Sri Uthrapathiswaraswamy Temple / Uthrapatheeshwaraswamy Temple, உத்திராபசுபதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருச்செங்காட்டங்குடி / Thiruchengattankudi, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 196^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 79^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This place Thiruchengattankudi is also referred as Ganapatheecharam in Thevara hymns and Sekkizhar Periyapuranam.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Sikkal. Here Siruthondar Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars welcomed him.  Also records in Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal puranam that, he came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Kanrapur.

சிறுத்தொண்டர் உடன்கூடச் செங்காட்டங் குடியில் எழுந்தருளிச் சீர்த்தி

நிறுத்துஎண்திக்கிலும் நிலவும் தொண்டர் அவர் நண்பு அமர்ந்து நீலகண்டம்

பொறுத்து அண்டர்உயக் கொண்டார் கணபதீச் சரத்தின்கண் போகம் எல்லாம்

வெறுத்து உண்டிப் பிச்சை நுகர் மெய்த்தொண்டர் உடன் அணைந்தார் வேதகீதர்

………. திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

சீர்தரு செங்காட்டங்குடி நீடும் திருநள்ளாறு

ஆர்தரும் சோலை சூழ்தரு சாந்தை அயவந்தி

வார்திகழ் மென் முலையால் ஒருபாகன் திருமருகல்

ஏர்தரும் அன்பால் சென்று வணங்கி இன்புற்றார்

…… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirugnanasambandar also sung hymns combining both Thiruchengattankudi and Thirumarugal. The same is given below.  

பைங்கோட்டு மலர்ப்புன்னைப் பறவைகள் பயப்பூரச்

சங்காட்டந் தவிர்த்தென்னைத் தவிராநோய் தந்தானே

செங்காட்டங் குடிமேய சிறுத்தொண்டன் பணிசெய்ய

வெங்காட்டுள் அனல் ஏந்தி விளையாடும் பெருமானே

……. திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

அங்கமும் வேதமும் ஓதுநாவர் அந்தணர் நாளும் அடிபரவ

மங்குல் மதிதவழ் மாடவீதி மருகல் நிலாவிய மைந்தசொல்லாய்

செங்கயல் ஆர்புனல் செல்வமல்கு சீர்கொள் செங்காட்டங் குடியதனுள்

கங்குல் விளங்குஎரி ஏந்திஆடும் கணபதி ஈச்சரம் காமுறவே

…… திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

பெருந்தகையைப் பெறற்கரிய மாணிக் கத்தைப்

        பேணிநினைந் தெழுவார்தம் மனத்தே மன்னி

இருந்தமணி விளக்கதனை நின்ற பூமேல்

        எழுந்தருளி யிருந்தானை எண்டோள் வீசி

அருந்திறல்மா நடமாடும் அம்மான் தன்னை

        அங்கனகச் சுடர்க்குன்றை அன்றா லின்கீழ்த்

திருந்துமறைப் பொருள்நால்வார்க் கருள்செய் தானைச்

        செங்காட்டங் குடியதனிற் கண்டேன் நானே

……… திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                      -“இயற்றுஞ்சீர்

ஆச்சிரமேவுஞ் செங்காட்டங்குடியின் அங்கணப

தீச்சரம் வாழுஞ் சந்திரசேகரனே”

……….திரு அருட்பா

காரேழுந் தடுத்தசிறு கண்ணனெனக் காசினியோ ரேவரும் போற்றப்

பாரேழும் படைத்தளிக்கும் ஒருமுதற்குப் பசிதீர்க்கு மருந்தாய் நின்றே

நீரேழு கலங்கிடினு நிலையலையான் றுணியுமென நிகழ்த்துஞ் செல்வச்

சீராளப் பிள்ளையிரு சிறுசதங்கை பதமெமது சென்னி சேர்ப்பாம்

……… தலபுராணம்

Moolavar  : Sri Uthrapureeswarar, Sri Athivana nathar,

                  Sri Manthira Pureeswarar, Sri Brahma Pureeswarar,

                  Sri Baskarapureeswarar, Sri Ganapatheecharar.

Consort    : Sri Chulikambal ( Kuzhammai ).

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and Temple tank Sathya theertham. Mangala Vinayagar is on the banks of this temple tank. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are in mukha mandapam. There is a second level 3 tier Rajagopuram. Stucco image of Lord Shiva Sitting and asked Siruthondar to come for taking Pillaikari after the Rajagopuram. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Arthanareeswarar and Durgai.

