Shivaloka Thyagar Temple / Achalpuram Shivalokathyagar Temple / அருள்மிகு சிவலோக தியாகராஜ சுவாமி திருக்கோயில், ஆச்சாள்புரம் , Achalpuram, Thiru Nallurpperumanam, Mayiladuthurai District ( Nagapattinam District ), Tamil Nadu.

This is the 59^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 5^{th Sthalam} on the northern side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place, Achalpuram, was called Thirunallur Perumanam (the place was called Nallur and the temple was called Perumanam) during the 6^th to 7^th century, and Purana as Shivalokapuram, Mukthipuram, Thirumanavai, etc.

In PeriyaPuranam, Sekkizhar mentions that this was the last temple that Thirugnanasambandar visited after the marriage and sang hymns on Lord Shiva.

காதல் மெய்ப்பதிகம் கல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் எடுத்துக் கண்டோர்

தீதுறு பிறவிப் பாசம் தீர்த்தல் செம்பொருளாக் கொண்டு

நாதனே நல்லூர் மேவும் பெருமான் நம்பனே உன்

பாதமெய்ந் நீழல் சேரும் பருவம்ஈது என்று பாட

கோயில் உள்படமேல் ஓங்கும் கொள்கையால் பெருகும் சோதி

வாயிலை வகுத்துக்காட்ட மன்னுசீர்ப் புகலி மன்னர்

பாயின ஒளியால் நீடு பரஞ்சுடர் தொழுது போற்றி

மாஇருள் ஞானம் உய்ய வழியினை அருளிச் செய்வார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In the first hymn, Sambandar mentions that he doesn’t want the marriage. (As per Sthala Purana, his wife's name was Sthothira Poornaambiga, but the inscriptions mention “Chokkiyar”)  He asks Lord Shiva whether he asked in any of the temples for a marriage....?. This is the Last temple where he has sung hymns to Lord Shiva. After the marriage, Sambandar, along with his wife and relatives, merged with the Shiva Jyothi.

கல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் வேண்டா கழுமலம்

    பல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் பாட்டுமெய் யாய்த்தில

சொல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் சூடல ரேதொண்டர்

    நல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் மேயநம் பானே

காத லாகிக் கசிந்துகண் ணீர்மல்கி

    ஓது வார்தமை நன்னெறிக்கு உய்ப்பது

வேத நான்கினும் மெய்ப்பொரு ளாவது

    நாதன் நாமம் நமச்சி வாயவே

..........திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                -“ விழிப்பாலன்

கல்லூர் பெருமணத்தைக் கட்டுரைக் கச்சோதிதரு

நல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் வாழ் நன்னிலையே

........ திரு அருட்பா

ஆரணியைப் பெருங்கருணை வடிவாளை, உலகங்கள் அனைத்தும் ஈன்ற

காரணியை சிற்பரையை வெற்பறையன் புதல்விதனைக் கடுக்கையென்னும்

தாரணியை யானனத்தர் சிவலோகத்தியாகர் இடந்தன்னில் வாழும்

பூரணியை எழில்தரு வெண்ணீற்றுமையை எப்போதும் போற்றி வாழ்வாம்

....... தலபுராணம் – கொட்டையூர் சிவக்கொழுந்து தேசிகர்

Moolavar   : Sri Shivalokathyagar, Sri Perumanamudaya Mahadevar.
Consort    : Sri Vennertru Umai Ammai or Nayagi,  

                 Sri Swetha Vibhuti Nayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are......
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are in front of the Mukha mandapa. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.  Moolavar is swayambhu, looks cute. In koshtam, Sri Vinayagar, Sri Dakshinamurthy (to see the beauty), Sri Lingothbavar, Sri Brahma, and Sri Durgai. The stucco image of Thirugnanasambandar with his wife merged with Shiva Jyoti is above the entrance of Moolavar Sannadhi.

In the praharam Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Rina Vimosanar, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar, Sattainathar, Suryan, and Chandran, and 63 var. Also procession deities of Tripura Samharar, Chandrasekar, Sekkizhar, Pichadanar, Thiruneelakanda Yazhapanar, Madhanga Soolamani, Neela Nakkar, and Muruga Nayanar.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing east with stucco dwarapalakis at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Vibhuti is given in this shrine instead of Kungumam. The temple has with sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam, and maha mandapam.

Thirugnanasambandar Kalyana mandapam (100-pillar mandapa), where the Thirugnanasambandar marriage festival will be conducted every year, with the rituals of Upanayana, Marriage, and procession after this in the night, in the “Shivajyoti Aikiya darshan” are conducted. There is a separate temple for Sri Thirugnanasambandar and his wife, Sri Sthothra Poornambigai, in Kalyana Kolam in front of Dwajasthambam.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. In addition to this, there is a Nadana mandapa.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple might have existed before the 8^th century. Later, the temple was reconstructed and extended by Chozhas, Pandyas, and Maratha Kings.  

The inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga-III, Rajathirajan-II, Rajarajan-III, and Pandya kings Maravarman Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Parakrama Pandyan.   As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called Sri Kailasamudayar, “Thirupperumanamudaya Mahadevar”. Thiruperumanamudaya Nayanar and Kailasamudayar. Ambal was called Thirukamakottamudaya Nachiyar. Natarajar was called “Panpathaikka Aadu Nayanar”. This place was under Vadakarai Rajathiraja Valanattu Vennai Oornattu Panchavan Mahadevi Kulothunga Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam. The inscriptions also mention the places Manickavasaganallur, Aalalasundaranallur, and Sivasaravana nallur, which are close to this place.

Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 32^nd year and 327 days' reign inscription records the construction of Thirukamakottamudaya Nachiyar and donation of 5 veli Land at Virutharaja Bayangara Valanattu Vilathur Nattu Chembian Nerkundram (May be near Virudhachalam), by Jayankonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Kottam Kulothunga Chozhavala Nattu Nerkundram (This place is a part of Chennai). Since this land had some problems, in place of two lands were donated at Rajathiraja Valanattu Thiruvinthalur Nattu Chembangudi and Chembangudi Chetrur.

An inscription records that land measuring “moonrumaakkani araikkani” at Saththamangala alias Sivasaranasekara Nallur, was donated for nandhavanam by Thiruvathavur Pillai, after buying.

The Rajaraja-III’s 2^nd year and 45th-day reign inscription records the details of a Pooja/sandhi called Aayirathu Ennutruvar Santhi. The idols of Thirugnanasambandar ( Aludai Pillayar) and his wife Chokkiyar were installed at Thiruvenkadu, Thirunanipalli, ThiruAkkur (Akkur), and Perum PaRRapuliyur (Chidambaram). Before installation, the idols were taken in procession through the Kailasamudayar Temple, and Pooja will be done with Naivedyam. This pooja/sandhi was called Ayiraththu Ennootruvar sandhi (1800 var – may be a merchant group). For this endowment, donations were made to this temple in their name.

Vikrama Chozha’s 3^rd year reign inscription records that Thirugnanasambandar was also called ParasamayaKolariyar. There was a madam who existed in that name. The inscription mentions the marriage of Sambandar and reads as... 

இக்கோயில் உடைய பிள்ளையார் திருக்கல்யாணம் பண்ணிய திருமாளிகையும், திருவீதியும், திருநந்தவனமும், திருமடைவிளாகமும் நிலம் ஆறு மாவும்”..

This land was donated for annadhanam to the devotees, who come for the Darshan of Perumanamudayar Temple Maheswarar.

This is one of the 27 temples, administered by the Dharmapura Adheenam. During the temple’s permanent trustee and 25^th Guru Maha Sannidhanam Sri-la-Sri Kayilai Subramaniya Desika Gnanasambanda Paramacharya Swamigal period,  Rajagopuram was renovated, stucco images of Dwarapalakas, Dwara Sakthi, and Sthala Purana were added in the Rajagopuram, inner & outer compound wall plastered Maha mandapam granite flooring, and construction of Sthothira Poornambigai sannadhi was done in the Kurothi year Chithirai month, ie, 1964CE. Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted.

Dharmapura Adheenams

In 2010, during the 26^th Guru Maha Sannidhanam period, Dwajasthambam mandapam, prahara mandapam, Thirugnanasambandar Kalyana mandapam, Chokkanathar Pooja madam, Commercial complex, and servants quarters were constructed, and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted for 1.22 crores.

LEGENDS
Brahma, Murugan, Bhrighu, Vaister, Athri, Vyasar, Mirugandu, Agasthiyar, and Jamathkini, Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar / Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar,  Muruga Nayanar, and Thiruneelakanda Nayanar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Kakabhujanda Maharishi attained Mukti in this temple.

After the marriage of Thirugnanasambandar with Sthothra Poornambigai merged with Shivajyoti along with his relatives at this temple. Achal means - Mother, Ma Parvati attended the wedding and distributed the Vibhuti Prasad, hence called “Sri Venneertru Umai Ammai”. Brahma, as Creation, and Mahavishnu were granted the power of destroying the wicked and demons by Lord Shiva from this temple. Chandran worshiped Lord Shiva and was relieved from the curse.

Stucco  image of Thirugnanasambandar & His wife

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, and the annual festival of Thirugnanasambandar’s wedding ceremony on Moolam Star Day in Vaikasi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The landline numbers of Gurukkal Balaji, +91 4364 278272 and 277 800, may be contacted for further details. 

HOW TO REACH :
Town buses from Chidambaram & Sirkazhi to Mahendrapalli pass through this Village and 8 km from Kollidam on the left side.
The temple is 5 km from Kollidam, 13 km from Chidambaram, 16 km from Sirkazhi, 36 km from Mayiladuthurai, and 232 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway station is Kollidam (Chidambaram).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Ambal Sannadhi entrance dwarapalakis

 

---- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---