Tuesday 17 July 2018

Sri Panchavateeswarar Temple, Ananthathandavapuram / Anandathandavapuram / Anantha Thandava Puram, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

14th July 2018.
Thirunalai povar, whose original name was Nandanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars who lived around 5th century, near Vaitheeswaran Koil.  An ardent Shiva devotee, born in Pulayar caste, whose main job was to supply animal skins to the drum/ murasu/ perikai in Tamil ( a musical instrument ), strings to Veena & Yazhl and Korosanai to apply on Shiva linga.  As per Periya purana, he was survived by the income received  from the field donated for these services. But, 18th century,  Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathi, had twisted the tale of Nandanar  and introduced Brahmin or Andhanar character in his opera, to suit the character that he had seen in the Villages.  

Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar had spent major part of his life in this Anandathandavapuram Village  and survived from the food offered ( Bhiksha ) by the Villagers and stayed on the front verandah of the houses. He didn’t own a house in this Village.  All the donations received had been spent for the noble cause and without any savings. He used to stage his opera of Nandanar story, through out the nights at Nagapattinam, which attracted Villagers, who commuted through walk and bullock carts. Observed brahmacharya, throughout his life and attained mukthi on  of one of the Maha Shivaratri, 3rd artha jama pooja.  

The details are explained in depth by Prof Madhusuthanan Kalaiselvan and Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s songs were sung by Vidwan Bharat Sundar and Vidwan Sunil Gargyan at the Temple. The Anandathandavapuram is a big village with more than 100 to 150 years old hand made tiled roof houses.  

ANANDATHANDAVAPURAM SHIVA TEMPLE.


Moolavar    : Sri Panchavateeswarar
Consort      : Sri Bruhan Nayaki

Some of the important details are....
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram with a temple tank in front. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam ( inside the front mandapam ) are immediately after the Rajagopuram. 

In the ardha mandapa beautiful icons of Shiva, Parvathi, Manakkanjara Nayanar, Punniya Vardhini, Somaskandar are kept under safe custody. In the Mukha mandapam sannidhi for Natarajar, Valli Devasena sametha Subramaniar, Bruhan Nayagi, Punniya vardhini, Manakkanjara Nayanar, Anandha Mamuni and Bharadvaja Mamuni. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Jayadurga ( installed at latter period ).
  
In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Mahalingam, Mahalakshmi, Kalyani Sundarai Ambal, Mahaganapathy, Bairavar ( three), Navagrahas, Sani Bhagavan, Angarahan, Chandran, Suryan, Hanuman and Garuda. At the east side of the mukha mandapam top, stucco images of garuda, Shiva & Parvati, Manakkanjarar, Shiva and Punniya Vardhini and Lakshmi.

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam and a open maha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Ardha mandapam.

 Sanctum Sanctorum prati bandha adhistanam


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This temple believed to be belongs to 12th to 13th century Chozha period with padma bandha athistanam and vimanam is of vesara style. Instead of Yazhivari, yazhis are in the corners. To know more about this temple and donations, we couldn’t trace any inscriptions.

LEGENDS
As per the legend, this place was called as Kanjarur. An ardent devotee and one of the 63 nayanmars   Sri Manakanchara Nayanar  lived in this place. Shiva wants to test the Sri Manakkanjara Nayanar and came as Bairava on his daughter Punniyavardhini’s marriage  with Kalikkammar one of the 63 Nayanmars  and asked human hair for his yakno pavithiram. Manakkanjarar without any hesitation chopped off his daughters hair and gave it to Lord Shiva. Seeing his undoubted bhakthi Shiva blessed them.

About Lord Shiva’s Ananda Thandavam at this temple, the legend goes like this. Sri Anandha maharishi used to travel daily from Kasi to Chidambaram for Lord Nataraja’s  noon pooja darshan. He used to consume food only after the darshan. One day he was little late due to heavy non stop rain, he could not attend the pooja and prayed Lord Shiva to give  Darshan. So Lord Shiva gave his Ananda thandava darshan  at this place and from then on wards  this place is called  as Anandathandavapuram.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 12 KM from Vaitheeswaran koil.
The place is on the Train route Sirkazhi to Kumbakonam and about 2 KM from railway station.
  
LOCATION:CLICK HERE




 Manakkanjarar, Shiva and Punniya vardhini ( the last niche )


The Music concert at the temple

Shiva temple’s Gurukkal invited us, to his house and requested us to sing songs composed by Gopalakrishna bharathi. This old house might have hosted Gopalakrishna bharathi during his stay in this village.




The Music concert at Gurukkal's residence 
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

No comments:

Post a Comment