Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple / Apathsahayesvarar Temple / ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / ஆலங்குடி குரு கோயில் / Alangudi Guru Temple, Irumboolai / Alangudi, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 215^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 98^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called Alangudi. This is one of the Navagraha sthalam, ie. Dakshinamurthy sthalam or Guru Sthalam.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukarukkudi.

தேவர்பிரான் அமர்ந்ததிரு இரும்பூளை சென்று எய்தக்

காவணம் நீள் தோரணங்கள் நாட்டி உடன் களிசிறப்பப்

பூவண மாலைகள் நாற்றிப் பூரணபொன்குடம் நிரைத்து அங்கு

யாவர்களும் போற்றிசைப்பத் திருத்தொண்டர் எதிர்கொண்டார்

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

சீரார்கழ லேதொழு வீர்இது செப்பீர்

வாரார்முலை மங்கையொ டும்உடன் ஆகி

ஏரார்இரும்பூளை இடங்கொண்ட ஈசன்

காரார்கடல் நஞ்சமுது உண்ட கருத்தே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நடுநடுங்கா நின்றதுள்ள முனைநம்பினேன்

        நம்பினேன் வட கயிலையாய்

உல்லாச பரமகுரு நாதனே ஆலடியில்

        உறைகின்ற பரதெய்வமே

ஒன்றாகி ஆனந்த உருவாகி என்னுயிர்க்(கு)

        உயிரான பரமசிவமே

..... தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி திருஅருட்பா

                                                         -“வாய்த்த

பெரும்பூகந் தெங்கிற்பிறங்க வளங் கொள்ளும்

இரும்பூளை மேவியிருந்தோய்”

.... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kasi Aaranyeswarar, Sri Aabathsahayeswarar

Consort    : Sri Yelavar Kuzhali

Some of the salient features of this temple are …

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram, and there are many beautiful stucco images on the Rajagopuram. “Kalangkaamal Kaaththa Vinayagar” sannathi abuts the Rajagopuram after the first entrance. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Guru Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Shiva Lingas, Nalvar, Suryeswarar, Someswarar, Bhairavar, Chandran, Suriyan, Gurumoksheswarar, Somanathasamy, Saptharishi Nathar, Vishnu Nathar, Brahmeesar, Agathiyar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi and Navagrahas. Aakgnaaganapathy, Somaskandar, and Natarajar Sabha. Saneeswarar, Sukravara Amman, Vasantha Mandapam, and Saptamatrikas are also in the praharam.

Utsava murtis are Vinayagar, Pradosha Nayagar Chandikeswarar, Sri Bakthar, Chandrasekar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Kalyana Sastha, Adaikalam Dhanthaar, Saptamatrikas, and Aalayam Aamarnthavar. Utsava Dakshinamurthy with Sanakathi munivars. In Maha Mandapam Nandhi, balipeedam are in cheppu (Copper). Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Maha Mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

Ambal sannathi is facing south after the Second stage entrance.  The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, antarala, and ardha mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The same was reconstructed during the Chozha period and further extended during the Vijayanagara / Maratha period.

LEGENDS

Dakshinamurthy is of a special Guru Parihara Sthalam, hence this sthalam is called Dakshinamurthy Sthalam  

As per the legend, Devas and Asuras churned the milk ocean, Maha Vishnu as Koorma (tortoise) supported the Meru hill on his back, and the Snake Vasuki as a rope to get the Amirtha. Due to pain, Vasuki spat the poison – Alakala Visham. Before it got mixed with the Milk Ocean, Lord Shiva took and drank the poison. Thus, he saved the Devas. Hence, this place was called Alangudi. It is believed that nobody dies due to snake bites in this place. To support the above statements, the poem composed by Kalamega Pulavar is given below.

ஆலங்குடியானை ஆலாலம் உண்டானை

ஆலங் குடியான் என்று ஆர் சொன்னார் – ஆலம்

குடியானேயாகில் குவலயத்தோரெல்லாம்

மடியாரோ மண் மீதினில். 

Since Lord Shiva came in the form of swayambhu under the sthala plant (Vruksha) – Poolai, this place was called Irumpoolai. In another version, this place is on the banks of the river “Poolaivala River”. Hence, this place obtained the name of Irumpoolai.

This temple is considered a parivara temple of ThiruvidaiMaruthur. The others are. 1 Thiruvalanchuzhi (Vinayagar), 2. Thiruveragam (Murugan), 3. Thiruvaduthurai (Nandhi – Rishabam), 4. Suriyanar Koil (Navagrahas), 5. Senganur (Chandikeswarar), 6. Thillai alias Chidambaram (Natarajar), 7. Sirkazhi (Bhairavar) and Thiruvarur. (Somaskandar).

This is one of the Pancha Aranya kshetras; they are 1. Mullaivana Nathar Temple, Thirukkarugavur ( Mullai ), 2. Sri Satchi Nathar Temple, Avalivanallur (Pathiri), 3. Pathaleswarar Temple, Arathaiperumpazhi (Vanni), 4. Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Thiru Irumpoolai – Alangudi (Poolai), 5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar temple, Thirukollampudur (Vilvam).

The legend associated with Andankoil is also applicable to this temple, with the change of name of the Minister. After beheading the Minister for part of his good karma earned by constructing a Shiva temple, the King (Musukuntha Chakravarthi)  worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get rid of the Brahmahathi dosha.

 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

During Aippasi, holy water from the “Poovalai River” (maybe the present Vettaru River)  will be brought, and abhishekam will be done to moolavar. A chariot procession will be conducted for Dakshinamurthy during Brahmotsavam. On Guru peyarchi day, special poojas and homas / Yagnas on Thursdays are conducted.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on the 10 days Chitra Pournami Brahmotsavam (full moon days) in the month of  Chithirai  (April – May), Vaikasi Visakam in the month of Vaikasi (May – June), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Avani (Aug – Sept), Thirukarthigai in the month of Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thaipoosam in the month of Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March), and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs. The timing will change on Brahmotsavam days and Thursdays. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

The landline number +91 4374 269 407 may be contacted for further details.

Temple Website: http://www.alangudigurubaghavantemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH 

This place is on the bus route from Kumbakonam to Needamangalam.

The temple at Thiruvirumpoolai / Irumboolai / Alangudi is 8.5 km from Needamangalam, 10 km from Andankoil, 18 km from Kumbakonam, 21.5 km from Mannargudi, 33 km from Thiruvarur, 52 km from Mayiladuthurai, and 314 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---