Thalapureeswarar Temple, Thirupanangadu / Thiruppananagadu, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu. NADU.

This place was called Thiru Vanparthan Panangattur during ancient times and is now called  Thirupanangadu. This is the 9^th Thevara paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondainadu. There are two Shiva Shrines, namely Thalapureeswarar and Krupanatheswarar, inside the temple complex. 

 

The Thevara hymn mentioned Lord Shiva is called Thalapureeswarar since Lord Shiva was under the Palm Tree. Thalam – தாளம் –  in Grantha means Palm tree  ( தாளபனை a variety of Palm tree in Tamil ). This is one of the Shiva temples with Palm trees as sthala Vriksham and other temples are, Thirupananthal, Panayapuram, Puravar Panangattur, Thiruvattur (Cheyyar), Thiruvalampuram and Thirupazhapadi. Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, ie Thalapureeswarar of this temple. 

    விடையின்மேல் வருவானை வேதத்தின் பொருளானை

    அடையில்அன் புடையானை யாவர்க்கும் அறிவொண்ணா

    மடையில்வா ளைகள்பாயும் வன்பார்த்தான் பனங்காட்டூர்ச்

    சடையிற்கங்க தரித்தானைச் சாராதார் சார்பென்னே

    பாரூரும் பனங்காட்டூர்ப் பவளத்தின் படியானைச்

    சீரூரும் திருவாரூர்ச் சிவன்பேர்சென் னியில்வைத்த

    ஆரூரன் அடித்தொண்டன் அடியன்சொல் அடிநாய்சொல்

    ஊருரன் உரை செய்வார் உயர்வானத்(து) உயர்வாரே

... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

Moolavar : Sri Thalapureeswarar, Panangatteeswarar

Consort   : Sri Amirthavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. The stucco image of Lord Shiva as Rishabaroodar is on the entrance arch. Balipeedam, Rishabam under a mandapa,  and Dwajasthambam are after the entrance arch. A 3 tier  Rajagopuram is after Rishaba mandapa and balipeedam. There is no sannidhis in the outer prakaram. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy (like a separate sannadhi), Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the inner praharam sannadhi for Ambal Amirthavalli, Ambal Krupa Nayaki, Palliayarai in between, Devakottai Periya Ekappachettiyar’s statue ( who had done a lot of thirupani to this temple ), 63var, Naalvar, Vinayagar, Meenakshi samedha Chokkalingar, Sthala Vriksha stone sculpture, Mahalingam, Gajalakshmi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar on peacock vahana ( face of the peacock is on the right instead of left ), Navagrahas with their vahanas, Chandikeswarar by the side of Sri Kirupanatheswarar, Natarajar Saba, Bhairavar, Chandran and Suriyan.

    Ekappa Chettiyar

Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Sri Thalapureeswarar sannadhi on a lotus pedestal. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi and dwarapalakis are painted on both sides of the entrance. 

Nagalingam, Ekapada Murthy, Maha Vishnu, Yoga Dakshinamurthy, Anjaneyar, agasthiyar, Pulasthiyar, Sthala Vruksham ( at The entrance of Krupanetheeswarar Sannadhi ) bas-reliefs on the mandapa Pillars looks cute. After Vali Sugriva fights bas-reliefs, standing in one place, Rama can see both to shoot Vali and they cannot see each other carved on the pillars. Kottai Muneeswaran Temple is in front of Shiva Temple. 

ARCHITECTURE

Both the Thalapureeswarar and Krupanatheswarar temples consist of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam in Gajaprishta style. Prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas and kapotam. A Two tier Gajabrushta vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

 

Sthala Vruksham in stone

Vali & Sugriva fight

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple existed before the 7^th Century and might have been built during the Pallava period, later contributions are extended by Chozhas, Vijayanagaras, and Nattukottai Nagarathars. The inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Rajaraja-I, Rajendran-I, Rajathi Rajan-I, Kulothunga Chozha-I, Vijayanagara Kings Veera Araiyanna Udayar’s son Viruppanna Udayar,  Kanda Kuttai Saluvanasa Nayakka Udayar’s   ( Vira Narasimha raya ) son Krishnadevaraya and Vira Bukka Rayar (Udayar’s)  Son Devaraya -II. As per the inscriptions, this place was under Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu, Kazhiyur Kottathu Kazhumala nattu BramatheyapaRRu Thirupanangadu. Lord Shiva was called as Aludayar Thirupanagadudaya nayanar,  Thirupanangadudayar, etc.

