This is the 122nd
Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 5th Sthalam on the south side
of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During the 6th to 7th Century
this place was called Mukkeecharam and now called Uraiyur
also spelt as Woraiyur, a part of Tiruchirappalli and a Capital for Chozhas.
Pukazh Chozha ruled this place and all three Kings (Chera, Chozha &
Pandyas) worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. There is a proverb stating that
– “Oorenappaduvathu Woraiyur – ஊரெனப்படுவது உறையூர்”. This place is also called Uranthai.
In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came
to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Karkudi.
கற்குடி மாமலை மேல்எழுந்து கனகக் கொழுந்தினையைக் கால்வளையப்
Thirugnanasambandar and
Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
சாந்தம் வெண்ணீறெனப் பூசி
வெள்ளஞ்சடைவைத்தவர் ---சிற்சுகத்தார் பிற்சநந மில்லாப்
பெருமைதரும் உறையூர்ச்சற்சனர்சேர் மூக்கீச் சரத்தணியே………. திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Panchavarneswarar Consort : Sri GandhimathiSthalaviruksham :
Vilvam.
Some of the important
features of this temple are...The temple faces east with a mandapam/Rajagopuram base at the entrance. A three-tier
Rajagopuram is at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Rishabam under a mandapa
and balipeedam are before the Rajagopuram. In addition to this, a Rishaba mandapam
with Dwajasthambam and balipeedam are after Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are at
the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum ie artha mandapam may belong to the Pandya
period 8th century. In the sanctum, Moolavar is of swayambhu and very small in size. In kostam
Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma, and
Durgai.
In praharam Chandikeswarar,
Uthanga Mamunivar, Pukazh Chozha Nayanar, 63var with Santhana Kuravas, Karpaga
Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Nalvar, Uchishta Ganapathy, Nagars, Thanthondreeswarar, Mahavishnu, Suryan, Kala
Bhairavar, and Shaniswarar,
Ambal Gandhimathi is
holding Angusam & Lotus in a
separate sannadhi in maha mandapam and facing North.
A lot of sculptures are
on the Mandapa stone pillars. Of which, the Elephant of Chozha King was defeated by a Cock/fowl in a fight relief (Uraiyur also called கோழியூர்), 5 ladies form a horse, Ladies
forms as Elephant, Manmathan on the elephant with sugarcane bow & arrow, Kali’s dance, Bhairavar, Rishabnthigar, Vyaghrapada, Pathanjali, Mahavishnu,
Pichadanar, Thiripuranthagar, Oorthuva Thandavar, Maha Vishnu worship Lord
Shiva, etc are worth to see. The temple structure/pillars are beautifully chiselled. (Nattukottai Nagarathar's thirupani).
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the
original temple might have existed before the 7th Century and believed that
the same was rebuilt by Varaguna Pandya –II. The same was reconstructed/renovated/extended during Chozhas, Vijayanagaras and Nattukottai Nagarathars.
Most of the inscriptions recorded belong to Chozhas. Most of the
inscriptions record the burning of Perpetual lamps, poojas, and Naivedyam for
which land, Money, Land, Cow, and Sheep were gifted/donated to this temple.
As Per the inscriptions, This place was under Keralanthaka valanattuUraiyur
Kootrathu Uraiyur, Rajakambeeravalanattu Uraiyur, The place was also called Rjasraya
Chaturvedi Mangalam and Lord Shiva was called as Uraiyur Mahadevar,
Thiruuadaithalai Mahadevar.
Parakesari Varman’s period inscription records the endowment of
Daily poojas. The Rajendran period
inscription records that the Village Karpaga Nallur was gifted to this temple.
Kovi Rajakesari Varmar’s
2nd reign year inscription records the endowment of supplying one
ulakku ghee for burning a perpetual lamp by Kavuniyan Neri…. Of Uraiyur
Kootrathu Uraiyur. Brahmadeya Village, for which a land was gifted to this
temple.
