Thiruvakkarai - Chandra Mouliswarar Temple

Thiruvakkarai Arulmigu Chandramouleswarar Temple is a historic 10th-century Chola granite temple and one of the revered 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Lord Shiva, glorified in the 7th-century Tamil Tevaram hymns by Thirugnanasambandar. Situated on the serene northern bank of the Varaha River in Villupuram district, Thiruvakkarai is globally renowned for its trio of 'Vakra' (inverted/crooked/unique) manifestations: the three-faced Vakra Lingam, the fierce Vakra Kali, and the unique Vakra Shani (Saturn).

The temple complex was grandly reconstructed in everlasting stone by the noble Chola Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi (mother of King Uttama Chola) in 967 CE. Featuring an offset Rajagopuram, an inner sanctum housing a rare Mukha Lingam, a dedicated shrine for Varadaraja Perumal (Vishnu) wielding the Prayoga Chakra, and a powerful sanctuary for Goddess Vakra Kali, Thiruvakkarai stands as a monument of intense spiritual power, architectural brilliance, and ancient epigraphical history.

Slaying of Demon Vakrasura & Manifestation of Vakra Kali

According to the Sthala Puranam, an atrocious demon named Vakrasura obtained an extraordinary boon from Lord Shiva through intense penance: that no mortal, weapon, or god could slay him unless Lord Shiva Himself intervened. Emboldened by this invincibility, Vakrasura tormented the devas, rishis, and sages. Seeking relief, the celestial beings prayed to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

Lord Vishnu engaged Vakrasura in fierce battle and decapitated him using His divine discus, the Prayoga Chakra. However, Vakrasura's sister, Dhunmukhi, possessed the magical ability to generate thousands of demons from every drop of blood that fell to the earth. To stop Dhunmukhi, Goddess Parvati assumed her fierce form as Vakra Kali and drank every drop of Dhunmukhi's blood before it could touch the ground, eradicating the demoness. Having consumed the demoness's blood, Vakra Kali was overwhelmed with wrath (Ugra). To pacify Her, Lord Shiva manifested in front of Her as Chandramouleswarar, placing the gentle moon on His crest, thereby calming Her divine fury.

The Legend of the Vakra Lingam & Offset Geometry

Because Vakrasura worshipped Lord Shiva by placing the Lingam in an unusual angle, the Lingam assumed a unique three-faced form facing North (Mukha Lingam), known as Vakra Lingam. Uniquely, during the summer months, the Lingam turns cool and secretes tiny moisture droplets, while during cold winter months, the Lingam remains warm to the touch. Furthermore, every structural element of this temple—the main Rajagopuram entrance, the Nandhi statue, the sanctum axis, and the Saturn idol—is deliberately offset ('Vakra') from a straight linear alignment.

Nayanmar Visits & Tevaram Miracles

In the 7th century CE, the child-saint Thirugnanasambandar visited Thiruvakkarai. Overwhelmed by the Lord's presence and the pacified grace of Goddess Vakra Kali, he sang 11 sublime Tevaram verses praising Chandramouleswarar as the supreme cosmic healer who liberates devotees from all physical, mental, and planetary afflictions (Vakra Doshams).

• Tevaram (1st Thirumurai): Glorified by Thirugnanasambandar in 11 verses beginning with "Piraiyaru Sadaiyanai... " (பிறையாரும் சடையானை).
• Tiruppugazh: Saint Arunagirinathar composed sacred Tamil Tiruppugazh verses in praise of Lord Murugan enshrined within the temple precinct.
• Periya Puranam: Sekkizhar documents Sambandar's pilgrimage to Thiruvakkarai in the 12th-century Shaivite hagiography.

• Sembiyan Mahadevi Inscriptions (967 CE): Stone inscriptions on the southern wall of the inner sanctum record that Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi, mother of Uttama Chola, converted the ancient brick temple into a grand stone structure (Kattrali) and gifted gold ornaments, silver vessels, and lands for daily worship.
• Rajaraja Chola I & Rajendra I Inscriptions: Record endowments of land (Devadana) for maintaining temple musicians, reciters of Tevaram (Oduvars), and perpetual lamps (Nanda Deepam).
• Vijayanagara & Nayaka Grants: 15th and 16th-century inscriptions detail repairs to the outer pillared mandapams and temple tank walls.

• Thermal Anomaly of Vakra Lingam: Scientific studies and priest traditions observe that the granite Lingam maintains a warm surface temperature during winter months and a cool, moist surface during peak summer heat.
• Vakra Shani & Crow Alignment: The idol of Shani Bhagavan (Saturn) has his vehicle, the Crow, facing right instead of left, symbolizing the reversal of astrological planetary afflictions (Vakra Shani Nivarthi).
• GSI National Fossil Wood Park: Located just 1 km from the temple is the Thiruvakkarai National Fossil Wood Park, maintained by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), containing 20-million-year-old petrified tree trunks from the Mio-Pliocene era.

• Midnight Pournami Pooja (Full Moon Night): Thousands of devotees gather every Pournami (Full Moon night) at 12:00 AM midnight for the grand camphor illumination (Jothi Darshan) at the Vakra Kali shrine to seek removal of marriage obstacles, mental anxiety, and planetary doshams.
• Vakra Kali Rahu Kalam Pooja: Special abhishekam and butter/sandalwood paste application to Vakra Kali during Rahu Kalam hours on Tuesdays and Sundays.
• Varadaraja Perumal Prayoga Chakra Worship: Devotees worship Lord Vishnu holding the discus in ready position (Prayoga Chakra) for victory over court disputes and enemies.

• Best Months: October to March (cooler weather); Pournami (Full Moon days every month).
• Major Festivals: Monthly Pournami Midnight Pooja, Chithirai Brahmotsavam (April–May), Maha Shivaratri (Feb–March), Navaratri (Sept–Oct).

• Early Chola Temples (845-970 A.D.) by S.R. Balasubrahmanyam (Orient Longman).
• ASI South Indian Inscriptions, Volume XIX (Inscriptions of Sembiyan Mahadevi).
• Tevaram Thirumurai Canon (1st Thirumurai, Thirugnanasambandar).
• HR&CE Department Tamil Nadu Records for Arulmigu Chandramouleswarar Temple, Thiruvakkarai.