Sri Uma Maheswarar Temple / Sri Maheswarar Swamy Temple / உமாமகேசுவரர் கோயில், கோனேரிராஜபுரம் / Thirunallam, Konerirajapuram, Mayiladuthurai Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 151^st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 34^th sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The place where the temple is located is called Thirunallam, and the village is called Konerirajapuram. This temple is locally known as Natarajar Koil.

 

In the Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiru Vaigal mada koil / Temple. In Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Puranam, Sekkizhar didn’t mention it directly, but Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal visited this temple on the way to Thiruneelakudi from Thiruveezhimizhalai, Thiru Vanniyur, and Thirukaruvili Kottidai.

நிலவுமாளிகை திருநல்லம் நீடுமாமணியை

இலகுசேவடி இறைஞ்சி இன்தமிழ்கொடு துதித்துப்

பலவும் ஈசர்தம் திருப்பதி பணிந்து செல்பவர்தாம்

அலைபுனல் திருவழுந்தூர் மாடக்கோயில் அடைந்தார்

........ திருஞானசாம்பந்தர் புராணம்

வீழி மிழலை தனைப்பணிந்து வேத முதல்வர் தாம் இருப்ப

ஆழி வலம் ஏந்திய அரியால் ஆகாசத்தின் நின்று இழிந்த

வாழி மலர்ந்த கோயில் தனில் மன்னும் பொருளைப் போற்றி இசைத்துத்

தாமும் நாளிற் பிறபதியும் பணியும் காதல் தலைநிற்பார்

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

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

கல்லால் நிழல்மேய கறைசேர் கண்டா என்று

எல்லா மொழியாலும் இமையோர் தொழுதேத்த

வில்லால் அரண்மூன்றும் வெந்துவிழ எய்த

நல்லான் நமையாள்வான் நல்ல நகரானே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

கொல்லத் தான்நம னார்தமர் வந்தக்கால்

இல்லத் தார்செய்ய லாவதென் ஏழைகாள்

நல்லத் தான்நமை ஆளுடை யான்கழல்

சொல்லத் தான்வல்லி ரேல்துயர் தீருமே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                -“பாடச்சீர்

வல்லதமிழ்ப்புலவர் மன்னிவணங்குதிரு

நல்லம் மகிழ்இன்ப நவவடிவே

........ திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Umamaheswarar, Sri Boominathar

Consort    : Sri Angavalanayagi, Sri Thega sundari

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

The temple faces west with a mini 3-tier Rajagopuram. Kodimara Vinayagar, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the mandapam. In the sanctum, Moolavar baanam is a little big, about 4.5 feet high on a square avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Agasthiyar, Jurahareswarar, Lingothbavar, Gangadhara, Arthanareeswarar, and Durgai.

In the praharam, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Vaithyanathar (who cured Pururava King’s leprosy), Yaga Sala, Mahaganapathy, Sri Agneeswarar, Sri Sanathkumara Lingam, Sri Shenbagaranyeswarar, Sri Sundareswarar, Sri Pasupatheeswarar, Sri Kanva Lingam, Sri Kailasanathar, Saneeswarar, and Navagrahas. In the Navagrahas group, all the 8 Grahas are facing Suriyan. There are three Chandikeswarar murtis. Sundara Kusambhigai is in one of the Chandikeswarar Sannadhi. In the inner prakaram, Brahma Lingam, Subramaniar, Maha Lakshmi, Natarajar Sabha, Urchava murtis, Nalvar, Vinayagar, Agasthiya Lingam, and Bhairavar

Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing east, like Moolavar. The temple has a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. There is a separate sannadhi for the Tripura Samhara Murti.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. On the mukha mandapam ceiling are paintings of 63 var, Shiva’s various forms, 12 Rasis, and Maharishis. A vesara vimanam is on the sanctum. The open mukha mandapam ceiling has paintings of various deities. In a recent period, an open mandapam was built around the sanctum sanctorum.

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. Chozha King Gandaradithan’s Queen and wife, Sembiyan Mahadevi, is believed to have been built/reconstructed as a Stone temple (Built as a stone structure).

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajarajan-I, Rajendran-I, Rajathirajan-I, Rajendran-II, and Kulothunga-Chozha-I. As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called Thirunallam Udayar and Thirunallamaudaya Mahadevar. Most of the inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, sandhi lamps, naivedyam, Thirumanjanam, Garlanding, Nandhavanam, feeding food to Sivayogis, devotees, apoorvis,  a celebration of festivals, etc, for which donations were made in terms of land, Gold, and money.

