Athulya Nadheswarar Temple / Atulya Nadeswarar Temple / அதுல்யநாதேஸ்வரர் கோவில், Arayaninallur / ArakandaNallur - Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 44^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the north bank of the Thenpennai River and the 12^th Sthalam in Nadu Naadu. This place was called Araiyaninallur during the Thevara times, but has been corrupted to the present name of Arakandanallur. There are different versions of the name of this place as Arayaninallur, and this may be an opt version -Arai+Ani+Nallur = Rock + Decorative, beauty, wear  + Nallur, hence Lord Shiva is also called “Arayani Nathar”.

 

Sekkizhar, in his Periya Puranam, mentions that Thirugnanasambandar from Thirukovilur on the way to Thiruvannamalai had the darshan of Atulyanadheswara of Araiyaninallur/Arakandanallur. Further, Thirugnanasambandar had seen the Thiruvannamalai Temple Gopuras after his disciples pointed them out.

    சீரின் மன்னிய பதிகம்முன் பாடி அத்திரு அறையணி நல்லூர்

    வாரின் மல்கிய கொங்கையாள் பங்கர் தம்மலை மிசை வலம் கொள்வார்

    பாரின் மல்கிய தொண்டர்கள் இமையவர் நாள்தொறும் பணிந்து ஏத்தும்

    காரின் மல்கிய சோலை அண்ணாமலை அன்பர் காட்டிக் கண்டார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, and Vallalar also mentions in his Thiruvaartpa.

    பீடினாற்பெரி யோர்களும் பேதமை கெடத் தீதிலா

    வீடினாலுயர்ந் தார்களும் வீடிலாரிள வெண்மதி

    சூடினார்மறை பாடினார் சுடலை நீறணிந் தாரழல்

    ஆடினாரறை யணிநல்லூர் அங்கையால் தொழுவார்களே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                        “ஆவலர்மா

    தேவா இறைவா சிவனே எனுமுழக்கம்

    ஓவா அறையணிநல்லூர் உயர்வே”

.... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri  Athulya Nadheswarar, Sri Oppilaa                                                 Maneeswarar, Sri Arayani Nathar

Consort    : Sri Soundara Kanagambikai, Sri Arul Nayagi,  

                 Sri Azhakiya Ponnammai.

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

The temple faces west. The total temple complex was built on a rocky mount. The 7-tier Rajagopuram is on the banks of the Then Pennai River. Ulakalantha Perumal Temple and Sri Veerattaneswarar temples can be seen from this temple.  Moolavar is swayambhu. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. There are two Rishabas in front of the sanctum sanctorum, and one is leaning to the right side to facilitate Thirugnanasambandar’s darshan. While one Rishabam faces Lord Shiva, the other faces in the opposite direction. Balipeedam and dwajasthambam are out of the sanctum sanctorum. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is from the south.

In praharam Sthala Vinayagar, Thirugnanasambandar with Thalam, Arumugar with Sri Valli Devasena (A soorasamharam murti), Kasi Viswanatha Lingam with Visalakshi, Shaniswarar keeping a ling on his vahana crow, Navagrahas, Bhairavar without his vahana dog, Narayanar (on a flat stone), Narthana Ganapathy, Maha Vishnu with conch and Chakra, Hanuman, Saptamatrikas, Naalvar, Ramana Maharishi, Jyeshta Devi, Natarajar Sabha, Valampuri Vinayagar.

In the outside praharam, Thirugnanasambandar’s feet (After seeing Tiruvannamalai from here, he circumambulates on the spot and worships Annamalaiyar. The footprints are formed on the spot), Annamalaiyar Sannadhi, Ambal Sannadhi, and a Nadana mandapa (There is an interesting fact behind this mandapa, which is given in the History and inscription part).

Sri Ramana Maharishi, on the way to Thiruvannamalai on 30^th August 1896, boarded the train at Villupuram. He had only money to buy the ticket to Mambalapattu. Walked on the track and found this temple. After the worship of Lord Shiva sat in the prakara, where Thirugnanasambandar’s idol is now installed, and started meditation. During meditation, a young man felt that light emerged from the sanctum sanctorum and enveloped him with its golden warmth. He was in that state till the light disappeared. A Ramana Maharishi's image is installed in front of Nalvar.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple was constructed during the 7th-century Pallava period, before Thirugnanasambandar’s Visit. Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2003.

As per the inscription, this place was under Rajaraja Valanattu Pennai Vadakarai Udaikattu Nattu Thiruaraiyani Nallur, and Lord Shiva was called Opporuvarumilla Nayanar or Oppillamanisvarar.

An inscription records the endowment of worship and offerings, and for the same, the Village Sembiyan Mahadevi was gifted to this temple, Oppillamanisvara Temple. Another Koperunchingan’s 3^rd year reign inscription records the gift of Sembiyan Mahadevi village to this temple, by Chozhathunga Pallavaraiyan Sri Baladevan Marudanthalwar alias Rajaraja Sri Balan. Whether both are the same or not do not know. 

 

The Vikrama Pandyan’s 8th-year reign inscription (AR 380 of 1902) records the endowment of Pooja (Evening) and maintenance of a Shrine constructed in his name, for which 50 % of the nanjai and Punjai tax-free gifts were made as iraiyili.

