About the Temple & Location:
Sholingur, a picturesque town in the Vellore district, is most famous for its two hill temples. one for Yoga Narasimhar and one for Anjaneya.
This sthalam is also named “Kadigachalam”. If we travel from Chennai, we have to first travel to Arakkonam. From there, by traveling about 25 Kms, we can reach Sholingur. Lots of bus facilities are available from Arakkonam and all the passenger trains on this route stop at Sholingur station. However, no express or super-fast train halts here.
Thirukkadigai or Sholingapuram in Sholinghur, a village in the Vellore district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. There are three separate shrines in the form of Narsimha, Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Hanuman (Anjaneya). They are situated on the larger hill, at the base of the larger hill and on the smaller hill respectively.
A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines uphills. The temple has a five-tiered raja gopuram at the top of the hill, while the temple tank is located opposite to the temple, outside the main entrance in the foothills. The temple follows the Thenkalai tradition of worship. Six daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Karthigai festival during November - December, Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Chithirai (March - April), and Narasimha Jayanti during Vaikasi (May - June) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The Malai Adi Vaaram (Bottom of the Mountain) of this temple is called “Konda Palayam”. Konda means Hill and Palayam means a town.
History
The place was originally called Chozhsimhapuram, which later became Sholinghar. Various scriptures quote the place as Kadigachalam or Thirukadigai as the place is believed to offer blessings to devotees with worship lasting a Kadigai (24 minutes). Peyazhwar refers to the presiding deity as "Vaan Poonkadigai Ilankumaran '', while based on legend the presiding deity is also called Bhakotchita Swami. Vishnu Purana and Padma Purana refer to this place as Kadigai and since Vishwamitra got his Brahmarishi title here, it became Simhapuram. The temple has many inscriptions at the foothills and also on the top of the hill. They indicate generous contributions from Kulothunga Chola III Mayuravarman and Seeyagangan. Manavala Mamunigal is believed to have performed the enunciation of Thirupavai at this place at the request of his disciple Erumbiappa. The town originally was under the control of Shaivites which is substantiated by the temple ruins near Parappan Kulam, in the valley between two hills. This is where the original Sholinghur was situated. Unfinished Nandhis and Stupas are found in numerous places in Sholinghur. The temple is seen as one of the famous temples of Narasimha and a powerful image of Hanuman.
Sholingur was the scene of the battle between the British and Hyder Ali in July 1781, in which the British won.
Sthalapuranam :
Once, there was a king named “Hiranyan” who did a strong tapas and got the varam. To kill him, Sriman Narayanan took the Avatharam of Sri Narasimhar.
To get the seva of Narasimha avatar, Saptha Rishis (7 great Rishis) started their tapas here. Within 1 Kadigai, Narasimhar gave his seva as “Yoga Narasimhar”. So this sthalam is called “Thirukkadigai”.
Kadigai represents the fraction of time. Since the Perumal gave his Seva to the rishis within a kadigai, this sthalam is called “Thirukkadigai”.
Indirathuyman, the King of North Madurai killed the Asuras who were giving problems to Rishis and people over here. Since he helped the rishis and bhaktas, he was given the Vajrayudham by Indiran (Weapon of Indiran) to Indirathuyman. To help him, Yoga Narasimhar asked Anjaneyar to help him.
Yoga Anjaneyar is found in Chinna malai in Yoga Nilai (stage). This is one of the said stories about this Divya Desam.
To make Prahaladhan (Son of Iranyan) happy, Yoga Narasimhar gave his seva for 1 Kadigai in Yoga Nilai. Because of this, the sthalam is also called as “Kadikasalam”.
It is said that even if we sleep for 1 Kadigai in this sthalam, we will get Mukthi. That kind of nature and specialty, this Kshetram has got.
On the order of Bhairava Munivar, the mountain in this Kshetram is said to grow up towards the sky. So, Indiran asked Balaraman to help him, thereby stopping the mountain from growing. And on his request, Balaramar stopped the growth of the mountain. This is also one of the said stories about this sthalam.
In this sthalam only, Thottacharyar (Periya Bangaru) who come along the family of Mudaliyaandan, was appointed as 74th Simma Senathipathi (leader) to spread the Vaishnavism by Erumbiyappa Varadhachari and Udayavar Ramanujar.
In Panguni Uthiram, Hanumath Jayanthi festival is done in a very grand manner by the trustees of Erumbiyappa.
Thottacharyar has written numerous poems and stories in Sanskrit. He is one of the Great bhakta of Kanchi Sri Varadharajar. He used to attend and worship the Garuda Seva of Kanchi Varadar which is done in Vaikasi Month.
But, once due to illness, he could not go to Kanchipuram to attend the Garuda Seva Utsavam. He was very much depressed of not attending the utsavam. Thinking about that, he finished all of the daily duties and sang 5 Slokas in “Devaraja Panjagam” which explains the inconvenience of not attending the Garuda Seva. At that time, in Thakan Kulam (Pushkarani of this sthalam), Sri Varadharajar in Garuda Vahanam gave his seva to Thottacharyar.
As a remembrance of this great event, even now during Garuda Seva, Sri Varadharajar in Garuda Seva comes out and waits for a minute in the Gopura vasal. It is said at that minute, that he is giving his Seva to Thottacharyar in Sholingur.
Yoga Aanjaneyar is found in Chinna malai (a small hill). It is about 200 feet high. The specialty of Chinna malai is the pose in which Anjaneyar is found. Only in this sthalam, he is found in a sitting pose with four hands, holding Sangu and Chakkaram. It is true that if one is surrounded and dominated by Evil, and takes bath in the Hanumantha theertham, he will be cured completely.
