Sri Aruna Jadeswarar Temple / Sri Arunakadeswarar Temple / செஞ்சடையப்பர், தாலவனேஸ்வரர், ஜடாதரர், அருணஜடேஸ்வரர், Thiruppananthal / Thiruppanandal, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 93^rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 39^th  sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. It is believed that Lord Shiva came from a palm leaf, hence this place is called as Panandal. This Temple was called as Thiruthadagai eecharam and Thadakecharam.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar mentions that Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple after worshipping Lord Shiva of Thiru Senjalur

இன்இசை வண்தமிழ்பாடி ஏத்தியே

நல்நெடும் பதிஉளோர் நயக்க வைகிய

பின்னர் வெண்பிறை அணிவேணிப் பிஞ்ஞகர்

மன்னிய திருப்பனந்தாள் வணங்கினார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

கண்பொலி நெற்றியினான் திகழ் கையிலொர் வெண்மழுவான்

பெண்புணர் கூறுடையான் மிகுபீடுடை மால்விடையான்

விண்பொலி மாமதிசேர் திருசெஞ்சடை வேதியனூர்

தண்பொழில் சூழ்பனந்தாள் திருத்தாடகை யீச்சரமே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

கரம் ஊன்றிக் கண்இடுங்கிக் கால்குலைய மற்றோர்

மரம் ஊன்றி வாய் குதட்டா முன்னம் – புரமூன்றும்

தீச்சரத்தால் செற்றான் திருப்பனந்தாள் தாடகைய

ஈச்சரத்தான் பாதமே ஏத்து

...... ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்

                                                                    -“தரும

மனந்தான் மலரை மருவிப்போர் வாழும்

பனிந்தாளிற் பாலுகந்த பாகே

...... திரு அருட்பா

கல்லா மனத்துக் கடையேனை ஆண்டு கருணை செய

வல்லா யென்றுன் பதம் வந்தடைந்தேன் வினைமாற்றிடுவாய்

செல்லாங்குழல் மலர்ச் செவ்வாய் வரைகுயச் சிற்றிடைசேர்

நல்லாய் பனசை நகர் வாழ் பெரிய நன்னாயகியே

....... பெரியநாயகியே மாலை

Moolavar  : Sri Chenchadaiyar, Sri Thaalavaneswarar,

                  Sri Jadaathar,  Sri Aruna Jadeswarar,

                  Sri Thaalapureeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Birukandha Nayagi, Sri Periyanayagi,

                  Sri Thaalavaneswari.

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

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthamabam and Rishabam are after the rajagopuram. A new mandapam was built keeping Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam at the centre. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the artha mandapam. In the sanctum  Moolavar is of swayambhu. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In Aasthana mandapam Urthuvadhandava moorthy. In prakaram Subramaniyar, MahaLakshmi, Panchabuta Lingas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Chandran, Sapthakannis, Kungilikalaya Nayanar Sannadhi, Chokkanathar, Narthana Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar and 63 var /Arupathu Moovar.

In the outer Parakaram sthala Vruksham, two male palm trees,  under that there is Shiva Linga in slanting position. Ambal is in a separate Temple with 3 tier Rajagopuram facing east.

ARCHITECTURE 

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapa, and mukhaa mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is ona prati bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, prativari.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since, Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7^th Century as a brick temple. The same was reconstructed as a katrali / complete stone temple, by Nakkan tharani. As per the inscriptions this temple was called as Thiruthadagai eecharam, Thiruthadakecharaththu Perumal, Thiruthadaka Eecharamudaya Nayanar and Lord Shiva was called as Thadakecharaththu Mahadevar.

There is a Temple for Kungiliya kalaya Nayanar, on the south side of West Rajagopuram in the 2^nd Prakaram. And the inscription records that this temple was constructed by a person whose name is also Kungiliya kalaya Nayanar and he is praised  for his Bhakthi on the Nayanar and his service. From Kulothunga Chozha-I, period inscription records that Kungilikalaya Nayanar’s wife’s name as Neelayi.

One of the  inscription  ( a part ) records that Thiruppanandal Nakkan Tharani constructed this temple and donated Land for the service and maintenance. Amman temple was constructed with stone by Venkoorudayar Anbarkkarasu Marudhamanickam alias Villavan Rajan. As per the Kulothunga Chozha-I period inscription, Ambal was called as Periya Nachiyar

The Vijayanagara king Devaraya Maharayar’s son Mallikarjuna’s period Saka 1369 ie 1447 CE, inscriptions records that Karambichettu Narayana Battar of Idavai, donated a land to this Thadagai Eecharathu Peruman’s Vaikasi month festival.

