This ancient temple, situated on the banks of the Paalaru River, is believed to be over 1,300 years old. Its architectural style suggests that it was constructed during the Chola period. Historically, this place was known as Vada Vedaranyam.
PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE:
Wedding Darshan of Lord Shiva:
As per Hindu legend, during the divine wedding of Shiva and Parvathi, there was a heavy crowd at Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Sage Agasthya could not view the event and prayed to Shiva at this place to get him a view of the event. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared to the sage and his wife Lopamundra along with Parvathi in his wedding attire. Shiva made the place his abode and appeared in his marriage posture to Agastya. One can see Lord Shiva and Goddess in ceremonial wedding posture just behind the Shiva Linga inside the sanctum. Sage Agasthiyar was blessed to have God’s darshan from various places and Thiruverkadu is one of them.
Place for Salvation:
Lord Shiva once told Mother Parvathi that anyone thinking of this holy place, staying here for a while or even passing through this place would be awarded with total salvation to the devotee.
Vidam Theenda Pathy:
While Lord Vinayaka was playing in the milk ocean, Lord Vishnu witnessing the play, his conch slipped and fell into the ocean. He got it back with the grace of Lord Shiva of this temple. Along with Lord Vishnu, Adisesha also worshiped the Lord here and promised that he would not bite anyone living within the boundaries of this place. Since that day, no death had occurred in this place due to snake bite. Hence, the place has the name Vidam Theenda Pathy – a place where no snake bite occurs.
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Sages Athiri, Parasara, Brugu, Kuchara, Angirasa, Vasishta, Gautama, Kashyapa, Dindi, Mundi, Valakilliar Viradagni and others worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple.
Pandava brothers, Emperor Shibi Chola, Vana, nine planets and deities of the 8 directions – Ashtathik Balakas had worshipped here.
Birth place of Moorka Nayanar:
This is the birth place of Moorka Nayanar.
He resolutely followed the principle of taking his food only after feeding Shiva devotees.
He was unable to stick to the dharma, he used his gambling skill and made money.
When the losers refused to pay him the dues, he used violence to recover the money and continued the habit with the proceeds.
As he behaved brutally with the losers, he was named Moorka Nayanar-violent Nayanar.
He was cleansed by the Lord as the intention of Nayanar was high. Despite all this sin he was doing a good service in feeding the sivanadiyars, he was blessed by Lord Siva.
There is a shrine for Moorka Nayanar.
On Karthigai (Nov - Dec) on Moola Nakshathra day special pooja is conducted.
Parasurama visited this shrine along with his mother:
Due to the curse of Sage Brugu, Lord Vishnu was born as Parasurama to Sage Jamadagni and Renuka Devi.
When he came here to worship Lord Shiva here, his mother Renukadevi also accompanied the son.
That Renuka temple is now the famous Karu Mariamman temple in Tiruverkadu.
Tiruverkadu:
Lord Shiva wanted to create the world after it was destroyed by the great floods-pralaya-tsunami.
He ordered the four Vedas-Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana to become Velvela trees. These trees are the sacred trees of the temple.
Hence the place is named Verkadu - jungle of vela trees with the auspicious prefix Tiru – Tiruverkadu.
Velaayudha Theertham:
Legend associated with the temple says that, once when Lord Brahma was proceeding towards Kailash, the son of Lord Shiva, Lord Subramanya asked Brahma for the meaning of the Pranava Mantra “OM”. When Brahma could not explain the meaning, Lord Subramanya imprisoned him.
As a result, all creations came to a standstill and the Devas prayed to Lord Shiva to get Brahma released.
Lord Shiva sent Sri Nandhigeswarar to talk to Lord Subramanya and rescue Lord Brahma. But Lord Subramanya did not listen to Nandhigeswarar and hence Lord Shiva himself approached Subramanya and convinced him to release Lord Brahma.
Later Lord Shiva instructed Lord Subramanya to go to Thiruverkadu and worship him there. Later Lord Subramanya visited Thiruverkadu formed a Pond (Theertham) using his spear (Vel) installed a Shiva Linga and so he worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Hence the pond here is called “Velaayudha Theertham” i.e. pond formed with the spear.
