Sri Agneeswarar Temple / அக்னீஸ்வரர் கோவில், மேலைதிருக்காட்டுப்பள்ளி / Thirukattupalli, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 126^th  Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 9^th  Sthalam on the South side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Since there are two places of the same name as Thirukattupalli, to differentiate, this place is called Melai Thirukattupalli, and the other one near Thiruvenkadu is called Keelai Thirukattupalli also called Parthanpalli. Thirugnanasambandar and Appar mention both temples as Kattupalli and this place is now called ( melai ) Thirukkattupalli.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunedunkalam.  

சென்றுதிகழ் திருக்காட்டுப் பள்ளிச் செஞ்சடை நம்பர்தம் கோயில் எய்தி

முன்றில் வலம்கொண்டு இறைஞ்சி வீழ்ந்து மொய்கழல் சேவடி கைதொழுவார்

கன்றுஅணை ஆவின் கருத்து வாய்ப்பக் கண்நுதலாரை முன்போற்றி செய்து

மன்றுள் நின்று ஆடல்மனத்துள் வைப்பார் வாருமன்னும் முலைபாடி வாழ்ந்தார்

…………. திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after Worshiping  Lord Shiva of Thirukkanur. He didn’t mention this place in particular but as other temples on the way.

தலையின் மயிரைப் பறித்து உண்ணும் சாதி அமணர் மறைத்தாலும்

நிலை இலாதார் நிலைமையினால் மறைக்க ஒண்ணுமோ என்னும்

விலைஇல் வாய்மைக் குறுந்தொகையுள் விளம்பிப் புறம்போந்து அங்கு அமர்ந்தே

இலைகொள் சூலப் படையார் சேர் இடங்கள் பிறவும் தொழ அணையார்

……திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

வேதனார் வெண்மழு ஏந்தினார் அங்கமுன்

ஓதினார் உமையொரு கூறனார் ஒண்குழைக்

காதினார் கடிபொழில் சூழ்ந்த காட்டுப் பள்ளி

நாதனார் திருவடி நாளும் நின்றேத்துமே

……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

மாட்டைத் தேடி மகிழ்ந்து நீர் நும்முளே

நாட்டுப் பொய் யெலாம் பேசிடும் நாணிலீர்

கூட்டை விட்டுயிர் போவதன் முன்னமே

காட்டுப் பள்ளி யுளான் கழல் சேர்மினே

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                          --எண்ணார்

தருக்காட்டுப் பள்ளித் தகைகொண்டோர் சூழுந்

திருக்காட்டுப் பள்ளியில் வாழ் தேவே

…….. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Agneeswarar, Sri Theeyadiappar

Consort    : Sri Soundara Nayaki, Sri Azhagammai

The following are important features of this temple.

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram and the inner Rajagopuram is of 3-tiers. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and a small Dwajasthambam are in a newly constructed mandapam after the Rajagopuram. The Sanctum is 4 steps below the ground level and the entrance is too small. Moolavar is of swayambhu and short. A 5 hooded snake/nagar is on the top of the moolavar. Nobody is allowed to enter the sanctum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Yoga Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma and Durgai. Lingothbavar is in a separate sannadhi, instead of Deva koshtam.

In the outer prakaram Natarajar Sabha, Urchavars and Navagrahas. In Navagrahas all the 8 grahas are facing Sun.

In the inner praharam Valampuri Vinayagar, Lingothbavar (in a separate sannadhi and not in koshtam), Arthanareeswarar, Sri Visalakshi & Viswanathar, Unnamulai Amman, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sri Bhudevi, Sridevi samedha Srinivasa Perumal, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, Chandikeswarar, Brahma (in a separate sannadhi and his curse was relieved in this temple) and Sattainathar. 

There are two Dakshinamurthy ie Guru Dakshinamurthy and Yoga Dakshinamurthy in this temple. Yoga Dakshinamurthy is in Kurangasana with two hands. Wears Suryan, Chandran and Makarakandi Rudraksha in the neck. In the Front mandapa on the right side Bhairavar and Nalvar.

Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south with Vesara Vimana. The dwarapalakis are of stucco. Stucco images of Shiva, Parvati, Murugan, Brahma, etc, are on the top of the Ambal temple Mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might have existed during the 6^th to 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed into to stone temple during the Chozha King Adithya- I, period.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Pandya Kulanasini Valanattu Thirukattupalli, Pandya kulasini Valanattu Eyila nattu Arkattu Kootrathu Melaimutti Thirukattupalli, Lord Shiva was called as Thirukattupalliudaya Nayanar, Thirukattupalli Udayar and Ambal was called as Thirukamakottamudaya Periya Nachiar Azhakamarmangai.

The Pandya King Sundara Pandya’s 7^th reign year Inscription records that Ambal Thirukamakottamudaya Periya Nachiyar Azhakamar mangai temple was constructed with stone for which land was donated by Virutharajabayangara  Valanattu Manninattu Brahmadesam kottur Mathiyathana Kotturudayan Uthanyanseithan Vignavinayagan alias Chembian Pallavarayan.

The Pandya King Konerimaikondan period inscription records the Gift of land to Ambal Thirukamakottamudaya Periya Nachiyar Azhakamar mangai temple as per the request of Kangeyarayan and Sethirayan. The order was issued in the form of Thirumanthira olai. 

The Chozha king Rajaraja-I’s 13^th reign inscription starts with his 1^st meikeerthi as Kanthalursalai Kalamaruthu…  records the gift of Land to this temple by Ambarudayan. This inscription also refers to the Sakthimutram Temple.

A Vikrama Chozha’s 14^th reign year inscription  is incomplete and not legible…

The Vijayanagara King Mahamandaleswaran Kandakandari Chaluva Chaluvathirumali Thevamahayirajar records the exemption of taxes and the same to be paid to the temple for the Poojas and maintenance. 

The Vijayanagara King Virupaksharaya’s son Prataba Devaraya Maharaya’s Saka 1387 ie 1466 CE inscription records the grant of  Land to create Nandavanam and thoppu/a Coconut farm, Jackfruit, etc,  and to celebrate Viruksha vahana festival, to take the utsavars in procession on sacred bull vahana to the thoppu.

Inscriptions 

Inscriptions Kulothunga Chozha's wife's name- Thina Chinthamani

LEGENDS

Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Suryan, Bagirathan, Agni, Woraiyur King and his wife worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.

During the Puranic period, Indra and Devas came to this temple and worshipped Lord Shiva. Surya prayed to Lord Shiva that, he was blamed for the things he touched getting burnt and wants to relieve from that blame.  Lord Shiva told Agni to create a Theertham, take a bath, and worship him to get rid of the blame the devotees who took a bath and worshiped Lord Shiva would also relieved from their sins. The devotees who worship after taking a bath in the Agni Theertham  on Karthigai Sundays, Masimaham, Panguni Uthiram, and Vaikasi Visakam will get the benefits.

The legend associated with Tiruchirappalli Thayumanavar Temple is also connected to this place. As per the legend, Saramamunivar, who is the descendant of Thirumoolar,  worshiped Lord Shiva with the Chevvanthi flower, hence Lord Shiva is called Chevvanthi Nathar. In continuation to the legend,  The Chozha King ruled this area keeping Woraiyur as the Capital city. A servant used to pluck the flowers of the Nandhavan and give them to the King's wives, who were living at Woraiyur and Thirukattupalli. The King’s wife who was at Woraiyur used for her use and the other Queen at Thirukattupalli offered to Lord Shiva. When this was reported the King didn’t take any action against that servant. So, it was reported this to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva turned to the west and created a sandy wind which created sand dunes to submerge Woraiyur. 

It is believed that Jains lived here from the 7^th to 8^th century and a 24^th Tirthankara idol was unearthed from this place.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Masi Maham and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( February – March ), Brahmotsavam in the month Panguni ( March – April ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The mobile number  +91 94423 47433 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH: 

Buses are available from Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur, Thirukandiyur and Kallanai.

The temple is 18 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 25 KM from Thanjavur, 35 KM from Thirunedungalam, 40 KM from Tiruchirappalli, and 334 KM from Chennai. 

Nearest Railway Station is Budalur and Railway Junction is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---