Thiruvalithayam - Valleeshwarar Temple (Padi)

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Valleeshwarar and Sri Jagadambigai in Thiruvalithayam Paadal Petra Sthalam.

• Greatness: Thiruvalithayam is a Paadal Petra Sthalam whose hymn was sung by Thirugnana Sambandar. It is the 20th Paadal Petra Sthalam located in Thondai Nadu. Since the bird Valiyan (Asian Drongo Cuckoo or KarunKuruvi, a type of black bird) worshipped Lord Shiva, the place is called Thiruvalithayam and Lord Shiva is also called Valithaya Nathar.

• Puranic Events:

1. Lord Shiva & Valiyan: The bird Valiyan (Asian Drongo Cuckoo or KarunKuruvi, a type of black bird) worshipped Lord Shiva here. So the place is called Thiruvalithayam and Lord Shiva is also called Valithaya Nathar. It is also said that sage Bharadwaja worshipped Lord Shiva here in the form of the Valiyan bird due to a curse.
- Note: The Manathunai Nathar Shiva Temple in the Nagapattinam district also has a similar incident related to the worship of a Valiyan bird.

2. Lord Shiva & sage Bharadwaja: Sage Bharadwaja worshipped Lord Shiva in this place. There is a Shiva Lingam in this temple which sage Bharadwaja worshipped.
- Note: The sacred water body of this temple is a well is known as Bharadwaja Teertham.

3. Lord Shiva & Hanuman: Hanuman worshipped Lord Shiva in this place. There is a Shiva Lingam in this temple which Hanuman worshipped.

4. Lord Shiva & Brihaspati: Brihaspati (Planet Guru) worshipped Lord Shiva in this place and was relieved of his dosha. Hence this place is a parihara sthalam of Guru.
- Note: There is a separate shrine of planet Guru.

5. Sri Ganesha & Kamali-Valli: Sri Vinayaka married the daughters of Brahma in this place.
- Events: Two daughters of Brahma, Kamali and Valli worshipped Lord Shiva on the banks of the Palaru river to get married to him. However, Lord Shiva appeared before them and told them that he cannot marry them since he is also wedded to Devi Parvati. Instead he advised them to marry Vinayaka. When Vinayaka came to Thiruvalithayam after vanquishing demon Gajamukasuran, he married the two daughters of Brahma.

• Deities:
- Valleeshwarar: Lingam of Sri Valleeshwarar.
- Jagadambigai: Image of Devi Jagadambigai.
- Bharadwaja Lingam: Lingam worshipped by sage Bharadwaja.
- Hanuman Lingam: Lingam worshipped by Hanuman.
- Guru: Image of planet Guru in a separate shrine.

• Sacred Geography:
- Bharadwaja Teertham: Pushkarini of the temple (which is a well).
- Padhiri Tree: Sthala Vriksha of the temple.

• Location: Thiruvalithayam is located in the Chennai district of Tamil Nadu. This is in Thondai Nadu. The temple can be visited from Chennai (within Chennai city).

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

• Stotras

• Scriptures

• Pilgrimages - by Groups - by Deities - by States - by Geography

• Sacred Geography - Mountains - Rivers

• Festivals

• Sages - Hermitages - Penances

• Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

• Sadhana

• Sanskrit

• Nature

• Arts and Sciences

• Bharatavarsha - Puranic History - Puranic Lineage