In this temple we can see Lord Subramanya in a separate shrine without any weapon in his hand.
Also, there is a Shiva Linga in front of Lord Muruga which is a rare one.
Lord Muruga got Vel from Karumari Amman:
It is also said that Lord Muruga, before his battle with the demon king Soorapadman, got his weapon ‘Vel’ from Goddess Sri Karumari Amman here and so the place was called as Velankaadu.
The Divine Wedding and Sage Agasthya's Sacrifice
When Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi's wedding was to take place at the Himalayas, the gathering of all sages caused an imbalance in the earth, raising the southern region. To restore balance, Lord Shiva instructed Sage Agasthya to journey to the south. Although Sage Agasthya sacrificed the divine opportunity to witness the wedding, Lord Shiva promised to grant him a vision of the event during his journey. This promise was fulfilled at Tiruverkadu, where the sage received darshan of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi.
Verkanni Amman took her abode here on request of Lord Shiva:
Once, when the Asuras gave troubles to Devas, they came and worshipped Lord Shiva at Thiruverkadu, to save them.
Lord Shiva called his Devi Sri Verkanni and directed her to look after his duties till he is back from Devaloka.
Lord Shiva gave her the holy ashes from his body and blessed her.
The Goddess asked sage Agasthiyar to look for a holy place where she can perform the heavenly duties assigned by Lord Shiva.
When Sage Agasthiyar was thinking of such a place, he heard an Asareeri (a holy voice) saying that, the place where he was standing itself is a holy place.
The goddess took abode here as Karumari Amman and blessed the place that one will be removed of all the sins by worshipping her at Thiruverkadu.
Thiruverkadu is the place where all 3 Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva have worshipped the Goddess.
Hence, she is called as Sri Karumari here. Ka means Brahma, Ru means Rudhra or Shiva, and Ma means Vishnu.
Vinayagar worshipped Karumariyamman here:
It is said that Sri Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha) worshipped the Goddess here by performing Abhishekam using Valampuri Sanghu (Conch). The Goddess got pleased with his worship and blessed him that the poojas at the temple will first be performed to Sri Vinayagar and then to her.
Vedapureeswarar:
Whenever Lord Shiva takes various forms she orders the four Vedas to take a specific form and accompany him. As such, at the time of destroying Thirupuram, Vedas became horses to his chariot, for the sake of Arjunan, when he took a hunter’s form, the Vedas took the form of dogs. When Lord Shiva danced the Ananda Thandavam, the four Vedas became his ankle). When he took the Bitchadanar form, the four Vedas became his Komanam. In this temple since the Vedas took the form of neem trees, he is called as "Veda Pureeswarar".
Sage Sanathkumar got relieved of his curse here:
The sage Sanathkumar became a camel after Nandhi cursed him. As per the advice of Nandhi he came to this temple to worship Shiva and got rid of the sin.
Indra prayed to Lord Shiva here:
To attain Shivananda Peru vazhvu, Indiran came to this temple to pray and obtain grace of the deity.
Ashta Lingams:
When Sage Agasthya was going down South to balance the Earth during the celestial wedding of Lord Siva and Parvathi, he installed Shivalingams at several places.
Since he could not participate in the wedding, Lord Shiva agreed to grant him the vision of the divine marriage at will. When Agasthya came to worship at Thiruverkadu, he sought to see the Lord's marriage there.
So, the Lord appeared before him along with Goddess Parvathi in the Marriage Kolam as Vedapureeswarar.
Goddess Parvathi teased the Lord saying that while he immediately manifested in whatever form the Sages wanted, what would he do for simple devotees? With a smile, the Lord manifested himself in the form of Lingams in all eight directions around Vedapureeswarar, much to the delight and happiness of Goddess Parvathi. King Anabaya Cholan (Kulothunga II) had constructed the Vedapureeswarar temple as well as temples for eight lingams around it.
However, with the passage of time, and several invasions, the temples have become lesser known shrines.
ADMINISTRATION:
The temple is currently under the administrative control of the Sri Devi Karumariyamman Temple in Thiruverkadu.
