Sri Sivayoga Nathar Temple / Sri Sivayoginathar Temple / சிவயோகிநாதர் கோவில், திருவிசநல்லூர், Thiruvisanallur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 97^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 43^rd Shiva Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri. This place was called as called as Viyalur during 6^th to 7^th Century and now called as Thiruvisanallur or Thiruvisalur. Since there are many places in the name of Thiruvisalur in Thanjavur District, to differentiate this place is called as Pandaravaadai Thiruvisalur – Thiruvisanallur. 

This Thiruvisanallur is the birth place of Uyyavantha Deva Nayanar, who had composed the Siddhantha Sasthira, Thiruvunthiyar and the Saint Sriddhar Ayyaval.

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumangalakudi. Thiruvisalur Uyyavantha Deva Nayanar also sang hymns in praise of Shiva in Thiruvunthiyar. 

வெம்கண் விடைமேல் வருவார்’ வியலூர் அடிகளைப் போற்றி

தங்கிய இன்இசை கூடும் தமிழ்ப்பதிகத் தொடை சாத்தி

அங்கண் அமர்வார் தம்முன்னே அருள்வேடம் காட்டத் தொழுது

செங்கண்மாலுக்கு அரியார்தாம் திருந்து தேவன்குடி சேர்ந்தார்

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

குரவம் கமழ் நறுமென்குழல் அரிவை அவள்வெருவப்

பொரு வெங்கரி படவென்றதன் அரிவை உடல் அணிவோன்

அரவும் மலைபுனலும் இளமதியும் நகுதலையும்

விரவும் சடை அடிகட்கு இடம் விரிநீர் வியலூரே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                            --:ஓவின்

மயலூர் மனம்போல் வயலிற் கயலூர்

வியலூர் சிவானந்த வெற்பே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Yoganandheeswarar, Sri Purathaneswarar,

                  Sri Vivaranyeswarar, Sri Shivayoga Nathar

Consort    : Sri Santhanayagi, Sri Soundara Nayagi

Some of the important details are …

The temple is facing east with two Rajagopuram of  5  tiers.  Rishabam, Dwajasthambam and balipeedam are in between the two Rajagopuram. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Amman is in a separate temple like sannadhi on the right side of Rishabam.

In Prakaram Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Mahalingeswarar, Niruthi Vinayagar, Nagakanni, Saptamatrikas, Lakshmi Narayanar, Suriyan Chandran,  Navagrahas, Panchabhuta Lingas ( Bhumi Lingam, Jala Lingam, Agni Lingam, Vayu Lingam and Akasa Lingam representing Earth, water, Fire, Air and Sky ), Saint Uyyavantha Narayanar, Nalvar with Sekkizhar, Chathur kala Bhairavas, Kailasanathar, Bala Saneeswaran and Chandikeswarar.  

There are 4 Bhairavas namely, Gnana kala Bhairavar, Swarna akarshana Bhairavar, Unmatta Bhairava and Yoga Bhairavar are in north east corner along with Bala Saneeswarar.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. There is a solar clock  fixed on the south side of the temple compound wall which shows the accurate time. ( The same was checked between 06.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs, during my previous Visit ). 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original  temple ( a brick temple ) may be existed before 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha Period. The recorded inscriptions belongs to Parantaka-I, Rajaraja Chozha-I, Rajendra Chozha-II.  and Varaguna Pandian. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Vadakarai Rajendra Simha Chozhavala Nattu Manni Nattu Brahmadeya alias Veppathur Chozha Marthanda Chaturvedi Mangalam, Amaninarana Chaturvedi mangalam and Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvisalur Deva Pattararakar, Sivayoginathar, Thiruvisanallur Perumadigal.

Parantaka Chozha period inscription records the endowment of burning of perpetual  lamp for which lands and 90 Sheeps / Goats and Lands donated for Abhishekam. Another inscription records that land was donated  to bring the water from river Kaveri and the Salary for the persons brought.

The 11th Century Parantaka-I's inscription in the mandapam with Bas relief of a man worshiping Lord Shiva / Shiva Pooja and also the mandapam was constructed by him. The Bas relief consists of a Man worshiping a Shiva Linga decorated with garland, Doopakal, Standing Lamp and water in a vessel. The man was called as  Panaikali adigal alias Anandasivan  of Muzhaiyur. ( Thanks to Mr. Marirajan )

Parantaka Chozha-II, Sundara Chozha 2^nd year reign inscription records the endowment of feeding to Veda Brahmins every midday in the temple for which a land was purchased and gifted.

Rajaraja-I’s, 3^rd year reign inscription records the gift of tax free land after purchase by Siddhavadavan Suttiyar, a queen of Uthama Chozha and daughter of Miladu Chief, to provide 108 pots of water for the sacred bathe of Moolavar on sankranti day of every month and another inscription also mentions the same by Piratiyar Parantakan Madevadigal mother of Utama Chozha.

