Srimushnam

Srimushnam is a panchayat town of the Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu located about west of Chidambaram and south east of Vridhachalam. Srimushnam is sacred to Hindus as well as Buddhists and is one of the eight Svayam Vyakta Ksetras of Vaishnavas. The place is known for the Bhu Varaha Swamy temple.The town has an average elevation of.Srimushnam's presiding deity is 'Lord Bhuvaraha', which gives the town its alternative name, 'Varaha Kshetram'. Lord Bhuvaraha's consort is Ambujavalli Thayar while the temple icon is formed naturally from a saligarama (black smooth round stone). The utsavamurthy does not resemble a wild boar in accordance with the desires of his celestial consort and is called 'Yagna Varahan'. This is the only place where all deities are Varaha Murtis.Three forms of Vishnu and The Great Saint Manavala MamunigalTradition states that Lord Vishnu resides in Srimushnam in three forms: the 'Ashwatha tree', 'Nithya Pushkarani' and 'Bhoovaraha Swamy'. The temple cistern, the 'Nithya Pushkarani', contains water known for its medicinal value as a panacea. The towering 'Ashwatha tree', stands near the sacred cistern and is believed to have the beneficial effect of blessing sterile women with progeny. Meditation and chanting of the 'Gayathri Mantra' under the tree after bathing in the holy cistern are said to vouchsafe a place in the heavens.