Sri Amirthakadeswarar Temple at Thirukadaiyur, Tirunallar Sri Dharbaranyeswarar Temple at Thirunallar, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

 14th, April 2015.

Lord Shiva Sri Dharbaranyeswarar of Thirunallar blessed me on the last day of Tamil year and Sri Amirthakadeswarar of Thirukadaiyur blessed me on the eve of Tamil New Year’s ( Manmatha year ) day on 14^th April 2015. I had the opportunity of worshiping Maragatha Lingam abhishekam at Thirukadaiyur and Thirunallar, maybe due to Poorva Janma Punya. 

THIRUKADAIYUR 

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

In connection with an official visit to Thirukadaiyur, I had the chance to worship Lord Shiva during Thirupalliyezhuchi with Maragatha Lingam abhishekam, Uchi Kala Pooja, 5^th Kala Pooja and Artha Jama Pooja. It was a pleasant experience to see the rituals followed during different poojas. It was noticed that after Arjajama Pooja the prasada is not distributed to the devotees like Chidambaram, instead the prasada was kept at the entrance of Bhairavar Sannidhi throughout the night. After artha jama pooja 'sugar crystals' ( Kalkandu ) are distributed. A very few devotees attended the artha jama pooja.

    

The West Side Rajagopuram - view through the Entrance arch

The west side of Rajagopuram with front mandapam

Balipeedam with 4 small Rishabams on four corners. 

An early morning view of the Temple and Rajagopurams view from Bairavar Sannidhi

The back side view of the Moolavar Sannadhi

Bairavar, Shivas images in the praharam and koshta images in Ambal's sannadhi 

Gajalakshmi

 The reliefs of the temple chariot - Shiva and Parvati on Rishaba Vahanam  

 Lingothbavar at the center, and Brahma and Vishnu are on both sides

Thirukalyanam 

An epigraph on the moolavar sanctum wall

 Entrance arch - view during night 

  Entrance arch - view during night 

West side Rajagopuram - a night view 

SRI RAMA NANDEESWARAR TEMPLE – THIRUKADAIYUR.

This temple is on the main road of Thirukadaiyur Bus stop. The temple gets a grant from the Tamil Nadu HRCE Dept for one Kala Pooja. The temple crying for attention. We cannot go around the temple, due to the growth of vegetation. The vimanam may be collapsed at any time. There is an Arangavalar by the name Mr D M Isai Vanan, for this temple whose contact number is 9442932509. The temple must be very old and the history is not known. Even though this temple is very near Thirukadaiyur – Amirthakadeswarar proper care was not taken.

 

Sanctum entrance 

 Ambal sannidhi 

 Sanctum with Rishabam and balipeedam 

May be Chandikeswarar sannadhi 

During this official visit to Thirukadaiyur, I went to Karaikal for the purchase of electrical materials. Understand that the shops will open around 10.00 Hrs. Utilizing this, time had been to Thirunallar for worshiping of Lord Shiva Dharbaranyeswarar along with Sri Sani Bhagavan. While we came out of Sri Dharbaranyeswarar sanctum, heard that Maragatha lingam abhishekam would be around 8.30 Hrs in Thiyagesar sannadhi. Waited for about an hour and finally had the darshan of Lord Shiva in the form of Maragatha Lingam, which was given to Musukundha Chakravarthy by Indra. During Maragatha Lingam Abhishekam there was a moderate rush since it was on Monday. Even though I had been to this temple earlier, photos and details are posted in this blog.

169/ 52. TIRUNALLAR SRI DHARBARANYESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUNALLAR.

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

This is the 169^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri and the 52^nd Sthalam in Chozha Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, and Sundarar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

The east side entrance arch 

Moolavar    : Sri Dharbaranyeswarar, Sri Thirunallatreswarar.

Consort      : Sri Piranambigai, Sri Praneswari and 

                   Sri Bogamarntha Poonmulaiyal.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with the five-tier Rajagopuram and the front mutram was converted as mandapam. On the right side Idayan, his wife, and Kanakkan temple. In the mandapa pillars 10 types of Shiva's dance stucco images.

In the outer praharam sannadhi for Nalan’s history as painting, Vasantha mandapam ( a new mandapam is constructed and on the pillars Stucco images of Shiva’s dance ),  On the right and left of Sri Sani Bhagavan sannadhi - Kumbha and makara rasi reliefs covered with plate.

In the inner prakaram, Sundarar, 63var, Naleswarar. Sthala Vinayagar Sorna Ganapathy, Saptha Vidanga Sthala Shiva Lingas, Subramaniyar, Adhiseshan, Nalanarayana Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Bairavar. Natarajar saba and Urchavars.

