Every now and then, Sriman Narayana blesses
me with the opportunity to visit an relatively less known, but wonderful
Divyadesam – Srimushnam near Chidambaram. Update : Srimushnam is
not a Divyadesam. It is a wonderful temple nevertheless.
Srimushnam temple is an very ancient one
with stunning architecture all around. The amazingly majestic Gopuram / Vimana
welcomes you to the magnificently built temple. Inside the temple, resides the
beautiful Bhuvaraha Swami, a small deity much in contrast to the largeness of
the temple, but more wonderful. The Deity is one of the 8 Swayambhu Deities in
Vaishnava Divyadesams. Ambujavalli Thayar is the Lord’s consort, and the very
moment you see Thayar, you feel She is the very embodiment of affection.
Stala Puranam
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. 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.
Note : Childless couples can do a Pooja here and
will be blessed with Children soon.
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