SriMushnam Bhoovarahaswamy

Sri Mushnam or Thiru Muttam as it was previously known, is about 15 kms from the town of Vridhachachalam. The town is famous for the temple dedicated to the the third avatar  - Varaha vatar of Lord Vishnu.  

The Moolavar is Swamyambu and is named Bhoovarahaswamy. The Moolavar is very small - only about 1.5 feet tall and the face is in the Southern direction with the hands near the waist - hiding the Conch and Chakram.  The reason for the secrecy is to deceive the Asura Hiranyaksha from whom Varaha Swamy rescues Bhoomi (Earth). While the Moolavar is in the form of Varaha (boar), the Utsavar appears in the normal form as Perumal Himself and named Yogavarahaswamy. The Ambal is called Ambujavalli Thayar.

Sthala Puranam

Bhoovarahaswamy Temple Kulam

Hiranyaksha was an ardent devotee of Vishnu who captured Bhoomi Devi and held her captive. Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha to fight the Asura. If the Asura saw the Conch/ Chakram and recognized that it was Vishnu who had
appeared as Varaha Swamy, the Asura would then fall at the feet of the Lord making it difficult for Him to destroy Hiranyaksha and rescue Bhoomi Devi. After all, the Lord is a Sharanagathavatsala or the protector of those seeking refuge under Him. 

The sweat from the Lord after the fight with the Asura formed the pool at the temple - Nithyapushkarini.  There is also an interesting tree and a Tulasi Madam in this temple. On observing the branches of the tree, one can observe the form of Varaha swamy in the way the branches appear. The mandapam around the tree has Asvatha Narayana, Madwacharya, Garuda and Hanuman Murthis. 

This Sthalam is a Saligrama Sthalam i.e. the Moolavar itself is made out of Saligramam. There are 8 Swayambhu 

Arasu Maram

Saligrama Sthalams in India - 4 in North India (Saligramam, Naimisaranyam, Badrinath and Pushkar) and 4 in South India (Tirupathi, Srirangam, Sri Mushnam and Nanguneri or Vaanamamalai).
These 8 Kshetrams are also called as Swayam Vyaktha Kshetrams with each Kshetram representing one syllable of the Ashtakshara Mantra - Om Namo Narayana.

Childless couples seeking children perform pariharam in this Sthalam and are supposed to get good results within 90 days.  The prasadam at this temple is Korai kizhangu (Cyprus Rotandus) Urundai and has many medicinal properties.

Bhoovarahaswamy Temple Entrance