This is the 169th Thevara
Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri and the 52nd Sthalam
in Chozha Nadu. This is one of the Moovar Paadal Petra Shiva Temple. This temple is one of the Saptha vidanga
sthalangal. (The 6 other temples are Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thirumaraikadu,
Thirukkaarayil, Thiruvaimur, and Thirukolili- Thirukkuvalai). This is one of
the 44 temples on which Moovar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva. This place was
called Dharparanyam, Nagavidangapuram, and Nalesuram during ancient times.
In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records
that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Dharmapuram.
நள்ளாற்றில் எழுந்தருள நம்பர்திருத் தொண்டர் குழாம் நயந்து சென்றுகொள் ஆற்றில் எதிர்கொண்டு குலவி உடன் சூழ்ந்து அணையக் குறுகிக் கங்கைத் தெள்ளாற்று வேணியர்தம் திருவளர் கோபுரம் இறைஞ்சிச் செல்வக் கோயில்உள்ஆற்ற வலம்கொண்டு திருமுன்பு தாழ்ந்து எழுந்தார் உணர்வின் மிக்கார்
Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu
Swamigal, Sundarar, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this
temple. Thirugnanasambandar has sung the hymn ‘Bogamarntha Poonmulayal’ in the
analvatham and the same was called “Pachai Thirupathigam”.
போகமார்த்த பூண் முலையாள் தன்னோடும்
பொன்னகலம்பாகமார்த்த பைங் கண் வெள்ளேற்றண்ணல்
பரமேட்டிஆகமார்த்த தோலுடையன் கோவண ஆடையின்
மேல்நாகமார்த்த நம்பெருமான் மேயது நள்ளாறே...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்குலங்கொடுத்துக் கோள்நீக்க வல்லான்
தன்னைக் குலவரையின் மடப்பாவை இடப் பாலானைமலங் கொடுத்து மாதீர்த்தம்
ஆட்டிக்கொண்ட மறையவனைப் பிறைதவழ் செஞ்சடையினானைச்சலங் கொடுத்துத் தயாமூல தன்ம மென்னுந் தத்துவத்தின் வழிநின்று தாழந்தோர்க்கெல்லாம்நலங் கொடுக்கும் நம்பியை நள்ளாற்றானை நானடியேன் நினைக்கப்பெற்றுய்ந்த வாறே...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் மாதினுக்கு உடம்பு இடங் கொடுத்தானை மணியினைப் பணிவார் வினை கெடுக்கும்வேதனை வேதவேள் வியர் வணங்கும் விமலனை அடியேற்கு எளி வந்ததூதனைத் தன்னைத் தோழமையருளித் தொண்டனேன் செய்த துரிசுகள் பொறுக்கும்நாதனை நள்ளாற்றானை
அமுதை நாயினேன் மறந்தென் நினைக்கேனே..... சுந்தரர்சனி பகவான் துதிபெருவாச நளனொடு வந்தவன்
தீர்த்த்மாடுதலாற் பெற்றபேற்றால்ஒருவா வந்தெம் பெருமானருள் பெற்று
மிகவுமனம் உவகைபூப்பக்கருவாசல் புக்கார்போல் புகுந்தொளிரு நள்ளாற்றுக் கனக வச்ரத்திருவாசலிடனின்ற “மந்தன்” இரு செந்தளிர்த்தாள் சிந்தை செய்வாம்....... தலபுராணம் -“இருமையினும்எள்ளாற்றின் மேவாத வேற்புடையோர்
சூழ்ந்திறைஞ்சும்நள்ளாற்றின் மேவிய என் நற்றுணையே....... திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Dharbaranyeswarar, Sri Thirunallatreswarar. Consort : Sri Piranambigai, Sri Praneswari and Sri Bogamaartha
Poonmulaiyal.
Some of the salient features of this
temple are…The temple faces east with 5-tier Rajagopuram and the front mutram was converted as mandapam. Moolavar
is of Swayambhu since Lord Shiva came through Dharbai (A type of grass) and
there is a scar on his head. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Brahma
and Durgai.
On the side, Unmatha nadana Thyagesar
is with Devi Nilothlambal. Thiagarajar is called as Naga Vidanga Thyagar- Sri Shenbaga Thiagarajar and the dance is called as Unmatha nadanam.
In the outer praharam Nalan’s
history as painting, Vasantha mandapam (a new mandapam is constructed and on
the pillars Stucco images of Shiva’s dance). On the right and left
of Sri Shani Bhagavan sannidhi - Kumbha and makara rasi reliefs are covered with
brass plates.
