I take a detour from the main road to Pudukkottai, I am let into an arch on a tar road that connects the villages. I proceed further into the road, and as far as I could see, I am unable to spot any house, but in my vicinity are agricultural lands. The road connects me with the village named, Sevalur. This place is known for its ancient temple, also I am told that people from around the state, and even out of the state visit this temple for they believe in spirituality, and the power of the deity present in the temple. The temple is situated at about half a kilometer away from the village. At the end of the village starts a damaged tar road and it is quite visible that the road would have been paved at least a couple of years back.
The road is stony as the tar has come off the surface and only aggregates, gravels, and mud make the path. It runs amidst the coconut field, and thorny bushes. The coconut trees are planted in a row, for they can be irrigated easily and evenly. In a short distance of approximately 500m, I reach the place in the mid day, and it is sunny, so I naturally start perspiring. I park my vehicle, and take a look at the temple. The temple is covered in steel fencing for the safety. It is an east facing Lord shiva temple, and here the lord is worshipped under the name Bhoominathar. The temple is believed to have been constructed in 12th century AD. The mythological story/belief behind the temple is that the Mother earth (Hindu mythology believes and worships earth as a goddess) has undergone penance to seek the strength to bear the weight of the living and non-living. Upon seeing her vigorous penance, lord shiva appeared before her, and granted her the boon with a condition that if her devotees do the prayers for her, she would be able to bear the weight of the living and non-living. Therefore, Mother Earth has started searching such deities, and on her way, she worshipped many Swayambu murthis. Of the Swayambu murthis, the lord here is believed to be one.
I enter the temple at around 12pm, and there are two couples who are already in the temple, with 2 pandits in position to perform puja for the deity. Inside the Garbhagriha, which literally means womb-house, is the lord Bhoominathar. I enter inside the temple, and a pandit offers me the offerings used in worshipping the lord. I, then, walk around the temple, and note many inscriptions on the sides and the back of the temple. As I have walked around the temple, I see a pandit sitting outside the garbhagriha which is the mandapa of the temple. I approach the pandit and tell him that I wish to know about the temple for I am going to write about it. The pandit seems to be in his 40s, and is from a nearby village. He is glad to share the story, and starts sharing the history that he has come to know about the temple. He initiates by telling that the temple was built in the 12th century by a Pandiya ruler, who then ruled the Madurai region, and adds to his statement that in those days, Pandiyas and Cholas had a good relationship. They accepted the princesses from each other, and got their princesses married to each other. He also says that, these marriages took place with regard to the number of temples that have been built by the emperor. That is, these days, in the marriages, the pride of the family is assessed with respect to the financial wealth that is possessed by the family, whereas back in those days, it had been assessed with respect to the number of temples that had been built by the emperor as there was no need to compare the wealth they possessed.
In the Hindu mythology, it is believed that a person should possess 16 wealth in his life time. If he possesses them, his life becomes much easier, and happier. Those wealth are Education, Knowledge, Good health, Longevity, Dexterity, Youth, Valor, Respect, Gold, Wealth, Fame, Land, Good progeny, Perseverance, Success, and Morality and ethics. It is believed that a person could obtain all the 16 wealth by paying a visit to this temple. The pandit also says that the goddess here is the spouse of Lord shiva, and she goes by the name Aaranavalli. The name means “patience”. He adds that here the goddess is trying to symbolize the importance of patience. It is believed by the people that all the building-construction related issues are solved by paying a visit to this temple.
The temple, in prior to the undertaking of archaeological department, had been partially destroyed without proper maintenance. He also says that, there had been a statue theft in the temple in prior to the undertaking. Later the statue had been found and restored in the temple. It was only after the undertaking by the government the temple has been cared properly, and is maintained.
The functioning time of the temple is only till 01:00 (pm) in the afternoon.
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