This is the 2nd
Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam of Thondai Nadu. Now called as
Thirumetraleeswarar Temple, in Pillayar Palayam, part of Kanchipuram. Sundarar
and Thirunavukkarasar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
The
18th Century saint Sri Sivagnana Swamigal had written the sthala
purana of this temple in which he mentions that Maha Vishnu transformed to
Shiva Linga for Thirugnanasambandar’s hymn and the hymn is not traceable.
நொந்தா வொண்சுடரே நுனையேநி னைந்திருந்தேன்
வந்தாய் போயறியாய்
மனமேபு குந்துநின்ற
சிந்தாய் எந்தைபிரான் திருமேற்ற ளிஉறையும்
எந்தாய் உன்னையல்லால் இனி
ஏத்த மாட்டேனே.
.... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்
மறையது பாடிப் பிச்சைக்கு என்றுஅகம்
திரிந்து வாழ்வார்
பிறையது சடைமு டிமேற் பெய்வளை
யாள்த னோடும்
கறையது கண்டம் கொண்டார் காஞ்சிமா
நகர்தன் உள்ளார்
இறையவர் ஆடல் பாடல் இலங்கு மேற்றளிய
னாரே
... திருநாவுக்கரசு தேவாரம்
Iraivan
: Sri Metraleeswar, Tirumetralinathar.
Iraivi
: Sri Metrali Nayagi
Some
of the important features of this temple are …..
A
3 tier Rajagopuram on the east side of the temple complex with Vinayagar and
Subramaniar sannadhis. Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the
Rajagopuram, in the prakara. There are
two Shiva Shrines in side this temple. The main shrine of Sri Metraleeswarar is
facing west. The another shrine Otha urugesar is facing east with a Mahavishnu’s
patham / foot print is in front of Lord Shiva. In Koshtam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Even though Sri Metraleeswarar is
the main deity, Rajagopuram, Rishabam and Balipedam are in front of Sri Otha
urugeeswarar Shrine.
In
the main shrine moolavar is of swayambhu,
facing west. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma
and Durgai. Urchavars ie procession deities are Chandrasekar, Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena
Murugan are in the artha mandapam. In Natarajar Saba, Natarajar is painted and
the original idol/ moortham is kept at Kachabesar Temple. Sthala purana stucco
image of Maha Vishnu transform to Shiva
Linga, to Thirugnanasambandar’s song is at the entrance mandapa.
In
the inner prakaram Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Kasi
Viswanathar, Naalvar, Chandikeswarar and Bhairavar.
In
the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Navagrahas. Balipeedam with Rishabam are in
front of Sanctum. Ambal sannadi in this temple was constructed at a latter
state, since for all Kanchipuram Shiva Temples Sri
Kamakshi Amman is treated as only one deity. Jyeshta Devi’s statue is in the open
ground with manthan and mandhi.
During
Kachabesar Urchavar Natarajar & Ambal will be brought to this temple and
poojas will be conducted in this mandapam.
LEGEND
Maha Vishnu
wishes to get a Shivasaroopam ie Shiva
Linga idol form. and asked Shiva. Initially Lord Shiva refusd and Maha Vishnu
started penance of Lord Shiva. Finally Lord Shiva advised, Maha Vishnu, to go
to Kanchipuram and worship his, who is in the for of Swayambhu Linga at Metrali.
Maha Vishnu came to Kanchipuram worshiped Lord Shiva at Thirukachi Metrali and
started penance on Lord Shiva. Thirugnanasambandar,
who came came to kanchi, on seeing Mahavishnu’s back side and mistook that is
Lord Shiva and sung the pathigam. For the Thirugnanasambandar’s song Vishu got
melted with the remains of his foot at the end of his song and Vishnu got the
Shiva Linga form. Even-though the Legend says that Thirugnanasambandar has
sung hymn and the same is not available. But Saint Sivagnana Swamigal mentions the
above legend in Kanchipurana.
27. திரு மேற்றளிப் படலம்
(992- 1002)
1000 சம்பந்தர் பாடலால் திருமால் சாரூபம்
பெறுதல்
என்ற வாய்மொழி திருச்செவி ஏறலும் எங்கோன்
ஒன்று கூறுத லுற்றனன் உவணமீ துயர்த்தோய்
நன்று தேர்வைவச் சுதமனு வந்தரம் நணுகும்
அன்று நாலிரண் டீற்றுடை இருபதாங் கலியில்
1001 காழி மாநகர்க் கவுணியர் குலத்தொரு காளை
ஏழி சைத்தமிழ் ஞானசம் பந்தெனம் அடியான்
யாழ நீபெற எம்முரு இங்குவந் தளிப்பான்
ஆழி யோயது காறுமிவ் வைரப்பினில் அமர்ந்து.
10
1002 ஈட்ட ருந்தவம் இயற்றுகென் றருளிநீங்
குதலும்
கோட்டம் இன்றிமால் அம்முறை வதிந்துபூங் கொன்றைத்
தோட்ட லங்கலாற் றொழப்புகும் முத்தமிழ் விரகர்
பாட்ட
லங்கலால் பரஞ்சுடர் திருவுருப் பெற்றான்
Thirugnanasambandar’s
sannidhi is at the end of the street. It is believed that Lord
Shiva came here and listened to Thirugnanasambandar’s hymns. Hence
there is a Sannadhi available on the middle of the street by the name
“Utrukketta Muktheeswarar”, the details of this temple will be posted separately.
108
Rudras, Sikandar, Veerabhadra, Mandalathipathis, Ikrothar and Pudhan worshiped
Lord Shiva of this temple.
HISTORY &
INSCRIPTIONS
The
temple was built by Pallavas during 7th Century. Old Pallava,
Sambuvarayar, Vijayanagara period Tamil inscriptions are found. As per the
inscriptions this temple was reconstructed / renovated during Chozha period. Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was held on 31-08-2014
As
per Annual Reports on
South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1921 No. 86-91; year 1923 No. 101-104. The
inscriptions belongs to 16th reign year of Raja Narayana Mallinathan,
Vijayanagara King Mahamandaleswara Sadasiva Deva Maharayar ( 1484 CE ) and
Pallava King Thandivikramavarman. As per the inscriptions this temple was
called as Thirumetrali Thirukoil and Lord Shiva was called as Thirumetrali
udaya Nayanar.
The Raja narayana
mallinathar inscription records the gift
of 2 veli Land from the Village Nanthavansutharvilakam of Eyir Kottam.
The Sadasiva Deva
maharayar inscriptions records the
collection of 5.5 panam for each thari ( a hand weaving M/c ) towards
daily worship and burning of Lamps.
Another
inscription ARE 1921 SL 89, of DantiVikramavarman period, records that at the request of Kaduvetti
Muttaraiyan ( an endowment of ) four patti of land was made to the
Palan-tiru-merrali temple with a madam, exempting the taxes as Parikara ( what
for..? )
POOJAS AND
FESTIVALS
Apart
from regular poojas, Panguni Uthiram, Kanda Sashti, Thirugnanasamndar’s Guru
pooja and maha Shivaratri are celebrated in a grand manner.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
temple Archakar Chandramouli may be contacted through mobile numbers 9865355572
and 9994585006
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about 2 KM from bus stand. Can be reached through auto.
The
temple is about 3 KM from Kanchipuram Railway Station, 33 KM from Arakkonam
Junction and 74 KM from Chennai..
Nearest
Railway station is Kanchipuram and junction is Arakkonam.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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