In the inner prakaram, Sundarar,
63var, Naleswarar. Sthala Vinayagar Swarna Ganapathy, Saptha vidanga sthala Shiva
Lingas, Subramaniar, Adhiseshan, Nalanarayana Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar.
Natarajar sabha and Urchavars. On the right side, is the temple for Idayan, his wife, and Accountant
/kanakkan. In the mandapam pillars 10 types of Shiva's dance stucco
images.
Maragatha Lingam is in safe
custody and Pooja will be conducted during the morning at 08.30 Hrs abhishekam.
The 15th Century Saint Arunagirinathar sang hymns in praise of the Muruga of this temple.
நச்சு வெண்பட மீதணை வார்முகில் பச்சை வண்புய னார்கரு டாசனர் நற்க ரந்தநு கோல்வளை நேமியர் மருகோனே நற்பு னந்தனில் வாழ்வளி நாயகி யிச்சை கொண்டொரு வாரண மாதொடு நத்தி வந்துந
ளாறுறை தேவர்கள் பெருமானே
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince Thirugnanasambandar
and Appar have 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 Chozhas period and extended during
Vijayanagaras / Marathas.
As per the inscription this temple
was under Uyyakondar Valanattu Muzhayur Nattu Thirunallar and Lord Shiva was
called Thirunallarudayar.
Rajathirajan-II’s 11th
reign year inscription starts with meikeethi records an endowments executed by
more than 10 Bhattans. Since the inscription was incomplete and could not trace this endowment was established. Probably land may be donated to this
temple.
Rajathirajan's 35th reign year damaged inscriptions record an endowment and mentions the "Pachai Pathigam" (Thirugnanasambandar's Pathigam/hymns starts with "போகமார்த்த பூண்புலையாள்" - Composed to win over the debate with Jains in analvatham in which the palm leaf didn't burn. This may mention a drama or Ariya Koothu of this incident was conducted at this Temple ). Correct information couldn't be obtained due to damage to the inscriptions. A gift / dhanam was given to Mukhamezhutha - makeup to the artists.
The Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-I
(?), 17th reign year inscription is damaged in many portions and
incomplete records of the endowment of burning sandhi lamp /perpetual lamp at Adhi
Chandeswarar shrine, for which Sheep / Goat was gifted.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted
on 24th March 2006 after renovations. This is one of the
administratively controlled temples of Dharmapura Adheenam.
Inscriptions
LEGENDSEven though this is a Shiva temple, Sri
Shaniswaran is mainly worshiped by devotees to get rid of the Shani dosha. The
story of Nalan who got rid of Shani dosha after worshiping Shani Bhagavan of
this temple goes like this..... Dhamayanthi married Nalan a king of
Nidha kingdom in a swayamvaram, ignoring the Devas. So Shaniswaran got angry and hold of him after 12 years, due to the simple reason of not washing
his leg properly before entering his palace. As per the advice of Sri Bharadwaj
Munivar Nalan came to Thirunallar, created a Theertham, and
worshiped Lord Shiva. Fearing Lord Shiva Sri Shaniswaran stayed outside the sanctum. Hence Shani Bhagavan is powerful in this temple.
Nala's Dharbar
Nala Theertham - Entrance
Nala Theertham
During Daksha’s yagna, he lost one
of his eyes. Even though the black eagle is a vahana, in agamam Black crow is
also treated as a Vahana. His wife is called “Jyeshta Devi”. His
friends are Budhan, Guru, and Sukran. His enemies are Suriyan (His father), Chandran, and Chevvai.
After the entrance, on the right
side is the Idayan, his wife, and the Accountant/kanakkan temple. There is a story associated
with this temple. Idayan used to give milk to this temple. Accountant/Kanakkan
used for his own use and wrote a false account. On hearing this the
king got angry. In the meantime, Lord Shiva
threw his Trishul to kill the accountant/Kanakkan and
saved Idayan. To make the way to the soolam Balipeedam of the
main shrine moved to the side. Accountant /Kanakkan’s head was chopped & Idayan
was blessed by Lord Shiva. In the mandapam pillars bas reliefs of Maha Vishnu,
Brahma, Indra, Ashtadikpalakas, Agasthiyar, Pulathiyar, and Arjunan. Nalan worshiped
Lord Sri Shaniswaran of this temple.
This is one of the Saptha Vidanga sthalam... Maha Vishnu gave a Maragatha Linga to Brahma, Brahma in turn gave it to Indra.
