Ayavandeeswarar Temple / Sri Ayavantheeswarar Temple / அயவந்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், திருச்சாத்தமங்கை / Thiruchathamangai / Seeyathamangai, Nagapattinam, District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 198^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 81^st Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place, Seeyathamangai, was called as Thiruchathamangai and the temple was called as Ayavanthi – அயவந்தி, during 6^th to 7^th Century.

 

In periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunallar. He further mentions that During his Visit along with Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar and Thiruneelanakka Nayanar after taking food with Thiruneelanakka Nayanar and worshiped Lord Shiva of Ayavanthi ( name of the temple ).

நீடுதிரு நீலநக்கர் நெடுமனையில் விருந்து அமுது செய்து நீர்மைப்

பாடும் யாழ்ப் பெரும்பாண ரும்தங்க அங்கு இரவு பள்ளி மேவி

ஆடும் அவர் அயவந்தி பணிவதற்கு அன்பருடன் அணைந்து சென்று

நாடியநண் புடைநீல நக்கடிகள் உடன்நாதர் கழலில் தாழ்ந்து

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

திருமலர்க் கொன்றைமாலை திளைக்கும் மதி சென்னிவைத்தீர்

இருமலர்க் கண்ணி தன்னொடு உடனாவதும் ஏற்பதொன்றே

பெருமலர்ச் சோலைமேகம் உரிஞ்சும் பெருஞ் சாத்தமங்கை

அருமலர் ஆதிமூர்த்தி அயவந்தி அமர்ந்தவனே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                        -“திண்மைகொண்ட

மாத்தமங்கையுள்ள மருவிப்பிரியாத

சாத்தமங்கை கங்கைச் சடாமுடியோய்”

.... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Ayavantheeswarar, Sri Brahmapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Ubaya Pushpaviloshini, Sri Irumalarkkannammai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing west with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and the temple tank is in front. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Pichadanar, Durgai, Arthanareeswarar as Risabanthikar ( One hand on Rishabam head ), Alingana moorthy and Agasthiyar.

In the outer prakaram Chandran, Shaniswaran, ( keeping one leg on the crow vahanam ), Saptamatrikas, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Mahalingam, Viswanathar with Visalakshi and Vinayagar.

In the inner prakaram Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Nalvar, Thiruneelanakka Nayanar with his wife ( Magaiarkarasi ), Somaskandar and Maha Ganapathy. Urchavars Thiruneelanakka Nayanar with his wife, Nadana Sundarar. In Natarajar sabha Ambalakoothar Natarajar with Sivagami and Manickavasagar.

In prakaram Mahavishnu, Mahaganapathy, Subramaniar and Mahalakshmi. Saptamatrikas are facing north near the temple outer prakaram wall.

Ambal is in a separate temple  with Suriyan, Vinayagar and Subramaniar. Ambal is with four hands in standing posture Looks cute in parrot green colour saree. Palliyarai is also in Ambal sannathi. Rishabam is in a little elevated level. Vinayagar on “moonchuru” and Dhandayuthapani as Dwara murtis with a flight of steps.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam with a stucco arch at the entrance. A Mandapam was built around sanctum during recent years by Nagarathars.

A Live Dakshinamurthy

Pranala

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed between 6^th to 7^th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as a stone temple by Chozhas and further extended by Pandyas, Nayakas and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The Inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Rajakesarivarmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Kulothunga Chozha-I and Thirubhuvana Chakravarti. One of the the inscription was inscribed in the form of a song / poem, which praises Lord Shiva and Ambal of this temple.

Asper the inscriptions this place was called as Sathamangalam, Sathamangai and temple was called as Ayavanthi and Lord Shiva was called as Ayavanthi Udayar - அயவந்தி உடையார்.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarti Rajaraja’s 13^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Thanneerpandal / free water point on the banks of river Mudikonga Chozha Peraru through the donations made, by Thiruvekamba Udayar of Kanichaipakkam. For the same. Since that was not functioning the donation was transferred to Thiruchengattankudi Siruthondar Thirumadam, which established by the same person by the Sathamangalam Village sabha.

Rajaraja’s period inscription records that an image of Siruthonda Nayanar, was existed in the temple.

LEGENDS

This place was called as “Sathamangai” and temple was called as “Ayavantheesam”. Brahma worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

As per the legend Thiruneelanakka Nayanar was born in this place. He along with his wife used to worship Lord Shiva by offering Kondrai flowers. When his wife Mangayarkarasiyar happened to see a cobweb on the Shiva Linga and blew through her mouth. Thiruneelanakka Nayanar thought the saliva of his wife spoiled the sanctity  of the Shiva Linga. So he got angry and left  her at the temple itself and went home. She had spent whole night in the temple praying Lord Shiva. On that night Lord Shiva came in his dream and shown his face with boils and the place where his wife blewed was not affected. Thiruneelanakka Nayanar rushed to the temple and realized that his wife had not done any thing wrong and prayed Lord Shiva. Through this Lord Shiva had shown the devotion of his wife Mangayarkarasiyar to this world. The same was recorded by Thirugnanasambandar in his hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple.

During Thirugnanasambandar’s visit, Thiruneelanakka Nayanar decorated the Village, temple and received him with full honours and served dinner. He arranged accommodation for Sambandar at his house. Thirugnanasambandar asked Thiruneela nakka Nayanar to arrange accommodation for Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar and his wife also. Since the caste discrimination was on the high during that time, But gave the accommodation at Shiva Pooja meda /  Yaga sala / Homa Kundam place, which is considered as a holy place than a house. 

நீடுதிருநீலநக்கர் நெடுமனையில் விருந்துஅமுது செய்து, நீர்மைப்
பாடும்யாழ்ப் பெரும்பாண ரும்தங்க அங்குஇரவு பள்ளி மேவி,
ஆடும்அவர் அயவந்தி பணிவதனுக்கு அன்பருடன் அணைந்து சென்று,
நாடியநண் புஉடைநீல நக்கடிகள் உடன்நாதர் கழலில்தாழ்ந்து.

Both went to the temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. After worship of Ayavantheeswara, Thiruneelanakka Nayanar also wanted to accompany with him. But Thirugnanasambandar asked him to stay at this place itself and continue the service to Lord Shiva. Latter during the marriage of Thirugnanasambandar, at Achalpuram, Thiruneelanakka Nayanar was the chief priest to conduct marriage, After the marriage all the guests, priests merged with Lord Shiva and attained mukti.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on  Avani moolam and  Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Land line number +91 4366 270 073 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH  

Seeyathamangai is 2 KM from Thirumarugal on Thirumarugal to Nagore bus route.

The temple is 3 KM from Thirumarugal, 14.6 KM from Nagore, 21 KM from Nagapattinam, 28 KM from Thiruvarur, 37 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 48 KM from kumbakonam and 295 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Nagore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Agathiyar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---