Sri Sathyagireeswarar Temple / சேய்ஞலூர் ( சேங்கனூர் ). சத்யகிரீஸ்வரர், சத்யகிரிநாதர் திருக்கோயில்/ Senganur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 95^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 41^st   Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu on the banks of river Manniyaru. During the 6^th to 7^th Century, this place was called Seignalur - சேய்ஞலூர் and is now called Senganur.

  

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

வேதியர் சேய்ஞலூர் விமலர் தம்கழல்

காதலில் பணிந்து அவர் கருணை போற்றுவார்

தாதைதாள் தடிந்த சண்டீசப் பிள்ளையார்

பாதகப் பயன்பெறும் பரிசு பாடினார்

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

நூலடைந்த கொள்கையாலே நுன்னடி கூடுதற்கு

மாலடைந்த நால்வர் கேட்க நல்கிய நல்லறத்தை

ஆலடைந்த நீழல்மேவி அருமறை சொன்னதென்னே

சேலடைந்த தண்கழனிச் சேய்ஞலூர் மேயவனே

.......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

-“ஏழ்புவிக்குள்

வாய்ஞ்ஞலூர் ஈதேமருவ என வானவர்சேர்

சேய்ஞ்ஞலூர் இன்பச் செழுங்கனியே

......... திரு அருட்பா

கருணை வடிவானநின் புடைசூழவே பெரிய காவேரி நாடு வாழ்க

கைவேலி னால்மண்ணி நதியழைத் தேதேவர் கம்மியன் றான்படைத்த

திருநகர் மாம்பெரிய சேஞ்ஞலூர் வாழ்முருக செவ்வாயின் முத்தமருளே

சிவபூசை செய்தருட் படையொன்று பெற்றவன் செவ்வாயின்  முத்தமருளே

........ க்ஷேத்திரக்கோவை பிள்ளைத்தமிழ்

Moolavar  : Sri Satyagireeswarar, Sri Satyagirinathar

Consort    : Sri Sakidevi Ammai.

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

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. This temple is a mada type of temple on two levels with praaram on both levels. Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of the sanctum. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.

In Maha mandapam Natarajar darshan, Bhairavar (Tap on the side of Bhairavar, you will hear venkala/bronze bell sound by placing ear on the wall near Suryan &  Chandran ), Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar, Vinayagar, Murugan sitting on a Peacock without his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar and Sakthi Gireeswarar. On Chandikeswarar murti – pirai on head, Sadai, Kundalam, and Gangai are shown. In this posture, Lord Shiva gave darshan to Chandikeswara Nayanar. Ambal Sannadhi is a little away facing east.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam, maha mandapam  and a mukha mandapam. A vesara Vimana is on the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This is one of the 70,  Mada Temples built by Ko Chengat Chozha, in which steps are provided so that elephants cannot climb up easily. The entrance of the sanctum sanctorum is also narrow. The Ko Chengat Chozha’s brick temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during the medieval Chozha period and later expanded during the Vijayanagara Period.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th Feb 2000 and 12^th September 2014.

LEGENDS

Chandikeswarar’s legend is associated with this temple. Senganur is the birthplace of Chandikeswara Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. Chandikeswara, as a Young boy Visara Saruman was taught Vedas at the age of 7. He was forced to take up the job of shepherding, when a shepherd,  was beating his cow and Calf. He used to bring the cows to Thiruvoipadi for grazing. After leaving the cows for grazing Visara Sarumar used to make Shiva Linga, out of the sand and start worshiping. He milked from the Cows and did abhishekam, too. But the Cows gave milk more than before, due to the affectionate behaviour of Visara Sarumar.

The Shepherd, who gave the cows to him, watched his activities, and told the owners and Visara Sarumar’s father, that he was milking cows and pouring on the sand. On seeing Visara Sarumar doing pooja to sand Shiva Linga and doing abhishekam with milk, his father got angry. He kicked off the sand Shiva Linga and the milk pot when Visara Sarumar was in deep meditation. Angered Visara Sarumar, took the stick and threw it on his father’s leg. The stick turned to Mazhu and cut off the leg.  Seeing his devotion Lord Shiva with Parvati appeared and blessed him. One step further Lord Shiva garlanded him on his head with the kondrai flower that he wears and elevated him as Chandikeswarar to take care of his wealth. Visara Sarumar attained Mukthi at Thiruvoipadi. 

In another legend, there was a contest between Adhishesan and Vayu regarding who was great and powerful. Adiseshan held the Mount Meru and Vayu blew violently. Due to this, a piece was thrown out from Mount Meru and fell down on this place. Hence this place is called Satyagiri and Lord Shiva is called Satyagireeswarar. 

This place is considered more sacred than Kashi and devotees worship Lord Shiva to regain their lost powers/position, prosperity, and wealth. It is believed that Ko Chengat Chozha, Kambeeli King Sibi Chakravarthy, and Ayodhya King Harichandra worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Chandikeswara Nayanar’s birth star Uthiram day in the month of Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in Avani ( August – Sep ), Skanda Sashti and Annabishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – November ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ) and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ). 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 09.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mobile and landline numbers are: 93459 82373 and 0435 2457 459.

Ramakrishna Gurukal may be contacted on his mobile at +91 93459 82373 and +91 94890 35556 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This place Senganur is on the Kumbakonam to Thiruppanandal route, after Nedunkollai - Senganur Koot road – Sri Chandikeswara Nayanar Arch – right side road 1 Km.

The Temple at Senganur is about 4 KM from Thiruppanandal, 17 KM from Kumbakonam, 32 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 56 KM from Thanjavur, and 265 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Chandikeswarar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---