Indra worshiped the Shiva Linga for a long time. The Chozha king Muchukunda Chakravarthy with a monkey face was a brave warrior, who helped Indra to conquer the
demon Valasuran. As a part of Thanksgiving giving Indra wants to present something
and asks what he wants..?. Since Muchukunda Chakravarthy was an ardent devotee
of Lord Shiva, asked for the maragatha Linga which Indra got from Brahma. Indra was
reluctant to give it to Muchukunda Chakravarthy, so he made 6 similar Shiva
Lingas and told the King, that if he identified the original, he agreed to give
all the 7 Shiva Lingas. With Lord Shiva’s grace, the Chozha King identified
the original and got all 7 Shiva
Lingas. The Musukunda gave the original Shiva Linga to Thiruvarur Temple and
the rest to other six temples around Thiruvarur. So these 7 temples are called “Vidanga Sthalams”. (Vidanga means made without Chiselled). In all the 7
Vidanga temples, the procession deity is Thyagaraja, in the form of
Somaskandar. The Shiva Linga and the Dance in each temple are called by
different names. At Thirunallar Thiagarajar is called “Shenbaga Thyagar”,
Shiva Linga is called Naga Vidangar, and Dance as Unmatha Nadanam. The
details of the other temples are...
Place Shiva Linga DanceThiruvarur Vidhi Vidangar Ajapa
Nadanam Thirunallar Naga Vidangar Unmatha
NadanamNagapattinam Sundara Vidangar Visi
NadanamThirukarayil Adhi Vidangar Kukuda
NadaanamThirukkuvalai Avani
Vidangar Brunga NadanamThiruvaimur Nila Vidangar Kamala
NadanamVedaranyam Buvani Vidangar Hamsapada
Nadanam
Stucco image of Lord Shiva's Dance postures.
It is learned that the Shiva Lingas
at Thiruvarur and Thirunallar are the original and the rest are either stolen or
replaced by new ones.
Also, paintings of Pandya king Nindraseer Nedumaran's decease were cured by Thirugnanasambandar. The debate between Thirugnanasambandar and Jains in which the palm leaves didn't burn - analvatham for his Pachchai pathigam.
Thirugnanasambandar's debate with SamaNar ( Jains ) in Analvatham
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special
poojas are conducted on Saturn transition/Sani Peyarchi Day, Saturdays,
Pournami/full moon night day in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), 18 days
Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Maha Shivaratri in the month
Masi (Feb – March) and all important Hindu festivals.
TEMPLE TIMINGS The temple kept open between .6.00
Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs. The closing times will be extended
on Saturdays and important days.
CONTACT DETAILS:The telephone numbers +91 4368 236530
& +91 4368 236530 and the mobile number +91 94422 36504, may be contacted
for further details.The Web site: http://thirunallarutemple.org/index.html
HOW TO REACH :Thirunallar is on the Karaikal to Kumbakonam
bus route. Frequent buses are available from Peralam, Karaikal,
Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, and Nagapattinam.Thirunallar is 3 km from Dharmapuram
(Puducherry), 6 km from Karaikal, 33 km from Mayiladuthurai, 47 km from
Sirkazhi, 52 km from Kumbakonam and 285 km from Chennai. The nearest Railway Station is
Karaikal.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
The Sthala Vruksham Dharbai is a kind of grass and once this place was complete with these plants/grass as aranyam / forest - Since Lord Shiva came under this grass, is called Dharbaranyeswarar
Nala Theertham - Vinayagar and Bhariravar sannathi---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
நள்ளாற்றில் எழுந்தருள நம்பர்திருத் தொண்டர் குழாம் நயந்து சென்று
கொள் ஆற்றில் எதிர்கொண்டு குலவி உடன் சூழ்ந்து அணையக் குறுகிக் கங்கைத்
குலங்கொடுத்துக் கோள்நீக்க வல்லான்
தன்னைக்
...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்
Moolavar : Sri Dharbaranyeswarar, Sri Thirunallatreswarar.
The temple faces east with 5-tier Rajagopuram and the front mutram was converted as mandapam. Moolavar
is of Swayambhu since Lord Shiva came through Dharbai (A type of grass) and
there is a scar on his head. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Brahma
and Durgai.
Inscriptions
Nala's Dharbar
Nala Theertham - Entrance
Nala Theertham
Thiruvarur Vidhi Vidangar Ajapa
Nadanam
Stucco image of Lord Shiva's Dance postures.
Thirugnanasambandar's debate with SamaNar ( Jains ) in Analvatham
The Sthala Vruksham Dharbai is a kind of grass and once this place was complete with these plants/grass as aranyam / forest - Since Lord Shiva came under this grass, is called Dharbaranyeswarar
Nala Theertham - Vinayagar and Bhariravar sannathi
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment