This is
the 38th Thevaram Paadal
Petra Shiva Sthalam and 6th Sthalam of Nadu Naadu. This place is being called in the name
of Ambal of this Temple as Thiyagavalli on the sea shore of
bay of Bengal. Sekkizhar mentions in his Periya Puranam, that
Thirugnanasambandar, after worshiped
Lord Shiva of Thiruthinai Nagar, went Thirumanikuzhi and
Thirupathiripuliyur, a part of Cuddalore. The place Thiruchopuram is on the way
and has sung hymns on Thiruchopuram Lord
Shiva. Why Sekkizhar has not mentioned Thiruchopuram is not known. Some of the experts of the opinion that
Thirugnanasambandar might have not visited the temple, but has sung hymns from
Thiruthinai Nagar on Lord Shiva of this temple.
செல்வம் மலிகிய தில்லைமூ திரினில் திருநடம் பணிந்து ஏத்திப்
பல் பெருந் தொண்டர் எதிர்கொளப் பரமர் தம் திருத்தினை நகர்பாடி
அல்கு தொண்டர்கள் தம்முடன் திருமாணி குழியினை அணைந்து ஏத்தி
மல்குவார் சடையார் திருப் பாதிரிப் புலியூரை வந்துற்றார்
பல் பெருந் தொண்டர் எதிர்கொளப் பரமர் தம் திருத்தினை நகர்பாடி
அல்கு தொண்டர்கள் தம்முடன் திருமாணி குழியினை அணைந்து ஏத்தி
மல்குவார் சடையார் திருப் பாதிரிப் புலியூரை வந்துற்றார்
Thirugnanasambandar
has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
வெங்கண் ஆனை ஈர்உரிவை போர்த்து விளங் குமொழி
மங்கை பாகம் வைத்துகந்த மாண்பது என் னைகொலாம்
கங்கையோடு திங்கள் சூடிக்கடி கமழும் கொன்றைத்
தொங்கலேனே தூய நீற்றாய் சோபுர மேயவனே
மங்கை பாகம் வைத்துகந்த மாண்பது என் னைகொலாம்
கங்கையோடு திங்கள் சூடிக்கடி கமழும் கொன்றைத்
தொங்கலேனே தூய நீற்றாய் சோபுர மேயவனே
Sundarar
has mentioned this temple in his Thiruvidaiyaru temples hymns. And Vallalar
also mentions in Thiruvarutpa. சுற்றுமூர் சுழியல் திருச்சோபுரம் தொண்டர்ஒற்றுமூர் ஒற்றியூர் திருவூறல் ஒழியாப்பெற்றமேறி பெண்பாதியிடம் பெண்ணைத் தெண்ணீர்எற்றுமூர் எய்த மானிடையாறினிடை மருதே...சுந்தரர் தேவாரம் தீங்குறுமொன்னார்புரத்தை வெண்ணகைத்தீ யாலழித்தா யென்றுதொழசோபுரத்தின் வாழ் ஞானதீவகமே” ... வள்ளலார் திருஅருட்பா
Moolavar : Sri Mangalapureeswarar, Sri
Thiruchopuranathar. Consort : Sri Thyagavalli, Sri
Velnedinganni, Sri Sathyakshi.
Some of
the important features of this temple are...The
temple is facing west with an entrance arch. Balipedam, Rishabam and
Dwajasthambam are in front of the entrance arch ie out side the temple. It is believed that Moolavar was installed by
Agasthiyar on a square base/ avudayar. Shiva Linga is little in elliptical
shape. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam
Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( it is believed that 7 musical notes will be
observed when tapped on different parts of Dakshinamurthy ), Lingothbavar (
Brahma and Mahavishnu are on both sides ), Brahma and Durgai.
In
prakaram Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Veerateswara Lingam,
Kannappar, Shiva Lingas worshiped by Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy and his wife
Thiyagavalli, Bhairavar, Suryan, Navagrahas, Vinayagar, 63 var and SomasKandar. A separate shrine for
Natarajar.
Ambal
sannadhi is on the left facing south. Standing on a single can have the darshan
of Ambal and moolavar.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSome of
the experts are of the opinion that, this was earlier called as Chozhapuram and
got corrupted to the present name of Chopuram. Also Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy’s
( Believed to be Kulothunga Chozha-III ) first wife was called as Thiyagavalli,
hence the place is also called as Thiyagavalli.
Once the
temple was completely covered with sand dunes and latter the same was renovated
by Madurai Ramalinga Yogi. From a book a release through Kanchi mutt it
is mentioned that, “ The Land on the west side of the sea, east side of
Thondama natham, South side of Pennai River and North of Vellaru River” was
belongs to this temple was taken over by the Government and Rs 600 was given
per year.
One of
the inscription mentions that a Narthana ganapathy Temple was existing in this
place for which Sundara Pandian, gave nivantham to that temple ( The Narthana
Ganapathy may be The Koshta Ganapathy—not sure – or it may be the above
inscription. )
A Latter
period inscription records that M Duraisamy of Thondaimanatham, gifted his
houses to this temple and the income from the houses to be used for worship.
This was written in a will and the same was registered on 26-08-1912, in Registration department.
LEGENDSAs per the
local legend the temple was completely covered with sand dunes. When “Madurai
Ramalinga Sivayogi”, visited this place, had found the Kalasa was visible
outside from the sand dunes. With the help of Seshachla Naidu, Ramanujulu Naidu,
Aayirangatha Mudaliyar and Nanjalinga Mudaliyar, sand dunes were removed and
reconstructed this temple. Hence this temple is also called as “Thambiran
Kanda Koil.” After removing the sand it
was observed that the lamp near the Shiva deity was burning. This shows that
regular pooja was conducted by Devas/ Munivars even though the temple with moolavar
was completely covered with sand dunes.
It is
believed that Kakabhujanda maharishi from near by place Alapakkam worshipped
Lord Shiva of this temple.
As per
the legend, Lord Shiva is being called as Mangalapureeswarar since, ma Parvati has become one with lord Shiva,
when Agasthiyar Installed Shiva Linga here. Hence apart from regular offerings,
Turmeric and Kumkum are offered at
Shiva’s shrine.
TEMPLE POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart
from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham, 10 days Panguni
Uthira peru Vizha ( March – April ), Mahashivaratri in Masi ( Feb – March ),
Annabhishekam in Aipasi ( October – November ), TEMPLE TIMINGSThe
temple will be kept opened between 08.30 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to
20.00 hrs
CONTACT DETAILSThe mobile number +91 94425 85845, may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO REACH : Town bus
from Cuddalore to to Parangipettai, passes through this place Thiruchopuram.On Cuddalore
to Chidambaram road, get down at Alapakkam and 2 KM from main Road.Very
near to Nagarjuna Oil refinery, which is under Construction.The
temple is 20 KM from Cuddalore, 28 KM from Chidambaram, 30 KM from Neyveli, 41
KM from Puducherry and 192 KM from Chennai.Nearest
Railway station is Cuddalore.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Moolavar : Sri Mangalapureeswarar, Sri
Thiruchopuranathar.
Sir kindly post new phone number
ReplyDeleteI am trying to get and will post on receipt..
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