Sri Thirumuruganatheeswarar Temple / Sri Thirumuruganatha Swamy Temple / திருமுருகநாதசுவாமி கோயில் / திருமுருகன்பூண்டி / Thirumuruganpoondi, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

 13^th October 2019.

This second visit to Thirumuruganpoondi Thirumuruganatheeswarar Temple was a part of the Kongu Heritage Walk scheduled on 12^th and 13^th October 2019. First time visited this temple as a part of Paadal Petra Sthalangal Darshan.

This temple is considered one of the Arupadaiveedu temples of Kongu Nadu. They are.......

1. Thirumurugan Poondi, Avinashi, Murugan with 6 heads & 12 hands.

2. Othimalai, Murugan with 5 heads and 08 Hands.

3. Tindigul Chinnalapatti, Murugan with 4 heads & 8 hands.

4. Kumaran Karadu, Kasi Palayam, near Gobi, Murugan with 3 heads & 6 hands.

5. Chennaimalai, Murugan with 3 faces & 4  hands.

6. Palani, Murugan with one face and two hands as Dhandayuthapani. 

 

This is the 260^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 2^nd Shiva Sthalam in Kongu Nadu. This place is being called after Sri Murugan as Thirumuruganpoondi. Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, in which he asked Lord Shiva, “When the thieves are robbing my gifts, what for you are here seeing all these things..”  Finally, Lord Shiva gave back all the gifts.   

உருகிய அன்பொடு கைகள் குவித்து விழுந்து உமைபாகம் 

மருவிய தம் பெருமான் முன் வன்தொண்டர் பாடினார்     

வெருவுறவேடுவர் பறிக்கும் வெஞ்சுரத்தில் எத்துக்கு இங்கு     

அருகு இருந்தீர் எனக்கு கொடுகு வெஞ்சிலை அஞ்சொற்பதிகம் 

கொடுகு வெஞ்சிலை வடுக வேடுவர் விரவ லாமை சொல்லித்

திடுகு மொட்டெனக் குத்திக் கூறைகொண்(டு) ஆற லைக்கும் இடம்

முடுகு நாறிய வடுகர் வாழ்முருகன்பூண்டி மாநகர்வாய்

இடுகு நுண்ணிடை மங்கை தன்னொடும் எத்துக்(கு)இங் கிருந்தீர் எம்பிரானே.

(சுந்தரர் தேவாரம் )

The sthala purana of this temple in Kongu Mandala Sathagam, written by Karmega Pulavar (in this Sundarar was mentioned as a greedy man) and Avinashi Puranam are as follows.

 

கனத்த அடிகொள் முலையாள் பரவைதன் காதலினால்

சொனத்தில் அடிகொளும்பேராசைச் சுந்தரர் சொல்தமிழ்க்கா

அனத்தின் நடைஉடையாள்பாகன் தென்முருகாபுரிசூழ்

வனத்தில் அடித்துப் பறித்தது வும்கொங்கு மன்டலமே.  

மூடியசெஞ் சடையுடையீர் முருகவளம் பதியுடையீர்

கூடிவெகு மூர்க்கருடன் கொள்ளைகொண்ட பொருளல்ல

தேடுமலை வளநாடு புரந்தருளுஞ் சேரலர்கோன்

பாடுபெற அளித்த பொருள் பறித்துக்கொண்டீர் எனப்பகர்ந்தார்

( திரு அவிநாசிப்புராணம் )( கொங்கு மண்டல சதகம் )

Moolavar  : Sri Murganatheswarar, Sri Muruganatha Swamy

Consort    : Sri Aalingapooshanasthambigai, ( Muyangupoon                                   Mulayammai), Sri Aavudai Nayagi, Sri Mangalambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are... 

The temple faces west with a Deepasthamba. The Deepasthambham at the entrance of the temple (Might have been used daily in olden days – now used on Karthigai Deepam day). Rishabam, Balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam are in front of 16 pillar mandapam. Both Moolavar and Ambal Sannadhis are facing west. In Koshtam  Durgai and Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy and Vinayagar. Dwarapalakas Dindi and mundi are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.

In the outer praharam sannidhi for Shaniswarar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Pon Maraithu Vaidha Idam (the place where Sundara’s gold and gifts are kept), Pancha Lingangas, Suryan, Chandikeswarar, Dakshinamurthy (in a separate sannidhi and not in koshtam), Bhavaneeswarar, 63var and Arumugar. Murugan as Arumugar is in a separate sannadhi facing south in the mahamandapa. Arunagirinathar also sang on Murugan of this temple in his Thiruppugazh.

அவசியமுன் வேண்டிப்                     பலகாலும்

         அறிவினுணர்ந் தாண்டுக்       கொருநாளில்

தவசெபமுந் தீண்டிக்                         கனிவாகிச்

            சரணமது பூண்டர்                   கருள்வாயே

சவதமொடுந் தாண்டித்                     தகரூர்வாய்

            சடுசமயங் காண்டற்              கரியானே

சிவகுமரன் பீண்டிற்                           பெயரானே

            திருமுருகன் பூண்டிப்             பெருமாளே

Ambal is in a separate Temple adjacent to the Moolavar shrine. At the entrance to Moolavar Sannadhi, on the right, there are Three murtis. Shiva as Veduvan ( Hunter )  faces west, Sundarar after losing his gifts given by  Cheraman Perumal with sorrow on his face, and Sundarar after getting back his gifts with a smile are very beautiful.

