14th
July 2018.
Thirunalai
povar, whose original name was Nandanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars who lived around
5th century, near Vaitheeswaran Koil.
An ardent Shiva devotee, born in Pulayar caste, whose main job was to
supply animal skins to the drum/ murasu/ perikai in Tamil ( a musical instrument ),
strings to Veena & Yazhl and Korosanai to apply on Shiva linga. As per Periya purana, he was survived by the
income received from the field donated
for these services. But, 18th century, Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathi, had twisted the tale
of Nandanar and introduced Brahmin or Andhanar
character in his opera, to suit the character that he had seen in the Villages.
Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar had spent major part of his life in this Anandathandavapuram Village and survived from the food offered ( Bhiksha )
by the Villagers and stayed on the front verandah of the houses. He didn’t own
a house in this Village. All the
donations received had been spent for the noble cause and without any savings.
He used to stage his opera of Nandanar story, through out the nights at Nagapattinam, which
attracted Villagers, who commuted through walk and bullock carts. Observed brahmacharya,
throughout his life and attained mukthi on of one of the Maha Shivaratri, 3rd
artha jama pooja.
The details are explained
in depth by Prof Madhusuthanan Kalaiselvan and Gopalakrishna Bharathi’s songs were sung by Vidwan Bharat Sundar and Vidwan Sunil Gargyan at the Temple. The
Anandathandavapuram is a big village with more than 100 to 150 years old hand
made tiled roof houses.
ANANDATHANDAVAPURAM SHIVA TEMPLE.
Consort : Sri Bruhan Nayaki
Some
of the important details are....
The
temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram with a temple tank in front.
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam ( inside the front mandapam ) are
immediately after the Rajagopuram.
In
the ardha mandapa beautiful icons of Shiva, Parvathi, Manakkanjara Nayanar, Punniya Vardhini,
Somaskandar are kept under safe custody. In the Mukha mandapam
sannidhi for Natarajar, Valli Devasena sametha Subramaniar, Bruhan Nayagi,
Punniya vardhini, Manakkanjara Nayanar, Anandha Mamuni and Bharadvaja Mamuni. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Jayadurga (
installed at latter period ).
In
the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Mahalingam, Mahalakshmi, Kalyani Sundarai Ambal, Mahaganapathy, Bairavar (
three), Navagrahas, Sani Bhagavan, Angarahan, Chandran, Suryan, Hanuman and
Garuda. At the east side of the mukha mandapam top, stucco images of garuda, Shiva
& Parvati, Manakkanjarar, Shiva and Punniya Vardhini and Lakshmi.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam and a open maha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Ardha mandapam.
Sanctum Sanctorum prati bandha adhistanam
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This temple believed to be belongs to 12th to 13th century Chozha period with padma bandha athistanam and vimanam is of vesara style. Instead of Yazhivari, yazhis are in the corners. To know more about this temple and donations, we couldn’t trace any inscriptions.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, this place was called as Kanjarur. An ardent devotee and
one of the 63 nayanmars Sri Manakanchara Nayanar lived in this place. Shiva wants to test the Sri
Manakkanjara Nayanar and came as Bairava on his daughter Punniyavardhini’s
marriage with Kalikkammar one of the 63 Nayanmars
and asked human hair for his
yakno pavithiram. Manakkanjarar without any hesitation chopped off his daughters
hair and gave it to Lord Shiva. Seeing his undoubted bhakthi Shiva blessed
them.
About
Lord Shiva’s Ananda Thandavam at this temple, the legend goes like this. Sri Anandha
maharishi used to travel daily from Kasi to Chidambaram for Lord Nataraja’s noon pooja darshan. He used to consume food
only after the darshan. One day he was little late due to heavy non stop rain, he could not attend the pooja and prayed
Lord Shiva to give Darshan. So Lord
Shiva gave his Ananda thandava darshan
at this place and from then on wards this place is called as Anandathandavapuram.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about 12 KM from Vaitheeswaran koil.
The
place is on the Train route Sirkazhi to Kumbakonam and about 2 KM from railway
station.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
Manakkanjarar,
Shiva and Punniya vardhini ( the last niche )
The Music concert at the temple
Shiva temple’s Gurukkal invited us, to his house and requested us to sing songs composed by Gopalakrishna bharathi. This old house might have hosted Gopalakrishna bharathi during his stay in this village.
The Music concert at Gurukkal's residence
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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