Tirumanikuzhi Shiva Temple

Thirumanikuzhi Vamanapureeswarar Temple

Tirumaanikkuzhi is a Shivastalam in the vicinity of Tiruppaatirippuliyur - Cuddalore. This is the 17th of the 22 Tevara Stalams in the Nadu Naadu region of Tamilnadu. This shiva temple is east facing temple which has three corridors (Prakarams) with a 5-tier main tower (Rajagopuram).

Vamaneeswarar Temple (also called Thirumanikuzhi Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Thirumanikuzhi, a village in Cuddalore district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshiped as Vamaneeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Manonmani Amman. The temple is located on the Chennai - Villupuram highway on the banks of Kedilam river.

The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Thirumanikkuzhi – Sri Vamanapureeswarar Temple திருமாணிக்குழி - வாமனபுரீசுவரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Vamanapureeswarar / Maanikkavaradar
Goddess Name	Sri Ambujakshi  / Manonmani Amman
Location	Tirumanikkuli
Historical Name	Vamanapuri, Indiralogam and Bheemasangama Kshetram
Significance	17th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Nadu Naadu, located in Kedilam River bank, One of 275 Devaram Padal Petram Sthalams,
Ancient	1500 years old
Travel Base	Cuddalore

Significance of the temple:

v  This is one of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 17th siva sthalam in Nadu Naadu region.

v  The temple is reverred in the verses of Tevaram, the 7th century Tamil Saiva canon by the Saint Thirugnanasambanthar.

v  Lord Shiva is worshipped as swayambumurthi Vamanapureeswarar & Manicka Varadar

v  Lord Shiva is also known as Maanikkavaradar here.

v  The theertham for this temple are Swetha & kedilam rivers.

v  As per temple history, the temple was raised by Surya Dev i.e. the Sun God.

The Surya Dev used to perform pujas to the lord at this temple.

v  The Vimanam here is known as Bhaskara Vimanam or Aditya Vimanam.

v  Brahma, Dhurvasar Muni, Surya, Ashta Vasus, Dakshan and others are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva here.

Temple History: Vamana approached Mahabali seeking 3 feet of land.  Lord measured the whole earth by one of His foot and the second covering the space and asked the emperor for the third.  Mahabali politely offered his head for the third.

Though Lord proved Bali’s glory, he had to incur the blame of the society for the method Lord used..  He prayed in this temple for relief.  Hence, the place is named Thiru (a respectful prefix) Maani (Brahammachari Vishnu) Kuzhi place – so, Thirumanikuzhi.

The legend (Sthala Puranam) related to Lord Mahavishnu’s Vamana Avtar and Mahabali Chakravarthi is beautifully chiselled on the front entrance wall of the sanctum.

There are several inscriptions found here from the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagar periods, especially from the Later Chola period (1075 - 13th century)   Kulottunga Chola I, Vikrama Chola, Kulottunga Chola II, and Rajaraja III.

  

How To Reach : Thirumaanikuzhi Shiva Temple is located 10 km from Cuddalore and about 5 kms from Thiruvahindrapuram on the Cuddalore to Panruti (via Palur) route. There are town buses available to reach the temple from Panruti and Cuddalore. The nearest railway station is Cuddalore at 15 km. And the nearest airport is Chennai which is around 200 km.