In the inner prakaram Pichadanar, Santhana nangai, Seerala Thevar, Thiruvengadu Nangai, Siruthondar and 63var. In prakaram Brahma, Arthanareeswarar, Siddhi Vinayagar, Nalvar, Sanga Nidhi and Padmanidhi, Vatapikalapar / Vatapi Ganapati ( It is believed Pallava King’s Minister brought this Vinayagar from Vatapi after conquering Chalukyas ), Sathpashada Maharishi and the Shiva Linga worshiped by him, Brahma worshiped Shiva Linga and Valli Devasena Subramaniar.

In prakaram Ashtamurti mandapam, Durgai, Veerattalingam, Vilvalingam, Bhujangalalithar, Gajasamharar, Oorthuva thandavar, Kala samhara, Gangalar, Pitchadanar, Tripurari,  Bhairavar, Vinayagar. Natarajar Sabha, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Sthamba Muhurtha Vinayagar and Suriyan.

Maragatha Lingam is in safety locker. Urchavar Uthirapathiyar to be watched. ( Similar to the story of Konerirajapuram – Thirunallam )

The 15^th Century saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

இங்கீத வேதபிர மாவைவிழ மோதியொரு

        பெண்காத லோடுவன மேவிவளி நாயகியை

        யின்பான தேனிரச மார்முலைவி டாதகர              மணிமார்பா

  எண்டோளர் காதல்கொடு காதல்கறி யேபருகு

        செங்காடு மேவிபிர காசமயில் மேலழகொ

        டென்காதல் மாலைமுடி ஆறுமுக வாவமர்         பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

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

As per the Inscriptions Lord Shiva is called as Chengadudaya nayanar, Ganapatheecharamudaya mahadevar, Ganapatheeswaramudayar and this place was called as Kayamanicka valanattu Marugal nattu Thiruchengattankudi.

Rajaraja-I period inscription records that thiruvizha was conducted for Seeraladevar on Chithirai month Thiruvathira nakshatra day. Thiruvizha was conducted for Uthrapathy nayanar on Chitra Pournami Day. Special poojas are conducted on every month Bharani nakshatra day.  The Land gifted for this celebration was called as “Thiruvottu kattalai”.

Rajendran-III also gifted a land for conducting the function. During Rajarajan-II’s 24^th year inscription records the feeding of food as annadhanam on Uthrapathy thiruvizha on Chitra Pournami day by an official, Arasur Udayar Thiruchitrambalam Udayan alias Thiruchitrambalam Udaya Pallavarayar.

Kulothunga-III period inscription records the installation of Seeralapillai’s image from Siruthondar madam. For the endowment of annadhanam during Seeraladevar’s thiruvizha Velalan Ulakanj Siriyavan ( younger brother )  Thapillai Mooventha Velalan and Thayan Chitrambalamudayan established nivanthams.  The other inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps for which donations were made.

Uthama Chozha’s 5^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning 2 perpetual lamps, after sale of two pieces of tax free land by the sabha for the gold received by them from an officer Godu kulavan Virachozhan alias Utama Chozha Nenmalinattu Muvendavelan.  Uthama Chozha’s another inscription of the same year records the sale of Tax free land to the temple for burning of  a perpetual lamp.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 18^th year ( 330^th day …?) inscription records that to take Seeralapillai from Thiruchengattankudi to Thirumarugal in procession. Since the  path was not sufficient wide to pull chariot, a lady called Brahmani Alliyangothai bought land from 11 people and again 4 people and gave it to the temple. The subsequent inscription records the gifts by the same lady for Poojas and worship.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s period inscription belongs to Thirukannapuram Sri Ramanatheeswarar temple. Since that temple was not a stone temple ( Brick temple ), the inscription was inscribed in this temple. It records the construction as a stone temple the King issued an order during his 2^nd reign year with a gift of land. Also during 5^th and 10^th reign year additional land was gifted as irayili, to construct SriKoil, Thirumadaivilakam, ThirumuRRam, Thirunandavanam. Swamikannu Pillai refers this inscription belongs to 22^nd Year of the King and not in 11^th reign year.    

Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 45^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Thiruchengattankudi Villagers gave a gift of 1 ma land  for Ganapatheeswaramudayar and Uthraapatheeswarar’s Artha Jama pooja, Chengazhuneer flower garlands, Land for creating a Nandavanam with water ponds to grow Chengazhuneer flowers and water channel facilities.   

