Tiruvalanchuzhi Valanchuzhinathar Temple / Sri Kapartheeswarar Temple / Sri Sadaimudinathar Temple / திருவலஞ்சுழிநாதர் கோயில் / கற்பகநாதர் கோயில், திருவலஞ்சுழி, Tiruvalanjuli / Thiruvalanchuzhi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 142^nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 25^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha. The temple is on the banks of river Arasalaru. Since Kaveri swirls on right direction, this place is called as Thiruvalanchuzhi /Thiruvalanjuli. This Vinayagar is one of the parivara deity for Thiruvidaimaruthur. Even though this is a Paadal petra Shiva Sthalam, it is popularly known as Velli Pillayar Temple and திருவலஞ்சுழி விநாயகர் கோயில், வெள்ளை பிள்ளையார் கோயில்.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunallur, but not the same time.  

ஞான போனகர் நம்பர் முன்தொழுது எழுவிருப்பால்

ஆனகாதலில் அங்கணார் அவர்தமை வினவும்

ஊனம்இல் இசையுடன் விளங்கிய திருப்பதிகம்

பானலார்மணி கண்டரைப் பாடினார் பரவி

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

நல்லூரில் நம்பர் அருள் பெற்றுப்போய்ப் பழையாறை

பல்ஊர் வெண் தலைக்கரத்தார் பயிலும் இடம் பலபணிந்து

சொல் ஊர்வண் தமிழ்பாடி வலஞ்சுழியைத் தொழுது ஏத்தி

அல்ஊர் வெண்பிறை அணிந்தார் திருக்குடமூக்கு அணைந்து இறைஞ்சி

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

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

என்ன புண்ணியம் செய்தனை நெஞ்சமே இருங்கடல் வையத்து

முன்ன(ம்) நீபுரி நல்வினைப் பயனிடை முழுமணித் தரளங்கள்

மன்னு காவிரிசூழ் திருவலஞ்சுழி வாணனை வாயாரப்

பன்னியாதரித்து ஏத்தியும் பாடியும் வழிபடும் அதனாலே

......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

கருமணிபோற் கண்டத் தழகன் கண்டாய்

        கல்லால் நிழற்கீ ழிருந்தான் கண்டாய்

பருமணி மாநாகம் பூண்டான் கண்டாய்

        பவளக்குன் றன்ன பரமன் கண்டாய்

வருமணிநீர்ப் பொன்னிவலஞ் சுழியான் கண்டாய்

        மாதேவன் கண்டாய் வரதன் கண்டாய்

குருமணிபோல் கண்டாய் கொட்டையூரிற்

        கோடீச் சரத்துறையுங் கோமான் தானே

......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                        -“சேர்ந்த

மலஞ்சுழிகின்ற மனத்தார்க் கரிதாம்

வலஞ்சுழி வாழ் பொன் மலையே

......... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sadaimudinathar, Sri Kapartheesar,

                  Sri Chenchadai nathar, Sri Karpaganatheswarar,

                  Sri Valanchuzhi nathar

Consort    : Sri Periyanayagi, Sri Birugantha Nayagi.

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Natarajar, Pichadanar, Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Arthanareeswarar and Durgai.

There is a White Pillayar ( made of sea foam ) temple in front of the east side Rajagopuram, is believed to be installed by Indra. Abhishekam will be done using pachai-karpooram. People mainly come for worshiping white Pillayar. There is single stone slab jolly/ jala in front of sannadhi.

In prakaram Vinayagar, Murugan, Natarajar, Somaskandar, Mahavishnu, Gajalakshmi, Brahma Lingam, Suryan, Chandran, Viswanathar with Visalakshi, nagar, Rettai Vinayagar, Shani Bhagavan, Ashtabhuja Kali, 54 Shiva Lings, Bhairavar, Vani Kamalambal samedha Vinayagar Utsava images, Saptamatrikas  and Chandikeswarar. Jada Theertha Vinayagar is on the banks of Temple Tank Jatayu Theertham. Ambal is in a separate temple facing east.   

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar  and Chidambara Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

சிகர வும்பர்கள் பாகீ ராதிகள்

            பிரபை யொன்றுபி ராசா தாதிகள்

            சிவச டங்கமொ டீசா னாதிகள்               சிவமோனர்

    தெளியு மந்த்ரக லாபா யோகிக

            ளயல்வி ளங்குசு வாமீ காமரு

            திரு வலஞ்சுழி வாழ்வே தேவர்கள்     பெருமாளே

.......... திருப்புகழ்

ஷேத்திரக்கோவை பிள்ளைத்தமிழ்

அமுதமபி டேகிக்க அமுதநிறம் ஆதலால்

        அருள்வெள்ளை வாரணமெனும்

தந்திமுக வற்கிளவல் திருவலஞ்சுழிமுருக

        சப்பாணி கொட்டி யருளே

சந்திரசே கரனான அந்திவ ணன்தலை

        சப்பாணி கொட்டியருளே

.......... சிதம்பர முனிவர்

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum. A moat formation is around the sanctum sanctorum, may be due to rise of ground level.

Stone window / Jala

Stone window / Jala

Kodungai

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord shiva of this temple, the original temple existed before 7^th Century. The original temple was reconstructed during Chozha period and latter extended during Pandya and Vijayanagara period.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Thirubhuvana Chakravarthi, Rajathi Rajan, Rajakesarivarman,

Parakesarivarman, Vikrama Chozha and Rajendra Chozha. The inscriptions mainly records the  gift of Lands to Vellai Pillayar Temple and purchase of land from the temple. Transaction was done through money as Kasu. Only few inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps and Naivedyam.

