Cheyar River

Sthala Puranam

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Glory of Cheyar

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In the part of Tamilnadu known as Thondai Mandalam, the river Cheyar meanders its way flowing north and north east wards through Chengam, Polur and Arani in Tiruvannamalai District. Also known as Uttaravahnini and Bahu Nadi, the river has been venerated as Ganga of the South; more so because Ambal Parvathi bathed in it and performed Puja on its banks.

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Origin of Cheyar

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Sri Kamakshi Amman was born in Kanchipuram, capital of Tondaimandalam. Wanting to become part of Sri Annamalaiyar in Tiruvannamalai, Ambal started walking towards the sacred Hill; on the way she rested in a place, presently called Vazhaipandal; it was time for her noon Puja and Lord Subramanya created a nice green pavilion for his Mother to accommodate Her. Ambal too created a Lingam out of mud and started offering Her prayers to the Lord.

Soon Ambal got thirsty; She also needed sacred water for doing her Puja. Accordingly, she commanded Her son, Lord Murugan, to do the needful. He too went up to Kadaladi and praying at the temple of  Sri Vanneeswarar accompanied by Arulmigu Kamakshi Amman, threw his spear at the Chengam Hill forming part of the Javvadu range  to bring out water.

The spear pierced the seven hills forming part of Dakshina Kailaya Parvatha Hills in succession and got stuck in the last one at Chengam. The Hill presently near the Melkuppam village is the sacred hill where this happened. The spring thus formed became Cheyar; this name arose from the fact that the word ‘Chey’ means child in Tamil and the river itself owes its origin to the child Sri Murugan. It is worth mentioning here that the Lord of the Hills was often called ‘Cheyon’ in Tamil literature of Sangam Era.  

The river thus formed gets merged with rivers Vegavati and Kamba before joining Palar and merging finally in the sea at a place called Chadhurangapatnam.