Sri Vyagrapureeswarar Temple is ascribed to the worship of Bhagwan Shiv. It is situated near Uthiramerur in Tamil Nadu. The place was earlier called as Vyagrapuri, meaning the place or abode of tiger. The temple is said to be atleast thousand years old.
As per the legend, Maharishi Sri Vyagra Padha did penance on Bhagwan Shiv at this place and got the boon to have tiger body and human head. He had desired for this boon to be able to climb the trees with agility to pluck the fresh flowers for doing Shiv Puja. Vyagra means tiger and Padha means feet.
Bhagwan Shiv had appeared before the Rishi and granted him the boons.
As per another legend, the King Paranthaka chola was afflicted with illness and came to this place for Shiv Darshan. Out of possessiveness, Sri Vyagra Padha had hugged the Shiv Ling. The Shiv Ling has the tiger paw nail marks till date.
In front of the three tiered Rajagopuram of the temple, we get to see Nandikeshwar in a small enclosure.
The main sanctum is situated at the end of seven levels from the maha mandapam. The Shiv Ling has Jata Mudi at the top. Bhagwan Shiv is facing east. Shiv-Ling Murthy at the elevated level.
The base of the Shiv Ling is a square unlike other temples which normally have circular base. The sun-rays fall at the back of the Shiv-Ling without any shadow.
The vimanam of the main sanctum is in semi circular shape resembling the backside of an elephant. This is called as Gaja Brushta.
At the entrance of the main sanctum we get the darshan of Sri Vigneshwara on the left side.
The right side of the sanctum is blessed with the presence of Sri Subramanya Swami with Sri Devasena and Sri Valli.
When we do the perambulation of the main sanctum, we get the darshan of Sri Dakshina Murthy on Lion. The Deity is worshipped as Sri Rajayoga Simha Dakshina Murthy and it is believed that it is auspicious for Simha Rasi devotees.
Sri Simha Dakshina Murthy is in the form of Sri Ardha Narishwar, the combination of Sri Shiv and Sri Shakthi. He is seated under Kallala tree. The Shakthi Part has the foot on a Simham and He has Thrishul in His left hand; The Shiv part has the foot on the demon Muyalagan. Sri Dakshnina Murthy is worshipped by the four Sanatha Kumara Saints in the same sanctum. The sanctum also has the forms of the Sages Sri Pathanjali and Sri Vyagra Padha.
Surya and Chandra are the Dwara Palaks.
We also get the darshan of Sri Maha Ganapathi with Sri Naga as His Yagnopaveetham (holy thread). Sri Narasimha Murthy blesses from one of the pillars.
It is believed that during sunny days sun-rays fall on Sri Surya through a small square slit from morning to evening.
We get the darshan of Sri Bala Murugan with Shiv-Ling. There is also a small sanctum for Sri Arumuga Swamy where we get the darshan of all the six faces of Sri Muruga.
We also get the darshan of Sri Vishnu Durga and Sri Bhairav Murthy. The four Saivism Saints also bless here. Navagrahas Sannidhi is in the parikrama path of the main sanctum.
When we come out of the main sanctum and do the perambulation of the temple inner premises, we get to see the sculpture of Sri Vyagra Padha Murthy doing puja to Shiv-Ling.
We go around the main sanctum and at the right hand side of the main sanctum, we get to the Samadhi of Sri Vyagra Padha which is built with Shiv-Ling.
A Nandikeshwar faces this Samadhi.
At the right-side corner of the parikrama path of inner premises, we get to the sanctum of Sri Parvathi Devi who blesses in the name of Sri Amirtha Kujambal. Ambal is facing south.
The sanctum has three Shiv-Lings inside. We get the darshan of one Pillayar at the entrance of the sanctum and another Vinayak on the wall.
It is believed that the temple premises houses an underground tunnel (purported to be closed now) with passage upto Sri Sundara Varada Raja Swamy Temple at Uthiramerur.
The temple tank is called as Sri Vyagra Theertham.
The sthala vruksham of the temple is Bilva tree.
Maha Shivrathri and Thiruvadhirai are some of the major festivals celebrated in this temple. The temple is open from 06.00 A.M to 11.00 A.M and from 04.00 P.M to 08.00 P.M.
Devotees ardently believe that their sincere prayers for marriage, job, promotion, removal of ill-effects of planetary alignments are fulfilled at this temple.
The temple is easily reachable from Uthiramerur. Local auto or taxi from the town can be hired.
