Araneri Achaleswarar Temple / Araneriappar Temple / ஆருர் அரநெறி அசலேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thiruvarur Araneri, Thiruvarur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 205^th Thevaram Padal petra Shiva sthalam and 88^th  sthalam on the south side of Cauvery of Chozha Nadu. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This temple is within the Thiruvarur Thiyagarajar temple complex also called as Achaleswarar Temple. 

In Periya puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvarur.

நான்மறை நூல் பெருவாய்மை நமிநந்தி அடிகள் திருத்தொண்டின் நன்மைப்

பான்மை நிலையால் அவரைப் பரமர் திரு விருத்தத்துள் வைத்துப் பாடித்

தேன்மருவும் கொன்றையார் திருவாரூர் அரன்நெறியில் திகழும் தன்மை

ஆன திறமும் போற்றி அணிவீதிப் பணி செய்து அங்கு அமரும் நாளில்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and vallalar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Vallalar has sung hymns combining Thiruvarur, Thiruvarur Araneri and Thiruvarur Paravaiyunmandali.

எத்தீ புகினும் எமக்குஒரு தீதுஇலை

தெத்தே எனமுரன்று எம்முன் உழிதர்வர்

முத்தீ யனையதொர் மூவிலை வேல்பிடித்து

அத்தீ நிறத்தார் அரநெறி யாரே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                -தக்கநெடும்

தேரூர் அணிவீதிச் சீரூர் மணிமாட

        ஆரூரில் எங்கள் அரு மருந்தே – நீரூர்ந்த

காரூர் பொழிலுங் கனியீந்திளைப்பகற்றும்

        ஆரூர் அரனெறி வேளாண்மையே – ஏரார்ந்த

மண்மண்டலிகர் மருவும் ஆரூர்ப்பரவை

        யுன்மண்டலியெம் உடைமையே

..... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Akileswarar, Sri Achaleswarar

Consort    : Sri Vandar kuzhali, Sri Bhuvaneswari

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

The temple is facing west, on the left side immediately after the east side Rajagopuram. Rishabam, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.  All the three are in straight line. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Durgai. Sculptures are also in the other koshtam.

Thirupallithamam ( Garland making platform ) platform and a Shiva Linga are in the artha mandapam. There are Nayaka period murals painted on the walls and ceilings of the Artha mandapam. In that, Maha Vishnu dances before Vinayaga to get back his Chakrayutha is little clear. On the Ceiling   Sahasra lingas ( 1008 ) are painted in the form of square matrix.

A Platform for making garlands - Thiruypallithamam -திருபள்ளித்தாமம்

Sahasra Linga

Maha Vishnu Danced before Vinayagar to get back the Chakrayutham

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapa. A three tire Vimana is over the sanctum. The adhisthana is of padapanda adhisthana. A typical Chozha style temple with sculptures in the aharai also. The temple was constructed on a raised level of about 4 feet from the ground level.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might be existed during 6^th to 7^th Century. Further extended during Chozha period.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Chozha Kings Rajaraja Chozha-I, Rajakesarivarman, Madurai konda rajakesari Varman and Vijayanagara King Veerabhupathi Udayar. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as “Thiruvaraneri Alwar”, Thiru Araneri Padarakar and thiru Araneri Udayar.

The Rajarajan-I’s period inscription on the adhisthana records that this temple was reconstructed as a Stone Temple by Sembiyan Mahadevi. The inscriptions also records that Sembiyan Mahadevi had given gift of lands for Naivedyam and Poojas, Silver vessels, Kalasa pots and 234 kasus. 

Rajarajan-I’s 7^th reign year inscription records, the endowment of 234 Kasu equivalent to 200 Kalanju as Pudukkupuram ( capital funds for renovation ) of the sharing for God Amarasundaradeva and goddess Uma Bhattaraki whose images were setup by Udayapiratiya Sembiyan Mahadeviyar, in the temple if Thiruaraneri alwar at Thiruvarur raised in stone by her. Provision was also made from these funds for worship and other offerings for the deities. The sabha of Adiyappiya- Chathurvedi mangalam undertook to be incharge of the endowment. Sembian –Nattukkonar was the srikariyam officer.

Kovi Rajakesari Varmar Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 20^th year & 27^th day reign  inscription records the endowment of burning 2 perpetual lamps with one uri oil/ day by Guru kalan Thirumoolattana thondar had gifted 3 veli land situated at Melmangalam / ( Menmangalam ).

Rajathi Rajan-I’s 27^th reign year inscription records the endowment of daily worship for which land at Deepangudi by Anukkiyar Paravai Nangaiyar.

