This
is the 132nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 15th
sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place is between Vennaru and Vettaru. This place was called Thenkudi Thittai during the 6th
to 7th Century and is now called Thittai. Since this place is on a raised
place – thittu – திட்டு-
மேடு, so this place is called as Thittai. During the Puranic period, this place was called Therur or Rathapuri (since King Sumali’s Rath was struck up in this place), Vilvaranyam, Vasishtaramam, Dhenupuri (since Kamadhenu worshiped), and Kudithveepam
(in Sanskrit).
In
Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple
after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvenni. He didn’t mention this temple in
particular but as other Shiva Temples on the way.
பாடி
நின்று பரவிப் பணிந்து போய்
Thirugnanasambandar,
Vallalar, and Umapathi Sivam have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this
temple.
முன்னைநான்
மறையவை மறைமுறை குறையொடும்தன்னதாள் தொழுதெழ நின்றவன் தன்னிடம்மன்னுமா
காவிரி வந்தடி வருடநல்செந்நெலார்
வளவயல் தென்குடித் திட்டையே…….
திருஞானசம்பந்தர் -“கோதியலும்வன்குடித்திட்டை
மருவார் மருவு திருத்தென்குடித் திட்டைச் சிவபதமே……..
திரு அருட்பாதென்குலத்
திட்டையினில் பேருல நாயகிக்குப்பங்கு
கொடுத்த பசுபதியே……..
உமாபதி சிவம்Moolavar : Sri VasishteswararConsort : Sri Ulaga Nayagi Ammai.
Some of the important features of this temple are…The temple faces east with a temple tank in front. Stone Kodimaram,
balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi. There are 4 Lingas
installed on four corners of this temple keeping the moola Lingam at the centre and hence this temple is called a Pancha Bootha sthalam. Moolavar
is of Dhara Linga with 4 flat surfaces with several scratches ( varikal ) on
a square avudayar. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar,
Brahma and Durgai. In
praharam, Siddhi Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, 4 Shiva Lingas
(all four corners of the temple ),
Gajalakshmi, Mahalingam, with Ambal, Navagrahas, Bhairavar and Chandikeswarar. Sculptures of Rishabaroodar, Nalvar, and C
Ramasamy Chettiar and his wife who had done the thirupani. The front mandapa is
of Nattukottai Nagarathar’s construction/Thirupani. Guru
Bhagavan is in a separate sannadhi between the main sanctum sanctorum and Ambal
sannadhi.
The
sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam, The vimanam
is built with complete stone. 12 Rasi’s / Zodiac's bas reliefs are on the ceiling of the
Ambal Sannadhi’s front mandapam.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSSince
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the
original temple existed during the 7th Century, and the same was
re-constructed with stone during the Kulothunga Chozha period. Again in 1926, the
complete temple was reconstructed by C
Ramasamy Chettiar of Palavan Kudi Village, Nattukottai Nagarathar family.
The Inscriptions belongs to Chozha Kings Kulothunga Chozha, Pandya
King Maravarman Sundara Pandyan, Kulasekara Pandyan and Chalukya king Narasimha
Marayan. The Mandapa opposite to Sanctum
Sanctorum was built by a servant of
Perungolur Kulothunga
Chozheeswaramudaya Nayanar temple.
Kulothunga
Chozha’s 14th reign year inscription records the Royal Order of the
King for conducting a function on
Uthratadhi nakshatra day in the month Aani ( Natal star of the King ) and also
for the service in his name Avanivendaraman Sandhi (one of the names of the pooja
or Kattalai).
Kulothunga
Chozha-III’s 13th reign inscription records the gift of the income
of Padikaval from the thevathana land to this temple by Uravan of Perungolur for
attending repair works.
Rajaraja
Devar alias Kulothunga Chozha’s 18th reign year inscription records
the grant of 2 veli land to meet the
expenses of taking Lord Shiva in a procession during the festival on a Rishaba
vahana. The gift was given on a Poosam nakshatra day.
LEGENDSIt
is believed that Brahma, Vishnu, Murugan, 4 Vedas, Bhairavar, Suryan,
Saneeswarar, Yama, Parasuramar, Indra, Adhiseshan, Kamadhenu, sage Vasishta,
Sage Gautama and Sage Jamadagni worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since Vasishtar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, Lord Shiva is called as "Vasishteswarar"
In the sanctum, a drop of water falls on Moolavar every 25 minutes. This is due to the Suryakantha kal and Chandrakantha kal which transform the atmospheric moisture into water.
Thittai
in Tamil is “medu - மேடு”. Lord Shiva came as swayambhu during pralaya. Hence this place is called "Kudi Thittai". It is believed that this is one of the places which was not affected during pralaya. The remaining are Sirkazhi and this temple Thenkudi
Thittai.
Sun
ie Suryan worships Lord Shiva of this temple 6 days a year, 3 days in Uttarayana, and 3 days in Dakshinayana. Avani and Panguni.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
The
Annual Brahmotsavam and the festival signifies the Vasishtar’s marriage with Arundhathi and is celebrated in the Tamil month Vaikasi ( May- June
), Guru Transition day / Guru peyarchi
day, and monthly pradosam.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.30 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS:The landline number is +91 4362 252 858 and the mobile number is +91 94435 86453 may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO
REACH :Town
bus is available from Thanjavur. But frequency is limited Planning to be done
suitably. Alternatively, Auto can be hired.The
Temple is 10 KM from Thanjavur. 12 Km
from Thiruvaiyaru, 34 KM from Kumbakonam, and 340 KM from Chennai.The
nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
பாடி
நின்று பரவிப் பணிந்து போய்
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
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