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 temple visit in and around Thiruvarur organized by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan Kalai Chelvan on the 14^th and 15^th of 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 the temple is 5 Veli area, the Temple tank is 5 Veli, and Nandhavanam is also 5 Veli area.

As a part of the Padal Petra Sthalangal Visit, visited this temple earlier in March 2012 and had the darshan of Sri Thiyagesar. There are two Padal petra sthalangal ( Thiyagesar and Araneri ) inside the temple premises. Hope during the 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 existed before the Chozha period and even before Naalvar (Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar, and Manickavasagar). Sundarar in one of his hymns asks Thiyagesar when he came to Thiruvarur.

a dancing girl at the center 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 to 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 for Lord Shiva

Moolavar Putridangonda Nathar is in the form of an Anthill. ( The practice of worshiping Ant Hill started around 5000 to 8000 years before ). On the left side of the 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 from Indran ). Since Lord Shiva’s visit to the outside is unpredictable, Nandhi is always ready to accompany him in a 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 are only authorized to touch and do pooja. The Dwarapalakas are made of bronze and look cute. Prof Madhusudhanan pointed out that the space behind Thiyagesar may be room to keep the jewelry or maybe 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

Rishabam in a standing posture- ready to go with Shiva

Vatapi Ganapathi

Rishabanthagar

Ceiling painting around the 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 saw the paintings drawn during the 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 everyone has their own story. One of the inscriptions is Rajendran I, which speaks about the golden lamp gifted to this temple on the birthday of Adi Thiruvathirai.