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

This is the 104^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 50^th Sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The place and the temple are on the northern banks of the 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 have 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 faces east (a little skewed towards north) 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 the sanctum, moolavar is of swayambhu, a little taller Divya Lingam. In koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, GajasamharaMurthy, Gangadhara, Brahma, etc.

In the outer praharam, 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 praharam, Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing east, standing on an Avudayar, jackfruit 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 the Saptasthana 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 has 5 tiers, and the inner one has 3 tiers. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum from adhistanam to the first level of Vimana was built with stone. The vimana is of Nagara style. In the 1^st level of the vimana, on all three sala kostas, images of Shiva’s forms Shiva in Sukhasana, Dakshinamurthy, and Gajasamharamurthy. In the second level, sala koshtam Brahmi, Kaumari, Varahi, and Maheswari. On the Makaran asi kottam Shiva with Uma, Veena, Dakshinamurthy, and 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 the Pallava Period (Sapta matrika panel belongs to the Pallava Period), later re-constructed by Aditya I. The temple has about 87 inscriptions, belonging to Aditya-I, Parantaka-I, Pazhuvettarayar, Vijayanagaras, Chitramezhi Periyanattar, and Mutharaiyar. The inscriptions mainly speak about donations made to this temple towards the burning of perpetual lamps and Poojas. The Amman temple was constructed and consecrated during the 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 Thirupazhanathu Mahadevar, Thiru Payanaththu Mahadevar, Thirupazhanamudayar, and Natarajar was called Chitrambalamudayar.   

Ko Rajakesari Varmar’s 17th-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 20th-year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Kizhar Kootrathu Munjaval Udayan Nakkan Adhithan gifted  90 sheep as Saava moova peradu and second time gifted 10 sheep.     

Vikrama Chozha’s 4th-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 subdivision of Vikrama Chozha Valanadu. (Perhaps the inscription refers to the Vanika Kuzhu inscription table)

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 326th-day inscription records the royal order of the king, to Kurugularaja Kankani/Supervisor, and Srikariyam Seivar (accountant / in charge),  donation of Tax-free land at Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Virai Kootraththu Viramangudi, alias Periyakkudi, for providing the worship of the newly established Goddess Thirukamakottamudayar (Periya Nayagi). Another Chozha King Thiribhuvana Chakravarti Konerimaikondan Rajarajadeva’s 30th-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 “Abathsahayeswarar”.

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

The temple was called 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 a marriage in a grand way. All the Saptasthana temple Urchavars will join the procession with their respective palanquins and offer the required material for the marriage at Thirumazhapadi, which is the residence place of the 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 will be from Thirupoonthuruthi, the required ghee from Thillaisthanam, and the required jewels will be from Thirukkandiyur. Hence, this temple is called Thirupazhanam.    

It is believed that Mahavishnu, Maha Lakshmi, Adhithan (Suryan), Agni, Soman (Chandran), Bhudhan, Ayyan, 7 Munis, and Ashtadikpalakas worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since Soman worshiped Lord Shiva, Moon Rays fall on the moolavar on full moon days and two days after 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 a 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 open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 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 from Kumbakonam to Thiruvaiyaru.

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

The nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Vanikakuzhu kalvettu / Merchant Group inscriptions

Vinayagar in the valapi

Saptamatrikas

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---