Sholingur Temple

Lord Vishnu who undertook the Nirushima Avataaram at Ahobilam , once again displayed the Nirushima Avataaram to saptha rishis, who undertook penance at Sholingur. Hence, this is said to be the one of the most sacred of “Divya Desams on the Hill” in Tamil Nadu. 

Sthalapuranam :

Once, there was a king by named "Hiranyan" did a strong tapas and got the varam. To kill him, Sriman Narayanan took the Avatharam of Sri Narasimhar.

To get the seva of Narasimha avathar, Saptha Rishis (7 great Rishis) started their tapas here. Within 1 Kadigai, Narasimhar gave his seva as "Yoga Narasimhar". So this sthalam is called "Thirukkadigai".

Kadigai represnts the fraction of time. Since the Perumal gave his seva to the rishis within a kadigai, this sthalam is called as "Thirukkadigai".

Indirathuyman, the King of North Madurai killed the Asuraas who were giving problems to Rishis and people over here. Since, he helped the rishis and bhaktas, he was given the Vajrayudham by Indiran (Weapon of Indiran) to Indirathuyman. To help him, Yoga Narasimhar asked Anjaneyar to help him.

Yoga Anjaneyar is found in chinna malai in Yoga Nilai (stage). This is one of the said story about this Divya desam.

To make Prahaladhan (Son of Iranyan) happy, Yoga Narasimhar gave his seva for 1 Kadigai in Yoga Nilai. Because of this, the sthalam is also called as "Kadikasalam".

It is said that even if we sleep for 1 Kadigai in this sthalam, we will get Mukthi. That kind of nature and speciality, this Kshetram has got.

On the order of Bhairava Munivar, the mountain in this Kshetram is said to grow up towards the sky. So, Indiran asked Balaraman to help him, thereby stopping the mountain to grow. And on his request, Balaramar stopped the growth of the mountain. This is also one of the said story about this sthalam.

In this sthalam only, Thottacharyar (Periya Bangaru) who come along the family of Mudaliyaandan, was appointed as 74th Simmasanathipathi (leader) to spread the Vaishnavism by Erumbiyappa Varadhachari and Udayavar Ramanujar.

In Panguni Uttiram, Hanumath Jayanthi festival is done in a very grand manner by the trustees of Erumbiyappa.

Thottacharyar has written numerous poems and stories in Sanskrit. He is one of the Great bhakta of Kanchi Sri Varadharajar. He used to attend and worship the Garuda Seva of Kanchi Varadhar which is done in Vaikasi Month.

But, once due to illness, he could not go to Kanchipuram to attend the Garuda Seva Utsavam. He was very much depressed of not attending the utsavam. Thinking about that, he finished all of the daily duties and sung 5 Slogas in "Devaraja Panjagam" which explains the inconvenience of not attending the Garuda seva. At that time, in Thakkan Kulam (Pushkarani of this sthalam), Sri Varadharajar in Garuda Vaaganam gave his seva to Thottacharyar.

As a rememberance to this great event, even now during Garuda seva, Sri Varadharajar in Garuda seva comes out and waits for a minute in the Gopura vaasal. It is said at that minute, he is giving his seva to Thottacharyar in Sholingar.

Yoga Aanjaneyar is found in Chinna malai (small hill). It is about 200 feet high. The speciality about chinna malai is the pose in which Anjaneyar is found. Only in this sthalam, he is found in sitting pose with four hands, holding Sangu and Chakkaram. It is true that if one is surrounded and dominated by Evil, takes bath in the Hanumantha theertham, he will be cured completely. 

Moolavar : Akkara Kani Yoga Narasimha East Facing Sitting posture
Thaayar : Amruthavalli Thaayar (separate sannidhi)
Utasavar : Bhaktavatsala(Bhakta Sithan) Perumal - below in the town of Sholingur

Paasurams : PeyAzhvaar(2342), Thirumangai Azhvaar-1731,1736,2674(73), NammAzhvaar 

Transport

From Madras, one can take the following trains:

1. Early morning Kovai Express or Brindavan Express to Arakkonam and a 29km bus trip from Arakkonam to Sholingur (will take about 45minutes to 1 hour) - Good wide Arakkonam- Walajah SH 61.
Or
2. Sapthigiri Express (625am departure) to Tiruttani(arrival at 730am). There are a number of buses from Tiruttani to Sholingur (40kms).
Or
3. Take Chennai- Bangalore Express (departure at 1.20pm) and get down at Sholingur Station( 240pm arrival). A number of Share autos from the North of the station will take you to Sholingur temple in 30 minutes( a distance of 16kms)

There are also direct buses from Madras to Sholingur but it is better to take the train-bus option.