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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Vedagiriswarar temple
| image = Vedhagireeswarar temple with the tank.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|36|24|N|80|03|45|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =

| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[chengalpattu]]
| location = [[Tirukalukundram]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vedhagireeswarar ([[Shiva]])
Thirupurasundari ([[Parvati]])

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Vedagiriswarar temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the god [[Shiva]] located in [[Tirukalukundram]] (also known as Thirukazhukundram), [[Tamil Nadu]], India.

==The Temple==
Tirukalukundram is known for the Vedagiriswarar temple complex, popularly known as Kazhugu koil (Eagle temple). This temple consists of two structures, one at the foot-hill and the other at the top-hill. The main attraction, the large temple hill-top temple houses the deity of [[Shiva]], known as Vedagiriswarar. The temple at the foot-hills is dedicated to his consort [[Parvati]], known here as Thiripurasundari Amman. The temple at the foot-hills has four towers ([[gopuram]]s) closely resembling the architecture of the [[Annamalaiyar Temple]]

==History==
[[File:EgyptianVultureThurston.jpg|thumb|left|Sacred vultures fed by temple priests at Thirukalukundram, 1906]]
The word Thirukazhukundram comes from the Tamil words Thiru (Respectful), Kazhugu (Vulture/Eagle), Kundram (mount). It was known as "Thirukazhugukundram" in ancient times, which over time became Thirukazhukundram. The town is also known as Pakshi Theertham (Bird's Holy Lake) because of a pair of birds -Most likely [[Egyptian vulture]]s- that are believed to have visited the site for centuries. These birds are traditionally fed by the temple priests and arrive before noon to feed on offerings made from rice, wheat, [[ghee]] and sugar. Although punctual, the failure of the birds to turn up was attributed to the presence of "sinners" among the onlookers.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Neelakantan, KK |year=1977| title= The sacred birds of Thirukkalukundram|journal= [[Newsletter for Birdwatchers]]| volume=17| issue=4| page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title= The Neophron Vultures of Thirukkalukundram|author=Siromoney, Gift|year=1977|journal=[[Newsletter for Birdwatchers]]|volume=17|issue=6|pages=1–4|url=https://archive.org/stream/IndologicalEssays2/IndologySiromoney1#page/n107/mode/1up/}}</ref> Legend has it the vultures (or "eagles") represent eight sages who were punished by [[Shiva]] with two of them leaving in each of a series of epochs.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/tiruvaagamorsa00manirich#page/259/mode/1up|page=260|title=The Tiruvacagam or Sacred utterances of the Tamil poet, saint, and sage Manikka-vacagar|author=Pope, GU|publisher=Clarendon Press, Oxford|year=1900}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/ethnographicnot00edgagoog#page/n334/mode/1up/|page=252|year=1906|author=Thurston EW|title=Ethnographic notes in southern India|publisher=Government Press, Madras}}</ref><ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st|page=47}}</ref> It has also been known as Uruthrakodi, Nandipuri, Indrapuri, Narayanapuri, Brahmapuri, Dinakarapuri, Muniganapuri in the past. There are many inscriptions in the temple. It is also called Pakshitirtham.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Volume 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8897ridkczoC&q=tirumanikuzhi&pg=PA656|page=655|first=Subodh |last=Kapoor|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|year=2002|isbn=9788177552997}}</ref>

==Legend==
Sage [[Bharadwaja]] prayed to the god [[Shiva]] for a long life so he could learn all [[the Vedas]]. Shiva appeared before him and granted him the wish to learn the Vedas and created three mountains each signifying a Veda ([[Rig Veda|Rig]], [[Yajurveda|Yajur]] and [[Sama Veda|Sama]]). Shiva took a handful of mud and said "Dear Bharadwaja! The Vedas that you could learn are only this handful compared to the mountains present here, even if you live much longer and hence, learning is never ending and could possibly cannot be the route for Salvation". Shiva also said that in ''[[Kali Yuga]]'', the simplest and the surest way to salvation is [[Bhakti]] or unfettered devotion, service and love of God and his creations. It is believed that the hill on which the Vedagiriswarar temple is built, is the mountains signifying the Vedas created by Shiva himself. The name Vedagiriswarar means "the Lord of the Vedic Mountains" in [[Sanskrit]].

[[File:Tirukalukundram3.jpg|600px|thumb|center|Panoramic view of the Tirupurasundari Amman Shrine at the foothills]]

==Poets==
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]]. The four [[Nayanmars]], [[Appar]], [[Sundarar]], [[Manickavasagar]] and [[campantar|Thirugnanasamandhar]] visited the temple complex and composed hymns in praise of Vedagiriswarar. A shrine, Nalvar Koil, is dedicated to them. [[Arunagirinathar]] composed many of his hymns of [[Thirupugazh]] in Thirukazhukundram.

==Location==
Thirukazhukundram is located on State Highway 58, 70 km away from Chennai and 15 km away from the famous tourist town [[Mahabalipuram]]. It is also 15 km away from Chengalpattu. Near road links are, 10 km away from [[Old Mahabalipuram Road]], 10 km away from [[East Coast Road]] and 15 km away from [[GST road]].

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="3">
Image:Main Gopuram.jpg|Main [[Gopuram]] of Hill temple of Thirukazhukundram
Image:Sangu Theertham.jpg|Sangu [[Theertham]](conch tank) of Thirukazhukundram
Orukal Mandapa, Brahma Siva Visnu Cave temple 1, Tirukkalukkundram Tamil Nadhu.jpg|Orukal Mandapa (610-640 CE) is a Pallava-era rock-cut cave temple about 50 steps below Vedagiriswarar temple, east side of the hill.
Image:Tirukalukundram2.jpg|Temple view from foothills
Image:Tirukalukundram4.jpg|Basement temple view from the hill
Image:Tirukalukundram7.jpg|Sangu Theertham(conch tank) view
File:Thirukalukundram Sangutheertham and Hill Temple.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{commons category|Vedagiriswarar Temple}}
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.kaumaram.com/thiru/index.html Hymns of Thirupugazh with their composed locations]

{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Kanchipuram district]]

Vedagiriswarar Temple - Revision history

imported>Ms Sarah Welch: /* Gallery */ add, this article needs some clean up