Wednesday 15 April 2015

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 14th April 2015. I had the opportunity of worshiping Maragatha Lingam abhishekam at Thirukadaiyur and Thirunallar, may be due to poorva janma punyam. 

THIRUKADAIYUR 


In connection with an official visit to Thirukadaiyur, I had the chance of worshiping Lord Shiva during Thirupalliyezhuchi with Maragatha Lingam abhishekam, Uchi Kala Pooja, 5th 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 prasadam is not distributed to the devotees like Chidambaram, instead the prasadam 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 Entrance arch
The west side 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 prakaram and a koshta images in Ambal's sannadhi 
Gajalakshmi
 The reliefs of the temple chariot - Shiva and Parvati on Rishaba vahanam  
 Lingothbavar at the centre, 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 get the grant from Tamil Nadu HRCE Dept for one Kala Pooja. The temple crying for attention. We cannot go around the temple, due to growth of vegetation. The vimanam may be collapsed at any time. There is an arangavalar by 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 in 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 had been 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 will 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 Indiaran.   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 is the 169th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri  and 52nd Sthalam in Chozha Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar, Appar and Sundarar has 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 is facing east with 5 tier Rajagopuram  and 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 prakaram 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 sung the hymns ‘Bogamarntha poonmulayal’ in the analvatham and the same was called as Pachai Thirupathigam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to 07th to 08th Century. Latter this temple was reconstructed with stone during Chozha period and further expanded during Vijaya Nagaras / Marathas period.
  
En 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 Nidha kingdom  in a suyamvaram, ignoring the Devars. So Sri Sani Bhagavan got angry and hold of him after 12 years, when he was not properly washed his leg. As per the advice of Sri Bharatwaj Munivar Nalan  came to Thirunallar, created a Theertham and worshiped  Lord Shiva. Fearing Lord Shiva Sri Sani Bhagavan  stayed out side the sanctum. Hence Sani Bhagavan is powerful in this temple.

 The history of Nalan – Paintings of Prakaram 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 Daughter 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 blessing to Yama to get rid of curse and he went in search of Sanjikai.  After he found out Sanjikai Suryan lived With both wives. He made  manu as King, Yaman as ‘ Kaalan – Yamadharmar’, Yamunai  as river and sani as one of the planet.  Sani has got his full power after worshiping Sri Kasi Viswanathar.

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

Thirumal, Brahma, Indiran, Ashtadikpalakas, Agasthiyar, Pulathiyar, Arjunan, 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 for this for his  own use and written a false statement. On hearing the truth the king  got angry.  In the mean time Lord Shiva throw  his Trishul to kill  Kanakkan and save Idayan.  To make the way  to the soolam Balipeedam of the main shrine moved to side. Kanakkan’s head was chopped & Idayan was blessed by Lord Shiva. 

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 punyam ( Hope I have the poorva janma punyam, since I had the chance of worshiping Maragatha Lingam during 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 Saturday and important days.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The telephone numbers are : 04368  236530, 04368  236530

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:--- 

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for taking me on this trip thru this post !

    ReplyDelete