Sri Apathsahayar Temple / Abathsahayeswarar Temple / ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில், திருப்பழனம், Thirupazhanam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 104^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 50^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The place and the temple are on the northern banks of river Kaveri. This is one of the Saptasthana temples and 2^nd associated with Thiruvaiyaru.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that, Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Vadakurangaduthurai.

பழனத்து மேவிய முக்கண் பரமேட்டியார் பயில் கோயில்

உழைபுக்கு இறைஞ்சி நின்று ஏத்தி உருகிய சிந்தையார் ஆகி

விழைசொல் பதிகம் விளம்பி விருப்புடன் மேவி அகல்வார்

அழல்நக்க பங்கய வாவி ஐயாறு சென்று அடைகின்றார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Manickavasagar and Ramalinga Adigalar has sung hymns in praise of lord Shiva of this temple. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung 3 hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple and might have stayed some time in this temple by doing thirupani.

குலவெஞ்சிலையார் மதில் மூன்றெரித்தகொல் ஏறுடை அண்ணல்

கலவ மயிலும் குயிலும் பயிலும் கடல்போல் காவேரி

நலமஞ்சுடைய நறுமாங்கனிகள் குதிகொண்டு எதிர்உந்திப்

பலவின்கனிகள் திரைமுன் சேர்க்கும்பழன நகராரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

மண்பொருந்தி வாழ்பவர்க்கும் மாதீர்ந்த வேதியார்க்கும்

விண்பொருந்து தேவர்க்கும் வீடுபேறாய் நின்றானைப்

பண்பொருந்த இசைபாடும் பழனம்சேர் அப்பனைஎன்

கண்பொருந்தும் போதத்தும் கைவிட நான் கடவேனோ

......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                            ----“மாத்தழைத்த

வண் பழனத்தின் குவிவெண் வாயிற்றேன் வாக்கியிட

வுண் பழனத்தென்றன் உயிற்க்குயிரே

........ திரு அருட்பா

பாங்கார் பழனத்து அழகா”

........ மாணிக்கவாசகர்

Moolavar  : Sri Apathsahayar

Consort    : Sri Periyanayagi

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east ( little skewed towards Borth ) with two Rajagopuras. The front one is of 5 tiers and 2^nd level one is 3 tiers. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In sanctum moolavar is of swayambhu, little taller Divya Lingam. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, GajaSamharaMurti, Gangadhara, Brahma, etc,.

In the outer prakaram Vinayagar and Subramaniar with Valli Devasena. Vahanas are in the front mandapa. Vinayagar is at the entrance. Saptamatrikas, Vinayagar, Venugopala, Shiva Lingas in different names, Natarajar Sabha, Bhairavar and Navagrahas.

In the outer prakaram, Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing east standing on an Avudayar, jack fruit tree and sthala vruksham banana / plantain tree.

Navagraha sannathi is opposite to Ambal sannadhi. In that all the eight grahas are facing Suryan and Suryan is facing Ambal ( West). On the left is the Murugan image with six faces. 

The 15th Century Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of all Sapta sthana temple's Lord Muruga in Thiruppugazh.

திருவின் மாமர மார்பழ னப்பதி

        அயலு சோறவை யாளுது றைப்பதி

        திசையி நான்மறை தேடிய முற்குடி            விதியாதிச்

    சிரமு மாநிலம் வீழ்தரு மெய்ப்பதி

        பதும நாயகன் வாழ்பதி நெய்ப்பதி

        திருவை யாறுடனேழுதி ருப்பதி                  பெருமாளே  

ARCHITECTURE

There are two Rajagopuras. The front one is with 5 tiers and inner one is 3 tiers. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. The sanctum from adhisthanam to the first level Vimana was built with stone. The Vimana is of Nagara style. In the 1^st level of the Vimana, on all the 3 sala kostas images of Shiva’s forms Shiva in Sukhasana, Dakshinamurthy and Gaja samhara moorthy. In the second level sala koshtam Brahmi, Kaumari, Varahi and Maheswari. On the Makaran asi kottam Shiva with Uma, Veena Dakshinamurthy, Chandrasekar. Devas are in Panchara pathi and ladies in Karnakoods.

There is a Vanika kuzhu – Business group inscription on a pillar with the symbols of various types of business people engraved keeping Gajalakshmi on the top is installed in the outer prakara.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Even-though the original temple belongs to Pallava Period ( Sapta matrika panel belongs to Pallava Period ), latter re-constructed by Aditya –I. The temple has about 87 inscriptions, belongs to Aditya-I, Parantaka-I, Pazhuvettarayar, Vijayanagaras, Chitramezhi Periyanattar’s, Mutharaiyar. The inscriptions mainly speaks about donations made to this temple towards burning of perpetual lamps and Poojas.  Amman temple was constructed and consecrated during Parantaka-I period.

