History

Arulmigu Unnamulaiyamman

Of the five Pancha Bootha elements, Arulmigu unnamulai amman temple is built around the element Fire – the brilliant Jyoti, through which Lord Shiva himself shines, here at Valangaiman. Equally holy, this spot is known as the South Thiruvannamalai, for the Lord is present here as much as he is in Thiruvannamalai. This is his abode.

Story goes that about 550 years ago, an old Shiva devotee on his way to have his darshan of Shiva at Thiruvannamalai, while going through a patch of thick forest was invited by, Lakshmi Narayanan, a well meaning local to rest and then resume the pilgrimage. On the local’s insistence the old man stayed at the house for a few days. But when it was time for him to resume the pilgrimage, he found that the weather had turned inclement. Rains lashed and floods made journeying impossible. The old Shiva devotee found himself stranded. The break in the pilgrimage disturbed both, the pilgrim and Lakshmi Narayanan. The host felt that it was his decision to invite the old man into his house that caused the break in the pilgrimage and therefore it was his sin.

Deeply disturbed, while the two slept not knowing what to do, Shiva, that night appeared in their dreams and allayed their worries. The Lord assured them that the pilgrimage to Thiruvannamalai was not necessary and that they could worship him from where they were. Shiva assured them that he would be there, at Valangaiman, as much as he was at Thiruvannamalai. Lord Shiva then told them to light a bonfire. In the bonfire, much to everyone’s amazement, Lord Shiva and his consort appeared. And so the foundations for a temple that would later on become what it is today, the Arulmigu Unnamulai Amman Samatha Arunachalaeshwarar Temple, were laid. And since the very same Shiva from Thiruvannamalai appeared here, at Valangaiman, this spot is known as the south Thiruvannamalai.

In more recent times a hillock, man made, was raised to resemble Thiruvannamalai. The hillock, built near the east mandapam of the temple, attracts Shiva devotees from all over. Devotees, who cannot go to Thiruvannamalai, lighting 11 ghee deepams, circumambulate this hillock for 11 times beseeching the Lord for intervention and grace. It is, in effect, the same as praying at Thiruvannamalai itself. Childless couples and the unwed have been particularly known to benefit from praying here. A kumbabhishekam was performed for this hillock and it is believed that one who gets to witnesses the kumbabhishekam gains blessings and grace for the three following generations.

The ‘Vela’ tree that stands here in the temple does not loose its foliage throughout the year and devotees worship it. They tie a sacred yellow thread, fasten a cradle to the tree, and pray for three continuous pournimas for their wish to be granted.

The Origin of the Name Valangaiman

In the Naikar period, some 600 years ago, the local ruler invited people from Andhra for their knowledge of Vedas and temple rituals. Families from Andhra came to settle here, in a place wooded by the ‘Vela’ trees and so started referring to the place as ‘Velugamanu’. This ‘Velugamanu’ over the years turned into Valangaiman.