ARCHITECTURE:

The temple complex consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam and 16 pillar mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on the simple padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumudha. The prastaram valapi has the bas relief of Avinashi Sthala Purana and Cheraman Perumal and Sundarar’s journey to Kailash instead of bhuta ganas.  A 2 tier nagara Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple was believed to be built before the 7^th Century by Chera’s period. Lord Shiva asked his Shiva ganas, in the form of Thieves rob all the gifts donated by Cheraman Perumal, one of the 63 Nayanmar, a King from Chera Nadu, and a friend of Sundarar.

The temple was renovated and re-constructed and expanded during Kongu Chozhas, Vijayanagara, and Nayaks.  The inscriptions of Kulothunga Chozha-I (1152 CE), Veera Chozhan ( 1183 -1206 CE ) Veera Rajendran ( 1222 CE), Vikrama Chozha-III ( 1267CE), Konerimai Kondan Sundara Pandyan, Kochadaiya Varmar Sundara Pandyan, Veera Pandyan are found on the sanctum sanctorum walls. As per the inscriptions, this place was in Vada Parisara Nadu and Lord Shiva was called Thirumuruganpoondi Nayanar.

The inscriptions mainly record the donations of Lands, money, oil ( for applying Deities), paddy, etc., towards the burning of perpetual Lamps, regular poojas, Naivedyam, and functions. The gifted lands periphery (Ellai) is mentioned with directions. In one of the inscriptions, it is mentioned the Warriors/soldiers hose as the periphery of land. From this, we may conclude that Thirumuruganpoondi was a big city.   Veera Chozha inscription records the permission/ rights given to Kasiban Vengadan and Srimadai Valaka Nivanthakaras ( Donars to the temples ) to construct a house with a front mutram, two entrances, use a Horse, beating of drums, and Sekandi for functions.

The Sundara Panyan’s inscription mentioned the gifted land was the place where Sunaradar’s gift was robbed. Vikrama Chozha’s inscription records that one by Nambikaali alias Pazhaiyan gave money to the treasury and the interest to be used for abhishekam to Lord Shiva.

There are two copper plates connected to this temple and Village. One of the copperplates/Cheppedu belongs to the Thirumalai Nayak period ( Saka 1564 Chitrabanu, 1642 CE ). The inscription in the  Cheppedu ( records of Mc Kenzie’s report and belongs to one of the Sthanikar )  records the grant by his Chief minister Raghunatha Pandita and the inhabitants of this Chathurvedimangalam, Thirumuruganpoondi to Subramanaiya Pandita, the priest of the temple, a share of Land in the Village, a panam by each House every year and two Panam for a marriage in the Village. Since there is nobody by the name of Raghunatha Pandita as Chief minister, probably he may be a religious preceptor to the King. 

Another Cheppedu belongs to the same Thirumalai Nayak period issued in the name of Alagathri Nayakkan, who ruled this region. It is big in size and measures 46.5  x 26 cm. On the front side the image of a person climbing a palm tree and on the reverse images of a bow, and arrow, Surya and Chandra on the top and on the bottom, Kali with 4 hands holding Kapala, Trishul, snake, and Damru with Lion vahana. In front, there is a person in Anjali hastha. The front side has 55 lines and the other side has 59 lines. The same was issued on the 17^th day of Chithirai month and year as Kaliyuga 3003. (This does not match with the Thirumalai Nayak period).

As per the inscription the Adakkamudayars ( பனைமரம் ஏறுவோர் ), accepted, The Subramaniya Bhattar as their kula Guru, vested with the power to act as arbitrator / Judge to give judgment for their disputes/problems/cases and to give punishment. As a Guru Dakshina / remuneration, they accepted to give 5 Panam and one Tharaku (a measure) palm jaggery ( பனங்கருப்பட்டி – பனை வெள்ளம் ) for every year by each family. It mentions their Kula Deivam as Pudavaththaal also called Nadaachiammai and their history. As per the history they, ie the Adakkamudayar clan were from 3 Kanniyars, out of 7 Kanniyars created by Lord Shiva.  They were in Devlok, worshiping Lord Shiva with flowers and Milk Kavadi. Since they fell in love with the ghosts Pechchi and Neeli, they were born in this Bhuloka / Bhooloka as Palm tree climbers (பனைமரமேறிகளாக).       

 A Chozha inscriptions

 Inscription mentioning Thirumuruganpoondi

Inscriptions

Inscriptions

LEGENDS

Murugan in the form of Arumuganathar is the speciality of this temple. This is the parihara sthalam for brahmahathi dosha, Lunatic, Billi  sunyam / Black Magic, etc. Agasthiyar, Markandeyar, and Durvasa worshiped lord Shiva of this temple.

As per the legend after getting the gift from Cheraman Perumal crossed this place on the way to Thiruvarur. Lord Shiva asked his ganas to rob all the gifts in the form of Vettuvars ( robbers ). Sundarar’s hymn on Lord Shiva of this temple and request, that Lord Shiva give back the gifts obtained from Cheraman Perumal. 

HOW TO REACH

The place Thirumuruganpoondi is on the way to Avinashi ( a Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam ) from Tiruppur, about 3 KM before Avinashi.

A lot of Town buses are available from Tiruppur and Avinashi.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruppur.

CONTACT DETAILS.

Balaji Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at +919994509620 for details and pooja.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

  Valapi bas-reliefs

  Valapi bas-reliefs( Avinshi sthala purana )

  Valapi bas-reliefs

  Valapi bas-reliefs

  Valapi bas-reliefs

  Valapi bas-reliefs

  Valapi bas-reliefs

  Valapi bas-reliefs

Valapi bas-reliefs

A Vel Mandapa

Sundarar Cheraman Perumal & Lord Shiva as Hunter 

Rishaba well

A Sculpture unit 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---