Sri Thurai Kattum Vallal Temple / Sri Thurai Kattum Vallalar Temple / உசிரவனேஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருவிளநகர் / Vila Nagar / Thiru Vilanagar, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 157^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 40^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. 

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Mayiladuthurai and Thiru Chemponpalli (Sembanarkoil).

அத்திருப்பதி அகன்றுபோய் அணிகிளர் சூலக்

கைத்தலப்படை வீரர்செம் பொன் பள்ளி கருதி

மெய்த்த காதலில் விளநகர் விடையவர் பாதம்

பத்தர் தம்முடன் பணிந்து இசைப் பதிகம் முன்பகர்ந்தார்

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

ஒளிர் இளம்பிறை சென்னிமேல் உடையவர்கோவண ஆடையர்

குளிர் இளம்மழை தவம்பொழில் கோலநீர்மல்கு காவிரி

நளிர் இளம்புனல் வார்துறை நங்கைகங்கையை நண்ணினார்

மிளிர் இளம்பொறி அரவினார் மேயதுவிள நகரதே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                             -“தேயா

வளநகர் என்றெவ்வுலகும் வாழ்த்தப்படுஞ்சீர்

விளநகர் வாழ் எங்கண் விருந்தே

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Thurai kattum Vallal, Sri Usiravaneswarar.

Consort    : Sri Veyurutholi.

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

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu is in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In the praharam Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Arumugar, Nalvar, Arunachaleswar, Gajalakshmi, Saneeswaran, Navagrahas, Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar, and Bhairavar. Ambal Veyuru Tholi is in a separate sannadhi in a standing posture, holding a chakra and a Conch.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. Except for the Moolavar Sanctum and other structures are built with bricks. A two-tier vimana is on the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple existed before the 7^th Century. Later, the temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Pandyas, Thanjavur Nayak’s period.

There are 3 inscriptions recorded from this temple. As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called Thuraikattum Thambiranar, Thurai nattuvan.

Parakesari Varman Uthama Chozha’s 5^th reign inscription records the endowment of artha jama pooja by his wife and Queen Mahadevi, for which land was donated to this temple.

During Thanjavur Nayak’s period, the ardha mandapam and the maha mandapam were built with Palace funds and Public funds. Thurai Kattu Mandapa was built by Deekshitha Iyyan. 

Even though this temple is one of the 27 temples under the control of Dharmapuram Adheenam, the temple is in bad shape, and thiruppani has to be done. The last Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 02^nd February 1959.

LEGENDS 

During Ancient times, this region was densely covered with “Vizhal plants”- a type of grass, hence called Vizhal Nagar,  and Lord Shiva was called “Sri Vizharkattu Nathar”

After worshiping Lord Shiva of “Kadaimudi”, Thirugnanasambandar came to this place. During that time, the river was flooded and couldn’t be crossed. So Thirugnanasambandar prayed to Mayuranathar to show him the Thurai as ”Thurai Kattuvar Everenum Ularo- துறை காட்டுவார் எவரேனும் உளரோ”.. Lord Shiva appeared before him in the form of a Hunter and led Thirugnanasambandar to cross the river. The river water miraculously reduced to his pada level. After crossing the river, when Thirugnanasambandar searched for the hunter, found disappeared. He realized that the hunter who helped him to cross the river was none other than Lord Shiva and praised the Lord as “Thuraikattum Vallalo – துறைகாட்டும் வள்ளலோ”.

As per the sthala purana, it is believed that there is Lord Shiva of 4 temples on all 4 sides are considered as Vallals and they are... Mayuranatha Vallal at Mayiladuthurai, Thuraikattum Vallal at Thiruvila Nagar on the east side, Mozhikattum Vallal at Peruncheri on the south side, Vazhikattum Vallal at Moovalur on the west direction, and Kaikattum Vallal (Dakshinamurthy) at Uthra Mayiladuthurai on the North.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani (Aug–Sep), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Makar Sankranti in the month Thai (Jan–Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi, and every month Pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The contact numbers of Thirumeni Gurkkal, +91 9443974456 and +91 9688191059, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

The place Vila Nagar and the temple are on the bus route from Mayiladuthurai to Akkur  

The temple is 7.2 km from Mayiladuthurai, 41 km from Kumbakonam, 20 km from Sirkazhi, 40 km from Chidambaram, 82 km from Thanjavur, and 270 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---