal position. Lords right hand is in blessing position towards "Salihothra Munivar" and left hand has a symbol indicating that he is teaching the vedas to Lord Brahma.
Tulasi is offered to Perumal and on most of the days , archakas are performing Archanas to the main deity.
Sthala History
In Krita Yuga, a sage by name Purupunyar lived with his wife Satyavathi in Badarikashram. They had no children. Purupanyar performed a Sali Yajna with great devotion. On the last day, Lord Narayana was pleased and appeared in the sacrificial fire to offer boons. The Sage prayed for a noble son.The boon was granted with the condition that he should be named after the name of the Yajna as Salihotran.
The child was named Salihotran. With the growth of years, the child showed signs of precocity and started on a pilgrimage-visiting temple after temple. On Thai Amavasya day (New Moon day in January-February), he reached Tiruvallur where he found that Lord Brahma, other Devas and great sages like Vasishtha, were engaged in taking bath in the Hrittapanasini pond.
Next year, on the same Pushya Amavasya day ( Thai amavasya ), he completed one year of penance and took a holy bath in the Hrittapanasini tank and observed his morning prayers. As he was fasting for one year without food or drink, he collected on that day some paddy and prepared prasadam out of that. He divided it into three parts; the first part was offered to Lord Narayana.The second part was kept for offering as charity and the third for his own consumption. At this juncture, Lord Narayana took the form of an old Brahmin and came the way where Salihotran was waiting to offer the share to a guest. When Salihotran saw the old Brahmin, he immediately requested him to grace his hermitage. He respectfully offered to the Brahmin the prasadam meant for the guest. Quickly the Brahmin ate up the offering and Salihotran felt from his facial appearance that he was not satisfied.
On inquiry, he learnt that the old Brahmin had had no food for the last 4 or 5 days and his hunger was not fully satisfied. 2nd portion kept for himself was offered to the guest. The guest was satisfied and asked Salihotran, "Where is the place for me to lie (Evvul)?" (where to stay), the Sage had replied pointing to his hut as "Ivvul" (inside the hut). Hence the name is called "ThiruEvvul". It is also said that Lord Shiva got rid of his Brahmahatti Dosha on account of killing Daksha by worshiping Lord Vishnu here. There is a small temple for Lord Shiva near the temple tank.
Nearest airport in Chennai
Nearest railway station is Thiruvallore
Nearest bus stop is Thiruvallore.
It takes close to 2 hrs from Chennai to visit this temple by road or train.
There is also Sri Raghavendra Swamy Madam close to this temple.
[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]