Rajendra Chozha's 4th reign year (1016-17 CE) inscription records the gift of Gold fillet for ornament and three Silver Vessels holding the offerings to god Mahadeva, by a Senapati (military officer) Solaimanikkam also called Naralokasundaran alias  Uttamasola Muvendavelan. In this inscription it is mentioned that Rajendra Simha and Sola Marttanda were the Surnames borne by the King's9 Rajendra ) father Rajaraja-I and Uttama Chozha was a title of Rajendra himself. 

 

Rajendran Period inscription records the donation of Lands to the temple and his Queen donated jewels  and Silver Kalasa for abhishekam to this temple.  Another inscription of, 12^th year reign records the gift of 12 Veli Land, by a lady Purva deviyar.

The Pandya King Varaguna Maharaja ( Varaguna Pandiyan )  period  X +13^th year reign inscription records the  some gift to the god of Avani narayana Chaturvedi mangalam.

Most of the inscriptions records the endowments of burning lamps, Sandhi lamps, Perpetual lamps, Naivedyam, Poojas, Service, feeding to Brahmins, celebrations for the same donations are made in terms of money, Gold, Land, cow, Sheep etc,.

Ref

Only some of the inscriptions are given from the reference given below. 

South Indian Inscriptions Volume 3, 13, 19, and 23. 

The front mandapam with sanctum was reconstructed during 1929 by Devakottai Nagarathars and Prakara mandapam  was also reconstructed using the same stones with inscriptions.  

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1928-29, 1931, and again in 1931, through Devakottai Sriman A. Rama. A. La. Arunachalam Chettair (தேவகோட்டை ஸ்ரீமான். அ. ராம. அ. லெ. அருணாசலம் செட்டியார்), who was the great grand father of Late Hon'ble Dr. Justice AR Lakshmanan, Supreme Court, Government of India.

In 2014 Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted through, Hon'ble Dr. Justice AR Lakshmanan’s family members contribution and public participation. AR. Ramanathan ( brother of Hon'ble Justice), who is residing in front of the temple, an ardent Devotee of Shiva, is an active participant of the temple activities.  

This Temple is one of the 88 temples, under the administrative control of Thanjavur Palace ( Marathas ).

LEGENDS

As per the legend this place exists in 4 yugas. Lord Shiva was worshiped as "Puranthaneswarar" in Krita yuga, Sri Vilvaranyeswarar in Treta Yuga, "Sri Yoga Nandeeswarar" in Dwapara yuga and "Sivayoginathar" in this Kali yuga.

Maha Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi received blessings from Lord Shiva during their Marriage. Lakshmi is sitting on the left lap of Maha Vishnu as Lakshmi Narayanar. Worshiping Lakshmi Narayanar. On Shravana nakshatra, Ekadasi and on all Saturdays is considered as auspicious for worshiping Lakshmi Narayanar.

There are 4 Bhairavas, called Chathur kala Bhairavas in this temple. For worshiping Bhairavas on ashtami day people used to throng in this temple. This sthalam is also a Bhairava, Saneeswaran, Guru and Rishaba Parihara kshethram. People worships Chathur ( four )  Kalabhairava  for Child boon, To get rid of poverty, Navagraha dosha,  to get back the lost property, to get married, etc.

Jadayu worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This is the birth place of Uyyavantha Nayanar, who wrote the Thiruvunthiyar.

A rare deity of Sri Lakshmi Narayanan is in the outer prakaram. People worship on Thiruvonam Nakshatra, Ekadasi tithi and Saturdays. Anusha Panchami festival is celebrated on when Anusham Nakshatra joins with Panchami tithi.

It is believed that still Agasthiyar come to this sthalam during Shivaratri day to worship Shiva after having bathe in theerthas.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from 4 kala regular poojas, Special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Adi month Fridays, Saturdays in the Month Puratasi, Navaratri, Margazhi month Thirupalli ezhuchi poojas, Monthly Two Ashtami Poojas, and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

HOW TO REACH : 

Mini bus available from Kumbakonam bus stand to Veppathur,  get down at  School stop from there  temple is 1 KM.  ( Karkadeswarar another Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam is jus 2 KM from here. )

The temple is 9.7 KM from Kumbakonam, 32 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 49 KM from Thanjavur, 70 KM from Chidambaram and 300 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE 

Brahma and Maha Vishnu worships Lord Shiva

King and Queen worships Lord Shiva of this Temple

Chaturkala Bhairavas

Maha Vishnu

Chandikeswarar

Brahma

Lakshmi Narayanar

Nalvar with Sekkizhar

Saptamatrikas

Hiranya vatham

Gajasanharamurti

Shiva and Parvati

Vali's death - all monkeys are mourning

Chandesa Anughrahamurthy

Pichadanar

A Sun dial Clock

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---