Sri Satchinathar Temple / சாட்சிநாதர் கோயில். Avalivanallur / அவளிவணல்லூர், Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 217^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 100^th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place was called the Sthala Purana Aval+ival+Nallur, Avalivanallur.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this Temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukarukavur. But, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupalaithurai, not mentioned in particular but mentioned as other temples on the way.

பதிகஇன்இசை பாடிப்போய்ப் பிறபதி பலவும்

நதிஅணிந்தவர் கோயில்கள் நண்ணியே வணங்கி

மதுரமுத்தமிழ் வாசகர் அணைந்தார் மன்னுள்

அதிர்சிலம்பு அடியார்மகிழ் அவளிவணல்லூர்

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirugnanasambandar mentions Lord Shiva's name as "Thamparisunadyar".

கொம்பிரிய வண்டுலவு கொன்றைபுரி நூலொடுகு லாவித்

தம்பரிசி னோடுசுடு நீறுதட வந்திடபம் ஏறிக்

கம்பரிய செம்பொனொடு மாடமதில் கல்வரைவி லாக

அம்புஎரிய வெய்தபெரு மான்உறைவது அவளிவள் நல் லூரே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

தோற்றினான் எயிறு கவ்வித் தொழிலுடை யரக்கன் தன்னைத்

தேற்றுவான் சென்று சொல்லச் சிக்கெனத் தவிருமென்று

வீற்றினை யுடையவனாகி வெடுவெடுத்து எழுந்த வன்றன்

ஆற்றலை அழிக்க வல்லார் அவள் இவள் நல்லூரே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                            -“சரதத்தால்

ஏதும் அவள் இவள் என்று எண்ணாதவர் இறைஞ்சி

ஓதும் அவளிவணல் லூருடை யோய்”

..........திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Satchinathar

Consort    : Sri Soundaranayagi.

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

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of Sanctum Sanctorum. Image of Shiva and Parvathi in standing posture at the back of Shiva Linga in the sanctum, as per Sthala Purana as Satchinathar on Rishaba. Moolavar is of swayambhu. Dwarapalakas are called as Aatkondar and Uyyakondar. In koshtam  Agathiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner prakaram, Vinayagar, Nalvar, Paravaiyar with Kanva Munivar, Veerabhadra, Saptha Kannis,  63var, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Arumugar, Mahalakshmi, Natarajar sabha, Mahalingam, Kumaralingam, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Dhavasambal, Susilai, Kalabhairava and Suryan and Navagrahas. In the Navagraha group, all the Grahas are facing Suriyan. Urchavars are Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Sivakami, Natarajar, Nalvar Arumugar and Mahalakshmi. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing east.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. A Vesara Vimana is over the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu's Swamigal have 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 as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Nayakas / Maratas period.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Kulothunga Chozha-III (  1246 – 1279 CE ). As per the inscription This place in Nithavonadhavalanattu Aavoor Kootrathu Avalivanallur and was Lord Shiva was called “Thamparisudayar”.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajaraja Chozha-III’s son Rajendra Chozha-III ( 1246 – 1279 CE ), 7^th and 22^nd reign year, and some fragments, damaged inscriptions without the king’s name and period.  As per the inscription Lord Shiva was called “Thamparisudaya Nayanar”.

Rajendra Chozha-III’s 7^th Year inscription records the lighting of Lamp after begging ( ..?) and Service damaged many portions. Another 22^nd reign year inscription records the endowment of lighting a lamp for which land was gifted ( the inscription is incomplete and damaged ).

Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 10^th reign year inscription records that Nithavonadhavalanattu Aavoor KootrathuAvalivanallur Thamparisudaya Nayanar temple,  Vinayagar, Amberintha Peruman ( may be Lord Shiva as Thirupuranthakar), Nachiyar, Atkondanayagar and Nachiyar, Thiru Palliyarai Nachiyar, Aludaya Pillaiyar was established by a merchant Sathudayan Thamparisudayan Adhicha devan alias Amarakon.

To celebrate Margazhi and Chithirai Thirunal, land after purchase was donated by Emaloorudayan Thirupangudayan Thiruvandan’s father Kiliyudayan Anukkan ( The inscription was damaged in many portions ).

LEGENDS

This place was called “Pullaranyam”, “Satchinathapuram” and “Pathirivanam”. It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Kashyapa Maharishi, Murugan, Suriyan, Agasthiyar, and Kanva Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of the temple.

Maha Vishnu, during Varaha avatara, his horn was broken. So he came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him with horns as before. Kashyapa Maharishi also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

Lord Shiva gave witness that “Aval than Ival’’, after giving old beauty and eyesight to the Sivachariyar's daughter. Hence Lord Shiva is called "Sri Satchinathar". The legend goes like this. During ancient times An adhi Saiva anthanar, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva worships Lord Shiva daily. He had two daughters. He arranged marriage to his elder daughter. After marriage, the elder daughter’s husband went to Kashi Yatra. During that time She suffered from smallpox disease and her face was disfigured. And She lost her eyesight too. The Anthanar arranged marriage for his second daughter also. In the meantime, the elder daughter’s husband returned home after Kasi Yatra. After seeing the disfigured face of his wife, he argued that She is not his wife and the younger daughter is his wife.

When the Andhanar prayed to Lord Shiva to save his elder daughter’s life. Lord Shiva appeared before the elder daughter’s husband and told him, that the elder daughter who suffered from smallpox was his wife, by saying “aval than ivaL – அவள் தான் இவள்.”. Then Lord Shiva asked the elder daughter to dip in the temple theertha. The elder daughter had taken a dip in the theertha and came out with her old beauty and eyesight.  Since Lord Shiva himself came and gave Saatchi – a witness, Lord Shiva is praised as “Satchinathar” and the place was also called “Satchinathapuram”.

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

It is believed that it is auspicious to have the darshan at Avalivanallur in the morning, Thirukarukavur in Ushakalam, Haridwaramangalam in Uchikalam, Alangudi in the evening, and Thirukkollamputhur in the night.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

One day Brahmotsavam will be celebrated on Thai Amavasya day (new moon day).

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline number is +91 4374 275 441, 264586, and the mobile number is +91 94421 75441 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

On the Thanjavur to Thiruvarur bus route, this temple is about 6 KM from Ammapettai.

The temple at Avalivanallur is about 3 KM from Haridwaramangalam, 20 KM from Kumbakonam, 29 KM from Thanjavur, 30 KM from Mannargudi, 44 KM from Thiruvarur and 314 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---