This is the 122nd
Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 5th Sthalam on the south side
of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During 6th to 7th Century
this place was called as Mukkeecharam and now called as Uraiyur
also spelt as Woraiyur, a part of Tiruchirappalli and a Capital for Chozhas.
Pukazh Chozha ruled this place and all the three Kings ( Chera, Chozha &
Pandyas ) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. There is a proverb stating that
– “Oorenappaduvathu Woraiyur – ஊரெனப்படுவது உறையூர்”. This place is also called as Uranthai.
In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came
to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Karkudi.
கற்குடி மாமலை மேல்எழுந்து கனகக் கொழுந்தினையைக் கால்வளையப் பொன்திரன் மேருச்
சிலைவளைத்த போர்விடை யாளியைப் போற்றிசைத்துநல்தமிழ்மாலை புனைந்தருளி
ஞானசம்பந்தர் புலன்கள் ஐந்தும்செற்றவர் முக்கீச்சரம் பணிந்து திருச்சிராப்பள்ளிச் சிலம்பு அனைந்தார்
Thirugnanasambandar and
Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
சாந்தம் வெண்ணீறெனப் பூசி
வெள்ளஞ்சடைவைத்தவர் காந்தளாரும் விரலேழை
யொடாடிய காரணம்ஆய்ந்து கொண்டாங்கறியந்
நிறைந்தார வரார்கொலோவேந்தன் மூக்கிச்சரத்தடிகள் செய்கின்றதோர் மெய்ம்மையே……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர் ---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 in facing
east with a mandapam / Rajagopuram base at the entrance. A Three tier
Rajagopuram is at the entrance of 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 at Artha mandapam may be belongs to Pandya
period 8th century. In sanctum Moolavar is of swayambhu and very small in size. In koshtam
Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma and
Durgai.
In Prakaram 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.
Lot of sculptures are
on the Mandapa stone pillars. Of which,
Elephant of Chozha King was defeated by a Cock / fowl in a fight relief (
Uraiyur also called as கோழியூர் ) and 5 ladies forms a horse, Ladies
forms as Elephant and Manmathan on the elephant with sugarcane bow and arrow, Kali’s dance, Bhairavar, Rishabnthigar, Vyaghrapada, Pathanjali, Mahavishnu,
Pichadanar, Thiripuranthagar, Oorthuva thandavar, Maha Vishnu worships Lord
Shiva, etc. The temple structure / pillars are beautifully chiseled.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the
original temple might have existed before 7th Century and believed that
the same was re-built by Varaguna Pandya –II. The same was reconstructed /
renovated /extended during Chozhas, Vijayanagaras and Nattukottai Nagarathars.
Most of the inscriptions recorded belongs to Chozhas. Most of the
inscriptions records the burning of Perpetual lamps, poojas, Naivedyam for
which land, Money, Land, Cow, Sheep was gifted / donated to this temple.
As Per the inscriptions This place was under Keralanthaka valanattuUraiyur
Kootrathu Uraiyur, Rajakambeeravalanattu Uraiyur, The place was also called as Rjasraya
Chathurvedi 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 records 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. The temple was renovated
during 2002.
LEGENDSIt is believed that Brahma,
Garuda, Kasyapa muni, Karkodakan, Uthanga Muni, Pukazh Chozha nayanar, Ko
Chengat – Chozha worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Those are suffering from Naga dosha and
Garudan, may get relieved after worshiping Karkodakan and Garuda of this temple.
It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple is equivalent to worshiping
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 ( some
body claims it was Karikal Chozha ), was in procession on an Elephant, a Cock
killed the king’s elephant. Hence this place was called as “Kozhiyur – கோழியூர் “. Depicting this
sthala purana, many sculptures are on the pillars of the mandapa like cock
fighting with Elephant ( may be done during Nattukottai nagarathar’s thirupani
).
As per another
legend a person from Thirupparaithurai
came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. He incurred a 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
place and started destroying the Vilvavana. The hunters chased the pig and in
the process of running the pig fell in to the temple tank and attained mukti.
A bas-relief is in the temple tank depicting this legend.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS Apart from regular poojas
special poojas are conducted on Chitra pournami in the month Chithirai ( April
– May ), Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aani Thirumanjanam (
June- July ), Poornima in the month Aadi ( July – August – This is the day
Lord Shiva gave darshan to Uthanga Muni as Panchavarneswarar ), Avani Moolam in the month Aavani ( July – Aug
), Navaratri and annabhishekam in the
month Aippasi ( Sep – October ), Thiruvathirai
in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( January ),
Maha Shivaratri in the month Vaikasi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the
month Panguni ( March – April ) and Monthly pradosham.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept
opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS: Land line +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
Central Bus-stand and Chatram Bus-stand. The Temple is 3.7 KM from
Uyyakondan Thirumalai Temple, 16 KM from Thirupparaithurai and 325 KM from
Chennai. Nearest Railway station
is Tiruchirappalli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
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 7th Century and believed that
the same was re-built 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.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
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