The Rajakesarivarman Rajarajan period inscription records the endowment of reciting the Thevaram pathigam by Kuttan Thirunavukkaraiyan and another person, for which land measuring 18 and 1/8 ma land and a house site was gifted as kani by the temple Sabhai. The order was issued by Udayapirattiyar. During the same King’s period, a Silver Vigraha weighing 424 Kalanju and a Chandikeswarar Cheppu idol measuring 500 palam was gifted by one of the Kaikolar Nakkan Nallatradigal of Iranjarajatterinja Kaikolar community, who was the son of Anukkan Mahamalli and a pendatti (wife) of the velam of Irasakesari Panmar.

Rajendra Chozha-I’s 5^th reign year inscription records the gift of Land and a housing site to Vennakannuvan Araiyan Pasuran – ambalavan - mangalapperr, of Puddanur in Marusal Nadu, a Brahmadeya in Kshatriya Sigamani Valanadu by the Sabhai. It is stipulated that this person and his progeny should enjoy the gift by rendering medical service to the people of this place.

As per Udayapiratti’s instruction, Saththan Gunabhattan and Arasaanasekaran constructed a sannadhi. Some of the inscriptions record that Sri Kalisamudayar Temple, Aditheswaramudaya Mahadevar, and Uthama Chozha Vinnagaram, a Vishnu temple, existed in the same place, and the gifts made to those temples. Kundavai, the elder sister of Rajaraja-I, established many endowments.

Kulothunga period inscription records that a Vinayagar was installed at Pugalabarana mandapa on the south side of the temple, for which a piece of land was gifted as irayili. This was done by a certain TiruchiRRambalamudaiyan alias Paramativakaran of Thirunallam.  

The inscription on a pillar records that the Thirunadaimaligai /prakara was constructed by Arulmozhidevan alias Vayanattaraiyar of Adhanur. The same was inscribed in two places / recorded twice. Maybe built two prahara by the same person.

Rajaraja-II’s 25^th reign records that the right of supplying garlands to the temple was purchased from a person called Tiruvilimilalai Udayar of Naganpadi by the temple sabha, since he couldn’t meet the demand since the 13^th year. This right was assigned from the 17^th year to .... Selvan alias Porkoyil Solappallavaraiyan and his younger brother Sendappillai alias Rajarajappallavaraiyan, who were temple florists. The Maheswarars and Dhanadar / தானத்தார் decided that they should supply 18250 garlands per year at 50 garlands per day for daily worship, 44000 garlands for the festival in the month of Margazhi, and 77660 garlands for the festival in the month of Vaikasi, a total of 1,39,710  garlands. It is stated that the cost of this amounted to 12(2)00 kasu, and it is equivalent to a seed paddy of 511 and ¼ kalam. To meet the above, the lands on the eastern section of Brahmadeya were assigned to the above two persons, along with houses. At the end of the inscription, it records that,  in case of drought, flood, or Government confiscation, the quantities of the yield would be decided by the Maheswaras and Tanattars, and according to the decision, the number of garlands would be supplied by the florists.

Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 15^th reign year inscription records that the Chandeswara Devar stone temple / Thirukkarrali was built  by Thittai Vizhumiyan alias Paillaiyadiyar.

The Uttama Chozha’s 14^th reign year inscription records that an agreement was given by the servants of the temple at Thirunallam, a Brahmadeya in Vennadu, to provide specified offerings and worship to Gods, Ganapati Bhattar, during 3 services, in the temple, out of the endowment of 7 ma land made by a body called the Parameswara Perilamaiyar of the Village.

The Madurantaka deva alias Uttama Chozha reign inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum (Under the images) is engraved below a group of sculptures reproduced on the accompanying plate. It states that, during the reign of Madhurântaka dêva alias Uttama-Chôla, his mother Madêvadigalar alias Sembiyan-Mâdêviyâr caused to be built in the name of her husband Gandarâdityadêva, a stone temple at Tirunallam, i.e., the modern Kônêrirajapuram, which is one of the ancient Saivite places of worship mentioned in the Devaram. The inscription serves as a key to understanding the sculptures below which it is engraved. The female figure kneeling down in a worshipping posture is queen Sembiyan-Mâdêviyârand the one close to the linga is Gandaradityadeva. The two figures behind the queen are her attendants. The name Adityêśvara-Mahadeva, which occurs in other inscriptions of Kônêrirâjapuram, indicates that it was derived from Gandarâditya.

This inscription, same as above, again is a label explaining an image; and is engraved above and on the sides of it.

