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{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Vamaneeswarar Temple
| image = Thirumanikuzhi (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|44|14.7|N|79|41|0.9|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Cuddalore district|Cuddalore]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vamaneeswarar([[Shiva]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Vamaneeswarar Temple''' (also called '''Thirumanikuzhi Temple''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in [[Thirumanikuzhi]], a village in [[Cuddalore district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Shiva is worshiped as Vamaneeswarar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Manonmani Amman. The temple is located on the Chennai - Villupuram highway on the banks of [[Kedilam]] river. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[nayanmars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.

The temple complex covers an area of two acres and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Vamaneeswarar being the most prominent. The temple has three daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and many yearly festivals on its calendar. Sivaratri festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Masi'' (February–March) and Navaratri during the month of ''Purattasi'' (September - October) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.

The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], with later additions from different ruling dynasties. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend and history==
[[File:Thirumanikuzhi (3).jpg |250px|thumb|left|The image of Shiva in the vimana]]
As per [[Hindu]] legend, [[Mahabali|Bali]] was the grandson of [[Prahlada]]. King Mahabali, though an [[asura]] king, was generous, and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the all powerful in the world. Vamana, in the guise of a short [[Brahmin]] carrying a wooden [[umbrella]], went to the king to request three paces of land. [[Mahabali]] consented, against the warning of his guru, [[Sukracharya]]. Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second. King [[Mahabali]], unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed His Foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. Though he attained divine grace, he incurred blame of the society for the means of reaching divinity. He is believed to have worshipped in the temple for relief. Since Bali worshipped ''Maani'' (young Brahmachari Vishnu) and was immersed in a ''kuzhi'' (hole), the place came to be known as ''Thirumaanikuzhi''.<ref name=dinamalar/>

The place was originally believed to be the worshipping place of [[Kochengat Chola]], a prominent Chola king. During his time, a part of the place was constituted as Perumbalaponmeyaperumalnallur.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Volume 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8897ridkczoC&q=tirumanikuzhi&pg=PA656|page=65|first=Subodh |last=Kapoor|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|year=2002|isbn=9788177552997}}</ref> The original structure is believed to be existent from time immemorial, while the later additions are believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], while the present masonry structure was built during the 16th century. There are inscriptions from later [[Chola]] emperors like [[Rajaraja Chola I]] (985–1014), [[Kulothunga Chola I]] (1070–1120),<ref>{{cite book|title=Urban Centres of Pondicherry|publisher=Icon Publications|year=2006|last=S. |first=Chandni Bi|isbn=9788188086252|page=111}}</ref> and [[Rajendra Chola III]] (1246–1279).<ref>{{cite web|title=Thirumanikuzhi|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=21|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref> The inscription in the entrance of the temple are numbered 165 of 1902.<ref>{{cite book |title=Epigraphia Indica, Volume 27 |date=1985 |page=80 |publisher= Manager of Publications |department= Archaeological Survey of India. India Dept. of Archaeology}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Thirumanikuzhi (2).jpg |250px|thumb|The image of temple]]
Vamaneeswarar temple is located in a village called [[Thirumanikuzhi]] on Cuddalore - Panruti highway and on the banks of [[Kedilam]] river. The temple has a five-tiered entrance tower facing east, and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The temple has three precincts. The shrine of Ambujakshi is housed in a shrine facing north is located in the first precinct. The central shrine housing Vamaneeswarar is approached through pillared halls. The shrine houses the image of Vamaneeswarar in the form of [[Lingam]] (an iconic form of Shiva). The central shrine is approached through a Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of [[Saptamartrikas]] [[Vinayaka]], [[Murugan]], [[Navagraha]], Chandekeswara and [[Durga]] are located around the precinct of the main shrine.<ref name=dinamalar/>

==Religious importance and festivals==
[[File:Thirumanikuzhi (4).jpg |200x200px|left|thumb|Kondrai tre]]
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars]] [[Thirugnana Sambandar]]. [[Surya]], the Sun god, is believed to have worshipped Shiva at this place. The image of Shiva is believed to have been self manifested. The presiding deity has been worshipped by various celestial deities. [[Arunagirinathar]] has sung praises about Muruga in the temple.<ref>{{cite book|title=Saint Arunagirinatha|publisher=Pongi Publications|year=1975|page=145|first=Anvananda |last=Swami}}</ref> Parvathi takes precedence in the temple over Shiva as in the temples like [[Kamakshi Amman temple|Kanchipuram]], [[Meenakshi Amman temple|Madurai]], [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Kasi]] and [[Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam|Nagapattinam]].<ref name=dinamalar/>

The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed three times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 11:00 a.m. and ''Sayarakshai'' at 5:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Vamaneeswarar and Muthambigai. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'', and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''. Sivaratri festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Masi'' (February–March) and Navaratri during the month of ''Purattasi'' (September - October) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Vamaneeswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=851|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=375–6}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Thirumanikuzhi}}
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Cuddalore district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Vamaneeswarar Temple - Revision history

Owen79097529716: created a place v1!