Thirukadigai Divyadesam - Sholigur Sree Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple
One of the Chola kings found a Sivalingam here and established a temple by the name “Chola Linga Puram” and later it is called as “Chola Singa Puram” and “Sholinghur”.
As soon as entering to the city of Sholinghur, Devotees can see the two hillocks in a village called “Kondapalayam” which is situated 3 km further towards south from Sholighur, worshipped as “Periya Malai” 750 feet in height with 1305 Steps where Lord Narasimha is blessing and “Chinna Malai” where Lord Hanuman is blessing. In periyamalai Lord Yoga Narasimha is blessing facing east in a very peaceful posture. Thirumangai Azhwar referred the Almighty here as as “Thakkan” and “Akkarakani” means a sweetful fruit. Thirumanjanam, the holy bath is being performed to the moolavar only on Fridays and Narasimha Jayanthi. There is a separate shrine for thayar “Amirthavalli”. Utsava murthy of Lord Narsimha is being kept in the perumal temple in Sholinghur town and not in the hill.
In Chinnamalai which is located right opposite to Periyamalai, the presiding deity is Lord Yoga Anjaneyar. The hill is about 250 feet in height with 406 steps. The shrine is facing east looks like Anjaneya is praying towards Lord Narasimha.The uniqueness is Lord "Chaturbuja Yoga Anjaneya" is seen with four hands holding the Conch and Discus of Lord Narayanan which were given by sree Rama to hanuman to fight against Asuras, in his two hands hence he is also referred as “Veera Anjaneya”. He is holding Jabamalai and Jabasangai in his other two hands in Yoga Posture. This is the one and only Divya Desam where devotees can worship Chaturbuja Anjaneyar that too in Yoga Posture which very very unique and special. There are separate small shrines are here inside for Sree Rama, Ranganathar.
Hanumna’s request to Moksham - In the end of the Rama Avatar, Hanuman wanted to join alongwith Sree Rama in his abode at Vaikuntam. But Sree Rama asked him to go to Sholingur to protect the Rishis from Asuras and provided Anjaney with Conch and Chakra of Sreeman Narayanan. Obeyed Hanuman is believed to have come here and demolished all the asuras. Lord Narasimha then appeared before him and asked him to remain here, as Yoga Anjaneya, with the assurance that he would take Anjaneya into Vaikuntam during Kali Yugam. Devotees can find a small opening on the wall of the Periya Malai Temple through which Yoga Anjaneya is having darshan of Lord Narasimha from his place in Chinna Malai ever.
Dodda Acharya Sevai in Kanchipuram Sholinghur Temple has been taken care of by the descendents of Doddha Acharya for the last several centuries. Doddha Acharya was the grandson of the great Muthalai Andaan. Doddha Acharya used to visit the Garuda Sevai of Sree Varadaraja Perumal at Kanchipuram every year without fail whatsoever comes. However, once he could not make his trip to Kanchi as he fell ill. Saddened by this, he bathed at the temple tank at Sholingur, invoked the blessings of the ALMIGHTY of Kanchi and sang 5 songs in praise of Lord Varadaraja Perumal. Pleased Lord have provided darshan as Varahsrajan in HIS Garuda Vahanam here at Sholingur. In memory of this event, every year on the third morning of Brahmotsavam at Kanchi, the temple door is closed for a few minutes as HE goes to Sholighur to give darshan to Doddha Acharya. The Almighty waits at the temple entrance faces towards Sholingur and provides darshan to Dodda Acharya. This is called the Dodda Acharya Sevai in Kanchipuram. There is a separate sannidhi for Dodda Acharya at the Sholingur temple. On the same day of Garuda Sevai at Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal, Garuda Sevai is also performed here at Bhakta Sithan Temple as well as the Varadaraja Perumal Koil in Sholingur.
Sholighur is the Prarthana Sthalam and it is believed that the Almighty cures devotees from all their diseases and stress who takes bath here and walk up the two hills. Every Friday at 7 AM there is a Prarthana Utsavam for Amruthavalli Thaayar with special Abhishekam for the Almighty and His cosnort and on Sunday at 7 AM there is special Abhishekam for Lord Anjaneya. Amruthavalli Thaayar comes down to Sholingur town in the month of Purattasi and stays here with Bhakatvatsala Perumal for two months till Aippasi and returns backs to the top of the hill on the first day of karthigai. |