King worships Shiva

Hail! Prosperity! This is Sattan Gunakattan alias Haracharana-segaran of Alatter that built the sacred stone temple of Udaiyapirattiyar who had (obtained) in (her) sacred womb the glorious Madhurantakadêva alias Uttama-Chôla. The title with which he was honoured (in his office) was Raja -kesari-Mu vên da vô lâr. (This is) he.

This and the next number together constitute one record of Parakésarivarman who is identical with Madhurântaka Uttama-Chôla. The object of the inscription on the east walls of the central shrine is to register the grant of certain lands to the temple at Tirunallam in Vennadu, which had been constructed of stone by Queen Sembiyan-Mâdêviyâr in the name of her husband Gandarâditya. Before the date of this record she is stated to have laid out a new flower-garden for the temple by purchasing lands from the assembly of Tirunallam and getting them exempted from payment of taxes and to have increased the original provision for feeding Brahmanas in the temple. The king also granted in the 3rd year of his reign two veli of land for the upkeep of the garden and in the sixth year a further 16 veli for the expenses in connexion with the feeding of Brahmanas (11. 24 to 26).

In the 7th year and 240th day of his reign, when the king was encamped at Pichchankôyil, one of his executive officers named Parakésari Müvenda -vêlân informed the former that the gift for feeding Brahmanas was not sufficient and that a further gift of 12 veli of land had to be made. This was done accordingly in the 7th year of reign (11. 23 to 40). A detailed description of the boundary line of the two veliate Windows and the 12 veli of land respectively granted for the maintenance of the flower-garden and the feeding house is given in 47 lines (11. 51 to 98). The privileges and exemptions granted in favour of these two lands occupy lines 99 to 115. With line 116 commences a new grant dated in the 8th year and 143rd day of the same king when he was encamped at Karaikkâttu Panaiyûr. The request now was for the regulation of the expenses for all the income derived from the dévadana lands of the Tirunallam temple. Accord-ingly, on the lõlst day of the same year the king ordered that specified amounts of gold and paddy collected as tax on the devadana lands of Tirunallam were to be deducted from the general revenue and that the number of Brahmanas who were fed in the feeding house be raised from 25 to 40, the additional expense being met from the remaining balance under a certain item provided for in the old regulations.

This brings us to the end of No. 151, which is engraved on the last section of the south wall and the adjoining section on the east wall of the temple, which itself faces west. The two next sections on the east wall, two lines on the top of the north wall and a portion again of the east wall seem to contain the continuation. Consequently, on account of the irregular arrangement on the walls, this continuation is treated separately as No. 151A. It describes the regulated expenses referred to at the end of No. 151. As many as 4,151 kalam of paddy and lands, whose measurements are given in great detail, were provided for, in order to maintain the regular service in the temple, such as, the various dishes of oblations to the images, sandal paste, incense, lamps, the śribali-ceremony held on the natal star Jyeshtha of queen Sembiyan-Mâdêviyâr, feeding Brahmanas, pay (with cost Windows of clothing) of the worshipper, the festivals Margali-Tiruvadirai and Vaigāši - Visagam, the pay (with cost of clothing) of Brahmanas who crushed sandal, the Brahmana servants who held the canopy (over the images) and rendered other necessary service, servants who picked up flowers and strung them, servants who swept the sacred temple and smeared it with cowdung, musicians, trumpeters, conch-blowers, watchmen of images, reciters of the Tiruppadiyam hymns, Brahmanas who attended to the general management of the temple (kovil-variyam), the temple accountant of the potter caste, the potter who supplied pots, the dyer (?) who dyed the sacred cloth (for the images), the Brahmana who carried the water from the Kâvêrî for the sacred bath, the official auditor who checked the temple transactions under orders of the king, temple repairs, the monthly sacred baths and the ceremonies on eclipses, renewal of screens and canopies, the purifi-catory ceremony called Jalapavitra, annual renewal of sacred cloths, the astrologer who recited the astronomical changes every day and carried the calendar (nûlôla:) with him, the pay (including cost of clothing) of the gardeners and of their assistants, the temple architect, the carpenter and the blacksmith, special worship for the images of Tripuravijaya, Vrishabha-vâhana and Ganapati and the sacred bath with the five articles, viz., milk, curds, butter, sugar and honey. The extent of the houses occupied by the temple servants, hymners. priests, musicians, the temple manager and others, is also recorded.

