Vazhuvur.

This place is situated 5 miles to the south West of mayuram on the path from Mayuram to Thiruvarur.

Vazhuvur is one of the 8 holy places called Ashta Veerasthana, ie where lord Siva displayed his heroices : The list includes.

Thiruvazhuvur ( Gajasura)

Thirukadavur (yama)

Thirukorikai (Manmatha)

Thiruppariyalur (Daksha)

Thiruvirtudi (jalandara)

Thirukkandiyur (Brahma Shiras)

Thirukkovilur (Andaka)

Thiruvathikai (Tripuras)

During the deluge, when the world sank, this place remained intact and hence the name Vazhuvur. This place is also called as Chyuthapuri or Pippalaranyam, and is eulogised as Parakailasam and Gnana Bhoomi.

Deity : Krithivasa (Swayambu) [meaning one who killed an elephant and wearing its skin on oneself].

Balangurambika/Ilankilai Nayaki.

The 5-storeyed gopuram rises to a height of 150 feet. There is a small nandi mantapa and the pond called Eesana thirtham between the main entrance and the nandimantapam. A place called Peruncheri near Vazhuvur is the Darukavanam.

Mythology :

The sages there were full of pride at their karma. Shiva intended to teach them a lesson, Shiva took the form of a Bikshatana moorthy, accompanied by Vishnu as Mohini and reached there. It is said that Ayyappa / Shasta was born here. This is commemorated during Brahmotsavam when the Shasta idol rides on an elephant. On seeing the lustrous form of Bishatana & Mohini the rishis and rishipatnis were awestuck and with lust. The sagas realised their folly and the 48,000 sagas performed an evil (aabhichara) sacrifice . Out came fire, a tiger, a deed, a club, a snake and rabbits one by one from the fire then these were directed against Siva and he vanquished every one. The sages approached one Gajasura. This Gajasura had performed severe penance and was granted several boons by Brahma. But Brahma had warned him not to go near Shiva and if he did, all that he had been given would prove futile.

Gajasura attacked Siva.Siva hid from him. The enraged elephant attacked the sages themselves. They realised their ignorance and prayed to Shiva. Shiva shrunk his form and entered the elephant.

The elephants body started burning. Unable to tolerate it, it dived into the pond and came but from another corner. Shiva appeared tearing its skin apart, standing on its Mathagam, he did the Vira Thandavam.

The inner significance behind this story is that when the savage beast in men goes astray, god is the only recourse. There is also a Sahasra Lingeshwara Sannadhi here. This event is enacted during the Utsava in the month of Masi in the asterism maka on pournami.

The utsavam & the utsava moorthies are very special here. The Gajasamharamoorthy has 8 hands with the right leg on the head of the elephant and the left is lifted. During the utsavam, the Gajasamhara is enacted.