Kulothunga period inscription near madapalli records the existence of a mada temple called Agneecharam in the same Village.

One of the Chozha period inscription records that there was a Palace at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram during Rajendra Chozha-II.  

Summaries of twenty seven inscriptions of Urudaiyappar temple and Solidyappar temple at Thiruppananthal in Kumbakonam taluk and Tanjavur District are given here. All the records are in Tamil language and script, few words are written with Grantha words. Kings name, Regnal year and Historical year are given with it. These inscriptions are published in Tamilnattu Kalvettukal-VI, Kumbakonam Vattam. Only important inscriptions details are given below.

16/2014. Parantaka Chola 1 – 28^th  regnal year 935 CE. Registers a gift of land after being refined it with a well to the deity Perumanadigal who was pleased to stand in Thiruppananthal, a devadāna village of Vadagarai [Northern Bank] in Manni-nādu, by the mother of Chōla mädeviyär, Queen of the Chōla King Kōpparakēsarivarman.

17/2014. Rajakesarivarman [Aditya chōla 1] – 3^rd  regnal year - 874 CE. Last few lines are lost. Seems to record some arrangements made by the assembly members of Thiruppananthal, a brahmadeya village of Vadakarai in Manni-nādu, for the food-offerings to the deity of Thiruvanantisvaramudaiya Mahādēva temple in the same village.

18/2014. Rajendra chōla 2^nd regnal year 11^th  century CE. Gift of money [Thirty Coins] to burn a perpetual lamp in the temple of Thiruvananthisvaramudaiyar temple in this village by certain Ganapathy Adittan from the market of horse riders. The gifted money was received and accepted to burn that lamp during the day and night in the temple by three Sivabrahmanas of this temple.

19/2014. Rajakesarivarmar [Aditya Chola -I-18^th  regnal year 889 CE. - Registers a gift of ninty sheep for a perpetual lamp to the temple of Thiruttadakai Isvarattu Mahādēva Bhattara in Thiruppanantha! which was a devadāna village in Vadagarai Manni-nādu, by certain Kovan Amudhan, a native of Karuppur in the same nāḍu.

20/2014. Parantaka chōla I - 29^th  regnal year 936 CE. Records a gift of ninety sheep for a perpetual lamp to the temple of Thiruttaḍakai isvarattu Mahādēva at Thiruppananthaļ a dēvadāna village in Vadagarai Manni-nada, by Iraiyan Madevan of Kumāramangalam in Ambar-nādu.

21/2014. Parantaka chola I 29^th  regnal year 936 CE. Damaged and few lines are lost at the end. Gift of the land to the deity of Perumal in Thiruttaḍakai Isvaran of Thiruppananthal for the food-offerings during the mid-night worship by Kaman Thali, a chief and native of Karambiyam in Eyi-nadu.

22/2014. Kulottungachōla- I’s 11^th regnal year 1081 CE. Built in at the beginning and end. Begins with the introduction. Pugal Sulntha Punari etc., Registers the order of the king granting the tax called Ulvari for the village Rajendranallur, which was originally a brahmadeya and was converted in to a taxable land in the reign of Virarajendra. The inscription details the several stages of administrative procedure gone through in this connection in the time of king Rajendradeva in his 11^th year rule, which again is recounted in the time of his younger brother Virarajendra and finally engraved on stone in the form of the present inscription in the time of Kulottungachōla- I.

23/2014. Kulottungachōla-1’s 29^th regnal year 1099 CE. Registers the sale by a Sivabrahmana, who had the Kani right in the temple, of his right of worship on 4½ days in the month to recompensate a portion of money which was unable to pay towards the misappropriation of Gold and Silver ornaments, Bronze utensils etc., belonging to the temple. It is stated that the Sivabrahmanas of the temple of Thiruppananthal, misappropriated of jewels and utensils of the temple on three different occasions and had been found out, when the temple treasury was inspected and examined by the officials. The king ordered to collect the total value of the thefted items from the culprits. While the total value had been calculated as 540 Kasu, one among the three culprits called Pandan Kumarasamy unable to pay his portion of the amount. So he decided to pay from the sale of his worshipping right of 42 days in every month in the temple of Tatakesvarā So he prayed to the Maheswaris to receive the money to set right the amount, which he had to pay.

