This is the 187th Devaram
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 70th sthalam on the south side
of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is on the banks of the Mudikondan River.
In
Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple
after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruveezhimizhalai. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal
came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Kaduvaikaraiputhur.
நீடுதிரு
வாஞ்சியத்தில் அமர்ந்த முக்கண் நீலமிடற்று அருமணியை வணங்கிப்
போற்றிப்பாடுஒலி நீர்த் தலையாலங்காடு மாடு பரமர் பெருவேளூரும் பணிந்துபாடிநாடுபுகழ்த் தனிச் சாத்தங்குடியில்
நண்ணி நம்பர் திருக்கரவீரம் நயந்து பாடித்தேடுமறைக்கு அரியார் தமவிளமர்
போற்றித் திருஆரூர் தொழநினைந்து சென்று
புக்கார்...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்நாலூர் தென் திருச்சேறை குடவாயில்
நறையூர் சேர்பால் ஊரும் இன்மொழியாள் பாகனார் கழல்
பரவிமேல் ஊர்தி விடைக் கொடியார் மேவும்
இடம் பலபாடிச்சேல் ஊர் தண் பணைசூழ்ந்த தென் திருவாஞ்சியம் அணைந்தார்..... திருநாவுக்கரசு புராணம்
Thirugnanasambandar,
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar, Manickavasagar, and Vallalar have sung hymns
in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
வன்னி கொன்றைமத மத்தம் எருக்கொடு
கூவிளம்பொன்னி யன்றசடை யிற்பொலி வித்தபு
ராணனார்தென்ன வென்றுவரி வண்டிசை செய்திரு வாஞ்சியம்என்னை யாளுடை யானிட மாக உகந்ததே..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் படையும் பூதமும் பாம்பும்புல்
வாய்அதள்உடையும் தாங்கிய உத்தம னார்க்குஇடம்புடைநி லாவிய பூம்பொழில் வாஞ்சியம்அடைய வல்லவர்க்கு அல்லல்ஒன்று இல்லையே...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் பொருவ னார்புரி நூலை புணர்முலை உமையவ
ளோடுமருவ னார்மரு வார்பால் வருவதும்
இல்லைநம் அடிகள்திருவ னார்பணிந் தேத்தும் திகழ்தரு வாஞ்சியத்து உறையும்ஒருவ னார்அடி யாரை ஊழ்வினை நலியஒட்
டாரே....... சுந்தரர்“திருவாஞ்சியத்தில் சீர்பெறஇருந்துமருவார் குழலியொடு மகிழந்த வண்ணமும்”....... மாணிக்கவாசகர், திருவாசகம் -“ஆங்ககனந்தாஞ்சியத்தை வேங்கைத் தலையாற்
ரடுக்கின்வாஞ்சியத்தின் மேவு மறையோனே” .......திருஅருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Vanchinadha Swamy, Sri Vanji Lingeswarar. Consort : Sri Mangala Nayagi, Sri Vazhavantha Nayagi.
Some of the salient features of this
temple are….The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after
the Rajagopuram. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy and a mandapam were built. Both
Moolavar and Ambal Temples are facing east. There are a lot of stucco images on
both Vimanas, painted colorfully. Both Ambal and Moolavar are a little large.
In the inner praharam, Abhayankara
Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts, Mahalakshmi, Mahishasura Mardini, standing
on Simha, 63 var, Kshethra Lingam, Sattainathar, Durgai, Shiva Lingas in the
names of Thiruvengadu, Chayavanam, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvidaimaruthur,
Thiruvaiyaru, Theyu Lingam, akasa Lingam, Dharmambal, Kailasanathar,
Mahalakshmi, Chandramouleeswarar, Chandikeswarar, Sundareswarar with Meenakshi
(her elephant has tusks), Saneeswarar, Rahu, Ketu and Bhairavar.
In the outer praharam, the temple
tank is on the right, and Yamadharma Sannathi is in the agni moolai.
The 15th-century Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.
த்ரிபுராந்த கற்கு வரசுத ரதிகாந்தன் மைத்து னமுருக திறல்பூண்ட சுப்ர மணியஷண் முகவேலா திரைபாய்ந்த பத்ம தடவய லியில்வேந்த முத்தி யருள் தரு திருவாஞ்சி யத்தி லமரர்கள் பெருமாளே
ARCHITECTUREThe main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. A 2 tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Both the Main temple and the Ambal temple Vimanams have stucco images.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince Thirugnanasambandar has sung
hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have
existed before the 7th Century. Later, the same was reconstructed as a
stone temple during the Chozha period. Further extended during the Vijayanagara Nayakas
and maintained by Nattukottai Nagarathars. It is believed that the temple was
reconstructed as a stone temple during Rajaraja-I.
Out of 27 inscriptions recorded, 7 belong to later Chozhas, 7
belong to Pandyas, and one belongs to Vijayanagara Nayaks. As per the inscriptions, this place was under
Kulothunga Chozha Valanattu Panaiyur Nattu Thiruvanjiyam. Thiruvanjiyam was
also called Rajakembeera Chaturvedi Mangalam. Most of the inscriptions
record the sale of lands, gift of lands, exemption of Taxes, etc.
Rajrajan-II, 18th reign year inscription records the
list of lands belonging to this temple. The Amman temple was constructed and
consecrated during his period. Land and a House were also gifted. Kulothunga-I’s 26th
reign year inscription records the endowment of Palliyarai Nachiyar established by Thiruvarangamudayan, and land was gifted by the sabha as irayili. The inscription mentions the
Sembiyan Mahadevi Peraru, Kulothunga Peraru, Rajendra Chozha Vaikkal/canal, and the roads as Manickavathy and Sahayavathy.
