Sri Swarnapureeswarar Temple / சுவர்ணபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், செம்பொனார் கோவில்/ Sembanarkoil / Thiruchemponpalli, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 159^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 42^nd sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Thiruchemponpallai during the 6^th to 7^th Century and is now called Thiruchampalli / Sembanarkoil.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Mayiladuthurai. But Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came from Thiruvengadu. Sekkizhar mentions only 7 temples but the Periyapuranam indicates 17 temples, from Thiruvalampuram to Kodika / Thirukozhambam, and this place is mentioned as other temples.

அத்திருப்பதி அகன்றுபோய் அணிகிளர் சூலக்

கைத்தலப்படை வீரர்செம் பொன் பள்ளி கருதி

மெய்த்த காதலில் விளநகர் விடையவர் பாதம்

பத்தர் தம்முடன் பணிந்து இசைப் பதிகம் முன்பகர்ந்தார்

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

மேவுபுனல் பொன்னி இரு கரையும் சார்ந்து

        விடை உயர்ந்தார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி பாடிக்

காஉயரும் மயிலாடுதுறை நீள் பொன்னிக்

        கரைத்துருத்தி வேள்விக்குடி எதிர்கொள்பாடி

பாஉறு செந்தமிழ்பாலை பாடிப் போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருப்பதி பலவும் பணிந்து போந்தே

ஆஉறும் அஞ்சு ஆடுவார் கோடிகாவில்

.....திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

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

மருவார் குழலி மாதோர் பாகமாய்த்

திருவார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

கருவார் கண்டத்து ஈசன் கழல்களை

மருவா தவர்மேல் மன்னும் பாவமே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

ஞாலமும் அறிய வேண்டில் நன்றென வாழ லுற்றீர்

காலமும் கழிய லான கள்ளத்தை ஒழிய கில்லீர்

கோலமும் வேண்டா ஆர்வச் செற்றங்கள் குரோத நீக்கில்

சீலமும் நோன்பும் ஆவார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி யாரே

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                                -“நெறிகொண்டே

அன்பள்ளி யோங்கும் அறிவுடையோர் வாழ்த்துஞ் செம்

பொன்பள்ளி வாழ் ஞான போதமே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Swarnapuriswarar, Sri Devapriyar,

                  Sri Sornalakshmeesar,  Sri Chemponpalliyar.

Consort    : Sri Maruvar Kuzhali, Sri Pushpazhaki,

                  Sri Thaakshiyayini, Sri Suguntha Kunthalambigai,

                  Sri Suguntha Vananayagi.

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

This is one of the Mada temples constructed by  Ko Chenkat Chozhan. The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. There is no Dwajasthambam and Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam  are in front. Moolavar is on a round avudayar with 16 lotus petals on top and bottom. In Koshtam, Indra Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar and Durgai.

Dwarapalakas are in the artha mandapam. In Sthapana mandap Urchavars Somaskandar, Natarajar, Chandrasekar and Pichadanar. In Maha mandapam Vinayagar, Surya and Chandra Lingas and Subramaniar. A bas-relief of a monk and a King worshiping Lord Shiva is on the south wall.

In Prakaram Prakasa Pillayar, Vanadurgai, Viswanathar, Srinivasa Perumal, Sibi Kaatchinathar with maan and mazhu, Balasubramaniar with Rudraksha mala and holding Sakthi ayutham/ weapon, Gajalakshmi, Jyeshta Devi, Veerabhadra, Suriyan and Bhairavar.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing south. It was told that Ambal is facing south since, Ambal is proceeding to the Pariyalur Shiva temple, which is on the southwest of this temple where Dakshan was performing a Yagna. Sapthakannis temple is on the southwest of Ambal temple. 

Chidambaram Swamigal has also sung in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple in his Kshetra Kovai Pillai Thamizh.

தாசரடியார் தாசன் என இருந்திடு முனைத்

        தன் பெருமை யறியாமலே

தனை ஒத்த பேரெனப் பிள்ளை விளையாட்டினைத்

        தருமிளம் பருவத்தினால்

ஆசையோடழைத் தனன் எங்கள் குமரேசனுடன்

        அம்புலீ ஆடவாவே

அழகு செம்பொன் பள்ளி ஆறானனத்துடன்

        அம்புலீ ஆடவாவே

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum antarala and artha mandapam. An eka thala vesara Vimana is on the sanctum Sanctorum. Bas relief of King worshiping Lord Shiva and on his both sides are a monk and a minister.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was built during Ko Chengat Chozha. Based on the iconography of the Jyeshta Devi, it is presumed that this temple might have been reconstructed during Aditha Chozha ( 879 – 907 CE ), which is mentioned in the Sthala Purana. There are Six inscriptions recorded from this temple. They belongs to Kulothunga Chozha-III, Rajathirajan and Thanjavur Saraboji Maharaja.

Rajathirajan’s 5^th reign year inscription records the gift of land to  Shiva Temple of Thiruvalangadu, by the Thiruvilanagar alias Nithavonotha Chathurvedi Mangalam Vila Ndu Sabhai / assembly.  Same year Rajathiraja Valanattu Thiruindalur Nattu Mannarkudi alias Uttama Chaozha Chaturvedi Mangalam sabha / Village assembly established an endowment of land for feeding and worship to Jyankonda Chozha Valanattu ( Mandalam – is it wrong..?) Akkur Nattu Akkur alias Rajendra Simha Chaturvedi Mangalam.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s, period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which land was donated to an agriculturist after being purchased for 40 kasus. 

