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 40^th sthalam on the south side  of 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 has 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 on this temple are as follows…

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

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

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. Except 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 was existed before 7^th Century. Latter the temple was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period and further extended during Pandyas, Thanjavur Nayak’s period.

There are 3 inscriptions recorded from this temple. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as 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 a land was donated to this temple.

During Thanjavur Nayak’s period Artha mandapam  and maha mandapam were built with Palace fund and Public fund. 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 a bad shape and thiruppani has to be done. 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 as Vizhal Nagar  and Lord Shiva was called as “Sri Vizharkattu Nathar”

After worshiping Lord shiva of “Kadaimudi”, Thirugnanasambandar came to this place. During that time the river was flooded and couldn’t cross the river. 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 Hunder and lead 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 non other than Lord shiva and praised Lord as “Thuraikattum Vallalo – துறைகாட்டும் வள்ளலோ”.

As per the sthala purana, it is believed that there are Lord Shiva of 4 temples on all the 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 south side, Vazhikattum Vallal at Moovalur on 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 opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 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 temple is on the bus route 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.

Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---