Sri Ezhuthari Natheswarar Temple / Ezhutharinathar Temple /எழுத்தறிநாதார் திருக்கோவில், Innambur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 99^th Thavara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 45^th  Sthalam on north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu, on the southern banks of river Kollidam ( Mid way between Kollidam and Kaveri ). As per the legend, the place Innambur is derived from Inan + Nambia + Oor ( Inan – suryan, nambiya – trusted and Oor- village ). This place was called as Innambar during 6^th to 7^th Century and now called as Innambur/ Innamboor.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva Karkadeswarar of Thirunthuthevankudi.

இன்னம்பர் மன்னும் பிரானை இறைஞ்சி இடைமடக்கு ஆன

பன்னும் தமிழ்த்தொடை மாலைப் பாடல் புனைந்து பரவிப்

பொன்அம் கழலினைப் போற்றிப் புறம்போந்து அணைந்து புகுந்தார்

மன்னும் தடங்கரைப் பொன்னி வடகுரங்காடு துறையில்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Ramalinga Adigalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

எண்திசைக் கும்புகழ் இன்னம்பர் மேவிய

வண்டிசைக் கும்சடையீரே

வண்டிசைக் கும் சடையீர்உமை வாழ்த்துவார்

தொண்டிசைக் கும்தொழி லோரே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

விண்ணவர் மகுடகோடி மிடைந்த சேவடியர் போலும்

பெண்ணொரு பாகர்போலும் பேடலி ஆணர்போலும்

வண்ணமால் அயனும் காணா மால்வரை எரியர்போலும்

எண்ணுரு அநேகர் போலும் இன்னம்பர் ஈசனாரே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                            ---“இட்டமுடன்

என்னம்பர் என்னம்பர் என்று அயன்மால் வாதுகொள

இன்னம்பர் மேவுகின்ற என்உறவே

.... திரு அருட்பா

Sundarar Came to this temple after worshiping Thirukarkudi, Thiruvarur, Thiruvarai meRRali ( Pazhayarai ). Even though he has not sung a separate hymns, Sundarar records this temple Innambar in his Thirupurambiyam Temple, hymns.

அங்கம் ஓதியோர் ஆறை  மேற்றளி நின்றும் போந்துவந்து இன்னம்பர்த்

தங்கி நோமையும் இன்னதென்றிலர் ஈச னாரெழு நெஞ்சமே

கங்குல் ஏமங்கள் கொண்டு தேவர்கள் ஏத்தி வானவர் தாந்தொழும்

பொங்கு மால்விடை ஏறிசெல்வப் புறம்ப யந்தொழப் போதுமே

Moolavar  : Sri Ezhutharinathar, Sri Thanthondreesar

Consort    : Sri Sugunthakunthalambigai, Sri Nithyakalyani

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar is of swayambhu on a big size avudayar. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Pichadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma, Katchi Kodutha Nathar ( In Lingothbavar ) and Vishnu Durgai.

In Prakaram Vinayagar, Balasubramaniar, Sage Agathiyar, Narthana Vinayagar, Suryan, Chandran, Bhairavar, Kala Bhairava, Nalvar, few Lingas, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Thenkailaya Lingam, Mahalingam, Nataraja with Sivagami, Mahalakshmi, Jyeshta Devi, Navagrahas and Chandikeswarar.

There are two Ambal sannadhis. Ambal Nithya Kalyani is in standing posture with Chathur bhujam, in a separate temple on the right side of the moolavar. The other Sugantha kunthalambigai temple is in the outer prakaram. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is of square in shape. Sanctum Sanctorum is on a adhisthanam with upanam. Shri Shiva with Parvati and some adiyars Stucco images are on moolavar vimanam laladanasi. The ekatala moolavar vimanam is of gajaprishta style with 5 Kalasas. The Vimanam covers the Sanctum sanctorum and antarala.   

Vimanam View from sanctum sanctorum

PC - website

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original brick temple might have existed before 7^th century and Latter reconstructed with stone during Chozha period and further extended during Vijayanagara period.

There are two inscriptions recorded from this temple and they belongs to Chozha King Koparakesarivarman and Vijayanagara King Veera Kampanna Udayar. (See the Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1927. No. 321 -322.) As per Chozha period inscription this place was called as Vadakarai Innambar Nattu Innambar.

The Chozha King Rajakesari Varman’s 5^th year reign inscription records that Innambur Thennavan Vizhupparaiyan’s wife gifted for annadhanam for 5 Andhanars and also it mentions there was a Perumal temple called Arinjakai Vinnagaram existed in the same Village.

The Vijayanagar period inscription records that the temple was kept locked more than 40 years without pooja during Muslims invasion. 

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 21^st June 2000 and 06, September 2013.

Sanctum sanctorum

LEGENDS

It is believed that Suryan, Chandran, Iravatham and sage Agathiyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In one of the legend Iravatham was cursed by the Durvasa Maharishi to become an ordinary elephant. Iravatham came to this temple and took a bathe in the Airavata Theertham and worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse. Hence Lord Shiva is also called as “Iravatheeswarar”.    

In another legend, when Suryan came to this temple and Lord’s view was obstructed by the Rishabam and Vinayagar. So he prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva asked Vinayagar and Rishabam to move little aside for Surya’s darshan. Surya worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple got relieved from the curse. Sun rays falls on moolavar,  3 days in Uttarayanam and 3 days in dakshinayanam. 13^th to 15^th of Tamil month Panguni and in the month Avani 31^st and Puratasi 1^st and 2^nd.  Special poojas are conducted on these Days.

Devotees prays Lord Shiva of this temple for speech problem of their children ( the priest will write on Child’s tongue with a grain of paddy ) and  Education.  Devotees prays Ambal Nithya Kalyani for marriage obstacles and special poojas are conducted on full moon days.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas Special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sep ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( December – January ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ) and every month Pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The mobile number Muthukumar Gurukkal +91 8610244175 for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

On Kumbakonam to Thiruvaiyaru route through Swamimalai take diversion at Puliancheri Bus Stop and Innambur is  about 3 KM.

The temple is 7.5 KM from Kumbakonam, 42 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 40 KM from Thanjavur and 292 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---