The several officers of the king who legalised the grant by affixing their signatures, the immunities granted to and the privileges enjoyed by the donee, viz., the present Umâmaheśvara temple at Tirunallam, are of very great interest. The officers mentioned are the councillors (Karumam-ârâyum), revenue officers (Puravuvari), officers (in charge) of revenue registers (Varippottagam), revenue accountants (Varippotiaga-kanakku), revenue clerks (Variyilidu), Mugavetti, Pattolai and the Chief Secretary (Olainûyagam). The privileges and immunities granted are almost the same as those mentioned in Vol. II, pp. 512 and 530 f. The scheme of the document was apparently a model on which the later grants recorded on the large Leyden copper-plates and other similar ones were drawn up.

Ref: 

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume-3, Part-III

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 19 and 26

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovations on 29^th May 2015.

One of the inscriptions records that Venkipuram Mudalipillai, alias ......, gave a gift to construct a Thiruvayil/Gateway  (Gopuram – entrance) to the temple.

Stucco images in front of the sanctum entrance

Marata period paintings

Maratha period paintings

Maratha period paintings

Maratha period paintings

Maratha period paintings

Maratha period paintingsMaratha period paintingsMaratha period paintings

LEGENDS: 

Lord Shiva gave the Kalyana Kola darshan to Agasthiyar. The temple premises are only called Thirunallam. Hence, it is very difficult to reach the temple by asking directions to the temple from different places. Those who have the mun/poorva janma prabtham can only get the Darshan and blessings of Lord Shiva of this temple.

As per the legend, the story of making the 7-foot-tall Natarajar goes like this. The King ordered that a big Natarajar be made; If not, the head would be severed. During the process, Lord Shiva and Parvati, in the form of an old man and a lady, came and asked for water to drink. The sculptor, who was under pressure to make this big statue, said that he only had the molten metal to offer them if they wanted. When Lord Shiva and Parvati agreed, the sculptor gave them the molten metal. Lord Shiva and Parvati drank the molten metal, and immediately, they stayed as statues of Nataraja and Sivagami. The sculptor realized that the old Couple was none other than Lord Shiva and Parvati.

This miraculous news was brought to the notice of the King. He refused to accept the miracle and wanted to test the statues. When he hit the Nataraja with his sword, blood oozed out. The King surrendered to Lord Shiva and prayed for pardon. We could see the mole, a scar from a sword hit, and Nails, beautifully carved. Also, as per the temple meikavalar and Gurukkal, we can feel the hair on the statue.

Nataraja with Sivakami

As per the Sthala Purana, the original temple was built by Bhoomadevi under the advice of Maha Vishnu. Hence, this place was called Bhoomicharam, and Lord Shiva is called Bhoominathar.

It is believed that Bhoomidevi, Ma Parvati, Yama, Nandhi, 16 Siddhars, Ashtadikpalakas, Agasthiyar (Lord Shiva gave Kalyana Kola darshan in this temple), Nala, and Damayanthi, King Pururava, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. The mantras believed to be chanted by Bhoomadevi and King Pururava are inscribed on the wall of this temple.

This is a parihara sthalam for doshas related to childbirth. Can also pray to Lord Shiva and Ambal for Santhana prapti.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in May - June. and Margazhi Thiruvathirai in December–January. Yearly, 6 times abhishekam will be done for Natarajar in the months Chithirai, Aani, Aavani, Purattasi, Margazhi, and Masi; Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani (Aug–September), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb–March), and every month pradosam.   

King worships Shiva

Sembiyan Madevi worships Shiva

King worships Shiva

King worships Shiva

King worships Shiva

  King worships Natarajar

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The mobile and landline numbers +91 9486510515 & + 91 435 2449830 & +91 435 2449800 may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH : 

Town bus No 22 from Kumbakonam to Vadamattam passes through this village, Konerirajapuram, and the temple Thirunallam is about 500 meters.

On the bus route from Kumbakonam to Karaikal, get down at S. Pudur, and from there, 3 km is Konerirajapuram. 

This temple and the Village of Konerirajapuram are 4.4 km from Thiru Vaigal, 5.4 km from Thirukozhambam, 10 km from Thiruneelakudi, 21 km from Kumbakonam, 28 km from Mayiladuthurai, 66 km from Thanjavur, and 284 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.   

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Bhairavar

All the 8 grahas facing Suryan

Miniature Sculptures - Uma maheswara

Miniature Sculptures

Miniature Sculptures (Gajasamharamurthy)

Miniature Sculptures (Mahishamardini)

Miniature Sculptures

Miniature Sculptures (Kannappar purana)

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---