Srivanchiyam Temple - Rare temple for Lord Yama
Sri Vanchinadha Swamy temple is located in a village Srivanchiyam neare Tiruvarur district, Tamilnadu. The Sri Vanchinadha Swamy temple is at the centre of the village. The central deity of the temple of the temple is the Lord Vanchinadar, a form of the Lord Shiva, and his consort is Mangalanayaki.
The temple is over 1100 years old, and was built by the kind Rajendra Chola in the year 850 CE; out of 276 temples this temple is 70th in the list
This temple had been work shipped by Lord Lakshmi, Brahma , Indira at various times;
Sthala viruksham is sandlewood tree and the sacred tank is right at the entrance of the temple and it is called Gupta Gangai; There is a belief that Ganges river was so tired by carrying all the sins and prayed to Lord Siva on how to get rid of the all the sins that she carried from people who take dip in ganges river. Lord Siva directed Ganges to go to Srivanchiyam temple and get dipped in Gupta gangai tank; ganges did the same and got rid of the sins that she carried; Hence whoever takes dip in this tank will get rid of all their sins.
The Lord here is beleived to be Suyambu lingam and it is one of the oldest and very first suyambu lingam; It is believed that this temple and the lord here has been there even before prahalayam and even this temple will continue to be there after next one too.
This temple is one of the 6 temples around the Cauvery river and it is believed to be equivalent to Kasi viswanathar temple.
It is one of the rare temple where we see a separate shrine for Lord Yama; The belief is Lord Yama was so tired and worried about doing his duty of punishing people and worried that he might carry sins; rightly lord Shiva asked Lord Yama to go this place and do penance and get rid of the sins and build a temple for him; Rightly Lord Yama did the same and Lord Siva made sure there is a separate shrine to Lord Yama; infact all the first things in Siva temple will be done to Vinayakar, however in this temple all the first preference is given to Lord Yama and only then followed by Lord Vinayakar and then Vachinathar;
Also Lord Siva asked Lord Yama that only people whoever had some good karma alone will be able to visit this temple and after visiting they will be blessed with peaceful life and there will be no more future births;
one of the rare aspects is , during Grahana time ( eclipse times ) most of the temples will be closed , however this temple alone will be open during that time and Abhishekams will be done to Lord Siva during that time
Temple is considered as one of the parihara sthalam for Rahu ketu and there is separate shrine for Lord Sani here.
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