Gandaradithya’s 3rd
reign year inscription Records a gift
of land by a certain Kaviniyan Kirttima (r)ttanda Brahmadharajan alias Se…… Kunjaramallan for
offering to the deity during the early morning Service in the temple of
Udaitalaipperumal of the Village. Mention is made of two fields, one called
Kunjaramalla Vayakkal and the other Velkula Bhima Vayakkal. By Velkula –Bhima
is perhaps meant the eastern Chalukya Bhima-II: more probably it might be a
title of Parantaka-I assumed after his overthrow of Sitpuli ( Nadu..?) in
Nellore which formed part of the eastern Chalukya dominion ( M.E.R 1913 p 94).
Kirttimarttanda was a probable surname of the Rashtrakuta King Krishna-III (
MER 1936- 37 page 20). This should be a record of Gandaradithya
The 885 CE, Varaguna
Pandya-II, inscription records the donation of gold coins to the Village sabha
for performing Poojas,
The Inscription Varaguna
Pandya at Tiruchirappalli Thayumanavar temple records the donations made to
this temple.
Inscriptions
LEGENDSIt is believed that Brahma,
Garuda, Kasyapa muni, Karkodakan, Uthanga Muni, Pukazh Chozha Nayanar, and Ko
Chengat – Chozha worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple. Those who are suffering from Naga dosha and
Garudan may get relieved after worshipping Karkodakan and Garuda of this temple.
It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva of this temple is equivalent to worshipping
Lord Shivas of all the Pancha Bhoota Sthalas Chidambaram, Thiruvanaikaval, Kanchipuram, Kalahasti and Thiruvannamalai.
Lord Shiva gave darshan
to Uthangamuni in 5 different colours. In day time moolavar changes his colour
once in 6 Nazhigai time. First 6 Nazhigai – 6 hrs to 8.24 Hrs in Thamiram /
Copper, 2nd 6 nazhigai ie 6-12 ie 8.25 hrs to 10.48 hrs in
Ilam sivappu / light red in colour, next 12 – 18 Nazhigai ie 10.49 hrs
to 13.12 hrs in molten Gold Colour, next 18 to 24 nazhigai ie 13.13 hrs to 15.36 hrs in
Navarathna Green, next 23 – 30 nazhigai ie 15.37 hrs to 18.00 hrs in a colour
could not be identified.
In another legend when
the Chozha King Veeravathithan (somebody claims it was Karikal Chozha ), was in procession on an Elephant, a Cock
killed the king’s elephant. Hence this place was called “Kozhiyur – கோழியூர் “. Depicting this
sthala purana, many sculptures are on the pillars of the mandapa like cock
fighting with an elephant ( may be done during Nattukottai nagarathar’s thirupani
).
As per another
legend, a person from Thirupparaithurai
came to this temple and worshipped Lord Shiva. He incurred the sin of blowing Vibhuthi,
through his mouth. Due to this he was born as a wild pig in the next birth and wandered many places. Finally, he came to a place and started destroying the Vilvavana. The hunters chased the pig and in
the process of running the pig fell into the temple tank and attained mukti.
A bas-relief is in the temple tank depicting this legend. 
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept
open between 06.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS: The landline +91 431 276 8546 and mobile numbers
+91 94439 19091 and +91 97918 06457 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH : This temple is located
in the Woraiyur / Uraiyur market area and Woraiyur / Uraiyur is part
of Tiruchirappalli City. Town buses are available from both the Central Bus-stand and the Chatram Bus-stand. The Temple is 3.7 km from
Uyyakondan Thirumalai Temple, 16 km from Thirupparaithurai and 325 km from
Chennai. The nearest Railway station
is Tiruchirappalli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
கற்குடி மாமலை மேல்எழுந்து கனகக் கொழுந்தினையைக் கால்வளையப்
சாந்தம் வெண்ணீறெனப் பூசி
வெள்ளஞ்சடைவைத்தவர்
---சிற்சுகத்தார்
Moolavar : Sri Panchavarneswarar
Since
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the
original temple might have existed before the 7th Century and believed that
the same was rebuilt by Varaguna Pandya –II. The same was reconstructed/renovated/extended during Chozhas, Vijayanagaras and Nattukottai Nagarathars.
The Inscription Varaguna
Pandya at Tiruchirappalli Thayumanavar temple records the donations made to
this temple.
Inscriptions
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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