Kulothunga Chozha ( ? I or III) period inscription records the endowment of Abhishekam on every month Bharani Nakshatra day and naivedyam by Savuri Perumal. For the same lands at Thiruvettai Kattalai Village, Theena Chinthamani Village totally measuring 6 ma lands gifted to Adhi Chandeswarar Devarkanmis as Devathanam. 

Another Kulothunga-III’s 10^th reign year inscription records that, Rajendra Chozha Asariyan had received land as Kani before years. Rajendra kalatharayan requested to inscribe on the wall again as kani land given like as before to Rajendra Chozha Asariyan. 

This is one of the temple administratively controlled by the Velakuruchi Adheenam.

LEGENDS

This place was called as Mantrapureesam, Ganapatheecharam, Sakthipureesam, Indrapureesam, Aathivanam and Baskarapureesam during ancient period.

Vinayagar worshiped Lord to get rid of  Sin /Brahmahathi dosham due to killing of Kayamugasuran, hence this place was called as Ganapatheecharam. Also it is believed that while killing Asura, the blood was spread around this place. Hence this place was called as “Chengattangudi”

Lord Shiva came in the form of Bhairavar and asked pillaikari / flesh of child to Siruthondar Nayanar. Siruthondar Nayanar offered by cutting his Child, Seeralan. So Siruthondar Nayanar, his wife, his son Seeralan and the servant were blessed by Lord Shiva. There is stucco image in this temple to depicts this legend.   

As per the sthala purana, The process of making Uthirapathiyar idol goes like this…. After hearing the news of Lord Shiva blessed Siruthondar nayanar, the Pallava King Aiyyadigal Kadavarkon came to this place and stayed for a long time. He prayed Lord Shiva to have the Uthirapathy’s ( Rudrapathi ) darshan. Lord Shiva came in his dream and asked him to do thirupani in this temple, install a Uthirapathi’s image with a shrine and do Kumbhabhishekam / consecration. After doing this Lord shiva promised to give darshan as Uthirapathi with a Shenbaga flower smell.

The sthapathis are in the process of making the Rudrapathi and Kumbabishekam date was approaching. So the king ordered to make the idol quickly. The sthapathis were worried that the idol should come in good shape and melting the Impon ( Combinations of 5 metals ).

Lord Shiva in the form of Sivayogi came and asked for water to drink. The Sthapathis replied that, how to get water in an idol making place, instead the molten liquid is there, if he wish they can offer the same. The Sivayogi said he will accept the same happily. The Sivayogi drank the molten liquid / impon, poured and disappeared. When this news was known to the King he was surprised, installed the idol and conducted the Maha Kumbhabhishekam.  Lord Shiva gave darshan in the form of Uthirapathi with Shenbaga flower smell to Aiyyadigal Kadavarkon.     

This legend is associated with the, Ambals of 4 temples around this place. A local King of Ramanadeecharam prayed Lord Shiva for a child boon. Lord Shiva informed the King, that Ma Parvati will reach him as his daughters in a divine voice. The King went for a hunting in to the forest. There he found 4 girl children under a tree. He took all the four Children and brought to the palace. When they attained the marriageable age, the King prayed Lord Shiva to marry them. Lord Shiva married all of them. The four Ambals are, Sri Karundhar Kuzhali at Thirupugalur, Sri Vanduvar Kuzhali at Thirumarugal, Sri Sarivar Kuzhali at Ramanadeecharam and Sri Vaaitha Thirukuzhalal nayaki at Thiruchengattankudi.

It is believed that all the 4 Ambals / Goddess helped a pregnant lady for a delivery. Hence All the 4 Ambals are praised in a common name as “Sri Choolikambal”- Chool – Karu- foetus. After this instance all the 4 Ambals returned to their respective temples and stayed little away from the moolavar sannadhi. Ambal of this temple is praised as “Karukatha Nayaki”.    

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Seeralankari is available as Naivedyam ( mixed with herbals ) is available only on amuthu padayal day. It is believed that the people without child can get the same after consuming this naivedyam.

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Makar Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile and landline numbers +91 94431 13025 and +91 4366 - 270 278, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The place is on  Thiruvarur to Thirumarugal road. 3 KM after Thirumarugal  veterinary Hospital.

Buses available from Thiruvarur and Thirumarugal.

The Temple at Thiruchengattankudi is 4 KM from Thirumarugal, 7 KM from Thiruppayathankudi, 22.5 KM from Thiruvarur, 25 KM from Nagapattinam, 44 KM from Kumbakonam and 300 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---