Kulothunga Chozha’s 32nd-year reign inscription (AR 387 of 1902) records the construction of a stone temple by Pandyamandalathu Vada Vellarukoorrathu Aththampur Aththampoorudaiyan Thirukalathi Udaiyan Aduvan Pattanasamy (the inscription is incomplete).

Kulothunga Chozha’s 31st-year reign inscription (AR 388 of 1902) records the endowment of lighting 3 perpetual lamps for the Aragalur Rarajadevan Ponparappinan Magathai Peruman idol, by Periya Perumal Pandiyarayan.

The Kulothunga Chozha’s 22nd-year reign inscription  (AR 389 of 190) records the endowment of 3 perpetual lamps for which 1500 kuli land was donated by Kiliyur Malayaman Iraiyuran Rajaraja Sethiyaraian’s son Periya Udayan alias Kovalarayan.

Kulothunga Chozha’s 11th-year reign inscription (AR 390 of 1902) records the endowment of 3 perpetual lamps to Lord Shiva and Ambal Temple constructed by him for which a land of 3000 kuli, measured by 14 adi (feet) Vilakkadi Kol by Kiliyur Malayaman Aththimallan alias Ethirili Chozha VanaKularayan.

Vikrama Pandyan’s 8^th year reign Inscription (AR 391 of 1902) records the endowment of pooja, Naivedyam, and Aadi month festival for which lands of Nanjai and Punjai with all trees and Wells, at Pandyanallur, by the king himself (The inscription mentions that the endowment was in his name). 

Sundara Pandya’s 10th-year reign inscription records that during the construction of the nadana mandapa (Dance Hall), it collapsed many times. One of Devaradiyar  Pon Aandai’s sons, Ilamvenmathi Soodinan, prayed that he would give navakandam (offering his head) if the mandapa were constructed without collapse. After the completion of the Mandapa and the gopuram, he took the navakandam by cutting his head. His family was offered 1000 kuli land for the same act. The original inscription is reproduced below.

    

 கல்வெட்டு:

1.கோமாற பன்மர் திரிபுவனச் சக்கரவத்திகள்ஸ்ரீ சுந்தர.

2.பாண்டிய தேவர்க்கு யாண்டு பத்தாவது இந்தத் திருமண்டப

3.ம் தட்டோடு இட்ட இதுக்கு இவ்வாண்டை திருவைகாசித் திருநாளில்

4.இவூர் தேவரடியாரில் பொந்நாண்டைமகன் இளவெண்

5.மதி சூடினான் தலை அரிந்து கொள்ளுகையில் இவனுக்கு உதிரப்பட்

6.டியாக எல்லைக்காலில் தென்னகோன் தரங்குழி குரம்பில்

7.சண்டேசுர நாயனார்(க்)கு கொடு(த்)தருளின குழி ஐநூறும் இப்பற்றில்

8.நாட்டவர் இவூரில் குடிப்பற்றில் குடுத்த குழி ஐநூறும் ஆகக்குழி ஆயிரம்

9.மும் சந்திராதித்தவரை இவன்வழி உள்ளார் அனுபவித்துக்

10.கொள்ளக்கடவார்கள் பன்மா கேசர ரஷை.

11.இதுக்கு இலிங்கணம் சொன்னவன் தாய்க்குத்தானே மணவாளன்.

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1902.

LEGENDS

The sanctum sanctorum door of this temple was made open by Lord Shiva for Thirugnanasambandar's hymns, which were kept blocked with boulders by Samanar Jains.

Mahavishnu, in his Vamana avathar as Thiruvikrama, killed King Mahabali by placing the third step on his head. To get rid of the sin or dosha, pray to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva advised him to go to Bhoolok and worship him in the form of swayambhu. Mahavishnu came to Arayani Nallur and worshiped the swayambhu Shiva Linga on the banks of the Thenpennai River. Lord Shiva blessed Mahavishnu and absolved him of his sins. Maha Vishnu praised Lord Shiva as Athulyanadheswara, or the unique and Superlative Lord.  

There is a rock-cut 5-cell cave near the Rajagopuram (scooped during the Pallava period, and there is nothing inside). It is believed that the Panchapandavas, during their exile, stayed here and  prayed to Lord  Shiva and got back their statue. After they won the war, Pattabhishekam came here and worshiped Lord Shiva. Hence, people pray to Lord Shiva of this temple to get back their lost wealth, property, status, etc.

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Mahashivaratri, the 10-day Vaikasi Brahmotsavam (May – June), and Thirukarthigai.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10 hrs, and 16.00 hrs to 18.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS: 

The mobile numbers +91 9965144849 and +91 93456 60711 may be contacted for further details.   

HOW TO REACH : 

Buses are also available from various places like Panruti, Virudhachalam, and Viluppuram.

The temple is 2 km from Thirukovilur, 39 km from Villupuram, 37 km from Thiruvannamalai, 37 km from Viluppuram, and 200 Km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Junction is Arakandanallur, and Railway Junction is Viluppuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Thirugnanasambandar Pada- PC Web site

Bhairavar without his vahana

Nalvar - PC - website

Pillar reliefs - PC website

Pancha Pandavar Cave - PC website

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---