Kulothunga Chozhas-III’s 6^th reign year inscription records that the Devaradiyars and the Sabha members took the Urchavars to Thiruvidaikazhi Ilaiyapillaiyar Temple ( Murugan temple ) for safe custody. This was done during the war between Chozhas with Pandyas who joined with Sri Lankan King. 

Rajakesari Varman’s 6^th reign year inscription records the gift of land after purchase to this temple for pooja/worship by the Thalachangadu Sabha. In that, there was a mention of Rajasundaran street.

The Saraboji Kings order records that Thalachangadu sabhai agreed to pay the taxes once a year along with the production of looms and this was permitted to be collected by Kaveripattinam Aiyyavaiyan and Thandavaraya Mudaliar.

On 24^th June 1999, Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed after renovations under the Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal’s ponvizha scheme and Manivasagar mandam. Later Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted in the year 2007.

LEGENDS

Maha Vishnu, Vasishtar, Brahma, Indra, Kuberan, Sage Agathiyar, Sage Vasishta, Kaveri, Nagakannis, Ashtadikpalakas, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Further, it is believed that Rathi prayed to Lord Shiva to give back life to her husband Manmathan also called Kaman. 

It is believed that Mahalakshmi did a penance on Lord Shiva to marry Maha Vishnu. Hence this place was called Lakshmipuri. Indran has got the Vajrayudham to kill Viruthirasuran after worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence this place was called Indrapuri. This place is also called Skandapuri since Lord Muruga worshiped Lord Shiva to get a blessing to destroy Tharakasuran.  

Since Lord Shiva, the Shiva Linga is of Swayambhu and sparkled like gold, this place and the temple obtained the name of Sembanarkoil, hence Lord Shiva is praised as Swarnapureeswarar. Also, it was said that the Vimana was covered with Gold plates, hence called Sembanarkoil.

Lord Shiva blessed Dakshayani and took the incarnation of Veerabhadra to kill Daksha and destroy his Yagna. 

The Legend associated with the Pariyalur Veeratteswarar Temple is also applicable to this temple with slight changes at the end. The legend goes like this... Dakshan also known as Daksha Prajapati, the son of Brahma, is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and has got many boons. His daughter Ma Parvati Dakshayani was married to Lord Shiva. Since he obtained many boons and became over pride and arrogance. He conducted a Yagna for which Celestial deities, Sages, and Maharishis were invited, but Lord Shiva was not invited intentionally and the share due to him was also not given.

In the meantime, Dakshayani wants to participate in the yagna and asks Lord Shiva’s permission, to make Dakshan realize his mistake. Even after Lord Shiva denied permission Dakshayani went to the Yagna. He asked her father why her husband Lord Shiva was not invited and the share / avirpagam was due to him. Dakshan didn’t give respect, in fact, he humiliated Dakshayani. Angered Dakshayani cursed Dakshan and the Yagna wouldn't be successful.     

Dakshayani returned back and asked Lord Shiva to punish Dakshan. Lord Shiva created Veerabhadra to destroy the Yagna. Veerabhadra destroyed the Yagna and severed the head of Dakshan. Later replaced with a goat's head. He also punished the celestial deities which include Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Chandra, Suryan, etc,. Dakshan realized his mistakes and prayed to Lord Shiva to pardon him. Lord Shiva came from the Yagna and pardoned Dakshan and Celestial deities.

Dakshayani thought it was a sin to be born as a daughter of Dakshan who hated Lord Shiva. To get rid of the sin, Ma Parvati came to this place and did a penance on Lord Shiva standing fire around her ( Standing on one leg and folding the other ). Pleased by her Penance Lord Shiva appeared and blessed her. From then on Dakshayani is praised as “Sugantha Kunthalambikai”.     

This legend stated above is very similar to Thiru Pariyalur, in that, Lord Shiva as Veerabhadra destroyed Dakshan and Killed him. The other atta Veeratta Sthalams are...

1.  Thiru Kandiyur where Lord Shiva plucked Brahma’s 5^th head.
2.  Thirukkovilur where Andhaksuran was vanquished.
3. Thiruvadhigai, where Lord Shiva burnt the Thirupuram ad Thiripura Samharar.
4. Pariyalur where Lord Shiva as Veerabhadra destroyed Daksha’s yagna and killed him.
5. Thiruvirkudi where the demon Jalandaran, who was formed from the eye drop of Lord Shiva was killed.
6.  Thiru Vazhuvur where Lord Shiva teared Gajamugasuran
7. Thiru Korukkai where Lord Shiva burnt Kaman alias Manmathan and later made him live.
8. Thirukadaiyur where Lord Shiva kicked Yama to save Markandeya and was blessed with 16 years.

It was told that Chithirai month 7^th day to 18^th day Sunrays falls on moolavar. A parihara sthalam for Navagraha dosha.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Under Manivasagam Mandram, Friday poojas, Nalvar’s Guru pooja, Pradosha worship, Natarajar abhishekam, and Karthigai Somavara worship with 108 Sangu Abhishekam are performed in a grand manner.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ),  Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March) and monthly pradoshams. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.39 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +91 99437 97974 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

This place Sembanarkoil is on the bus route Mayiladuthurai to Akkur Road. The town bus from Mayiladuthurai to Akkur passes through this place.

This place Sembanarkoil is 11 Km from Mayiladuthurai, 20.44 KM from Sirkazhi, 32 KM from Karaikal, 45 KM from Kumbakonam, 87 KM from Thanjavur, and 259 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---