VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur, Thiruvarur Dist, Tamil Nadu.

Saturday 21 October 2017

Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur, Thiruvarur Dist, Tamil Nadu.

This post was updated with Thevara Hymns, Architecture, History & Inscriptions, Legends etc. For the details of the updated post please click this link.

14^th October 2017,

This was a planned temples visit in and around Thiruvarur organised by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan KalaiChelvan on 14^th and 15^th October 2017. Out of two days we had spent almost a day in Thiyagesar Temple. A temple is not only a worshipping place, but it has the treasure of culture, architecture, history, Heritage and so on. The temple complex is very large with many sannadhis. There is a saying that temple is 5 veli area, Temple tank is 5 Veli and Nandhavanam is also 5 veli area.

As a part of Padal Petra Sthalangal Visit, visited this temple earlier during March 2012 and had the darshan of Sri Thiyagesar. There are two Padal petra sthalangal ( Thiyagesar and Araneri ) inside the temple premises. Hope during 6^th to 7^th century most of the present shrines may not be there. Entered through the east Rajagopuram built by the Chozha King Kulothunga –III. It was believed that the two statues in the Rajagopuram are Kulothunga-III and his guru. Prof. Madhusudhanan explained the History, statues in the first level and 2nd level and construction details. It is believed that the temple exists before Chozha period and even before Naalvar ( Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar ). Sundarar in one of his hymn asks Thiyagesar, when did he came to Thiruvarur.

a dancing girl at the centre with musicians on both sides

Relief of elephant delivery and the other elephants are helping

Nandhi in Bhootavari

Purusha mirugam

After a music treat at Thevasiriyar mandapam by Mr Bharat, had the darshan of Lord Shiva Akileswarar at Araneri. Chembian Madevi had contributed for the pooja and it is believed that Araneri Temple was built by her.

Perumal dances before Vinayagar to get back his chakra

The platform for preparing garland to Lord Shiva

Moolavar Putridangonda Nathar is in the form of an Ant hill. ( The practice of worshiping ant hill started around 5000 to 8000 years before ). On the left side of sanctum is Thiyagesar Sannadhi. Somaskandar is worshiped as Thiyagesar. Only the faces of Shiva and Ambal can be seen and the rest are covered completely with flowers and Kandar will not be visible always. A Special parivattam cloth is being weaved by the local community especially for Thiyagarajar. This temple is one of the saptha Vidanga sthalam ( The Maragatha Lingam was given to this temple by Musukuntha Chakravarthy which he got it from Indran ). Since Lord Shiva’s visit to out side is unpredictable, Nandhi is always ready to accompany with him in standing posture. On the opposite to Thiyagesar, sannadhi for Sundarar with Paravai Nachiyar and Seraman Peruman. Poojas are conducted by a community called Nainars, who only authorised to touch and do pooja. The Dwarapalakas are made of bronze looks cute. Prof Madhusudhanan pointed out that the space behind Thiyagesar, may be a room to keep the jewellery or may be a Sannadhi for Vishnu...?. After the darshan of Sri Thiyagesar we went around the sanctum, admiring the beauty of Rishabanthikar with Ambal, Vatapi Ganapati and paintings around the sanctum.

Kasukalanju Vinayagar

Nandhi in standing posture- ready to go with shiva

Vatapi Ganapathi

Rishapanthakar

Ceiling painting around sanctum

Inch sculptures of Mahishasura Mardini

Inch sirpam of Shiva Holding Ganga on his head - Gangadhara

Next we had the darshan of Sri Neelothpalambal and had seen the paintings drawn during Maratha period on the walls of maha mandapam. We came across Vallabhai Ganapathy, Kasukalanju Vinayagar ( a Chozha Bronze ), Vatapi Ganapathi otherwise known as Kolukattai Pillayar ( Brought from Vatapi, in memory of Kalinga Victory by Chozhas ) and every one has their own story. Some of the inscriptions are Rajendran I, which speaks about the golden lamp gifted to this temple on his birth day of Adi Thiruvathirai.