Erumbeeswarar Temple / எறும்பீஸ்வரர் கோயில் Thiruverumbur, Tiruchirapalli District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 124^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 7^th  Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Erumbiyur from the 6th to the 7th Century and is now called Thiruverumbur. As per Purana, this hill temple was called Pipileecharam, Manikoodam, Rathnakoodam, Thiruverumbipuram, Erumbeesan, Brahmapuram, Lakshmipuram, Madhuvanapuram and Kumarapuram.  During the Chozha period, this temple was called South Kailash.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar Worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvathurai ( Lalgudi ), but we couldn’t get the hymns sung by him.

ஏறுஉயர்த்தார் திருப்பாற்றுறையும் எறும்பியூர் மாமலையே முதலா

வேறுபதிகள் பலவும் போற்றி விரவும் திருத்தொண்டர் வந்து சூழ

ஈறுஇல் புகழ்ச்சண்பையாளியாளியார் தாம் எண்திசையோரும் தொழுது இறைஞ்ச

நீறுஅணி செம்பவளப் பொருப்பின் நெடுங்களமாநகர் சென்று சேர்ந்தார்

……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of  Thiruppatrurai / Thirupalathaurai.

சிலந்திக்கு அருளும் கழல்வணங்கக் செஞ்சொல் மாலை பலபாடி

இலங்கு சடையார் எறும்பியூர் மாலையும் இறைஞ்சிப் பாடியபின்

மலர்ந்த சோதித் திருச்சிராப் பள்ளி மலையும் கற்குடியும்

நலங்கொள் செல்வத் திருப்பராய்த் துறையும் தொழுவான் நண்ணினார்

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar (the hymns sung by his are not available), Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

பன்னிய செந்தமிழறியேன் கவியேன் மாட்டேன்

       எண்ணோடு பண்நிறைந்த கலைகளாய

தன்னையுந்தன் திறத்தறியாய் பொறியிலேனைத்

        தன் திறமும் அறிவித்து நெறியுங் காட்டி

அன்னையையும் அத்தனையையும் போல அன்பாய்

        அடைந் தேனைத் தொடர்ந்தென்னை ஆளாகக்கொண்ட

தென்எறும்பியூர் மலைமேல் மாணிக்கத்தைச்

        செழுஞ்சுடரைச் சென்றடையப் பெற்றேன் நானே

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்:

இறும்பான சிறகரரிந்து லகுயிரைக் காத்த இருங்குலிசக் கையான்

எறும்பான அஃறுணையின் உருக்கொடுநம் இறைவனை இகவா அன்பான்

நறும் பாதவஞ்செறியும் எறும்பீசந்தனை யெய்தி நண்ணிப்பூசை

உறும் பாசமகற்றிடச் செய்எறும்பீசன் அடிமலரை உன்னி வாழ்வாம்.

…….. தலபுராணம் சுவாமி துதி

மகந்தனையே பலபுரிந்த மகவானும் அமலனடிமருவுமின்ப

சுகந்தனை யெய்திட எறும்பின் உருக்கொ டெறும் பீசத்தே சூழ்ந்து போற்ற

உகந்தனையான் தனக்குதவும் இறைவனிடப் பாகத்தே ஒருவ தோங்கும்

சுகந்தநறுங் கழலமுதை அன்பின் மொழிந்தென் பிறவித் துரிசுதீர்வாம்

…….. தலபுராணம் – அம்பாள்துதி

நின்றழல் மெய்யன்றெனவே நேர்ந்துலகு வாழ்த்துகின்ற

நன்றெறும்பி யூரிலிங்கு நன்னெறியே

……… திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pipilikeswarar, Sri Erumbeeswarar,

                  Sri Erumbesar,   Sri Mathuvaneswarar,

                  Sri Manokoodachalapathy, Sri Manicka nagar.

Consort    : Sri Soundara Nayagi, Sri Madhuvaneswari,

                  Sri Rathinambal.

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

The temple is on a small hill with 125 steps, Selva Vinayagar, and a Stone mandapa. A Rajagopuram is in front of sanctum sanctorum. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum Sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of Sanctum Sanctorum. Of the two dwarapalakas at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum, one dwarapalaka has a fierce look and the other a smiling look. 

Moolavar is of Swayambhu, an anthill slightly slanting towards the north. A gap is visible on the Shiva Linga, which divides it into two parts. The left part is believed to be Sakti, and the right part is Shiva; hence, the Shiva Linga is praised as “Sivasakthi.” No abhishekam is done for moolavar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Sankaranarayanan, Brahma and Durgai.  

In praharam Nalvar, Saptamatrikas, Vinayagar, Kashi Vishwanath, Arumugar with Valli Devasena between the two Kailasanathar sannadhis (Ashata Kona Chakra is installed at the peedam), Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas (Suryan is with two wives) and Swarna kala Bhairavar. Gajalakshmi is opposite to  Bhairavar in one sannadhi. Sankaranarayanar and Natarajar with anklet are also in the praharam, There is a subway near Nalvar, believed to be an escape route to Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort.