The Vinayagar temple abutting east Rajagopuram was constructed latter using the stones of like Sanctum Sanctorum adhisthanam, Uthiram, which are belongs to the original Araneri Temple. In that there is an inscription. The inscription  details are...

Aditha Chozha-I’s 13^th reign year ( 884 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Naranakutty for this Araneripadarar. This inscription recorded in 1979 CE is believed to be the oldest amongst the inscriptions recorded from Thiruvarur Temple. Sembiyan Mahadevi, had made the arrangement for re inscribing, the old inscriptions belongs to earlier Chozhas like Aditha Chozha and Parantaka Chozha. ( Thanks to Kudavayil Balasubramanian’s article published in Vikatan ).

Madurai konda Rajakesarivarman’s 32^nd reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual Lamp for which gold was gifted to this temple. Based on the style of inscription this may be a re inscribed one at a latter date.

The Parantaka Chozha-I, 32^nd reign year ( 939 CE) inscription records that an undertaking given by the sabha of Pandanainallur, a brahmadeya in Thiruvarur Kootram, to provide oil for a Perpetual lamp for god Thiru Arur Araneri Mahadeva Bhattaraka, out of the interest from 30 Kalanju endowed  for this purpose by Srikoil Devanar….

Rajendran or Vikrama Chozha 6^th reign year inscription records an endowment of 30 Kalanju gold left with Nagarattar of Thiruvarur by Devan Arubattunalvan for burning perpetual lamp before god Thiruvarur araneri Mahadeva Bhattaraka with the daily supply of an ulakku ghee measured in Thiruneelakandan. The person on whose behalf the gift was made seems to have been known as Kalavan Porundampondai Thirumulattananat thondar probably implying that he was a spiritual teacher of the donor. The inscription seems to be of late.  

Nayaka period Maha Mandaleswarar Vira Bhupathi Udayar 1429 CE inscription records the Royal Taxfree for the merchants ( Vanikar ).

LEGENDS

Naminandhi Adigal, who belongs to Emapur near Thiruvarur worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple daily. During his time Jainism was in the peak. One day after dusk, when he came to the temple and found that there is no oil / ghee in the lamps and may extinguish at any time. He thought it will take time to go and get it from his house, So he approached for oil from some of the houses who belong to Jains community and he was mocked by them. They further told him that, while Lord Shiva is dancing with a flame in his hands, why do you require a light ..? and asked him to light with water. When he prayed to Lord Shiva, he instructed through a divine voice to pour the water, taken from the temple tank. So Naminandhi Adigal poured Sangu theertha Tank water, in the lamp and it started burning more brighter than before. He lit all the lamps with water and the temple was lit like Sun light. On hearing this miracle, the Chozha King honoured him and conducted many functions in this temple. This legend was mentioned by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal in his hymns on Thiruvarur Temple.

ஆராய்ந்து அடித்தொண்டர் ஆணிப்பொன் ஆரருர் அகத்தடக்கிப்

பாரூர் பரிப்பந்தம் பங்குனி உத்திரம் பாற்படுத்தான்

நாரூர் நறுமலர் நாதன் அடித்தொண்டன் நம்பிநந்தி

நீரால் திருவிளக்கு இட்டமை நீள்நாடு அறியுமன்றே

The same was also recorded by Sekkizhar in his Periyapuranam under Naminandhi Adigal Puranam...

சோதி விளக்கு ஒன்று ஏற்றுதலும் சுடர்விட்டு எழுந்தது அது நோக்கி

ஆதி முதல்வர் அரநெறியார் கோவில் அடைய விளக்கு ஏற்றி

ஏதம் நிறைந்த அருகந்தர் எதிரே முதிரும் களிப்பினுடன்

நாதர் அருளால் திருவிளக்கு நீரால் எரித்தார் நாடு அறிய

It is believed that Seruthunai Nayanar, Kalarsinga Nayanar with his wife, Naminandhi Adigal, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar with Paravai Nachiyar and Cheraman Peruman worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Maha Vishnu Dances before Vinayagar to get back his Chakra

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas and some of the festival celebrated at Thiyagarajar temple also celebrated in this temple. Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ) and monthly pradoshams. Of the above Maha Shivaratri is celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 05.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS  

The land line and mobile numbers +91 4366 - 242 343 and +91 94433 54302, may be contacted for further details. 

The temple web site: http://thiyagarajaswamytemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH

This temple is within the premises of Sri Thyagaraja Temple. There are lot of buses available from cities like Chennai, Tiruchirappalli,  Madurai, Thanjavur etc.  The temple is at the center of the city.

The temple is 26 KM from Nagapattinam, 28 KM from Mannargudi, 28 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, 40 KM from Kumbakonam, 40 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 40 KM from Karaikal and 296 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---