The
Visit to this Sri Akshayanatha Swamy Temple at Thirumandurai also known as
Thenkarai Thirumandurai was a part of Rajendra Chozha War Trophy Trail, a
Heritage walk organised by the Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Aayvu Sangam - கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்
on
28th and 29th September 2024.
This
Thirumandurai is also called Thenkarai Thirumandurai, since, there is also another
Manduarai on the Kaveri Vadakarai (North banks of River Kaveri), near Lalgudi.
Since Thirugnanasambandar mentions Vadakarai Thirumandurai, in his hymns, this Thenkarai
Mandurai is considered as a Thevara Vaippu Sthalam.
In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that after
worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruanbilathurai / Anbil, Thirugnanasambandar came to
this temple. (This Vadakarai Mandurai is near Lalgudi)
308.
அதன் மருங்கு கடந்து
அருளால் திருக்கானூர்
பணிந்து
ஏத்தி ஆன்ற சைவ
முதல் மறையோர் அன்பில்
ஆலந்துறையின்
முன்னவனைத்
தொழுது போற்றிப்
பதம் நிறை
செந்தமிழ்பாடிச் சடைமுடியார்
பயில்பதியும்
பணிந்து பாடி
மதகரட வரை உரித்தார் வடகரை
மாந்
துறை அணைந்தார் மணிநூல் மார்பர்.
…..2211
309
சென்று திருமாந்துறையில் திகழ்ந்து உறையும்
துறைநதிவாழ் சென்னியார்தம்
மூன்றில் பணிந்து அணி நெடுமாளிகை வலம் செய்து
உள்புக்கு முன்பு தாழ்ந்து
துன்று கதிர் பரிதி மதிமருந்துக்கள்
தொழுது வழிபாடு செய்ய’
நின்றநிலை சிறப்பித்து நிறைதமிழின்
சொன்மாலை நிகழப்பாடி
…… 2212
Sekkizhar also mentions this “Thenkarai Thirumandurai”, in Periya Puranam, that
Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshipping Thirukanjanur, and
after this temple, he went to Thirumangalakudi.
293.
கஞ்சனூர் ஆண்ட தம் கோவைக்
கண்ணுற்று இறைஞ்சி முன்போந்து
மஞ்சுஅணி மாமதில் சூழும்
மாந்துறை வந்து வணங்கி
அம்சொல் தமிழ்மாலை சாத்தி
அங்கு அகன்று அன்பர்முன் ஆகச்
செம்சடை வேதியர் மன்னும்
திருமங்கலக்குடி சேர்ந்தார்.
……2196
Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in
praise of Shri Shiva of this temple.
செம்பொன் ஆர்தரு வேங்கையும் ஞாழலும் செருந்தி
செண்பகம் ஆனைக்
கொம்பும் ஆரமும் மாதவி சுரபுனை குருந்தலர் பரந்துந்தி
அம்பொ னேர்வரு காவிரி வடகரை மாந்துறை யுறைகின்ற
எம்பி ரான்இமை யோர்தொழு பைங்கழல் ஏத்துதல் செய்வோமே
....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
---“நீலங்கொள்
தேத்துறையில் அன்னமகிழ் சேக்கைபல நிலவும்
மாந்துறை வாழ் மாணிக்கமலையே
....... திருஅருட்பா
Moolavar : Sri Akshayanatha
Swamy, Sri Amravaneswarar
Consort : Sri Yogambigai
Some of the salient features of this temple are…..
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram.
Balipeedam, Rishabam. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of Sanctum Sanctorum. Moolavar
is swayambhu on a square Avuadayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar (Only Peedam),
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In praharam Sthala Viruksham, Chandra Theertham, Uchista
Ganapati, 3 sets of Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Chandra
Theertham, Chandikeswarar, Natarajar, Suriyan, Chandran, Bairavar, and Gnanasambandar.
Ambal is in a separate temple facing east on the
right side of Shiva’s Temple. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada
hastam. Lotus flower and akka mala are in the upper hands.
Chandikeswarar
The 15th Century Saint
Arunagirinathar sang Hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of Mandurai temple ( The hymn didn't mention Vadakarai or Thenkarai).
