Sri Karumbeswarar Temple /Sri Karumbeeshwarar Temple / Semmeninathar Temple /திருக்கானூர் செம்மேனிநாதர் திருக்கோவில், கரும்பேஸ்வரர் / Thirukkanur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 110^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 56^th  Sthalam on the North side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The Temple is on the banks of river Kollidam. The temple alone stands with paddy fields around. Now there is no settlement found around the temple and called as “Manal Medu” near Vishnampettai.

     

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar, after stayed for some days at Thirumazhapadi and came to this temple.

அதன் மருங்கு கடந்து அருளால் திருக்கானூர் பணிந்து ஏத்தி ஆன்ற சைவ

முதல் மறையோர் அன்பில் ஆலந்துறையின் முன்னவனைத் தொழுது போற்றிப்

பதம் நிறை செந்தமிழ்பாடிச் சடைமுடியார் பயில்பதியும் பணிந்து பாடி

மதகரட வரை உரித்தார் வடகரை மாந் துறை அணைந்தார் மணிநூல் மார்பர்

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

வானார்சோதி மன்னுசென்னி வன்னி புனங் கொன்றைத்

தேனார் போது தானார் கங்கை திங்களொடு சூடி

மானோர் நோக்கி கண்டங்கு உவப்ப மாலை ஆடுவார்

கானூர் மேய கண்ணார் நெற்றி யானூர் செல்வாரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

திருவின் நாதனும் செம்மலர் மேலுறை

உருவானயுலகத்தின் உயிர்க் கெலாம்

கருவனாகி முளைத்தவன் கானூரில்

பரமனாய பரஞ்சுடர் காண்மினே

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                -- தேய்க்களங்கில்

வானூர் மதிபோன் மணியாற் குமுதமலர்

கானூர் உயர் தங்கக் கட்டியே

........ திரு அருட்பா   

Moolavar  : Sri Karumbeswarar, Sri Semmeninathar

Consort    : Sri Sivaloka Nayaki / Shivayoga Nayaki

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

The temple is facing east with a two tier Rajagopuram.  A solar and lunar eclipse reliefs are carved in the form of Sun, moon and Snake on the ceiling of Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum. In sanctum Moolavar is swayambhu. In koshtam Pichadanar, Kalabhairava, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai.   

Nagar, Vishnu, Dharmasastha, Nalvar, Chandran and Suriyan are in the Artha mandapam.  In prakaram Sri Valli Devasena  Subramaniar, Vinayagar and Chandikeswarar.

Ambal is of salakrama Vigraha. Ambal is in a separate temple  facing south with a vesara Vimana. There is no murtis in the koshtam.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Once the temple was completely covered with sand and a sugar cane was grown on the top of the sand heap. The temple was discovered after removing the heap of sand and hence the Lord Shiva is called as Karumbeswarar. The original temple might have existed before 7^th Century. As per the inscriptions This place was in Rajaraja valanattu Poikayurnattu Panipathi mangalam, Karikala Chozha Chaturvedi mangalam Thirukkanur.

The outer prakara of the temple inscription mentions Lord Shiva as Ikshuvaneswara of this Village. Though the inscription seems to be a continuous one, in the palm leaf it appears to comprise two fragments. One Part of the inscription starts with Vira Rajendran’s meikeerthi, the year is not known.

The other piece records the donation of land to this temple and also mentions a Vishnu temple’s name as Tirumerur Koil, probably Manavala Alwar Temple. Whether both fragments belongs to single inscription or not.

Another Palm leaf inscription and written on the Gopura belongs to Adhirajendra’s 3^rd reign year, records the sale of land and house by the sabhai / assembly, Alaiyur a Brahmadeya in Poigainadu which was a sub division of Vadakarai Rajendrasinga valanadu to the Vishnu temple,  and the land was near the Veerarajendradeva Vaikkal.

Another Veerarajendras’ 6^th reign year records the conversion of land in to Tax free after getting 60 Kasu.

The Pandya period 1355 CE, inscription of Maravarman alias Tribhuvana Chakravarthi Kulasekara Deva’s 41^st reign year,  is damaged in the middle portion. Mentions the temple of Panipattimangalam alias Karikala Chozha Chaturvedi mangalam, in Poikai nadu a sub division of Vadakarai Rajaraja valanadu. The endowment and donation is not known.    

During 1924 flood,  the temple was completely covered with sand dune and a sugar cane was grown on the top. The temple was brought back to worship with appreciable effort of N Subramania Iyer. Hence called as Karumbeswarar.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 24^th August 1980.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Karikala Chozhan as an young boy was stayed here with his mother when Chozha country was under the rule of Pandyas. After Chozhas recaptured Chozha country and an elephant was sent to pick him up to capital Uraiyur. Latter he was made as King and he was the instrumental in constructing the Kallanai.  

Ma Parvati had chosen this place for doing penance on Lord Shiva. Pleased by he penance Lord Shiva appeared in the form of red fire and praised as “Semmeni Nathar” and Ambal is called as Shiva Yoga nayaki. 

It is believed that Surya worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Sun rays falls on moolavar on 2^nd to 4^th April every year.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Avani Moola Star Day in the month August – September, Thai Pournami day / Full moon day and in the month Panguni ie April 2^nd to 4^th when sunrays falls on moolavar. No Special Poojas or festivals are celebrated in this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple kept opened between 10.00 hrs to 11.30 hra and 15.30 hrs to 17.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

Before going to this temple it is necessary to go along with Gurukkal, who has the key. Thirukkattupalli ( Market area ) Murugan Temple Gurukkal temple is  looking after this Thirukkanur Shiva Temple also ( Residence is very near Murugan temple ). Land line and mobile numbers  +91 4362 320067 and  +91 93450 09344, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

The temple is about 5 KM from Thirukattupalli. There is no proper transport  to reach this temple.  Nearest village is Vishnampettai. 

From Thirukattupalli one can reach the temple through rented cycle. From Thirukattupalli, hire an auto to go to the temple.

The temple is 5 KM from Thirukattupalli, 18.5 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 30 KM from Thanjavur, 41 KM from Tiruchirappalli, 51 KM from Ariyalur and 332 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Rishabanthigar

The place in front of the temple

Approach road to the temple.

Ceiling - eclipse reliefs

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---