Architecture
The temple has twin hills, with the one of Yoga Narasimha called the Periya malai (big hill) 750 ft (230 m) tall and occupying an area of 1.25 acres (5,100 m2). The top of the hill is approached through a flight of 1,305 steps. The temple at the top measures 200 ft (61 m) by 150 ft (46 m) and has a five-tiered gateway tower, the raja gopuram. Narasimha sits in a Yogic posture in a shrine facing East and is called Yoga Narasimha Swamy. The vimana, the tapering roof over the sanctum, is called Hemakoti Viamanam. There is a separate shrine for his consort Amrithavalli Thayaar. Yoga Anjenayar Swamy temple of Hanuman (Anjaneya) is present in the second hill called Chinna malai (small hill) 350 ft (110 m) tall. Yoga Anjenayar is sported with chaturbhujam (four hands) with a conch and chakra in the upper hands and a Jeba malai and Jeba Shankaram in the other two respectively. The image of the festival deity, Varadaraja, is housed in the lower shrine of the big hill. The lower shrine has images of Bhaktavatchala Perumal and Sudavalli Thayar. There is a four pillared hall midway to the top of the hill housing the images of Doddacharya and Sudarshana. The temple tank is called Brahmatheertham as Brahma is believed to have performed penance at this place to propitiate himself from the sins of one of his five heads getting cut by Shiva. In modern times, devotees perform rites at the temple tank seeking blessing from their forefathers. The consecration of the temple was performed during September 2010 at a cost of ₹25 crore and the foundation for rope car facility was also inaugurated.
Religious importance
Festival images of the deity and that of Hanuman
Thirukkadigai is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Peyazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar. Peyazhwar describes the place as the one having gardens thronged by a swarm of bees. The temple also finds mention in later works by Nathamuni, Thirukachi Nambi, Ramanuja and Manavala Mamunigal. The temple is believed to be one of the 74 seats established by Ramanuja to spread Vishishtadvaita. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple is mentioned in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. Doddacharya was a Vaishnava saint believed to be the descendant of Mudaliandan. Doddacharya followed the steps of Ramanuja in advocating Vishishadvaita and maintained the temples hailed by the Azhwars. He is believed to have performed a lot of miracles and impressed by his work, Achyuta Deva Raya (1529-42 CE), the relative of Krishnadevaraya, gave him benevolent donations for maintenance of temples. During festival occasions in the temple like Brahmostavam, Doddacharya is given a special place in processions and also during the Garuda Sevai in Kanchipuram temple. A festival named Doddacharya Utsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month of Masi (February - March). His descendants are believed to administer the religious activities during modern times. The temple is frequented by people with mental illness, who are believed to get cured by the grace of the presiding deity.
Specials:
Both in Periya and Chinna malai, the Perumal – Sri Yoga Narasimha and Lord Anjaneyar are found in the Yoga Stage.
The Small Mountain (Chinna Malai) is about 200 feet where lord Aanjaneya is seated holding Changu and Chakkaram (Conch & Wheel) in west facing direction. Here the lord gave his presence to Lord Aanjaneya. Aanjaneya is considered to be the resemblance (or) Avatar of Shiva, but here he is resembling the avathar of Vishnu.
It is said all evil activities are cured if we take bath in the theertham of this sthalam and by worshipping Yoga Narasimhar and Yoga Anjaneyar.
It is also known as Pithru Kshetram, as during the Pithru Paksha, known as Mahalayam or MahaLaya Paksham, all the departed souls assemble here during the fifteen days of Mahalaya.
Moolavar and Thaayar:
The Big Mountain (Periyamalai) is about 400 feets high where Moolavar – Yoga Narasimar is found in Irundha (sitting) kolam facing his thirumugham towards the East direction. The other names of the Perumal are “Thakaan” and “Akkarakani”. Akkaram means Money and Wealth. This sthalam is also called “Kadikasalam”.
The Thaayar of the Sthalam is Sri Amirtha Valli and she is found in a separate sannadhi.
Utsavar :
Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal (Thakkan), Periyapiratiyar and Bhoomi piratiyar are found in Bhoga stage (Dhyanam stage) in the temple in Malai Adivaram (foot hill). There are separate sannadhis for Andal, Alwaars, Garuda Vagana, Varadharaja Perumal, Erumbiyapa and Thottacharyaar. Both the God’s in Periyamala and Chinnamalai, Narasimha and Aajaneyar are in Shantha stage (Yoga Nilai).
Utsavams:
All Utsavams are conducted to Bhakthavatsalar in the temple at the bottom. Special Poojas for Thayaar on every friday are done. In Karthigai month and on Sundays, special poojas for Aajaneyar are done.
Thirumangai Alwar – 3 Pasurams
Pey Alwar – 1 Paasuram
Total – 4 Paasurams.
Pushkarani:
There are Four Pushkaranies.
Amirtha Theertham (Thakan Kulam).
Narasimma Theertham.
Hanumantha Theertham.
Brahma Theertham.
There are Four Pushkaranies.
Amirtha Theertham (Thakan Kulam).
Narasimma Theertham.
Hanumantha Theertham.
Brahma Theertham.
Vimanam:
Simha Koshtak Kruthi (Simhagra) first vimanam, found on the entrance of the Periya malai.
Worship practices and festivals
The temple follows Thenkalai tradition of worship based on Vaikasana Agamic tradition. The temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple priests are believed to be the descendants of Doddacharya, who follow the hereditary practices. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), nivedhanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Yoga Narasimhar and his consort Thirumangaivalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chithirai Brahmotsavam during the Tamil of Chittirai (during April - May), Karthigai Thiruvizha during November - December and Narasimha Jayanthi during Vaikasi (May - June) being the most prominent. During Brahmotsavam festival, the temple car housing the festival deities of Narasimhar and Amirtavalli is drawn around the streets of the temple. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
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