24/2014. Rajarajachōļa II regnal year lost 12^th century CE. Records a grant of land by a large number of individuals for laying out a road called Rajagambiran Thiruvidhi through which the deity of the Thiruttaḍakai Isvaramudaiya Mahadeva temple of Thiruppananthal had to be taken in procession to the river Kollidam for sacred bath on festive occassions. On both sides of the road 750 coconut trees were to be planted and protected to derive income from them to spent towards lights and other expenditures in the temple...

25/2014. Malligarjuna Mahārāya Saka 1369-1447 CE. Badly damaged and unfinished. Registers a gift of land, free of taxes for a service called Angarangabboga to the temple. Karambichchetty Narayana Bhattar, native of a chaturvedimangalam of Idavaipparru. Thiruppananthal was listed as a Taniyur in Seyanga nallurpparru in Manni-nadu, a sub-division of Virudharaja bhayankara valanādu.

26/2014. Rajarajachōla 11 – 18^th  Regnal year 1164 CE. Registers a sale of land to a certain Kungiliyakkalaiyar alias Aliyaviratankondar Thäinum Piriyäthär for one thousand Kasu by an individual called Senthan Küttaduvan alias Rajaraja vangāra muttaraiyan, who had Pallikkani in the Pennagadam alias Mudikondachōla chaturvedi-mangalam, a brahmadeya and a Taniyür in Vadagarai Virudharaja bhayankara valanādu.

27/2014. Vijayanagara king- name list - Saka 1366, 1444 CE. Badly damaged and unfinished. Seems to the sale of two villages to the temple for some hundred of Varahan and rested in the temple treasury.

28/2014. Rajarajachōla- III - 3^rd  regnal year - 1218 CE. Seems to the order of the king to the officials to the gift of land as tax free for conducting regular worship to the deity of Thiru Ajanisvaramudaiyar temple, on the request made by some persons that the gift of land would be given as it has been made by in earlier days.

29/2014. Kulottungachōla -II – 12^th century CE. First few lines and some letters of each line are damaged. Gift of some land with tax-free to the temple of Ajanisvaramadaiyar and also sixty Kasu for making Jewells [to the deity of the temple]. Refers the 15^th ர்egnal year of Vikramachōladeva.

30/2014. Kulottungachōla -III's – 8^th regnal year - 1185 CE. Built in at the beginning Gift of land, exempted from tax for offerings to the images of Thirukkaḍavür Kungiliyakkalaiya Näyanär and other Saiva devotees set up in the temple at Thiruppananthal by a person bearing the same name [See No. 14]

31/2014. Kulottungachōla -III's – 9^th regnal year 1187 CE. Few lines are lost at the end. Records a gift of land to the Adichandèsvaradeva kanmins of the Amman temple called Thirukkämakkottamudaiya Nachchiyar in the Thiruttidakai Isvaramadaiyar temple, as danmadira by the assembly of this village Thiruppananthal

32/2014. Kulottungachōla –III’s,  9^th regnal year 1187 CE. Badly damaged. - Registers the gift of four cows for bathing the god Mahadeva daily with Panchagavya in the temple of Thiruppananthal [See No. 221

33/2014. Jatavarman Sundara Pandya - year lost - 13th century CE. Built in at the end. Records the gift of 100 Kuli of land Thirunamattukkani for the expenditure of the food-offerings. Sandal paste, oil for lamp, and the persons who bear Sripatham in the festival days of the Nachchiyar temple in the Thiruttadakai Isvaramuḍaiya nayanär, to the Adichandèsvaradevã by the assembly of the village. Grooves and flower garden were also existed in the above said land.

34/2014. Veerapandyadeva - [2]5^th regnal year 1278 CE. Records a gift of 312 Kuli of land to the Thiruttaḍakai isvaramudaiyar temple by the residents of the village after purchasing it from the village assembly.

35/2014. Kulasekhara Pandya- II - 2^nd  regnal year - 1237 CE. Built in at the beginning. Registers a sale of 2500 Kuli of land to the temple at Thiruppananthal, by the assembly of the same village, which was owned by them as Brahmadeya in Manni-nadu, a sub-division of Vadakarai - Virudharaja bhayankara valanādu.

