Mangalapureeswarar Temple / Chopuranathar Temple, திருசோபுரநாதர் திருக்கோயில் / Thiruchopuram / திருசோபுரம் ( தியாகவல்லி ), Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 38^th  Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 6^th Sthalam of Nadu Naadu. This place is being called in the name of Ambal of this Temple as Thiyagavalli, on the seashore of the Bay of Bengal. 

Sekkizhar mentions in his Periya Puranam that Thirugnanasambandar, after worshipping Lord Shiva of Thiruthinai Nagar, went to Thirumanikuzhi and Thirupathiripuliyur, a part of Cuddalore. The place Thiruchopuram is on the way and has sung hymns to Lord Shiva. Why Sekkizhar has not mentioned Thiruchopuram is not known.  Some of the experts are of the opinion that Thirugnanasambandar might not have 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

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 

Sundarar has mentioned this temple in his Thiruvidaiyaru temple hymns. And Vallalar also mentions in Thiruvarutpa.

 

சுற்றுமூர் சுழியல் திருச்சோபுரம் தொண்டர்

ஒற்றுமூர் ஒற்றியூர் திருவூறல் ஒழியாப்

பெற்றமேறி பெண்பாதியிடம் பெண்ணைத் தெண்ணீர்

எற்றுமூர் எய்த மானிடையாறினிடை மருதே

...சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

                                                                   தீங்குறுமொன்

னார்புரத்தை வெண்ணகைத்தீ யாலழித்தா யென்றுதொழ

சோபுரத்தின் 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 faces 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 a little elliptical in 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 praharam Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Veerateswara Lingam, Kannappar, Shiva Lingas worshipped 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 has the darshan of Ambal and moolavar. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and nasi kudus. An eka tala vesara vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahm a are in the greeva koshtams. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Some of the experts are of the opinion that this was earlier called Chozhapuram and got corrupted to the present name of Chopuram. Also, Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy’s (Believed to be Kulothunga Chozha-III) first wife was called Thiyagavalli, hence the place is also called Thiyagavalli.

Once, the temple was completely covered with sand dunes, and later it was renovated by Madurai Ramalinga Yogi.  From a book released 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” belongs to this temple and was taken over by the Government and Rs 600 was given per year.   

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Thiyagavalli. This place was under Rajathiraja valanattu Merka Nattu Kizhavazhi Thiyagavalli, and Lord Shiva was called Thiruchopuramudaya Nayanar.  A total of 5 inscriptions are recorded, and they belong to Rajaraja-I, Saribuddha Pandithar, Maravarman Sundara Pandyan-I and Pandya Devar. 

Konerimai Kondan Sundara Pandya’s 14^th year reign inscription (AR 114 of 1904) records the endowment of Naivedyam and maintenance for which 16 veli Nanjai land was gifted to this temple after exempting all the taxes. The order was issued in the form of a palm leaf and gave permission to inscribe on metal and stone.

One of the inscriptions mentions that a Narthana Ganapathy Temple existed 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 Later period inscription records that M Duraisamy of Thondaimanatham gifted his houses to this temple, and the income from the houses was to be used for worship. This was written in a will, and the same was registered on 26-08-1912, in the Registration Department.

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume No 17 (XVII)

LEGENDS

As per the local legend, the temple was completely covered with sand dunes. When “Madurai Ramalinga Sivayogi”, visited this place, he 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 the temple was reconstructed.  Hence, this temple is also called “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 the nearby place Alapakkam worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.

As per the legend, Lord Shiva is called Mangalapureeswarar since Ma Parvati has become one with lord Shiva, when Agasthiyar installed the Shiva Linga here. Hence, apart from regular offerings, Turmeric and Kumkum are offered at Shiva’s shrine.   

TEMPLE POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart 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 TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.30 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +91 94425 85845 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

The town bus from Cuddalore to Parangipettai passes through this place, Thiruchopuram.

On the Cuddalore to Chidambaram road, get down at Alapakkam, 2 km from the 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.

The nearest railway station is Cuddalore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---