THE FOURTH SACRED SHRINE

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Form pudukkottai, by travelling through Vaathiripatti, Tandreeswaram and illupur (the distance is

40 kilometers) or by travelling in the Trichy-Madurai road (At the distance of 30 kilometers), this temple

can be reached. The Vanni Tree under which the Swamigal sat and meditated remains the sacred tree

(thala vriksham) of the temple.

Vasista Rishi’s wife Arundathi refused to breat -feed Lord Muruga who appeared as child at the

Saravana poikai. Angered by this, Vasista cursed his wife. Lord Muruga was Pained by Vasista’s act and

cursed him. When the couple sought to get rid of the curse, Muruga asked them to worship him at viralimalai

(a place where both Siddhi and Mukthi are available). The couple worshipped Muruga at viralimalai and

got rid of thier curse. Naradha to get rid of his sin (on punishing Brahma - his father), worshipped at

Viralimalai. Lord Muruga appeared in the dream of Arunagirinathar who was at Vayalur (Trichy) and

asked him to visit Viralimalai and sing of him. Arunagirinathar came to Viralimalai and sang 16 wonderful

Thiruppugazh songs. Pleased with this, Lord Muruga blessed Arunagiri with Ashtamaasidhi (eight kinds

of divine powers). Only in this offered to Muruga during the worship.

Viralimalai hosts the second biggest sancturay for peacock in india. The enchanting voice and

dance of the peacocks make us happy.

The vanni tree is the favourite of vinayaka. By worshipping vinayaka with vanni leaves, one can

get his desires fulfilled. form the union of Hari and Haran Under the Vanni tree, Came Ayyappa. When

ayyappa worshiped Vinayaka to prevent possible adverse effects of the nine plants, vinayaka appeared

before him in the from of vanni tree. We all know that in the Shiva temples, after Vilvam, the vanni tree

remains the Sacred tree (thala Virksham). According to Gnanasampandhar, by worshipping Shiva with

vanni flowers, One can please him and get boons. According to puranas (Mythology) Parvathi resides in

the vanni tree. Vanni tree is worshipped as Durga. By worshipping shaneeshwara with vanni leaves, one

can get rid of adverse effects (Doshmas)

After coming around the vanni tree and praying, Sri Rama went to battle with Ravana and won it.

Before starting their (Agyathavasam) life-in-hindling, the pandavas put their dress, Jewels and Weapons

in the hole in the vanni tree ; later they took them back ; fought and won the battle of Mahabaratha. When

a person think/Speak/worship the vanni tree, his sins will be absolved and will gain victory at will.

Once, after worshipping Viralimalai Muruga (who give Siddhi and Mukthi), On the north side of

the shrine (Where the weekly fair takes place now), Our guru saw a dead -vanni tree. our Swamigal

Starded meditating under the tree and it started sprouting.

A large number of people came from many places to witness the miracle. They Started calling our guru as

“Vanni Marathadi Swami” (Swami under the vanni tree). Swamigal consecreated a sivalingam made of

sand under the vanni tree ; worshipped it and medicatated. He was blessing people and offerieng medical

help to their.

Mr. Thangamuthusamy and Thiru. Raman Achari assited Swamigal told he would get a male

child and he should name it as “shanmugam” Swamigal words materiallized.

Onece, when Swamigal and Raman Achari were sitting under the vanni tree, Swamigal told that a

man suffering from stomach ailment would come. At the same time, one Thiru. Krishnamachari (who was

the Diwan of pudukkottai, who was sufferieng from severe stomach ailment) prostrated before Swamigal.

Swamigal said to him : “ you should not bow before me ; one who gains bribe through his wife would

suffer like this, as bribe.” In other words, our guru regarded dewory as a bribe. He said to Krishnamachari,

you are in a responsible Job ; from today don’t do evil deeds,” Having said this, he applied sacred ash on

him and cured the stomach ache. The Diwan also pledghed to mend his ways and would do good to others.

It is great on the part of our Swamigal who drove home the point that accepting down/bribes would not

lead to happiness.

Even to day, one can see a full grown vanni tree at viralimalai and the sand - lingam consecrated by

our Swamigal (Which is now in the temple built for our Swamigal There). In entrie India, there are only

two sand-lingams (one is at Rameshwaram, Made by Seetha devi (Known as Ramalingam) and the other

is at viralimalai, made by our guru, known as Kanakalingam.