Sri Sararameswarar Temple / Sara Parameswarar Temple, சாரபரமேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / செந்நெறியப்பர் கோயில், திருச்சேறை / Thirucherai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 212^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 95^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is on the banks of river Mudikondan. This place maintains the same name as  Thirucherai, since Thevara times ie 6^th to 7^th Century. This temple is being called as “Udayar Kovil” by the local people.

 

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

பாடும் அரதைப் பெரும் பாழியே முதல் ஆகச்

சேடர் பயில் திருச்சேறை திருநாலூர் குடவாயில்

நாடியசீர் நறையூர்தென் திருப்புத்தூர் நயந்து இறைஞ்சி

நீட்தமிழ்த்தொடை புனைந்து. அந் நெடுநகரில் இனிது அமர்ந்தார்

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

நாலூர் தென் திருச்சேறை குடவாயில் நறையூர் சேர்

பால் ஊறும் இன் மொழியாள் பாகனார் கழல் பரவி

மேன் ஊர்தி விடைக் கொடியார் மேவும் இடம் பல பாடிச்

சேல் ஊர் தண் பணைசூழ்ந்த தென் திருவாஞ்சியம் அணைந்தார்

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

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

முறியுறு நிறமல்கு மகிழ்முலை மலைமகள் வெருவமுன்

வேறியுறு மதகரி யதள்பட உரிசெய்த விறலினார்

நறியுறும் இதழியின் மலரொடு நதிமதி நகுதலை

செறியுறு சடைமுடி யடிகள்தம் வளநகர் சேறையே

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

பெருந்திரு இமவான் பெற்ற பெண்கொடி பிரிந்த பின்னை

வருந்துவான் தவங்கள் செய்ய மாமணம் புணர்ந்து மன்னும்

அருந்திரு மேனிதன்பால்அங்கொரு பாக மாகத்

திருந்திட வைத்தார் சேறைச் சென்னிறிச் செல்வனாரே.

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                      -“மடவார்கோர்

கூறை உவந்தளித்தகோவே யென்றன்பர் தொழச்

சேறை உவந்திருந்த சிற்பரமே”

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Senneriappar, Sri Sara Parameswarar

Consort    : Sri Gnanavalli.

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

The temple is facing east with a mottai Gopuram and Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati are on the top. The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the second level Rajagopuram. Moolavar is swayambhu and little big.

In prakaram  Vinayagar, Markandeyar worshiped Amirthakadeswarar, Ambal, Saptamatrikas, Nalvar, Murugan, Gajalakshmi, Jyeshta Devi, Rinavimasana Lingeswarar, Bhairavar and Natarajar sabha. There are two Durgas and they are Vishnu Durga and Shiva Durga.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. An ekathala vesara Vimana is over the sanctum.

There is also a Maha Vishnu temple in the same village, which has got the mangala sasanam and one of 108 Diva desams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7^th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as  a stone temple during Chozha's period ( Believed to be during Kulothunga Chozha-I, 11^th Century) and further extended during Nayaka’s.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Tribhuvana Chakravarthi Kulothunga Chozha’s 5^th and 27^Th reign years. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Thiruchenneriudayar.

On Chithirai month Swati nakshatra day, the Utsavars will be taken to Rajanarayana Peraru for theerthavari. For the same a land was gifted to this purpose by Rajasundara Chathurvedi mangalam Sabhai. The same people also donated land as Irayili to Uma maheswarar of this temple.

 

LEGENDS

Markandeyar and Thoumiya maharishi ( Guru to Kunti mother of Pancha Pandavas) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Sage Markandeyar installed A Shiva Linga, to get free from debts, which are accrued from his earlier births. Hence People used to worship this Shiva Linga to free from debts ( mistakenly as material and money debt ). Hence he is called as “Rina Vimosana Lingeswarar”. It is believed after worship, on 11 consecutive Mondays, all debts will be cleared and Lord Shiva will bless with all wealth, which includes education. 

Bhairavar is a Prarthana murthy. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal also praised Bhairavar in his hymns. There is  a soolam and bell marks / reliefs on the upper arms of the Bhairavar. Special poojas with vada mala / garland are offered on Ashtami days. Poojas may extend up to 22.30 hours on Mondays.

விரித்தபல் கதிர்கொள் சூலம் வெடிபடு தமருகம் கை

தரித்ததோர் கோல கால பயிரவ னாகி வேழம்

உரித்துமை அஞ்சக் கண்டு ஒண்திரு மணிவாய் விள்ளச்

சிரித்தருள் செய்தார் சேறைச் செந்நெறிச் செல்வ னாரே

Kala Bairavar

It is believed that Suriya worshiped Lord Shiva of 126 temples to get rid of the sin caused due to attending of Velvi conducted by Dakshan. In that this Sarabeswarar temple is also one. The Sun rays falls on moolavar and Ambal’s feet on 13^th to 15^th in the month Masimaham days ( Feb – March ). Special poojas are conducted during that time. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Saraparameswrar.

The term Saram means a highest quality, hence Lord Shiva was called as Thirusaram which has corrupted to Thirucherai. Also, The Place was surrounded by paddy fields ”CheRRur”, has got corrupted as “Cherai”.

The sthala Vruksha is a special one called mavilangai tree which has unique features. During first 4 months the tree will have only leaves and next 4 months only flowers and last four months only barren branches will be visible.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on  Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Skanda Sashti and 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.

Special poojas are conducted during the month of Masi, at that time Sun also worships Moolavar and Ambal in the form of sun rays. Special Poojas are conducted on Mondays to get back the money lended.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS 

The mobile number +91 94439 59839, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH  

Private town bus available from Kumbakonam.

The temple at Thirucherai is, 4.5 KM from Kudavasal, 15 KM from Kumbakonam, 26 KM from Thiruvarur, 42 KM from Mayiladuthurai and 300 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---