Sri MuthuKumara Swamy Shrine in SSVT

S.V. Krishnaswamy and Dr. K.N. Siva Subramanian

Uniqueness of Sannidhis & Deities in Sri Nadu, a famous temple for curing many diseases.
Siva Vishnu Temple Vaitheeswaran Kovil – Sthala Visesham
Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is unique in that most of the (Uniqueness)
deities are a representation of deities in famous temples
Vaitheeswaran Kovil, the village is located 235
in South India. For example, Sri Siva is a representation
kilometers from Chennai, 27 km from Chidambaram,
of Sri Ramanatha Swami of Rameswaram one of the
and 16 km from Mayiladuthurai. Vaitheeswaran Kovil
twelve Jyothir Linga sthalams, Yoga Nidra form of Sri
is under the guidance of Dharmapuri Aadheenam, an
Vishnu is a representation of Sri Anantha Padmanabha
ancient monastic order. Recently another Aadheenam
Swami of Tiruvanandapuram, Sri Ayyppan represents
(Thiruvaaduthurai) became famous for the “Sengol /
Sabarimala Sastha, Sri Rama is a replica of Badrachlam
Scepter” that was prepared under their guidance and
Rama and so on.
presented to PM Nehru as a symbol of transfer of
Also, each Sannidhi is an architectural beauty power from UK to Bharat before the midnight of August
representing different architectural styles like that 15th, 1947. The Sengol was presented recently to PM
of Pallava, Chola, Vijayanagara, Rayar, etc., from Modi at the inauguration of the new Parliamentary
different periods. There is also representation from Building at New Delhi and permanently placed there.
Mayan Period which is several thousand years old in
This Temple enshrining Sri Siva as the divine physician,
the Vasantha Mandapam. For example, the sanctum and
is also well known for its shrine to Sri Mutthukumaara
vimanam of Sri Siva Sannidhi are built in Chola style
Swamy/Sri Subrahmanya. Vaitheeswaran is a Tamil
Architecture, of the Anantha Padmanabha Sannidhi
derivative from Vaidya (Doctor) and Ishvara (God).
in Vijayanagara style and Sri MuthuKumara Swamy
The presiding deity is Sri Vaidyanathan, facing towards
(Kartikeya) in Pallava period.
west whereas east side is the common one. He is the
On a visit to our temple Swami Sri Dayananda God of Healing. Vaitheeswaran Kovil in Tamilnadu is
Saraswati Swamiji once remarked that when one visits classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam (temple revered and
SSVT, it is as though you have visited many must-visit poems sung by the Nayanmars (Saints)). This Temple is
temples (Kshetraadanam) in India. As we celebrate also revered by Tevaram hymns of Thirunavukkarasar
the “Sri Guha Ghoshanam” Mahotsavam let us look and Sambandar, the 7th century saint poets. The town
at the details of Sri Subrahmanya representation in our is also known for palm leaf astrology called Naadi
temple. Jyosyam (Palm Leaf astrology) in Tamil. The famous
Tamil poet Arunagirinathar sang his Thiruppugazh
Interestingly in
hymns on this temple’s Murugan. Legend has it that
SSVT the
Muruga was blessed with his spear / lancet / VEL here.
representation
Another legend has it that Siva offered worship to
of the deity Sri
Skanda here, hence the great significance attached to
M u r u g a /
the Subrahmanya shrine here. This temple is one of the
Subrahmanya /
nine Navagraha (nine planets) temples and is associated with
Karthikeya is
the planet Mars (Angaraka). Also, Lord Surya ‘(another one
not after one of six abodes of Sri Muruga in Tamil Nadu
of the nine planets)’ has a shrine.
as one would have imagined but that of the deity Sri
MuthuKumara Swamy in Vaitheeswaran Kovil in Tamil Historians estimate that the temple was built over 2000

Sri Guha Ghoshanam Mahotsavam 35

Sri MuthuKumara Swamy Shrine in SSVT Sri Siva Vishnu Temple
years ago. However, according to the temple legend it Sri Siva came out as the healer (Vaitheeswaran-
was present from the Satya Yuga through Kali Yuga, physician God) and cured the wounds. As per another
the temple was built by Lord Brahma, the creator of the legend, Sri Siva came as Vaidya, a physician, and cured
universe, and was later renovated by the Chola kings. the leprosy of a staunch devotee named Angaraha.
The temple’s architecture has a beautiful blend of the
Sri MuthuKumara Swamy Shrine at SSVT
Chola and Vijayanagara styles and is considered to be
one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture. The
temple has a five-tiered gopura and large enclosures.
There are four entrances to the temple. Interestingly,
the five towers of this temple are on a straight line. The
western tower of the temple houses the Siva Lingam.
The most significant feature of the temple construction is
that the western tower allows the rays of the Sun to fall
directly on the Siva Lingam for a few days every year.