Rajarajan-III’s 18th reign
year inscription records that a request was raised for establishing Kamakotta
Nachiyar. 4 Chinnakol land on the north side street to the temple was gifted to
the donor of the temple as an Irayili. A land was also gifted to this
Kamakottamudaya Nachiyar temple by Puthuvurudayar Vinayaga Thevar alias Thayyal
Baramudayar.Rajarajan-III’s 24th reign
year inscription records that land was purchased from Thirumangalam Narayana Bhattar Somachiyar by paying 16000
kasus. Also records that land was purchased for the worship of Dakshinamurthy
and Subramaniya Pillayar, established by Sahanai Avimukthisiramudayan Bhattan alias
Vellai Pillai Andar and Seeralathevar. The land's periphery limits are also
mentioned.
One of the gifted land records is that one
veli land located at Mundu Vancheri was purchased by Agora Sivachariyar’s
disciple Achchutra Mangalathu Perumanayanar Pandaram purchased and gifted to
Chidambaram Pichai Madam.
Kulothunga Chozha-III's 12th reign year inscription records the construction of Pichadeva Mandapam by Kulathoorudayan Pichadevan alias Nandipanman. (Thanks to Anbu Vandiyadevan). The original inscription reads as ...
"ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ
திரிபுவனச்சக்கரவத்திகள்
மதுரையும் பாண்டியன்
முடித்தலையுங்
கொண்டருளிய
ஸ்ரீகுலோத்துங்க சோழ
தேவர்க்கு யாண்டு
பன்நிரண்டாவது
குளத்தூருடையாந்
பிச்சதேவனான
நந்திபன்மன் செய்வித்த
பிச்சதேவ
திருமண்டபம்." 
Pandya king Kochadaya Barmar’s 13th
reign year inscription records that Enchingabhattan sold land as
Thirunamathukani to this temple for the worship of Adhi Chandeswarar.
Another Pandya King Jadavarman
Sundara Pandyan’s 10th-year reign inscription records the sale of
land for Adhi Chandeswarar by Agaran Rajakembeera Chaturvedi Mangalam Srimadhava Bhattan. The same
king’s 11th reign year inscriptions record that land measuring 1
veli land was sold to this temple for worship to Adhi Chandeswarar Temple by
Rajaraja Chaturvedi Mangalam, Karambu Chettusridhara Battan. The land belonged to his mother. Almost all the Pandya King’s period inscriptions record
the land donations to the Adhi Chandeswarar temple for worship. From this, we can
understand that Adi Chandeswarar was worshiped popularly, like Lord Shiva.
A 15th to 16th-century inscription records the construction of a mandapa by Damal Appa Nayan, who was an officer to Raghavan Pillai.
The 16th-century Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya period inscription ... damaged in many
portions records the names of the temples as Tiruchirappalli, Engoi
Malai, Sandalai, Thirukattupalli, Thirunangur, Thalachangadu, Thiruparangur,
Thirumangalakudi, Thiruvisanallur, Thiruthevankudi, Suriya Nayinar Koil, etc.
A 1579 CE (saka 1501) period
inscription without the king's name records that Chidambaram Picksha madam Agora
Sivachariyar’s disciple, Perumal Nainar Pandaram, who belongs to Achuthamangalam, purchased land at Kunthuvanchery
and gifted it to this madam.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on
10th April 1989 after renovations.
LEGENDSThis place was called Vanchiyapathi, Santhanavanam, Thiruvaraiyur, Bhukailash, and Gandharanyam
during ancient times. There are 6 temples on the banks of the river Kaveri that are
considered equivalent to Kasi; the other places are Thiruvengadu,
Thiruvaiyaru, Chaayavanam, Mayiladuthurai, and Thiruvidaimaruthur.
As per the legend, Ma Parvati wants to live in this place. She came to this place and stayed here. Hence, Ma
Parvati is being praised as “Sri Vazhavantha Nayaki”.
In another legend, Ganga prayed to relieve her from the sins
accumulated. Lord Shiva advised Ganga to take a dip in the temple tanks and get
relieved from the sins. It is believed that Ganga still stays in the temple
tank itself, hence called “Gupta Ganga”.
It is believed that Maha
Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Suriyan, Agni, the sages Parasarar, and Athiri worshiped Lord
Shiva of this temple. Agasthiyar mentions that if one thinks of this place will
attain mukti.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas special
poojas are conducted on 10 days Aadi Pooram festival in the month of Aadi (July –
Aug), 12 Days of the Kadai Gnayiru festival in the month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), 10
days Masi Magam festival in the month Masi (Feb – March), Vinayagar
Chathurthi and Avani Moolam in the month of Aavani (Aug – Sept), Navaratri in
the month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the
month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thiru Karthigai and Theerthavari on all Sundays in
the Gupta Ganga in the month of Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thiruvathirai in the
month Margazhi (Dec – Jan), Maha
Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosam days,
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:Mobile and landline numbers +91 94424 03926, +91 9443354302, +91 4366228305,
may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH : The temple is midway between
Kudavasal and Nannilam. Buses are available from Kudavasal, which is also another Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the Thiruvarur to Kumbakonam bus route.This temple is 6 km from Nannilam, 12
km from Kudavasal, 14 km from Thiruvarur, 27 km from Kumbakonam, 36 km from
Mayiladuthurai, and 294 km from Chennai.The nearest Railway Station is Nannilam, and the Junction is Thiruvarur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்
....... மாணிக்கவாசகர், திருவாசகம்
வாஞ்சியத்தின் மேவு மறையோனே”
Moolavar : Sri Vanchinadha Swamy, Sri Vanji Lingeswarar.
