This is
the 39th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 7th sthalam of Nadu Naadu on the banks of river
Kedilam. This is one of atta veeratta sthalams ( 8 Temples ), where Lord Shiva
Killed the Demons. This is the birth place of Thirunavukkarasu Swamikal, one of
the 63 Nayanmars and who had done
service in this temple. After getting cured from the “soolai” decease ( decease
related to stomach like ulcer ) by the grace of Lord Shiva, he has become an
ardent devotee. 
As per Sekkizhar
after worshiping Lord Shiva of Irumbai Mahalam, Thirugnanasambanadar came to
this place.
ஆதிதேவர் அங்கு அமர்ந்த வீரட்டானம் சென்று அணைபவர் முன்னே பூதம் பாட நின்று ஆடுவார் திருநடம் புலப்படும் படிகாட்ட வேதபாலகர் பணிந்து மெய்உணர்வுடன் உருகிய விருப்போடும் கோதுஇலா இசைகுலவு குண்டைக் குறள்பூதம் என்று எடுத்துஏத்தி
Thirugnanasambandar,
Appar and Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
குண்டைக் குறட்பூதம் குழும அனலேந்திக் கொண்டைப் பிறழ்தெண்ணீர்க் கெடிலவடபக்கம் வண்டு மருள்பாட வளர்பொன் விரிகொன்றை விண்ட தொடையலான் ஆடும்வீரட் டானத்தே... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் போர்த்தாயங்கோ ரானையின் ஈருரிதோல் புறங்கா டரங்காநட மாடவல்லாய் ஆர்த்தான்அரக் கன்றனை மால்வரைக்கீழ் அடர்த்திட்டருள் செய்த அதுகருதாய் வேர்த்தும் புரண்டும் விழுந்தும் எழுந்தால் என்வேதனை யான விகக்கிடாய் ஆர்த்தார்புனல் சூழ் அதிகைக் கெடில வீரட்டா னத்துறை அம்மானே...திருநாவுக்கரசு தேவாரம்Since Thirunavukkarasar had done service in this
temple, Sundarar was afraid of stepping in. So he stayed in a madam near the
temple. In that night Lord Shiva in the form of old Andhanar also slept along
with him keeping his leg on Sundarar’s head. When Sundarar got angry and
enquired, who are you?. Lord Shiva asked Sundarar, do not know me?, then
disappeared. Sundarar was shocked and sung this hymns expressing his ignorance.
தம்மானை அறியாத சாதியார் உளரே சடைமேற்கொள் பிறையானை விடைமேற்கொள் விகிர்தன் கைம்மாவின் உரியானைக்கரிகாட்டில் ஆடல் உடையானை விடையானைக் கறைகொண்ட கண்டத்து தம்மான்தன் அடிகொண்டென் முடிமேல்வைத் திடும் என்னும் ஆசையால் வாழ்கின்ற அறிவிலா நாயேன் எம்மானை எறிகெடில் வடவீரட் டானத்து உறைவானை இறைபோதும் இகழ்வன்போல் யானே.
Vallalar also praised Lord Shiva of this temple in
his Thiruvarutpa. “
வார் கெடிலச் சென்னதிகை யோங்கித் திலகவதியார் பரவு மன்னதிகை வீரட்ட மாதமே”
Moolavar : Sri Veerattaneswarar, Sri Veeratanathar Sri Athigainathar, Sri AndhakaanthakanConsort : Sri Thiripurasundari. Periyanayagi.
Some of
the important features of this temple are....The
temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. The temple tank and a
mandapam is after the Rajagopuram. A 5 tier Rajagopuram is on the second level
to the sanctum sanctorum. Bharatha natya 108 kara reliefs are on the side of
Rajagopuram. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the
second level Rajagopuram. Moolavar is big and made of 16 flat surfaces Dhara
Lingam. Lord Shiva with Parvati is on the back side of the wall. In
Koshtam, Lingothbavar and Durgai. In the inner prakaram Vinayagar, Murugan,
Tripura samharamurthy & Urchavar with bow and Uma.
In
prakaram, Appar, 63 var, Thilagavathiyar, Shaniswarar, Durgai, Siddhi
Vinayagar, Shiva Lingas, Palliyarai, Sri Valli devasena Subramaniyar, Kashi
Viswanathar, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Natarajar, Suryan Chandikeswarar and
Bhairavar.
