Uvari Swayambhulinga Swamy, who converts sandalwood to medicine
Uvari Swayambulinga Swamy temple is located in Tirunelveli district.It is seen as a sacred site where the sea, Theppakulam, Karuvarai and Lingam are located in a straight line. In earlier times, the whole area was covered with sand dunes, and the kadamba vines grew in abundance and was a kadamba forest.
A woman of the Ayar clan who lived in this area used to go through the Kadambavan to sell milk. Then one day a kadamba vine got stuck in her leg and all the milk spilled on the floor. Similarly, when the woman came to a certain place every day, it became a habit to get caught in the kadambak vine and spill milk.
The woman fearfully told her husband about this, and the woman’s husband cut the kadambak vine in a rage. Then blood gushed out from the vine. After this, all the people of the town gathered there. Then one of the elders of the village took a vow of grace by the grace of Swami. He said that if sandalwood is ground and applied to the bleeding spot, the bleeding will stop.
But when everyone was perplexed as to where to go for sandalwood, the elder One also pointed out the location of the sandalwood tree in that forest. As he said, the people of the village were surprised to find a sandalwood tree at the specified place, then they brought a stick of that tree and ground it and applied it to the bleeding spot with a kadampak vine, and the bleeding stopped.
At that place, Lord Shiva, the Supreme Lord, arose self-sufficiently. Around the Shivalinga, people built thatched roofs and temples. Since he appeared as Swayambu, he was also named Swayambulinga Swami. They used to perform Balabhishekam and four times puja for him. As the bleeding stopped after applying sandalwood, sandalwood is ground and applied to the Lord in this temple even today. Along with this, sandalwood is also given to the devotees who come to worship the Lord to apply it all over their mane. This is believed to cure incurable diseases. They also drink sandalwood and vibhuti mixed with water.
Festivals are held in this temple throughout the year. On Thaipusam, the flag is hoisted and Brahmotsavam is held for ten days. Also festivals like Vaikasi Visagam, Tai Amavasai, Maha Shivratri, Panguni Uttaram, Chitrai Vishu, Varushapishekam, Aadi Amavasai, Theerthavari, Navratri Kolu, Vijayadashami, Aippasi Vishu, Thirukarthikai Deepam are also celebrated.
Ambal’s name, which graces this temple, means Brahma Shakti. The temple complex also has shrines for Parivar deities such as Parivar Swamy, Isaki Amman, Pachyamman and Madasamy. To the west of the Vinayagar temple is the famous Vanniya Shasta.
Tirunelveli District 25 km east of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station and 35 km from Tiruchendur on the way to Kanyakumari, Uvari Swayambulinga Swamy Temple is located.
Soil Carrying Elegance
One of Lord Shiva’s 64 Thiruvilaiyadal is the mud-carrying ceremony. To commemorate this, devotees carry out the act of carrying sea mud in Uvari. Devotees who pray to carry soil, come to Uvari to pay the fine debt, take a dip in the sea and fill the straw box with the soil obtained from the sea waves, carry it on their heads and bring it near the temple. There is a custom of filling the straw boxes with soil in numbers 5, 11, 21, 101 to get rid of diseases, good luck,children blessings, success in career, education, wisdom, Mangalya pakhyam, employment.
