Shista Gurunathar Temple / Sishta Guru Natheswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு சிவலோகநாயகி சமேத சிஷ்டகுருநாதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருத்துறையூர்., Thiruthuraiyur, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 47^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 15^th  Shiva Sthalam of Nadu Naadu. The place was called during the 7^th Century as Thiruthuraiyur and is now called Tiruthalur by the local people.

Sekkizhar mentions in his Periya Puranam that after Thiruvennainallur Lord Shiva’s darshan returned back to his native place Thirunavalur. He started his pilgrimage from Navalur and the first Temple was to Thiruthuraiyur. At Thiruthuraiyur Sundarar requests Lord Shiva to give him the way to lead the spiritual life/principles of Penance (Thava Neri).

   புலன் ஒன்றும்படி தவத்தில் புரிந்தநெறி கொடுத்தருள

   அலர் கொண்ட நறுஞ்சோலைத் திருத்துறையூர் அமர்ந்து அருளும்

    நிலவும் தண்புனலும் ஒளிர் நீள்சடையோன் திருப்பாதம்

    மலர் கொண்டு போற்றி சைத்து வந்தித்தார் வன்தொண்டர்

    திருத்துறையூர் தனைப் பணிந்து சிவபெருமான் அமர்ந்தருளும்

    பொருத்தமாம் இடம் பலவும்புக்கு இறைஞ்சிப் பொன்புலியூர்

    நிருத்தனார் திருக்கூத்துத் தொழுவதற்கு நினைவு உற்று

    வருத்தம்மிக காதலினால் வழிக்கொள்வான் மனம் கொண்டார்

Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. From Sundarar’s hymns, this place was on the north side of The Pennai River. (But now the place Thiruthuraiyur is on the south side of the Then Pennai River. The river might have changed its course due to flood. Now the old Pennai River flows like a channel called the Malabar River).

   மலையார் அருவித் திரள்மா மணிஉந்திக்

   குலையாரக் கொணர்ந்தெற்றி யோர்பெண்ணை வடபால்

    கலையார் அல்குற்கன் னியராடும் துறையூர்த்

    தலைவா உனைவேண்டிக் கொள்வேன்தவ நெறியே

...... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

                                                                    “மல்லார்ந்து

    மாசுந்துறையூர் மகிபன் முதல் மூவருஞ்சீர்

    பேசுந் துறையூர்ப் பிறை சூடீ

..... திரு அருட்பா

    கவை கொள்வான் காற்பன்றி மின்னோர் கரிய வேடன் உருவமெய்தி

    அவை புரிந்தாய் தமியனேனுக்கு அருள்செயாமை அறமதாமோ

    குவைய பொன்னும் நெல்லும் நல்கிக் கோடி பாடல் கொண்ட நம்பா

    இவையமர்ந்த பங்குளானே திருத்துறையூர்ச் சிவபிரானே

.... வண்ணச் சரபம் தண்டபாணிசுவாமிகள்

Moolavar  : Sri Shista Gurunathar, Sri Pasupatheeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Shivaloga Nayagi, Sri Poongothai Nayagi.

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

The temple faces east with a Raja Gopuram base / Mottai Gopuram at the Main entrance. A Two-tier Vesara Vimana is above the sanctum. At the entrance of the main shrine, on the top stucco image of  Lord Shiva and Parvati with Sundarar as Shishta-Gurunathar keeping in the center, on both sides are Vinayagar with his consorts Siddhi & Bhuddhi and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar. Lord Shiva is in the form of Shiva Linga  in the sanctum with silver kavasam. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Near to Dakshinamurthy bas-relief of Lord Shiva with Parvati & Vinayagar and Sundarar

Kuthirai Chokkar (Horse Chokkar – Lord Shiva with chattai ), is in the form of procession deity. Natarajar Sabha and Naalvar are in the mandapa one shifted a separate sannadhi in the outer prakara. A bas-relief of Sundarar crossing the Pennai River is on one of the pillars of the mandapa.

In outer prahara Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Ramar, and Bheema worshiped Shiva Lingas and Maha Vishnu.     

Ambal is in a separate temple like sannathi facing North in a standing posture. Rishabam, balipedam, and Dwajasthambam are in front of the sannadhi. Bhatrakali temple outside is famous here.

There is a temple at “Kizhapakkam”, which is near Thiruthuraiyur from where Lord Shiva came as an old man – Thaduthu atkonda Nathar -to stop the marriage of Sundarar. Lord Shiva is called Pasupatheeswarar and Ambal as Poongothai Nayaki.  

The 15^th Century Arunagirinathar has also sung hymns of Murugan of this temple.