Moolavar is of Swayambhu, came through Dharbai and there is a scar on his head.  On the side Unmatha nadana Thiyagesar with Devi Nilothlambal.

In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Brahma and Durgai.

Lord Shiva’s Dance Posture – Unmatha Nadanam of this temple 

This temple is one of the Saptha vidanga sthalangal. ( The other 6 are Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thirumaraikadu, Thirukkarayil, Thiruvaimur and Thirukolili- Thirukkuvalai ).

Thiagarajar is called as Nagavidanga Thiyagar- Sri Shenbaga Thiyagarajar. And the dance is called as Unmatha nadanam.

Thiruganasambandar sang the hymn ‘Bogamarntha Poonmulayal’ in the analvatham and the same was called Pachai Thirupathigam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the 07th to 08th Century. Later this temple was reconstructed with stone during the Chozha period and further expanded during the Vijaya Nagaras / Marathas period.

  

An epigraph on the sanctum wall

LEGENDS

Even though this is a Shiva temple Sri Shani Bhagavan is mainly worshiped by devotees to remove Shani dosha. The story of Nalan who got rid of Shani dosham after worshiping Sani Bhagavan of this temple goes like this. Dhamayanthi married Nalan a king of the Nidha kingdom in a Suyamvaram, ignoring the Devars. So Sri Sani Bhagavan got angry and hold of him after 12 years when he had not properly washed his leg. As per the advice of Sri Bharadwaj Munivar Nalan came to Thirunallar, created a Theertham, and worshiped  Lord Shiva. Fearing Lord Shiva Sri Sani Bhagavan stayed outside the sanctum. Hence Sani Bhagavan is powerful in this temple.

 The history of Nalan – Paintings of Praharam wall 

 Thiruganasambandar- Pachaipathigam Hymn story painting

The story of Sani Bhagavan goes like this. Suryan has got Vavaisthamanu and Yaman as sons and Yamunai as daughters through his wife Sanjikai.  Since She couldn’t bear the heat of Suryan, she left her shadow called ‘Saya devi’. Saya Devi also got  Savarni alias Manu, Sani and Pathirai as Daughter.  Saya Devi behaved as stepmother and Yaman tried to hick her with his leg. Saya Devi gave sabam to break his legs. On hearing this Suryan gave the blessing to Yama to get rid of the curse and he went in search of Sanjikai. After he found out Sanjikai Suryan lived With both wives. He made Manu King, Yaman as ‘ Kaalan – Yamadharmar’, Yamunai as a river, and Sani one of the planets.  Sani has got his full power after worshiping Sri Kasi Viswanathar.

Shani Has got names as Maandhan, and Shanaicharan which turned into ‘Shaneeswaran’. Yaman hit/kicked Sani after he got angry with his stepmother. Due to this Shani’s leg was broken.  During Dhakshan’s yaga he lost one of his eyes also.  Even though the black eagle is a vahana, in agamam Black crow is also treated as a Vahana.  His wife is called ‘Jyeshta Devi ‘. His friends are Budhan, Guru, and Sukran. His enemies are Suryan ( His father ), Chandran and Chevvai.

Thirumal, Brahma, Indiran, Ashtadikpalakas, Agasthiyar, Pulathiyar, Arjunan, and Nalan worshiped Lord Sri Sani Bhagavan of this temple.

There is a story for this temple also. Idayan used to give milk to this temple. Kanakkan used this for his own use and wrote a false statement. On hearing the truth the king got angry.  In the meantime, Lord Shiva throws his Trishul to kill  Kanakkan and save Idayan.  To make the way to the soolam Balipeedam of the main shrine moved to the side. Kanakkan’s head was chopped & Idayan was blessed by Lord Shiva. 

The entrance arch to the Nalan Theertham 

Sri Nalan kalitheertha Vinayagar 

Nala Theertham 

MARAGATHA LINGAM POOJA...

For witnessing pooja for Maragatha Lingam one had had the  Poorva Janma Punya (I Hope I have the Poorva Janma Punya, since I had the chance of worshiping Maragatha Lingam during the morning 08.30 Hrs abhishekam.)

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple kept open between .6.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs. This will vary on Saturdays and important days.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The telephone numbers are: 04368  236530, 04368  236530

The Website: http://thirunallarutemple.org/index.html

HOW TO REACH :

Thirunallar is  5 KM from Karaikal on Karaikal to Kumbakonam bus route.

Frequent buses are available from  Peralam, Karaikal, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, and Nagapattinam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 The 5 Tier Rajagopuram. 

The 5 Tier Rajagopuram.

Moolavar Vimanam with sthala viruksham – Dharbai 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---