Sri Swarnapureeswarar Temple / சொர்ணபுரீசுவரர் கோயில், Kaduvaikarai Puthur / Andankoil / ஆண்டார்கோயில், Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 214^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 97^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called Andankoil or Andangkoil. The old name of the Kudamurutti River is Kaduvai, and the place was called as Puthur. Since there are many places in the name of Puthur, to differentiate, this place is called as Kaduvaikarai Puthur. 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiru Arisirkaraiputhur. Sekkizhar didn’t mention this temple in particular but, mentioned other Shiva Temples on the way.

நாலூர் தென் திருச்சேறை குடவாயில் நறையூர் சேர்

பால் ஊரும் இன்மொழியாள் பாகனார் கழல் பரவி

மேல் ஊர்தி விடைக் கொடியார் மேவும் இடம் பலபாடிச்

சேல் ஊர் தண் பணை சூழ்ந்த தென் திருவாஞ்சியம் அணைந்தார்

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

ஒருத்த னைமூ வுலகொடு தேவர்க்கும்

அருத்த னைஅடி யேன்மனத் துள்ளமர்

கருத்த னைக்கடு வாய்ப்புனல் ஆடிய

திருத்த னைப்புத்தூர்ச் சென்றுகண்டு உய்ந்தெனே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                                    -“மேலூரும்

நோய்கரையுட் செய்யாத நோன்மையோர் சூழ்ந்த கடு

வாய்க்கரையுண் மேவுகின்ற வண்மையே”

...... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Swarnapureeswarar

Consort    : Sri Swarnambigai, Sri Shivambigai. Sri Poornmbigai

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

The Temple is facing east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of Mukha mandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In prakaram Swarna Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Musukuntha Chakravarthi, Chanda thevar, Roma Maharishi, Nalvar, Manickavasagar in seated position, Sekkizhar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar and Suriyan. 

Ambal Poornambigai is in a temple like Sannathi with Dwarapalakis. Ambal Sannathi is facing east at an elevated level without koshtam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a Mukha mandapam. Moolavar is on an elevated level.

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. Later the same was reconstructed as a Stone temple during the Chozha period and extended further during the Nayaks period. 

 

LEGENDS

It is believed that Suriyan, Vinayagar as Kumbhakarna Vinayagar, and Sage Kashyapa, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

It is believed that Girl Children who are not attained puberty, even after the particular age,  will attain age, when they take a dip in the temple tank, Light lamps, and worship Lord Shiva. Devotees also worship Lord Shiva for Child boon.  

Suriyan rays fall on Moolavar from the 11^th to the 13^th  in Chithirai month ( April – May ), and special  Surya poojas are conducted to Lord Shiva.

As per the legend, The Chozha King Musukuntha Chakravarthy was constructing a temple for Thiagarajar of Thiruvarur. One of his ministers Kandadevar was given the responsibility of procuring the stones required for the temple. When he reached this place it was dawn and enquired the people about any Shiva temple to worship at before taking food. Since the minister was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he used to worship Lord Shiva before taking food. It was told that there is no temple nearby. With hunger and tiredness, he slept under a tree. Lord Shiva came in his dream and told that he was under a Vanni tree. The minister immediately got up and worshiped Lord Shiva. Admiring the place, he started constructing a temple using the money and materials meant for Thiruvarur Thiyagaraja temple.

When the construction of the temple was completed, the Minister Kandadeva told every thing to the King and requested him to pay a visit to this temple. The King also paid a visit. Admiring the beauty of the temple, The King asked the minister, he should give the good karma / Punya earned and the money to him since the temple was constructed using the stolen materials and money meant for Thiruvarur Temple. The Minister told that, he is ready to pay back the money but not the good karma he earned. The King got angry and ordered his men to behead the minister in front of the temple itself. The King’s men executed the King’s order, and the minister uttered the last word “Andava”. The King then realized that he had killed a real devotee of Lord Shiva. Feeling guilty he tried to kill himself with his sword. Immediately Lord Shiva appeared and blessed the King and gave back life to Minister Kandadeva. Hence this place obtained the name “Andankoil”.

      

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ), Suriya poojas in the month Chithirai ( April – May ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will kept open between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The Mobile number +91 9677350150  may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH 

This place Andankoil is on the bus route from Kudavasal to Valangaiman.

The temple at Andankoil is 9.00 km from Thiru Naalur Meignanam, 13 KM from Kumbakonam, 29 KM from Thiruvarur, 47 KM from Mayiladuthurai, and 307 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---