One of
the special attraction of this sanctum Vimana is there are lot of stucco images
on all the 4 sides, which we cannot find any other temple, looks like thiruteir
(Chariot).
It is
believed that this temple is older than Thanjavur Rajarajecharam and steps on
both sides to the arthamandapam, is the inspiration
to keep similar arrangement in the Rajarajecharam also. Further it is believed that the moolavar
Vimana Thanjavur Rajarajecharam and Kanchepuram Kailasanathar temple are built
after seeing this temple.
The 15th
Century Arunagirinathar also visited this placed and worshiped Lord muruga of
this temple.
அடர வேவரு மசுரர்கள் குருதியை அரசு ராவென அலகைகள் பலியுண அலையும் வேலையும் அலறிட எதிர்பொரு மயில்வீரா அமர ராதிய ரிடர்பட அடர்தரு கொடிய தானவர் திரிபுரமெரிசெய்த அதிகை மாநகர் மருவிய சசிமகள் பெருமாளே
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSThe
Temple was believed to be existed before 7th Century built by the
Pallavas and reconstructed during Chozha period. As per the inscriptions Lord
Shiva was called as Veerattanamudaiyar and the Place also called as
Thiruvathigai, Athiraiya mangalam, Athirajamangalam, Athirajamangaliyapuram
etc,.
This Place Thivathigai was called as Athiraja Mangalyapuram which was in
different Nadu and mandalam during
Rajendra Chozha-I, Kulothunga Chozha-I, Kulothunga Chozha-II, Koperunchingan.
The Pallava period inscription of Nirupathungavarman, Thellerintha nandhi
Potharayan period inscriptions records the endowment of Perpetual Lamps from the interest earned (Palisai)
Rajendra Chozha-I’s 23rd year reign inscription records the
endowment of Uchi kala pooja for which a
land was donated by Vanjiyur Kizhavan Warayanan Rajarajan.
The Kulothunga Chozha Vikrama Chozha period inscription records the
construction of Ambal sannadhi, by a Chieftain Koothar Kalingarayan of Thondai mandalathu Manavir Kottathu
Manavir. The inscription is in the form of Venba.
அருமறை தாவி னறக்காம கோட்டந் திருவதிகைக் கேயமையச் செய்து- பெருவிபவங் கண்டா னெதிர்ந்தா ரவியத்தன் கைவேலைக் கொண்டானந் தொண்டையர் கோ
Another venba records the paving of gold plate for the vimana by the same Kalingarayan.
தென்னதிகை வீரட்டஞ் செம்பொனால் வேய்ந்திமையோ பொன்னுலகை மீளப் புதுக்கினான் – மன்னுணங்கு முற்றத்தான் முற்றுநீர் வையம் பொதுக்கடிந்த கொற்றத்தான் தொண்டையர் கோ
Vikrama
Pandyan's 6th year reign inscription records that the King had issued
a verbal order for staging koothu ( “நாடற்கரியதொர் கூத்தும் நன்குயர் வீரட்டம்”) in 100 pillar mandapa
for which Devaradiyars to dance, screen provision etc.
The
Vinayagar also called as Moothanayinar shrine was renovated in Sakam 1399 (
1477 CE).
A
Temple Chariot was donated by Chalukya lineage Narasinga deva Maharayar’s
captain Aramvartha Nayanar in sakam 1400 ie 1478 CE.
Kulothunga
Chozha's 48th year reign inscription records the endowment of Annadhanam at Thirunavukkarasar thiru madam
by Arumpakkam Village head Madurantaka devan Ponnambala koothan for which 4800
kuzhi punjai land was donated.
Koperunchinga’s
period inscription records the gift of 15 ma land to this temple by
Sendamangalam, Siruvakoor Vallavarayan Thottaman Somanatha Devan.. this
inscription is incomplete....
The
Vijayanagara period Veera Bokkanna Udayar’s son Kampanna Udayar ( II) 1370 CE
inscription ( AR 375 of 1921) records the donation of tax free Village
Sattipattu also called as Nyaya paripala nallur in Kilai Alisukkattupparru for
the expenses of offerings and worship of Mudalisvaram Udaiya Nayanar of
Thiruvathigai. A Kannada version of inscription also there.
