Sri Swatharanyeswarar Temple / Arulmigu Swetharanyeswarar Temple / Budhan Sthalam / திருவெண்காடு சுவேதாரண்யேசுவரர் கோயில்/ Thiruvenkadu, Mayiladuthurai District ( Nagapattinam District ), Tamil Nadu.

This is the 65^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 11^th Sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This is one of the Navagraha – Budhan – Sthalam in and around Kumbakonam. It is believed that this is one of the Pancha Vana (Forest) temples, and others are Chidambaram, Chayavanam, Pallavanecharam, and Thirumullaivasal.

As per Sekkizhar’s Periya Puranam. Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruchaikadu. 

மெய்பொருள் ஆயினாரை வெண்காடு மேவினாரை
செப்புஅரும் பதிகமாலை கண்காட்டு நுதல் முன்சேர்த்தி
முப்புரம் செற்றார் பாதம் சேரும் முக்குளமும் பாடி
ஒப்பாரும் ஞானம் உண்டார் உளம் மகிழ்ந்து ஏத்தி வாழ்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

கண்காட்டு நுதலானும் கனல்காட்டும் கையானும்
பெண்காட்டும் உருவானும் பிறைகாட்டும் சடையானும்
பண்காட்டும் இசையானும் பயிர்காட்டும் புயலானும்
வெண்காட்டில் உறைவானும் விடைகாட்டும் கொடியானே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

தூண்டு சுடர்மேனித் தூநீ றாடிச்  சூலங்கை யேந்தியோர் கழல்வாய் நாகம்
பூண்டு பொறியரவாங் காதிற் பெய்து பொற்சடைக ளவைதாழப் புரிவெண் ணூலர்
நீண்டு கிடந்திலங்கு திங்கள் சூடி நெடுந்தெருவே வந்தெனது நெஞ்சங் கொண்டார்
வேண்டு நடைநடக்கும் வெள்ளே றேறி வெண்காடு மேவிய விகிர்தனாரே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

படங்கொள் நாகம் சென்னி சேர்த்திப் பாய்பு லித்தோல் அரையில் வீக்கி
அடங்க லார்ஊர் எரியச் சீறி அன்று மூவர்க்(கு) அருள்பு ரிந்தீர்
மடங்க லானைச் செற்று கந்தீர் மனைகள் தோறும் தலைகை யேந்தி
விடங்க ராகித் திரிவ தென்னே வேலை சூழ்வெண் காட னீரே

..... சுந்தரர்

 “நல்லவர்கள்
கண்காட்டு நெற்றிக் கடவுளே யென்றுதொழ
வெண்காட்டின் மேவுகின்ற மெய்ப்பொருளே

...... திரு அருட்பா

அகோரமூர்த்தி துதி

கருநிறமும் மணிமாலை புணையழகும்

வளையெயிறும் கவினைச் செய்ய

எரிசிகையும் நுதல்விழியும் நடைகோல

இணையடியும் இலகஎட்டுக்

கரநிலவ மணிபலகை வெண்டலை வாள்

கடிதுடியேர் சூலம் ஏற்று

வெருவ மருத்துவனையடர் அகோரசிவன்

துணைப்பதச்சீர் விளம்புவோமே

...... சைவ எல்லப்ப நாவலர்... தலபுராணம்

Moolavar  : Sri Swetharanyeswarar, Sri Venkattunathar
Consort    : Sri Brahmavidhyanayagi

Some of the features of this temple are as follows.
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are after the Rajagopuram.

Meikandar pada sala (School) is near the Rajagopuram. The Agni Theertham is on the left side after the Rajagopuram. Vinayagar and Meikandar are on the banks of the theertham.  Surya Theertham is in the prakaram, and Surya Theertha Linga is on its bank. Subramaniyar Mandapam, Arumugar and Ambal Temple, Puthan/ Chandra, is on the banks of Chandra Theertham. Brahma Pedam, Ambal taught the arts. Vinayagar is under the Peepal tree, and Pathas/footprints are in front of Vinayagar. Moolavar is of swayambhu, a little taller. 9 Holes are there on the Rishabam opposite Moolavar. Dakshinamurthy is Medha Dakshinamurthy. 

In the inner praharam, Somaskandar, 63 Nayanmars, both in metal and stone in two rows, Bhadrakali Amman, Veerabhadra, Idumban, Sukhasana Murthy, Nagalingam, Vinayagar, Nalvar, Lingeswarar, Gajalakshmi, Agora Murthy, both Moolavar and Urchavar (Special Murti is Agora Murti with 8 hands), Natarajar Sabha, with Spatika Linga, Bhairavar, Kasi Thundeera Vinayagar, and Ashtabhuja Durga (facing west is a special in this temple). The Vilva/Bilva tree is without thorns.

ARCHITECTURE
The entrance 5-tier may be the bottom alone, constructed by the Pandyas. Most of the mandapams are built during the Maratha period as vavvalnethi / Vandi koodu mandapas.

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pratibandha adhistanam with padmajagathi, vrudha kumuda, and prativari. In Vyyalavari, apart from yazhi, has the sculptures of elephant riders, Yazhi riders, warriors, etc. Usually, the Makarathundam has reliefs of warriors, but here sculptures of Lord Shiva with Parvati, Gajasamharamurti, Pichadanar, etc are there.

The Bhitti is supported by Brahmakantha pilasters with malaithongal, kalasam, kudam, thadi, lotus petals mandi, palagai, veerakandam, and tharanga pothyal. The Malai Thongal has the bas relief of various forms of dancers, elephants, Purana stories, etc. The Koshta mahara toranas have the bas relief of Lord Shiva and Parvati’s various forms, like Uma Maheswarar.