In SSVT Sri Mutukumara Swamy is seen with his two

The Sri Mutthukumaara Swamy shrine is situated in the
innermost prakaram. The deities of Sri Muthukumara
Swamy (both the moolavar and Utsavar) are of great beauty.
Vaitheeswaran Kovil is also known as Thirupullirukku
Velur. The Tamil name Pullirukkuvelur arises from
the legend that Jatayu (a bird), Irukku (Rig Veda),
Vel (Skanda) and Oor (the sun) offered worship to Sri
Siva here. It is also said Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana
worshipped here on their way to Sri Lanka after meeting
with Jatayu. In addition, all the Four Vedas prayed
here to Sri Siva as well. Legend has it that Parvati, the
consort of Siva, asked her son, Subrahmanya to appear
consorts, Devasena, the celestial princess, and Valli, a
hunter’s daughter. This Form of Sri Muruga is a
representation of the deity in Vaitheeswaran Kovil in
Tamil Nadu, as mentioned before, a famous temple for
curing many diseases. The Sri Siva Vishnu Temple was
designed by late Sri Ganapati Sthapati. He also designed
this Karthikeya (Sri MuthuKumara Swamy) shrine in a
unique form as a Chariot (see photo below) drawn by the
elephants and is built in the Pallava style architecture from
6th century AD.
Icons representing
His Six shrines (Aru
padai veedu) are
installed in six pillars
around the sanctum:
Pazhani, S w a m i M a l a i ,
Thiruthani,
(see photo below of six pillars at SSVT) Sri MuthuKumara Swamy Shrine at SSVT

with one face from his regular appearance of six faces.

When he did so, she was pleased and presented him
with Vel / lancet / spear (a weapon) to slay the demons
and hence called Selvamuthu Kumaran.
It is said Subrahmanya as Sri MuthuKumara Swamy
overcame Asura Surapadman (a demon) and in the war,
his (Lord Subrahmanya’s) army was severely injured.

36 Sri Guha Ghoshanam Mahotsavam

 Siva Vishnu Temple
Sri Sri MuthuKumara Swamy Shrine in SSVT
T h i r u c h e n d u r, Pazhamudircholai, Thiruparamkundram “Sri Guha Ghoshanam!”
(see another article about these 6 special shrines of Sri Guha/ In addition,
Skanda/ Muruga). Gnanaopadesam,
Sri Karthikeya is also present at the entrance on one the scene of
sideof the Sri Siva Shrine as one of the Dwara Murthis, Karthikeya
together with his brother Sri Ganesha. The Dwara explaining the
Murthis and the Deva Koshtas of Karthikeya are: Dwara esoteric
Murthis are located at the steps of the Ratha (Chariot) significance of
near the elephants - Sri Idumban, and Sri Virabhahu. “OM” the Pranava
Manthra, to His father, Lord Siva is depicted on the
entrance wall between the Vasantha mandapam and the
main Mahamandapam of the Temple in the center as a
marvelous wall sculpture along with Gitopadesam on
the other wall.
In SSVT the representation of the deity Sri Muruga/
Subrahmanya/Karthikeya is that of the deity Sri
Deva Koshtas (located on three sides of the Wall MuthuKumara Swamy in Vaitheeswaran Kovil in Tamil
surrounding the shrine) are - Sri Guhan, Sri Bala Nadu, a famous temple for curing many diseases. This,
Dandayuthapani, Sri Shiki Vahana Moorthy. This to the best of our knowledge is the only replica of the
Mahotsavam in August 2023 is about Sri Guhan – Lord in that form in the USA.
Thathpurushaaya Vidmahe Mahaasenaaya Dheemahi
Thannas shanmukha(h) Prachodayaath
S.V. Krishnaswamy, has a PhD in Physics and a retired Senior Advisory Scientist from Northrop Grumman Corporation, is a longtime SSVT volunteer and a member of
the Board of Trustees at SSVT. At Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburgh he was active as Cultural coordinator and a member of the Board of Trustees..
Dr. K. N. Siva Subramanian is a retired Professor of Pediatrics and Ob/Gyn and Chief of Neonatology at Georgetown University Hospital and an Ethics Consultant at
Georgetown University Medical Center. He is one of the Founders and Chairman Emeritus of the SSVT.

Malai Mandir – Murugan Temple in Delhi

Sri Guha Ghoshanam Mahotsavam 37

 Best Wishes for
Sri Guha Ghoshanam Mahotsavam

Chitra Venkatraman M.D., P.A.

Hematology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine
7300 Hanover Drive, Suite 301
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Office: (301)-345-1800
Fax: (301)-345-3853
38 Sri Guha Ghoshanam Mahotsavam