The
Vijayanagara period Veera Bokkanna Udayar’s son Kampanna Udayar ( II) 1370 CE (
Saka 1292 ) Inscription ( AR 373 of 1921 ) records the sale of land to this
Village, Thiruvathigai. The land was situated at Sattipattu of siru
Thibhvanamadevi in Kilai Alisukkattupparru a sub division of Vesalipadi by two
individuals Vanthadevan Mazhavatharayan and Villavatharayan of Siru
Thiribhuvanamadevi in Kilai Alisukkattupparru
to Mappudi Senthamaraikannan Kalingarayan mallinathan of Jananathanallur alias
Mamallapuram in Amur Nadu a sub division
of Amur Kottam of Jayankondachozha mandalam,
for the sum of 250 Vira Samban Kuligai ( This coin was issued by Vira
Kamban in Saka 1236.
In
latter stage the temple was used by the French Govt, Arcot
Nawabs, Marathas and Britishers for storing arms and as
fort.
LEGENDSAppar
returned to Hinduism from Jainism after he recovered from soolai
Noi ( decease related to stomach like ulcer ) through his sister Thilagavathiyar
after drinking holy water of this temple well. There is a separate
sannadhi for Appar. Sundarar did not entered the temple and stayed away in a
madam, since Appar was doing seva in this temple.
As per the sthala purana this legend is associated with the Lord
Shiva’s, Thripuranthakeswara story, one of the 64 forms of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva took this form to destroy the Tripuras with three demons Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali. The Demons did a penance on Brahma and got the boon
of Tripuras made of Gold, Silver and Iron ( huge floating cities ), which can
fly /travels to three Lokas, They should meet once in 1000 years and If they
are killed, all the three must be killed at a time, by a single person with a
single arrow. After getting this boon they started torturing the Devas and ruled
three lokas. The Devas sought help of Maha Vishnu. Maha Vishnu told that it may
not be possible to destroy those, who are worshiping Lord Shiva. He mooted the
idea of sending Narathar to all the three puras and make all the ladies to loose their female virtue. Then Maha Vishnu took the form of Buddha, Jinas and
preached them. This made them to forget the worshiping of lord Shiva. Then
Mahavishnu, Brahma and all the Devas went to Mount kailash and requested Lord
Shiva to destroy Tripura.
Lord Shiva started for the Tripura samhara in a
chariot created by Deva carpenter Mayan with earth as Chariot, Chandra and
Surya as wheels, Brahma as a Charioteer, Vedas as Horses, Meru Hill as Bow,
Adhiseshan as the rope and Agni & Mahavishnu as arrow. Vinayagar broke the
axle of Shiva’s Chariot, since he was not respected before starting. While the Chariot started falling down, Maha
Vishnu holds the chariot on his back. The Devas were much worried. Arumagar came and told them that this was the
act of Vinayaga, since Lord Shiva forgot to worship him before starting this
venture.
Lord Shiva asked the Three puras to appeared before
him. Till this, the Devas thought, Lord Shiva cannot destroy with out their
help. Instead Lord Shiva laughed at the Tripura. The Tripuras got burned, but
the three demons escaped. Lord Shiva shoots the arrow and killed all the three demons at a time.
Mahavishnu,
Brahma, Indra, Pandavas, Sapta rishis, Vayu, Varunan, Yama worshiped Lord shiva
of this temple. Devotees pray Lord Shiva for stomach related deceases, Child
boon, family prosperity, etc.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Pradosham, 10days Vasantha utsavam in Panguni- Chithirai,
Chithirai Sadayam Appar’s salvation day, 10 days Vaikasi Brahmotsavam with
Pancha murthy procession which includes car procession, 10 days Aadi pooram, 10
days manickavasagar Utsavam in Markazhi and Markazhi Thiruvathirai Theerthavari
utsavam.
TEMPLE
TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS :The
Mobile number, + 91 98419 62089, +91
9443988779, and +91 9442780111 may be contacted for further details.
Alternatively these numbers also contacted.
HOW TO
REACH:The
temple is 2 Km from Panruti bus stand on
Panruti to Cuddalore Bus Route. May be reached through Town buses, Private and
Govt buses, Auto and Share autos.The
temple is 2 KM from Panruti Town, 24 KM from Cuddalore, 30 KM from Villupuram
and 185 KM from Chennai.Nearest
Railway station is Panruti.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
“
வார் கெடிலச்
Consort : Sri Thiripurasundari. Periyanayagi.
A
Temple Chariot was donated by Chalukya lineage Narasinga deva Maharayar’s
captain Aramvartha Nayanar in sakam 1400 ie 1478 CE.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
From Panruti bus stand share autos are available to reach here
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