The inscription without the king's name records the installation of Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

The Saka 1313 ie 1391 CE, Vira Ariyanna Udayar’s son Viruppanna Udayar’s inscription records, that this village was under severe drought.

Another Vijayanagara period saka 1303 ie 1381 CE inscription records that the eri was breached due to rainwater and the same was rectified after selling some of the Temple lands by the Village Committee.

The Vettuvars, the successors of Kannappa Nayanar also gave donations ( Nivantham ) to this temple, based on the fame of Sambuvarayas.

Saka year 1460 ie 1538 CE, Achyuta Deva Raya ( 1529 – 1542 CE ) inscription mentions the Lord Shiva’s name as Thirupanangadudaya Nayanar and Anbudaya nayanar.

An inscription on a stone erected in front of the temple records the feeding of annadhanam to the Desanthiris / (maybe sadhus, devotees who travel to temples on walking)

Mahakumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1928 by A. Ekappa Chettiyar of Chettinad, who won the litigation case after praying to Lord Shiva and spending all the money he won spend towards the reconstruction of the dilapidated temple and later in 1995. 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, for Lord Shiva’s celestial wedding with Parvati, all the Devas, Sages, and Maharishis assembled at Mount Kailash. This leads the earth’s north side to go down and the south side to rise. Lord Shiva asked Agasthiya to go to the south to balance. On the way to Pothigai hills, he installed and worshiped many Shiva Lingas and this is one of them.

In another local Legend, Sundarar on the way to Thiruvarur came to this place. He was exhausted due to hunger and couldn’t walk further.  Seeing this Lord Shiva took the form of the old man and gave food/ kattu sadam /tamarind rice. When Sundarar asked for water Lord Shiva created a water spring with his toe ( somebody says with asthiram ). This spring is about a KM before Thirupanangadu Village ( a fence was erected by the local administration for protection ) and the water is available at a depth of a meter, even in hot summer days. The water spring is called Sundarar Theertham.  This legend is not mentioned in his hymn or in Periyapuranam.

Sundarar Theertham

Devotees used to pray to Lord Shiva of this temple offering Palm fruit for Child boon and a Parihara sthalam to remove marriage obstacles.  

SRI KRUPANATHESWARAR TEMPLE

The Krupanatheswarar sannidhi is just adjacent to the Thalapureeswarar Temple. The disciple of Agasthiyar, Pulathiyar installed and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Moolavar  : Sri Krupanatheswarar

Consort :   Sri Krupa Nayaki.

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

This temple faces east with a separate balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam. The Rishaba’s horn in front of Kirubanatheeswarar sannidhi is very small.  In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu and Brahma.( No Durgai ). The sannadhi consists of sanctum and artha mandapam. A Gajaprishta Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal Krupa Nayaki  is in a separate sannadhi in the maha mandapa. Dwarapalakis are painted on both side entrances of Ambal sannidhi.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Annual festival Masi magam, Karthigai somavaram, Aippasi Annabhishekam, Mahashivaratri, Pradosham are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs. to 12.15 hrs. and 16.30 Hrs. to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS.

Sivachariyar Devaraja Sharma may be contacted through his mobile 9843568742 for details and pooja. 

HOW TO REACH:

From Kanchipuram to Cheyyar,  the bus  runs via Vembakkam and passes through this place. Kanchipuram to Kalavai bus also Passes through this place.

Chetpet – Perumanallur – Cheyyar – Kanchipuram via Vembakkam buses pass through this place.

Thirupanangadu Village is 15 KM from Kanchipuram, 47 KM from Arakkonam, 107 KM from district headquarters Thiruvannamalai, 91 KM from Vellore, and 87 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram and Railway Junction is Arakkonam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Kottai Muneeswarar 

Arumugar-Peacock head is on the left side of Murugan

Anjaneyar & Dakshinamurthy

Rishaba mandapam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---