As per the inscriptions this place was under Uyyakondarvalanattu, Pamboontha Thirukudamooku.......  Akilandanayaka Chaturvedi mangalam Devathanam Akilanayakacheri,  and Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvalanjuli Udayanayanar and Thirukudamookudayar.  

Rajarajan-I, period inscription records that Queen and Rajarajan’s wife Lokamadevi and daughter Kundavai ( Vimadithan’s wife ), gave a gift of jewellery to this temple.

The 13^th Century ( 25-01-1219 ) inscription records that Sivapadasekaran confirms the gifts made earlier.

Rajarajan-II, period inscriptions records that lands are gifted for the worship of Thirunavukkarasar, Thiruvathavuradigal, Kannappa Nayanar images.

Rajarajan-III, period 18^th reign year ( 1234 CE ) inscription records a land measuring 4 ma and araikani,  sold to this Vellai Pillayar temple, by Adhidevan alias Narayana Bhattan of Thiruvellarainallur of Veera Chozha Chathurvedi mangalam alias Peravur in Peravur nadu, a division of Jyankonda Valanadu and received 40000 kasu from the treasury.

The Chozha king Rajaraja-III, 4^th reign year ( 1230 CE ), inscription, records that endowment of pooja for the Vellai Pillayar by the Pirantaka Chaturvedi mangalam Village in Vikrama Chozha valanadu  Governing officials gave a gift of lands, which was unused for long time without cultivation due to that Village also suffered a lot, for the benefit of the Village and the King’s welfare. This was advised by Anagur Andar.

The Chozha King Rajarajan-III, 3^rd reign year inscription records that Mahadeva Bhattan and Gomadam Sundarathodudayan gave 20000 kasu from the income of growing selling banana plantains in the Vellai Pillayar Temple Lands. Form the King’s 3^rd year ie karthigai month only 15000 asu will be paid and for the balance might have paid in terms of banana.  

The latter Pallava king Thiribhuvana Chakravarti Koperunchingan 24^th reign year inscription records the gift of a land and house site in Padakkai KoRRangudi alias Kulothunga Chozha Nallur, a Village of Akilandanayaka Chaturvedi mangalam by Somasivan of Gomandam.

The same King Koperunchingan’s 24^th reign year inscription records the collection taxes due to be paid from the defaulters. As per the inscription Thirunattamadi Bhattan, of Gomadam held a land at   KoRRangudi alias Kulothunga Chozhanallur and the taxes were not paid after his demise. The Tax arrears were fell on their sons Yajna Bhattan, Sundarathodu Udayan and his wife Vanduvar Kulalichchani. Since there was nobody to stand guarantee for them, they agreed to raise a loan from the treasury and make the payment. They had paid only a part of the Tax arrears. Since they couldn’t pay the arrears fully, they left the Village. It has become the duty of the Akilandanayakachcheri’s assembly to clear the debts / dues, they sold the land and settled the amount after getting the approval from the Royal King’s officer Vattarayar. 

Maha kumbhabhishekam was  conducted on 27^th August 1971 and 25^th March, 1981.

LEGENDS

During ancient period, this place was called as Sakthivanam and Dakshinavartham. Eranda Munivar, Adhiseshan, Ambal Umayambigai, Indra, Maha Vishnu and Brahma worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Adhiseshan worships Lord Shiva of Thiruvalanjuli / Thiruvalanchuzhi, Thirunageswaram, Thirupampuram, Nagai Karonam during 4 kala poojas.

As per the legend, Indra installed the Vinayagar, made of sea foam to worship before churning the Thiruparkadal to get the Amirtha. Even now it is believed that, Indra used to worship Vinayagar – Vellai Vinayagar on every Vinayaka Chathurthi day. Since Vinayakar is made of sea foam, no abhishekam is done. Punuku and pachai karpooram are sprinkled without touching. The Vinayakar is called in different names such as Valanchuzhi Vinayagar, Vellai Pillayar, Swetha Vinayagar, Nuraipillayar, etc,.

As per the sthala purana, when Adhiseshan came out from patala loka, the Kaveri river went to patala loka through the hole in which Adhiseshan came out. The Chozha king was very much worried and prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva in the form of divine voice/asariri, told that either King or a Maharishi go in to the hole and give their live, the kaveri will flow in the usual route. The Chozha King went Kottaiyur, where a sage Eranda maharishi was doing a penance under a erandam plant. The King told the problem and seek his advise. The Eranda Maharishi came to this place and went inside the hole. The Kaveri river came out and flowed in it’s original direction. 

As per maruthavana Puranam, there are 9 temple associated with Thiruvidaimaruthur Sri Mahalinga Swamy temple as Parivara Temples. The Temples with deities  are.. 1 Thiruvalanchuzhi – Vinayagar, 2. Swamimalai – Murugan, 3. Alangudi – Dakshinamurthy, 4. Thiruvaduthurai – Nandhi / Rishabam, 5. Suriyanar koil – Navagrahas, 6. Senganur – Chandikeswarar, 7. Chidambaram – Natarajar, 8. Sirkazhi – Bhairavar and 9. Thiruvarur – Somaskandar.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and on monthly pradoshams.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Land line numbers +91 435  245 4421 and +91 435 245 4026, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

Kumbakonam to Thanjavur, Papanasam, Sundaraperumal Koil buses passes through this  Village. Town bus route numbers 12,14,48 & 51 are  available from Kumbakonam.

This temple is 4 KM from Patteeswaram, 6. 00 KM from Papanasam. 7.3 KM from Kumbakonam, 34 KM from Thanjavur and 300 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Kamakshi - in penanance standing on one leg

Saptamatrikas

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---