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 the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu, on the southern banks of river Kollidam ( Midway between Kollidam and Kaveri ). As per the legend, this place Innambur is derived from Inan + Nambia + Oor ( Inan – Suryan, nambiya – trusted, and Oor- village ). This place was called Innambar during the 6^th to 7^th Century and is now called 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 have sung hymns praising 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 hymn, 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 faces east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas Dindi, Mundi, 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 praharam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is square in shape. Sanctum Sanctorum is on adhistanam with padma peeda upanam. The Adhitanam is little tall about 6 feet with jagathy, Vrudha kumudam, Pattikai, and Kapotam. The pilasters are 16 flat Indra kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and Vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals and kapotam with Nasi kudus. The ekatala moolavar vimanam is of Gajapruisha / Gajabrushta style with 5 Kalasas. The Vimanam is a little lengthier and covers the Sanctum Sanctorum and antarala. Shri Shiva with Parvati and some adiyars Stucco images are on Gajaprishta vimanam laladanasi. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam. 

 

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HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal have sung hymns of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original brick temple might have existed before the 7^th century and was later reconstructed with stone during the Chozha period and further extended during Vijayanagara period. As per the Chozha period inscription, this place was called Vadakarai Innambar Nattu Innambar and Shiva was called Aksharapuriswarar. 

There are two inscriptions recorded from this temple and they belong to Chozha King Ko Rajakesarivarman and Vijayanagara King Veera Kampanna Udayar. ( See the Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the year 1927. No. 321 -322.) 

The Chozha King Ko Rajakesari Varman’s 4th-year reign incomplete inscription ( SII Vol 13, 100 & AR 321- 1927 ) in the mandapa in front of the central shrine records the Construction of Vishnu temple called Arinjigai Vinnagar by Satti Arinjigai alias Thennavan Vizhupparaiyan and on his own name made some provision to feed five brahmins every day after offerings to the deity.

A Chozha period inscription mentions the name of a place called Govindaputhur. This Village is on the other bank of the river. That Temple is claimed as a Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam, instead of Vijayanathar temple at Vijayamangai. ( near this place ).

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

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume- 13, Sl No: 00 & AR 321- 1927.

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

LEGENDS

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

In one of the legends, Iravatham was cursed by the Durvasa Maharishi to become an ordinary elephant. Iravatham came to this temple and took a bath in the Airavata Theertham and worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse. Hence Lord Shiva is also called  “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 a little aside for Surya’s darshan. Surya worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and got relieved from the curse. Sun rays fall 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 pray to Lord Shiva of this temple for speech problems of their children ( the priest will write on the Child’s tongue with a grain of paddy ) and  Education.  Devotees pray 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 open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The mobile number of Gurkkam Muthukumar +918610244175, may be contacted 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---