As per the inscription This place was in Vadakarai Viraika Kootraththu Thirupazhanam, Rajaraja Valanattu Thirupazhanam, Vikrama Chozhavalanadu and  Lord Shiva was called as Thirupazhanathu Mahadevar, Thiru Payanaththu Mahadevar, Thirupazhanamudayar and Natarajar was called as Chitrambalamudayar.   

Ko Rajakesari Varmar’s 17^th year reign inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Chozha Deviyar Thennavan Mahadevi  for which she donated 20 Kalanju gold.

Another Rajakesari Varamar’s 20^th year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Kizhar Kootrathu Munjaval Udayan Nakkan Adhithan gifted  90 Sheeps as Saava moova peradu and second time gifted 10 sheeps.     

Vikrama Chozha’s 4^th year reign inscription records the agreement made by the Nadu, Nagaram, the 18 Vaisyas and the Agara Brahmadeyas arrived in their joint-assembly  meeting assigning certain incomes derived from the tenants and as export and import duties ( Eru saththu and Irangu Saththu ) on certain articles of merchandise, to the Lord Kanniraintha Peruman at Akalankapuram a Village in Virai kootram, a sub division of Vikrama Chozha Valanadu. ( Perhaps the inscription refers the Vanika kuzhu inscription tablet )

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Konerimei Kondan’s 21^st year & 31 days  reign inscription records that the King issued a royal order as suggested by Chedirayan. The order records the confirmation of rights and perquisites  to the Bhattars / priests Dakshinamurti Bhatta and his son Tavapperuman Bhatta. 

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Konerimei kondan’s 14^th year and 326^th day inscription records the royal order of the king, to Kurugularaja Kankani / Supervisor, and Srikariyam seivar ( accountant / incharge ),  donation of Tax free land at Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Virai kootraththu Viramangudi alias Periyakkudi for providing the worship of newly established Goddess Thirukamakottamudayar ( Periya nayagi ). Another Chozha King Thiribhuvana Chakravarti Konerimaikondan Rajarajadeva’s 30^th year reign records the endowment of pooja for the Kamakottamaudayar, for which one ma land was gifted by the king.

LEGENDS:      

Since Lord Shiva Helped the boy from his  death, Lord Shiva is called as “Abathsahayeswarar”.

In another legend, Mahalakshmi came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. After getting a boon, started her journey to her abode. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Pirayanapuri ( Pirayanam – in Tamil, travel, Journey ).

The temple was called as Thirupazhanam, Kathalivanam, Koushikeshram, Pirayanapuri and Pazhampathy.

The legend of Nandhi goes like this...., Nandhi was born to Sage Siladha of Thiruvaiyaru. Lord Shiva of Thiruvaiyaru wants to Conduct marriage in a grand way. All the saptasthana temple Urchavars will join the procession with their respective palanquins and offer required material for the marriage at Thirumazhapadi, which is the residence place of bride, Suyasha. The other Saptasthana temples will also participate and extend their share for the Nandhi's Marriage. It is believed that the required fruits will be offered from Thirupazhanam, Food will be arranged by Thiruchotruthurai, The Veda pandits from Thiruvedhikudi, the required flowers are from Thirupoonthuruthi, the required ghee from Thillaisthanam and the required jewels will be from Thirukkandiyur. Hence This temple is called as Thirupazhanam.    

It is believed that Mahavishnu, Maha Lakshmi, Adhithan ( Suryan ), Agni,  Soman ( Chandran ), Bhudhan, Ayyan, 7 Munis, Ashtadikpalakas worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since soma worshiped Lord shiva, Moon Rays falls on moolavar on full moon days and two days after and before in the Tamil Months Panguni ( March – April ) and Puratasi ( September – October ).

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, full moon days, Ezhur spatasthana festival ( Urchavar will be taken to Thiruvaiyaru in Mirror palanquin ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Thiruvathirai in Margazhi ( Dec- January ) and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – November ). 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Archakar Raja Gukkal may please be contacted on his mobile number +91 9790207773 for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Town buses are available from Thiruvaiyaru and Kumbakonam. The temple is on the main road to Kumbakonam to Thiruvaiyaru.

The Place and Temple is 3 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 15.2 KM from Thanjavur, 31 KM from Kumbakonam, 65 KM from Mayiladuthurai and 331 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Vanikakuzhu kalvettu / Merchant Group inscriptions

Vinayagar in the valapi

Saptamatrikas

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---