36/2014. Kulottungachōla-III, 9^th regnal year 1186 CE. Built in at the beginning and other portions are damaged. Records the gift of money and cows for the bathing ceremony with Pancha-gavya to the deity of the temple in Manni-nadu, a sub-division of Virudharāja bhayankara-valanādu

37/2014. Vijayanagara King Immadi ......... Saka 1369 - 1447 CE. Some words are damaged. Gift of land for celebrating the festivals of Margali Thiruvadirai and Thiruveluchchi in the temple at Thiruppananthal. The land was situated in the place called Idavai alias Pandyanai Venkandachōlach-chaturvedimangalam.

38 /2014. Vikramachōla – 9^th regnal year 1126 CE. Records the order of Mukkokilanadigal a queen of Vikramachōla, regarding the using of water of the tank called Irunügruppathinaruvan-kulam without misusing, dug in the village by certain Thiruvaiyaru-Devan alias Rajendrachola-Pallavaraiyan, a chief of Vēlür.

39/2014. Kulottungachōla-I’s 11^th  regnal Year 1181 CE. Records an agreement made by two Sivabrahmanäs of the temple of Thiru Ajanisvaramudaiyar to burn two perpetual lamp, for the money five Kasu received by them from two shepherds of the village.

41/2014. Chōla 12^th  Century CE. characters. States that an individual called Anbarkkaraisu - Marudamanikkam alias Villavarajan of Venkür who consecrated the image of Devi [in the temple].

The temple is under the Administrative control of Dharmapura Adheenam. There is a mutt called Sri Kashi Mutt established by Kumaragurubarar. A Tamil college is being run by this mutt.

Ref:

Tamilnattu Kalvettukal-VI, Kumbakonam Vattam.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 06^th July 2003.

Inscriptions

Kanchipuram Pachiappa Mudilar's inscription

LEGENDS

Lord Shiva was worshipped by Brahma, Maha Vishnu, Indran, Iravatham, Agasthiyar, Suryan, Chandran, Adhiseshan, Vasuki’s daughter Nagakanni also called as Sumathi and her husband Arithuvasan, Thadagai and Kungiliya kalaya Nayanar.

It is believed that Ambal received the Gnana Upadesam from Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence this temple is called as “Upadesa Sthalam”.

There are marks found on the Shiva Linga which indicates that, Shiva bend and received the Garland from Thadagai and Kungiliya kalaya nayanar who made it straight using a rope. In one legend Kungiliya kalaya Nayanar’s son was expired, When he was taken to the cremation, Vinayagar intervened and asked him to bathe his son in the Nagakanni Theertham. After taking bathe his son came alive.

 

Kungiliya kalaya nayanar straitening Shiva Linga

In Prakaram two male palm trees there with a Shiva Linga in slanting position. The story behind this legend  is as... A lady called Thadagai, daughter of a demon worshiped Lord Shiva of this Temple for Child boon. While she was garlanding, the Shiva Linga under the Palm Tree, she holds her / saree dress with her elbow and offered the garland. To ease her to garland, Lord Shiva leaned forward to accept the garland. There is a painting depicting this story, in the 16 pillar mandapam. Latter Kungiliya kalaya Nayanar made it to straight, through a rope tied on his neck.

மாலைசாத்துந் தாடகை மானங் காப்பான் தாழ்ந்து பூங்கச் சிட்டீர்க்கும்

பீடுறுகலயன் அன்பின் நிமிர்ந்தஎம் பிரான் ஊர் ஈதா

...... திருவிளையாடல் புராணம்

Thadagai worshiping Lord Shiva 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted Annual Brahmotsavam in the month Chithirai ( April – May ),  Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – August ), Theerthavari at Brahma Theertham on new moon day in the month Avani ( August – September ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – October ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – November ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mobile and land line numbers+91 94431 16322, +91 99658 52734 and +91 435 245 6047 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

This place Thiruppanandal is on the way to to Kumbakonam from Villupuram, Chennai after Sethiathoppu. Buses are available from Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam.

The temple is 20 KM from Kumbakonam, 29.5 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 42 KM from Sirkazhi, 58 KM from Thanjavur and 260 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Ambal Temple Rajagopuram

Ambal Shrine 

Durga

Bhairavar

Gajasamharamurthy

Tripuranthagar

Beautiful dress

Murugan

King with his wife and an attendant

Saptamatrikas

Thirupanandalal Mutt

---- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---