    

    ஆரத்தன பாரத்துகில் மூடிப்பலர் காணக்கையில்

            யாழ்வைத்திசை கூரக்குழ                                              லுடைசோர

        ஆகப்பனி நீரப்புழு கோடக்குழை யாடப்பிரை

            யாசப்படு வார் பொட்டணி                                            சசிநேர்வாள்

    கூரக்கணை வேல்கட்கயல் போலச்சுழல் வார்சர்க்கரை

            கோவைக்கனி வாய்பற்கதி                                             ரொளிசேருங்

        கோலக்குயி லார்பட்டுடை நூலொத்திடை யார்சித்திர

            கோபச்செய லார்பித்தர்க்                                                ளுறவாமோ

    பூரித்தன பாரச்சடை வேதக்குழ லாள்பத்தர்கள்

            பூசைக்கியல் வாள்பத்தினி                                               சிவகாமி

        பூமிக்கடல் மூவர்க்குமு நாள்பத்திர காளிப்புணர்

            போகர்க்குப தேசித்தருள்                                                  குருநாதா

    சூரக்குவ டாழித்தவி டாய்முட்டசுராருக்கிட

            சோர்விற்கதிர் வேல்விட்டருள்                                           விறல்வீரா

        தோகைச் செயலாள் பொற்பிர காசக்குற மான்முத்தொடு

            சோதிதுறை யூர்நத்திய                                                     பெருமாளே

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

During Sundarar’s visit, the Then Pennai River was flowing on the South side of the temple. The original temple existed from the 6^th to 7^th Century and may have been constructed during the Pallava Period. Later reconstructed during the Chozha Period and maintained by Pandayas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions, this place was in Rajaraja Valanattu Thirumunaipadi Thiruthuraiyur, Kayapakkai Nattu Thiruthuraiyur, and Vijayanagara period as Rajathirajavala nattu Thirumunaipadi Kayappakka Nattu Thiruvathiseemai Thiruthuraiyur. Lord Shiva was called as “Thavanery Aludayar – தேவநெறி ஆளுடையார்”.

The  recorded inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Kulothunga Chozha, Parakesarivarman, Rajaraja, Vijayanagara Kings Achutha Devaraya, Mallikarjuna Devar, Krishnadeva Maharayar, Veera Narasingadeva Maharayar, Sambuvarayars Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya.

During the Achuthadeva Maharayar period on behalf of King Rama Bhattar Ayyan gifted the Village Kurathi to this temple for worship and maintenance.

Dwarapalakas are installed by Gangaiya Manickam and for the worship, 500 kuzhi of land was gifted to this temple.

During the Narasingadeva Rayar 1471  ( AR 26 of 1925) period through Annamarasar, arranged for special pooja on monthly Maha Nakshatra day and renovation of dilapidated portions of the temples Thiruthuraiyur Thava Neri Aludaya Nayanar, Veemecharam Udayar, Raachur Udayar and some of the connected temples.

Another inscription records the endowment of Sandhi Lamp by a Siva Brahmanan from Venkotra Kottathu Thellatru Nattu Thellaru Village.

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Inscriptions Year 1925.

LEGEND :

As per Sthalapurana, during the Visit to this temple, Sundarar couldn’t cross the river due to flood. Sundarar prayed to Lord Shiva to help him. Lord Shiva and Parvati came in the form of old boatmen and women and helped to cross the river. The bas-relief can be seen in the mandapa pillar. After crossing the river the old couple disappeared and heard the divine voice from the temple vimana. Hence this place was called “Kilapakkam”.

In this temple Sundarar obtained the spiritual power or the Principles of Penance from Lord Shiva along with Ambal as Rishabanthikar, witnessed by Sri Vinayagar. Lord Shiva taught the way to lead the spiritual life/principles of Penance to Sundarar as a Guru, hence Sundarar and Lord Shiva are called Shisya-Gurunathar.

Naradhar, Vashister, Agasthiyar, Veeman, and Suryan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In this temple Lord Shiva is facing west, Ambal is facing North, Vinayagar is facing east and Murugan is facing South. Since all four are facing four directions, it is considered unique and auspicious. Since Guru is occupying an important position special poojas are conducted on Thursdays. Devotees believe that worshiping him will excel in education. Devotees also throng this temple for Child boon.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from daily poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Thursdays, Gurupeyarchi day, Maha Shivaratri, 10 days Brahmotsavam on Vaikasi Visakam, Kandar Sashti and Annabhishekam in Masi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS 

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to  12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The landline and mobile numbers are +91 4142 - 248 498 and Murali Gurukkal on mobile +91 94448 07393, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH: 

The temple is 4.5 KM from Kandarakottai near Panruti on the Villupuram to Panruti route, 8 KM from Panruti, 21 KM from Villupuram, 35 KM from Cuddalore and 179 KM from Chennai.

Town bus route No 19,  from Panruti Akkadavalli through this Village Thiruthuraiyur.

Town bus route No 25  is plying to Korathi from Panruti through Thiruthuraiyur.

The nearest Railway station is Thiruthuraiyur and Junction is Villupuram

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

“Sivagnanasiddhiyar”, a sastra book composed by Arunandhi Sivachariyar (Sakalaakama Pandithar) was born and lived here. His Jeeva Samadhi is about 300 meters from the Temple. This temple is under the control of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. Guru pooja is celebrated on Puratasi Pooram day every year and regular poojas are conducted by his descendants.

As per the Legend Lord Shiva blessed Sundarar in the form of Rishabaroodar from the temple Vimana.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---