The Ambal Sannadhi was built separately, with a nagara vimana outside the main praharam. The Ambal faces south. There are two Ambals in one sannadhi. Since the Lotus flower was damaged in one Ambal, a new idol was installed alongside the old one. Different alangaras/decorations are done for each day.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, and Artha mandapam. An ekathala vesara Vimanam is on the main sanctum Sanctorum. But Ambal temple Vimanam is of Nagara Style. The pillars of the Artha mandapam are to be watched for its beauty. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple existed before the 6^th to 7^th Century, and may have been built during Pallava’s period and later reconstructed during Chozhas.   The inscriptions belong to Chozha Kings Aditha Chozha-I, Gandraditha Chozha, Sundara Chozha, and Rajarajan-I. As per the inscriptions this place was mentioned as Srikanda Chaturvedi Mangalam and Lord Shiva was called Thenkailayathu Mahadevar, Thiruverumbur alwar, Thirumalaialzhvar, Thiruverumbur Udaya Nnayanar and Piplikeswarar ( South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. XIII.See also The Cholas, No. 50, 51, 88, 110-114, 138-140, 162-166, 283, 286 and 287).

The Kovi Rajakesaribarmar's 3^rd reign year inscription records that the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Vimana was built by Sirudavurudayan Velan Veeranarayanan alias Sembiyan Veithivelar of Sirudavoor. Also, he established an endowment of reciting the Nalvar Thevaram (Thirupathiyam) accompanied by playing Udukkai/Damaru & thalam for which land was donated. The donor also dug a channel for supplying water to the donated land,  called Uttamaseeli Vaykkal. The person was also gifted land for payment for the meikappan (watchman). 

Kovi Rajakesaribarmar’s 4^th  reign year inscription records that Thiruvaranga Devaradiyar Senthan Seiyyavaayamani established an endowment of burning a Sandhi Lamps, bringing Kaveri Water for naivedyam in Thooni Kollikudam (Vellikudam ..?) for which 10 Kalanju gold was deposited in the treasury and the interest earned from that is to be used at Thirukailayathu Mahadevar temple. She also gifted a land for the endowment of feeding 15 Brahmins for which a land was donated to this temple.

Kovi Rajakesari’s 5^th reign year ( Gandaraditha or Parantaka-II Sundara Chozha ) inscription records the endowment of feeding 15 Brahmanars, 2 Nazhi rice, Vegetables, Pulikari, Puzhukkukari, ½ padi ghee by Sirudavudayan Velan Veeranarayanan alias Sembiyan Veithivelar for which a land of 2 veli and 2 ma was gifted to this temple.

Kovi Rajakesaribaramar’s 5^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp with one ulakku ghee per day for which 6 ma land was gifted for the same gold was deposited with the sabha. The same king’s inscription records the endowment of a day perpetual lamp for which 45 Sheep/goats were gifted.  

In Continuation to another inscription of Kovi Rajakesari Barmar’s 19^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a Lamp by Tattan Sendi, wife of Agadiyan Narayanan Nakkan for the same 6 ma land was gifted and 10 Kalanju gold was deposited with the sabha at the Addita Bhattaraka sannadhi.

It seems that the temple was reconstructed due to damage caused by the Moguls. Later the temple was used for stay during the British and French wars in 1752 CE.

Ref: 

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 4

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 13

3. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 19

4. Thenninthiya Koil Sasanangal Volume-II

Inscriptions

LEGENDS

Muruga, Brahma, Rathi Indra, Agni, Agasthiyar, Sage Naimisa, and Kattankazhi Swamiji worshiped the Lord of this temple. Karnan, the brother of Thirisaran, who also worshiped Lord Shiva of Thayumanavar, took the form of Ant, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

As per the legend, Tharukasura,  a demon conquered Devas and tortured them. Unbearable Devas, approached Brahma for a remedy. Brahma advised them to go to this Shiva temple and worship him. Indra and Devas took the form of Ants, not too visible to Tharukasura, and worshiped Lord Shiva. Due to the oil on the Shiva Linga, the ants found it difficult to climb up and worship. Lord Shiva tilted the side to a certain angle, to facilitate Devas in the form of Ants to climb up and do worship. They prayed to Lord Shiva to get relief from Tharukasura. Satisfied with the prayers of Devas, Lord Shiva Killed Tharakasura and Devas got back Devlok. Hence Lord Shiva of this temple is called Erumbeeswarar. 

It is believed that, like "Thirisiran" worshiped Lord Shiva of Tiruchirapalli, a demon called  "Karan" also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. He took the form of an ant and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In another legend, Adiseshan and Vayu used to fight with each other, claiming each one as the greatest and strongest. This time Adhiseshan, holds Meru Hill. Vayu blew the hill but couldn’t do so. 7 peaks of Mount Meru were blown out and fallen down on the earth. This is one such piece, which formed Thiruverumbur Hill.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( October – November ), Thirukarthigai in the moth Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ) and every month pradosam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 04.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

Mobile numbers +91 98429 57568, +91 99650 45666, and landline number +91 431 6574 738 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

All the town buses to Thuvakudi, BHEL, and NIT pass through this temple and the temple is on the roadside. Thiruverumbur is on the Tiruchirappalli to Thanjavur main road.

The temple is 11 km from Tiruchirappalli central bus stand, 10 km from Thayumanavar Temple, 11.5 km from Woraiyur, and 331 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Thiruverumbur and Junction is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---