VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Kayarohaneswarar Temple, Nagapattinam also called as Nagai Karonam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday 20 October 2017

Sri Kayarohaneswarar Temple, Nagapattinam also called as Nagai Karonam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

15^th October 2017.

This temple visit was a part of Thiruvarur temples visit organized by RATHAM for Prof. Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan. And also my second visit to this temple within a gap of just 20 days. My First visit to this temple was a part of Paadal Petra Sthalangal Darshan during January 2013.

A city developed near to the sea shore is called as Pattinam, hence Nagai is being called as Nagapattinam. The Nagapattinam was one of the Port during Chozha’s Period. The King Rajaraja had built a Buddhist Vihar "Chudamani Vihar“ in tiers in which Buddha statues were installed in three postures. The Buddhism was practiced in those days and there were lot of conflicts with Jainism. The Pallava King Parameswara Varman gave a solution that who ever wins can stay here in a competition. Buddhist lost and they moved to Sri Lanka during 10^th Century. It was learnt that some of Buddhist were also converted to Muslims on sea coastal areas.

The present Nagapattinam was called as Nagai karonam during Devara Moovar Period. This Shiva temple is the 199^th Devaram Paadal Petra shiva Sthalam. Moovar has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple. Especially Sundarar asked Clothes made of Silk, jewelry studded with precious stones like Diamond, Emerald & pearl, Javadhu and Santhu from Lord Shiva of this temple. Ambal Neelayadakshi temple is a latter addition may be during 16^th to 17^th Century Vijayanagara Period. Sri Muthusamy Dheekshithar has composed songs on Ambal of this temple.

Prof Madhusudhanan explained that there are different cults existed in worshiping Lord Shiva like Maakalam, Kapalikam, Lakuleesam, etc,. This Lakuleesam was practiced popularly in North India and Lakuleesar Statues are found in many parts of North India. The basic principle of this cult is to attain Lord Shiva’s feet with mortal body ( Kayam = காயம், உடம்பு human body ). It was believed that Pundarika Maharishi who practiced this Lakulisa Pasupata worshiped Lord Shiva of Kasi, Kanchipuram and Kumbakonam, where the Kayarohanam or Karonam temples are still exists. Hence this temple Shiva is called as Sri Kayarohaneswarar.

Pundarika maharishi

Then he explained the Athipatha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars story. This is the birth place of Athipatha Nayanar, who belongs to fishermen’s community. He used to let the first fish caught, back in to the sea. Lord Shiva wants to test his bakthi and made a golden fish to be caught. Though the Nayanar has to survive with that day’s fish catch, he let the golden fish back in to the sea. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. This incidence is being celebrated as a festival every year and fishermen’s community used to participate from Various parts of the Tamil Nadu.