வேங்கையுமு யர்ந்த தீம்புனமி ருந்த
வேந்திழையி
னின்ப
மணவாளா
வேண்டுமவர் தங்கள் பூண்டபத மிஞ்ச
வேண்டியப
தங்கள்
புரிவோனே
மாங்கனியு டைந்து தேங்கவயல் வந்து
மாண்புநெல்வி
ளைந்த
வளநாடா
மாந்தர்தவ ரும்பர் கோன்பரவி நின்ற
மாந்துறைய மர்ந்த
பெருமாளே
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
Ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is about 2 feet below the ground level. The
Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with vrudha kumudam. The
Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Vishnukantha pilasters with
square bases, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The
deva koshtas are of sala style. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with
nasi kudus, and Viyyala vari. The Superstructure one Tala Vimanam above the
prastaram was built with bricks. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma
are in the tala and greeva koshtams. The sigaram is of Dravida style with 4
maha nasis. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since
this temple is considered one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam, praised by
Thirunavaukkarasu Swamigal, the original temple may belong to the 9th to
10th Century, later received contributions from Pandyas,
Vijayanagaras, Nayakas, Marathas, etc. There are no inscriptions found in this
temple to prove its antiquity.
This
is one of the temples maintained by Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.
LEGENDS
Uchista Ganapati, Tharugavana Munivars, Yganayagi Ambal, Chandran,
Marudhavanar, Maha Vishnu, Thirugnanasambandar, etc, worshipped Shiva of this
temple. Since this place was surrounded by mango trees, this place is called Mandurai, and Shiva is called Amravaneswarar / Mandurainathar, but
also called Atchaya Nathar/ Akshayanatha Swamy.
Kalamunivar and Navagrahas worshipped Shiva at this temple after taking a bath in Thirumangalakudi Akshaya theertham to recover back from illness. And
from another legend, Pancha Pandavas worshipped Shiva with Akshaya Pathra (A
vessel that never becomes empty), during their exile. Hence Shiva is called Akshayanatha Swamy.
In
one legend, playfully Ambal closed the eyes of Shiva. The universe came
standstill and Shiva cursed Ambal to become a Parrot. Ambal was relieved from
the curse, after taking a bath in Kaveri on Thai month Mahara Sankaranthi day and
worshipped Shiva of this temple.
This
is the temple where the Muni has been relieved from the sin of disfiguring the
face of Chandra, for taking part in Daksha’s Yaga, after worshipping Shiva of
this temple.
Uchista
Ganapati blesses the Devotees with the power of Billi-Soonyam, Manthreegam, and
Aabisaraprayoga, who have gotten through his Poojas.
This
is a Rohini Nakshatra and Vruchika Rasi temple. The Devotees will get maximum
benefit, worshipping Shiva after taking a bath in Chandra Theertham on Monday
Rohina Nakshatra Day.
Since
this temple’s Shiva, blessed the Navagrahas to get rid of the curse, there is
no Navagrahas sannidhi in this temple.
This
is a suitable place for conducting Sashtiaptha poorhi, sadhabhishekam, and Beemaratha Shanthi. Worshipping Shiva will get rid of the marriage obstacles,
Chandra dosha, Billi Soonyam, Sathru dosha, Aabichara prayoga, etc.
In one
legend, Chandra was suffering from the disease Shayarokam/ Tuberculosis. To get
rid of the disease, Guru said that this was due to attending Yagna conducted by
Daksha, and advised him to worship Shiva of this temple. Satisfied with
Chandra’s worship Shiva along with Parvati, blessed Chandra. Chandra requested
Shiva to bless the devotees also whoever worships on Monday, doing Abhishekam,
and offering Pepper rice as naivedyam. Shiva has agreed Chandra’s request and
blessed him. Hence this temple is a Parihara sthalam for Chandra.
It
is believed that Ganga came in the form of Thertha in the temple well and
Worshipped Shiva, by overflowing. This has happened in recent years also.
Ganga Thertha well
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Gurukkal Raju Sivam- ராஜீ சிவம்
– may be contacted on his mobile +919626278648
for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
This
Sri Akshaya Natha Swamy Temple at Thirumandurai is on the Thirumangalagudi to
Thirupanandal road.
The
temple is about 2.5 KM from Thirumangalagudi, 3.7 KM from Sooriyanarkoil, 8.4
KM from Thirupanandal, 16 KM from Kumbakonam, and 23 KM from Mayiladuthurai.
Nearest
Railway Station is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
