Sri Vijaya Natheswarar Temple / Vijayanatheswarar Temple / திருவிஜயமங்கை விஜயநாதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thiruvijayamangai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 101^st  Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 47^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is called Vijayamangai and the place is called Govanthaputhur. Locals call, it Gokaranthaputhur. This was mentioned in Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Thevaram as.. கொள்ளிடக்கரைக் கோவந்தபுத்தூரில் வெள்ளிடைக் கருள் செய்விசயமங்கை.

Some experts claim that the 101^st  Thevaram Paadal Petr Shiva Sthalam and 47^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu, is the Govindaputhur Shiva Temple, just opposite side of this temple and not this temple. This temple's location and the name matches with Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal's Thevera Pathigam. And some people believe that that temple is also a Thevara Vaippu Sthalam.  

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

அந்தணர்விசய மங்கையினில் அங்கணர்

தம்தனி ஆலயம் சூழ்ந்து தாழ்ந்துமுன்

வந்தனை செய்து கோதனத்தை மன்னிய

செந்தமிழ் மாலையில் சிறப்பித்து ஏத்தினார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Ramalinga Adigalar have sung hymns praising Lord Shiva of this temple.

மருவமர் குழலுமை பங்கர் வார்சடை

அரவமர் கொள்கையெம் அடிகள் கோயிலாம்

குரவமர் சுரபுன்னை கோங்கு வேங்கைகள்

விரவிய பொழிலணி விசய மங்கையே

தோடமர் காதினன் துதைந்த நீற்றினன்

ஏடமர் கோதையோ டினித மர்விடம்

காடமர் மாகரி கதறப்போர்த்ததோர்

வேடம துடையணல் விசய மங்கையே.

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

பாண்டு வின் மகன் பார்த்தன் பணிசெய்து

வேண்டு நல் வரங்கொள் விசய மங்கை

ஆண்டவன் அடியே நினைந்து ஆசையால்

காண்டலே கருத்தாகி இருப்பனே

வந்து கேண்மின் மயல்தீர் மனிதர்காள்

வெந்த நீற்றன் விசயமங் கைப்பிரான்

சிந்தை யால்நினை வார்களைச் சிக்கெனப்

பந்து வாக்கி உய்யக்கொளுங் காண்மினே.

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                    ---“மாற்கருவின்

கண்விசைய மங்கைக் கனிபோற் பெறத் தொண்டர்

எண்விசைய மங்கையில் வாழ் என்குருவே

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Vijaya Natheswarar 

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai, Sri Mangai Nayagi.

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

The temple faces east with an entrance arch with Shiva & Parvati stucco image. Vinayagar, Rishabam, and balipeedam are after the entrance arch. Arjuna’s bow hit mark is on the swayambu Moolavar and Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In koshtam only Dakshinamurthy. 

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

In ardha mandapam Vinayagar, Bala Murugan, Kasi Viswanathar & Visalakshi, Navagrahas, Kala Bairavar, Suriyan and Nalvar. In Outer praharam Vinayagar, Nagars and Chandikeswarar. 

The temple is small but maintained beautifully. The kumbabishekam might have been conducted in recent years. Moolavar Vimanam is higher than the entrance Rajagopuram.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam, and a meta color sheet mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha upanam, pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with, kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and Vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi, kapotam and Viyyalavari. The temple was constructed with stone from Adhistanam to prastaram with stone. The Vimanam above the Bhumi Desam was constructed with bricks. The Vimanam is of two talas ( including adhi tala ), greevam and Nagara sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Tala and Greeva koshtams. 

Yazhi must be in the Bhoomi Desam... placed wrongly during renovations

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The sanctum sanctorum was reconstructed ( May be during the Chozha period with stone and the rest are in brick structure.  

The available inscriptions belong to Madurai Konda Koparakesarivarmar, Parakesari Uthama Chozha, Rajendra Chozha-I, Kulothunga Chozha-I and III, Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Rajarajan (maybe III). As per the inscriptions, this place Vijayamangai was in Vadakarai Rajendra Singa valanattu Periya Vanavan Mahadevi Chathurvedi mangalathu Vijayamangai ( Rajendra Chozha –I period ) and Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Innambar Nattu Vijayamangai ( during Kulothunga Chozha –III ). Lord Shiva was called as Vijayamangalamudaya Mahadevar, Vijayamangalathu Mahadevar, Vijayamangalamudaya Paramasamy.

Rajaraja-I’s 3^rd year reign inscription records the construction of the Moolavar vimana by Udayar Mummudi Chozhan Thevar Peruntharaththu Kuvalaalamudayar Ambalavan, Pazhuvur Nakan alias Vikrama Chozha maharajan ( Perumtharathu – a Noble man / a regional King – Kurunila mannan ). One of the 3^rd  Year Reign inscriptions the inscription was inscribed as per the agreement reached.

Another inscription records the endowment of  4 kala poojas,  with Naivedyam, as rice, Porikayamuthu, Puzhukkayamuthu, Kariyamuthu, Neiamuthu ( ghee rice ), Thayiramuthu ( Curd rice ), Adaikkai Amuthu ( beetle nut and leaf ), Verungai / vegetables, and the pooja materials like Sandal, Sandal paste, Camphor,  Milk, Vasthiram ( dress cloths ), 5 Perpetual lamps, 4 lamps for morning, Uchikalam 8 and night 14 sandhi lamps for which, a land was donated to this temple.

Rajrarajan-I’s 7th-year reign inscription records that Ambalavan Pazhuvur Nakkan alias Rajarajara Pallavaraiyan established the Natarajar  with Umapatlaki ( Sivakami ) and donated ornaments. 

Rajaraja-I’s 32nd-year reign inscription records that there was a mutt called Thiruthondar Thokaiyan Thirumadam that existed during his period.

One of the inscription records that there was a sabha functioned in the Village  and used to assemble at Vinaiyabarana Vinakara Perumanadigal ( a Perumal Temple ). Before the sabha assemble, the same will be informed to the villagers through beating of the drum and blowing of Kalam ( a type of air instrument ). 

LEGENDS

The place obtained the name Vijayamangai since Arjuna also called Vijayan worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence called as Vijayamangai.

The Legend is associated with Arjuna to get the Pasupata astra from Lord Shiva. As per the legend, Arjuna did a penance on Lord Shiva to get the Pasupata Astra to win over the Duryodhana in the war. Duryodhana sent Mukasura in the form of a pig to disturb Arjuna’s penance. In the meantime, Lord Shiva and Parvati took the form of Hunter and came to the forest. On seeing the Pig both shoot the pig with an arrow. Both Lord Shiva and Arjuna claimed that their arrow only killed the Pig, This leads to a tussle between them. Arjuna’s bow was broken. Angered Arjuna hit Lord Shiva with his bow. This blow was felt by all the lokas. Arjuna realized his mistake and prayed to Lord Shiva to pardon him. Lord Shiva pardoned Arjuna and blessed him with pasupata astra. The scar can be seen on Moolavar.

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 (Sep-Oct), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Sankranthi in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ),  Masi Maham and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and Pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Landline number +91 435 294 1912 and  Mobile numbers +91 94435 86453 and +91 93443 30834, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

The temple is between Thiruvaikavur and Thirupurambiyam, 100 meters off the road. 2 Km from Thiruvaikavur another Paadal Petra Sthalam.

The temple is 14 KM from Kumbakonam, 48 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 36 KM from Thanjavur, and 286 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:     CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---