The prastaram consists of Valapi, kapotam, and Vyyalavari. Bhutaganas are in the Valapi. An eka tala stucco/brick vesara vimanam is on the Bhoomi desam.  The Greeva koshtams have stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma, and stucco images of dancers. 4 maha nasis are on the sigaram.

The temple was reconstructed during the Chozhas, Pandyas, Marathas, etc. The Vimanas over the sanctum are also reconstructed and not followed by agamas. The two-tier stucco vimanam was replaced by an eka tala Vimanam. Mandapam pillars are a mixture of various periods.  The front mandapam ceilings have paintings of various dances of Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva’s marriage with Parvati, etc.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might have existed before the 7^th Century and was built during the Pallava period. The remains of the Pallava pillar a proof of the same. It may be reconstructed during the Chozha period and further extended during the Pandyas and Maratha periods.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajaraja Chozha, Rajendra Chozha, Veera Rajendran, Kulothunga Chozha, and Vikrama Chozha. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Rajendra Chozha Valanattu Nangoor Nattu, Thiruvengadu. And Lord Shiva was called Thiruvengadudayar.

Rajendra Chozha's period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Rajaraja Chozha's wife (After the death of Rajaraja Chozha) and Queen Vanavan Mahadevi, for which 96 goats/sheep were gifted to this temple.

Rajaraja Chozha-I's 19th reign year inscription (SII Vol-V, Sl No 975 ) on the padma jagathy records that Rajaraja's wife Koothan Veeraniyar, alias Chozha Mahaviyar (Mahadeviyar), has given a gift of diamond mangalsutra/thaali to Thiruvenkadathevar Nampirati (Ambal).    

Veerarajendra Chozha's 2^nd year and 133 days inscription records the celebration of Abhishekam and (Big) Naivedyam to Lord Shiva on the King's birthday, and collected 10 Kasu per head, which includes Idangai magamai. This is to be started from the 3^rd  reign year (2+1).

Most of the Chozha period inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, naivedyam, and celebrations for which Land, money, Kasu, and Sheep/goats are gifted to this temple. 

The Pandya period inscription of the side column records the name of the entrance as Vikrama Pandyan Thiruvayil. Pandya’s emblem of a fish with Chendu is on the top of the lindel. 

Thirupani to the Rajagopuram was started on 22^nd January 1970.  Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26^th March 1961, 13^th July 1986, 11^th July 2007, and 11^th April 2016. 

Ref

South Indian Inscriptions Volume V

The Vikrama Chozha's inscription

 The inscription reads "Vikrama Pandyan thiruvayil" and Pandya's emblem on the top of the entrance lintel. 

Rajara's inscription - the gift of mangalsutra ( Thanks to Anbu Vanthiyathevan )

LEGENDS
Indran and the white elephant Iravatham worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This is the birthplace of Meikanda Nayanar. The temple is big and the village is small. The special attractions of this temple are, Three Moolavars, the Three Ambals, the Three Sthala trees, and the three Theerthas.

Agoramurthy is in a standing posture holding a soolam/trident in both hands, feet are back and front. Maruthuvan (Doctor) with Rishabam is also on the side. As per the legend, Maruthudan is the son of jalandharan. He did a penance to Lord Shiva. Appreciating his penance, Lord Shiva gave him a Trident and told him to use it in a better way. But Maruthuvan used the trident to threaten the Deavs and disturb their penance. When Lord Shiva knew this, he sent Rishabam. Maruthuvan threw the trident at Rishabam, and it pierced in 9 places. Lord Shiva came personally in the form of Agoramurthy and killed him. 

Budhan, one of the Navagrahas, is in a separate sannadhi. Also, this is a Budhan dosha nivarthi/parihara sthalam. Devotees worship Budhan to excel in education, Music, Art, Astrology, Maths, Medicine, and Speech.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
The temple pooja is similar to Thillai (Chidambaram) for spatika Lingam, and there is Chidambara Ragasiyam also.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, Maha Shivaratri, 10 PM night on Sundays special pooja for Agoramurthy (Next day to Masi Magam Pooram nakshatra day Lord Shiva killed the Maruthuvan), Special Abhishekam for Agoramurthy with procession on Masi Pooram nakshatra day (1000 bottle panneer Abhishekam, lots and lots of Roja garlands, many many pattu vasthras will be offered during procession), Chithirai Thiruvonam Natarajar Abhishekam, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Gokulashtami, Karthigai Deepam, Navaratri, Kandar Sashti, Arudra darshan, Deepavali, Pongal, New year day celebrations, etc,.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.30 hrs to 21.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :
The landline number +914364256424 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :
The Village Thiruvengadu is on the bus route from Mayiladuthurai to Mangaimadam.
The temple is 13 km from Sirkazhi, 15 km from Vaitheeswaran Koil, 24 km from Mayiladuthurai, 37 km from Chidambaram, and 252 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Agora murti

The remains of the Pallava period Squatting Lion Pillar

Brahma- During two visits

Uma Maheswarar on a makara thorana

Gaja Samhara murti in makara thundam 

Maha Vishnu with Sri Devi and Bhudevi in Makara thundam

Pichadanar in makara thundam

Malai thongal sculptures 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

The heritage visit to this Sri Swatharanyeswarar Temple at Thiruvenkadu was a part of “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organised by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05^th and 6^th March 2022.   Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples. This is the second Visit to this temple.