Sri Dayanidheeswarar Temple / வடகுரங்காடுதுறை தயாநிதீசுவரர் கோயில் / Vadakurangaduthurai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 103^rd  Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 49^th Sthalam on the North side of River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place is now called as Aduthurai Perumal Koil. Since there are two Kurangaduthurai temples and both are worshiped by Sugreeva  and Vaali, to differentiate, this temple is called Vadakurangaduthurai, also this temple is on the North side of river Kaveri.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that, Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Innambar.

வடகுரங் காடு துறையில் வாலியார் தாம் வழிபட்ட

அடைவும் திருப்பதி கத்தில் அறியச் சிறப்பித்து அருளி

புடைகொண்டு இறைஞ்சினார் போந்து புறத்துள்ள தானங்கள் போற்றி

படைகொண்ட மூவிலை வேலார் பழனத் திருப்பதி சார்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

கோங்குமே குரவமே கொழுமலர்ப் புன்னையே கொகுடி முல்லை

வேங்கையே ஞாழலே விம்முபா திரிகளே விரவியெங்கும்

ஓங்குமா காவிரி வடகரை யடை குரங் காடுதுறை

வீங்குநீர்ச் சடை முடி யடிகளார் இட மென விரும்பினாரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                    ---“உய்யும் வகைக்

காத்தும் படைத்தும் கலைத்துநிற்போர் நாடொறும்

ஏத்தும் குரங்காட்டின் என்னட்பே

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Dayanidheeswarar, Sri Kulai  Vanangeesar,

                  Sri Vaali Nathar, Sri Chittilingeswarar

Consort    : Sri  Jada Makudeeswari, Sri Jada Makudanayagi,

                  Sri Azhagu Sadai mudiammai.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. A balipeedam and Rishabam are in front. At the entrance of sanctum, Vinayagar and Thindi and Mundi Dwarapalakas. Moolavar is little short and Swayambhu. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( with 8 disciples ), Lingothbavar, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar as Rishabanthikar and Ashtabhuja Vishnu Durgai  ( Abhisheka milk changes its colour in to blue ).

In Prakaram Sthala Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts, Kayilaya Lingam, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Kala Bhairavar, Suryan, Adhi Amman, Nagar, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, Thirunavukkarasar and Chetti Pen/ Lady. Shaniswarar as Pongu Shaniswarar is in a separate sannadhi.  In the maha mandapam Dwara Vinayagar, Arumugar,  Poorna Pushkala Ayyanar and Nataraja with Sivakami in Stone.  In the outer prakaram sannadhi for “Maaya karuppu”.

The 15^th Century saint Arunagirinathar has sung Hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

இலங்கேசர் வனத்துள்வனக் குரங்கேவி யழற்புகையிட்

            டினந்தாது மலர்த்திருவைச்                                            சிறைமீளும்

    இளங்காள் முகிற்கடுமைச் சரங்கோடு கரத்திலெடுத்

            திருங்கான நடக்குமவற்                                                   கினியோனே

குலங்கோடு படைத்தசுரப் பெருஞ்சேனை யழிக்கமுனைக்

            கொடுந் தாரை வெயிற்கயிலைத்                                தொடும்வீரா

    கொழுங்காவின் மலர்ப்பொழிலிற் கரும்பாலை புணர்க்குமிசைக்

            குரங்காடு துறைக்குமரப்                                                 பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam.  The Vimana above the sanctum is of three tiers. The sikaram is of vesara style with Maha nasi and Vimanam is of Nagara style.  The Pillars has the bas-reliefs and the Vimana has the stucco images of  Vaali and Sugreeva worships Lord Shiva of this temple. Chetti pen receiving Coconut as bas-relief is on a pillar.

At the top of second entrance beautiful sculpture of  Lord Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar of Lord Shiva’s lap and Murugan on Parvati’s Lap. Nandhi is standing next to them playing Mridangam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, a temple might be existed before 7^th Century and  a structure temple was constructed during Pallava Period ( Pallava sculptures may be part of Saptamatrikas are found in the temple ) and latter reconstructed by Pandyas and Chozhas.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple, belongs to Chozha Kings Koparakesari varman, Pandyan Thalai Konda kopara kesari Varman, Rajaraja-I, Kulothunga Chozha-III and Pandya King Vikrama Pandya Devan.

As per the inscriptions this place was under Vadakarai, Miraikootrathu Eyinanoor Thirukurangaduthurai ( Pandyan Thalai Konda  Koparakesari Varman Period ) and Vadakari Virai Kootrathu Thirukurangaduthurai ( Rajarajan-I period ) and Vadakarai Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Miraikootrathu Thirukurangaduthurai. Lord Shiva was called as Thirukurangaduthurai Alwar and Thirukurangaduthurai Mahadevar.

Kulothunga Chozha-III, period inscription records the endowment of establishing a shrine for Visweswarar  for the same 3 veli Land at Vikramachozha valanattu Andattu Kootraththu Innambar alias Chozha Kerala nallur and the land name was called as Visweswaramayakkal was gifted. This land was gifted by Jayasinga kulakaalavalanattu Meeshengili nattu Alangudayan Velan Ponnar Meniyan alias Anabhaya Vizhupparayan.

The Prakara was constructed by Ezhupaththonpathu Valanattu Periya Nattar and Pathinen Vishayathar through collection of taxes ( Both groups must be business groups ).

This is one of the 88 Shiva Temples administratively controlled by Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam. Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th June 2003.

LEGENDS

Lord Shiva is called as Dhayanidheswarar, Kulai Vanangeesar, Valinathar and Chittilinga Nathar ( A Chittu Kuruvi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple ). Devotees prays Lord Shiva for relieving from Marriage obstacles, santhana Prapti – Child boon and Ambal for safe delivery. 

As per the legend, A pregnant Chettipen with her husband were passing through this place and felt very thirsty.  Lord Shiva gave her tender coconuts by bending the tree to quench her thirst. Hence Lord shiva is called as “Sri Kulai Vanageesar” ( Kulai- a bunch of Coconuts ). The Chitti Pen’s idol can be seen in the maha mandapam. 

In Another legend Vali’s tail was got cut in the Ramayana war. Vali came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva and his tail was restored. Hence Lord Shiva was praised as “Sri Vaali Nathar” temple.

In another legend, Hanuman, to get rid of the Shiva aparadha ( Which he had done at Rameswaram, where he damaged the Shiva Linga made out of sand by Sita ). To get rid of the Shiva aparadha Hanuman came to this temple and  worshiped Lord Shiva.

Sugreeva worships Lord Shiva

Vali Worships Lord Shiva 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Jan – Feb ), Somavaram in the month Karthigai ( Nov- Dec ) and monthly Pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Land line numbers are + 91 4374 240 491 and +91 4374 244 191. Balamurugan Gurukal may be contacted on his mobile +91 97877 42454 for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Town buses and private buses are available from Thiruvaiyaru.

The temple is  little off from main road.

The Place and Temple is 23 KM from Kumbakonam, 17.6 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 20 KM from Thanjavur, 58 KM from Mayiladuthurai and 342 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Pallava period Saptamatrikas remains

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---