Theerthamalai

Theerthamalai is an important sacred place in Harur taluk of Dharmapuri district, located in Tamil Nadu, India. The name Theerthamalai in Tamil means Hill with Holy Water. Theerthamalai is a village situated about 16 km (about 9.9 mi) northeast of Harur. Theerthagirishwarar Temple is located at the top of a hillock. The temple, situated about 1 km (about 0.6 mi) up the steep slope of the hillock, derives its name from the five springs in the temple. Lord Theerthagireeswar (Shiva) is the worshipping deity.

View of Theerthamalai from Harur

History

Theerthagirishwarar was built in the 7th century, with many contributions being made by the Chola and Pandya Kings. Several inscriptions can be found in Theerthagireeswarar Temple. The inscriptions on the temple say that Chola emperors, including Rajendra Cholan, regularly visited this temple. Poet Saint Arunagirinathar referred to Theerthagirieeswarar Temple in his compositions.

Greatness of the Temple

Lord Sri Rama, after winning the war against Ravana and returning to Ayodhya, wanted to perform Shiva Puja in the temple. As Sri Hanuman could not return in time with holy Ganga water and flowers from Kasi, Rama shot an arrow on rock creating the Rama Theertha and completed the puja. The Rama Theertham is a tiny waterfall about 9.1 meters (about 30 feet) high. During summer, even when the river is dry, there will be sweet water in the spring that flows from rock. Sri Hanuman threw the pot of water from here, which fell at a distance of about 12 km (about 7.4 mi) from the hill and became Hanuman Theertham. People take the first dip in Hanuman Theertha and then at Rama Theertha for relief from sins.

List of Theertham

Theertham means Holy water in Tamil. The most fascinating factor is that the tiny waterfalls never dry out, even during the most drought seasons recorded in the history. All of which have their origin in different parts of the rocky surface. They are:

  • Agasthya Theertham In the Hill
  • Ramar Theerththam
  • Agni Theertham
  • Gowri Theertham
  • Kumara Theertham
  • Vasishta theertham Inth top of the Hill Cave
  • Vayu Theertham
  • Varuna Theerththam
  • Indhira Theerththam, Andiyur (Mondukuli)
  • Yema Theertham, Veppampatty
  • Anuman theertham, Hanumantheerththam River

Festival

The famous festivals of the temple are the 10-day Masi Brahmmotsavam in February–March with procession of the presiding Lord, car festival on the 7th day, wedding festival on the 5th day and Sathaparana festival – Lord in reclining posture on the 10th day; Abishek pujas with 365 litres of milk on the Chithirai new year day falling mostly on 14 April or a day earlier or later occasionally, Navarathri in September–October and Aadi 18 July–August with special abishek at night followed by Girivalam – circumambulation of the hill. The devotee crowd in the temple is usually big on Saturdays and Sundays. Pradosha is devotionally observed. Also Tamil and English New Year Day are observed in the temple.

LandSlide

There was a landslide reported during the 1990s that happened overnight. theerthamalai-LandSlide

References

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