Sakthivanesvara Temple / Sri Sakthivaneswara Swamy Temple / Shivakozhundeesar Temple, சிவக்கொழுந்தீசர் கோவில், Thirusakthimutram, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu,

This is the 139^th Thevara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 22^nd  sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. As per Thevara hymns, this place was mentioned as “Thirusaththi Mutram” and now the same is called “Sakthi Mutram”. Sakthi Mutram is a Part of Patteeswaram. The Poet SaththimuRRu Pulavar, who had written the “Narai Vidu Thoothu” belongs to this place.

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunageswaram.  

சென்று சேர்ந்து திருச்சக்தி முற்றத்து இருந்த சிவக்கொழுந்தைக்

குன்று மகள்தன் மனக்காதல் குலவும் பூசைகொண்டருளும்

என்றும் இனிய பெருமானை இறைஞ்சி இயல்பில் திருப்பணிகள்

முன்றில் அணைந்து செய்து தமிழ் மொழிமாலைகளும் சாத்துவர்

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

கருவுற் றிருந்துன் கழலே நினைந்தேன் கருப்புவியில்

தெருவிற் புகுந்தேன் திகைத்தடியேனை திகைப்பொழிவி

உருவிற் றிகழும் உமையாள் கணவா விடிற்கெடுவேன்

திருவிற் பொலிசத்தி முற்றத்து உறையும் சிவக்கொழுந்தே  

.......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                    -“ஓவாது

சித்த முற்றயோகஞ் செழும் பொழிலிற் பூவைசெயுஞ்

சத்தி முற்றமேவுஞ் சதாசிவமே

...... திரு அருட்பா

சிவக்கொழுந்தீசர்

தவநெறியே பரப்புமுயர் நாயன்மார் தமைப்புரந்து, தாவில் தீமை

அவநெறியே கிடாப்போர்க்கும் அருளுமுயர் பெருங்கருணை அமைத்து வையப்

பவநெறியே பிடித்தொழுகும் மும்மலத்தோர் தமக்குமருட் பாங்களிக்கும்

சிவநெறியே சிவக்கொழுந்தாம் செம்பொருளே சேவடிகள் சிரங்கொள் வோமே

பெரியநாயகி

பெருஞானம் பிறங்குமருட் சேவடியாம் கமலப்பூப் பிரசம் போற்றி

மருஞானம் தருஞானப் பெரியநா யகியம்மை மலர்த்தாள் போற்றி

......... தலபுராணம்

Moolavar  : Sri Shivakozhuntheesar, Sri Sakthivaneswara

Consort    : Sri  Periyanayagi

Some of the important features of this temple...

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Vallabha Ganapati is at the entrance. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of 2^nd level Rajagopuram. Rishabam, balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In sanctum Moolavar is Swayambhu. Sri Sakthi embraced Lord Shiva and gave a kiss, the idol is in front of Moolavar Sannadhi. Archana is performed only to this Shivasakthi moortham and only Harthi is shown to Moolavar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Natarajar, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. 

In prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Natarajar Sabha, Somaskandar Bhairavar, Nalvar and Shani Bhagavan. In the inner prakaram Sthala Vinayagar, Somaskandar, Arumugar, Gajalakshmi (made of stucco), Suryan, Chandran, Nagar and Chandikeswarar. There are two Ambal sannathi. Ambal sannathi is facing South.

The 15th-century saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this Temple.

விடவரவ ணைக்குட்டு யிற்கொட்க்ரு பைக்கடவு

                ளுலவுமலை செப்பைச்செ விக்கட்செ றித்துமிக

                விரைவிலுவ ணத்திற்சி றக்கப்ரி யத்தில்வரு        மொருமாயோன்

        விழைமருக கொக்கிற்ச முத்ரத்தி லுற்றவனை

                நெறுநெறென வெட்டுக்ர சத்தித்த னிப்படைய

                விடையவர்தி ருச்சத்தி முத்தத்தி னிற்குலவு           பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

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

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This place Thirusakthimutram was a part of Pazhayarai during the Chozha period and a capital for the Chozha dynasty, when they were ruling this area under Pallava Kings. After they conquered Pallavas, this was the second Capital. The Palace existed during that time, and is now called “Chozhanmaligai”.  During the 7^th Century Chozha period, the Villages Muzhaiyur, Patteeswaram, Sakthimutram, and Chozhanmaligai are part of Pazhayarai and are used as army camps. Pazhayarai has 4 Temples, called Vada Thali, Merthali, Keelthali and Thenthali. The T R Patnam River ( Thirumalai Rayan River ) flows on the south side and the Arasalar River flows on the north side of Pazhayarai. Since this temple was on the north side of the Pazhayarai River, is called Pazhayarai Vada Thali. It is believed that a coin minting place called “Nanaya Salai”, was existed at the present place of “Kambatta Viswanathar Temple”.

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple existed during the 6^th to 7^th Century. Later the same was reconstructed with stone during the Chozha period. This place Sakthi Mutram was called SaththimuRRam during the Chozha period and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal mentions Mazhapadi in his Thevara hymns.

