Sri Yazhmurinathar Temple / Yazhmoorinathar Temple / யாழ்முறிநாதர் கோவில், தருமபுரம், Dharmapuram, Karaikal District, Puducherry U T.

This is the 168^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 51^st Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupariyalur. As per the hymns of this temple, Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar couldn’t play Yazh for the hymns.

வேதநெறி வளர்ப்பவரும் விடையவர்முன் தொழுது திருப் பதிகத்துண்மை

பூதலத்தோர் கண்டதும் கலத்தினிலும் நிலத்துநூல் புகன்ற பேத

நாதஇசை முயற்சிகளால் அடங்காத வகைகாட்ட நாட்டுகின்றார்

மாதர்மடப்படி பாடி வணங்கினார் வானவரும் வணங்கி ஏத்த

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

மாதர் மடப்பிடியும் மட அன்னமும் அன்னதோர்

            நடையுடைம் மலைமகள் துணையென மகிழ்வர்

பூதஇனப்படை நின்றிசை பாடவும் ஆடுவர்

            அவர்படர் சடைந் நெடு முடியதொர் புனலர்

வேதமொடு ஏழிசைபாடுவார் ஆழ்கடல் வெண்டிரை

            யிரைந் நுரை கரை பொருது விம்மி நின்றயலே

தாதவிழ் புன்னை தயங்கு மலர்ச் சிறை வண்டறை

            பெழில் பொழில் குயில் பயில் தருமபுரம் பதியே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                -“நீக்குங்

கருமபுரத்திற் கலவா தருள்செய்

தருமபுரஞ் செய்தவமே’

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Dharmapureeswarar, Sri Yazhmurinathar.

Consort    : Sri Mathura minnammai, Sri Thenamurutha Valli.

Some of the salient features of this temple are …..

The first-level 5-tier Rajagopuram was under construction during my visit. The 2nd-level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Stucco images of Thiruneelakanda Yazhlpanar with his wife and Thirugnanasambandar are on the Rajagopuram 1^st tier. Balipeedam and Rishabam are between the first and second levels of Rajagopuram, and Moolavar is of Swayambhu. In koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy (Head is in a slanting position to hear the Yazhl Isai), Lingothbavar with Brahma & Maha Vishnu on both sides, and Durgai.

In Prakaram Sri Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniar, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas, 63var, Nalvar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi Suriyan, Chandran, Bhairavar, and  Chandikeswarar. Urchavar Yazhmurinathar (On one side Thirugnanasambandar and on the other side Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar) and Yaman.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. An eka tala vesara vimana is over the sanctum. A mandapam was built around the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva o this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century and was later reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended by Vijayanagaras/Marathas.

This is one of the 27 temples under the administrative control of Dharumapura Adheenam. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 20^th April 1969 and 09^th February 2017 after renovations.

LEGENDS 

This is the birthplace of Thiru Neelakanda Yazhpanar’s mother. When he visited this place, Thiru Neelakanda Yazhpanar’s relatives asked him to play the Yazh for Thirugnanasambandar’s hymns. Since he said he couldn’t play, his relatives tried to break the Yazh. Thirugnanasambandar stopped them and asked Yazhpanar to play, how much he could for his “Yazh Moori Pathigam”. This was recorded by Sekkizhar in Periyapuranam, under Thirugnanasambandar puranam. Hence, Lord Shiva is called “Yazh Moori Nathar, which was corrupted by Yazhmurinathar.

It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Yudhisthira, also known as Dharman, worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Thirugnanasambandar’s Guru Pooja on Moola Nakshatra day in Vaikasi (May–June), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb-March), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov–Dec), and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline number +91 4368 226 616 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

Dharmapuram is close to Karaikal and can be reached by auto also.

Dharmapuram is 3 km from Karaikal, 4 km from Thirunallar, 37 km from Mayiladuthurai, 44 km from Sirkazhi, and 283 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Karaikal.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---