As per the inscriptions, this place was mentioned as Kulothunga Chozha Valanattu Thirunaraiyur nattu ThirusaththimuRRam, during Rajakesari Rajaraja’s 5^th reign inscription and Rajarajapuram. Lord Shiva was called Thirusaththi muRRam Udayar, Thirusaththivana Perumal. The temple was believed to have been constructed by Chembiyamadevi / Sembiyan Mahadevi and later reconstructed by Rajaraja-I. The inscriptions belong to Kulothunga Chozha-I, Rajathirajan, Kulothunga-III, and Vijayanagara Kings. 

Most of the inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps,  for which Goats/sheep/ewes were gifted to this temple. The Kulothunga-III, period  inscription records the methods followed in collecting the taxes. 

The Chozha king Thirubhuvana Chakravarthi Rajaraja’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the gift of 2 Peetal / pithalai lamp stand and burning two perpetual lamps for which sheep were gifted by Jayankonda Chozha mandalathu Pazhayanur NattuPazhayanur Amarakon alias Vedavanam Udayan Karunakaradevan.

The Vijayanagara King Virupaksha Maharaya’s 13^th July 1451 CE, on the Lunar eclipse day records, the gift of 2.5 veli land to meet the expense of the temple.   

The Chozha King Thirubhuvana Chakravarthi Rajaraja, ( Kulothnga-III,..?) who conquered Madurai, Ezham, and Karuvur, was crowned as the head of Pandya Dynasty and performed the Veerabhishekam and Vijayabhishekam, 33^rd reign year inscriptions records the gift of 1.25 veli land to meet the expenses of car festival by Chevalvolaladutham Udayan a resident of Kulothunga Chozhapuram, in Pandyakulapthy Valanadu.

The Vijayanagara King Vira Pratapa Deva Maharayar son of Virupakshadeva Maharaya’s period 1445 CE inscription records the gift of land by an individual, to meet the expenses of worship.

The Chozha king Rajakesari Varman’s 31^st reign year inscription records the gift of dry land / punjai, measuring 4 ma ¾ of 1/8 kani land to meet the extra expenses of special festivals and repairs of the temple, by Thiruvalathur Sri Veerathevarudayan.

Ref:

1. A Book on “South Indian Shrines” by P V Jagadisa Ayyar, Published by Asian Educational Services. 

2. தென்னிந்திய கோயில் சாசானங்கள் பாகம் II,/ South Indian Temple Inscriptions – Volume-II,  Madras Government Oriental Series. 

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 10^th July 2003.

The inscription records this place's name as ThiruSakthimuRRam

A Chozha king 

LEGENDS

When Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal prayed to Lord Shiva for Thiruvadi Deeksha, Lord Shiva asked him to come to Thirunallur to get Thiruvadi Deekshai at this temple. Sekkizhar mentions the same in Thirunavukkarasu Puranam and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal also requests the same in his hymns.

கோவாய் முடுகி என்று எடுத்துக் கூற்றம் வந்து குமைப்பதன் முன்

பூஆர் அடிகள் என் தலைமலைமேல் பொறித்து வைப்பாய் எனப்புகன்று

நாஆர் பதிகம் பாடுதலும் நாதன் காணும் நல்லூரில்

வாவா என்றே அருள் செய்ய வணங்கி மகிழ்ந்து வாகீசர்

.........  சேக்கிழார் திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

கோவாய் முடுகி அடுதிறற் கூற்றம் குமைப்பதன் முன்

பூவார்அடிச்சுவடு என்மேற் பொறித்தவை போகவிடில்

மூவா முழுப்பழி மூடும்கண் டாய்முழங் கும் தழற் கைத்

தேவா திருச்சத்தி முற்றத்து உறையும் சிவக் கொழுந்தே

......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

Thirugnanasambandar  went to Patteeswaram  under the muthu pandal  from this temple.

Sri Sakthi embraced Lord Shiva and gave a kiss. So Lord Shiva is called "Sakthi Mutham- சக்தி முத்தம்" which turned to “Sakthi Mutram”. The idol is in front of Moolavar Sannadhi. Archana is performed only to this Shivasakthi moortham.

In another Legend Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of a Column of fire, Ma Parvati embraced embraced, and Kissed. Hence this place obtained the name of Sakthi Mutham and later corrupted to the present name of "Sakthimutram". Lord Shiva is also called “Shivakkozhuntheeswarar” also called “Thazhuvakkuzhaintha Nathar”. Also, the Shiva Linga has the Theesudar – flame, on it.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Thiruganansambandar’s pearl pandal / Muthu Pandal festival on the 1^st day of Aani and Thirumanjanam ( June – July ), Ratha Saptami in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sep ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai and Somavarams ( Mondays ) in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Monthly pradosams and Sankatahara Chaturthi.   

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Mobile and landline numbers +91 94436 78575, +91 94435 64221, and +91435 2445327 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

The temple is on a parallel street to Patteeswaram Shiva temple.  

Patteeswaram is on the way from Kumbakonam to Avoor Road. Town buses 8,11,25,35,61,62 & 67 available from Kumbakonam

Buses from Kumbakonam to Thanjavur pass through Patteeswaram.

The temple is 8 KM from Kumbakonam, 39 KM from Thanjavur, and 301 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

An old mandapa in front of the temple

Stone Tub - may be used during the construction of this temple to harden the chisels 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---