Sri Manathunai Nathar Temple / Manathunainathar Temple / இருதயகமல நாதேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / மனதுணைநாதர் கோயில்/ Valivalam / வலிவலம். Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.U.

This is the 238^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 121^st Sthalam on the south side of River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu.

 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvarur Araneri.

மல்லல் நீடிய வலிவலம் கோளிலி முதலாத்
தொல்லை நான்மறை முதல்வர் தம் பதிபல தொழுதே
எல்லையில் திருப்பதிகங்களால் பணிந்து ஏத்தி
அல்லல் தீர்ப்பவர் மீண்டும் ஆரூர்தொழ அணைந்தார்

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

நீர் ஆரும் சடை முடியார் நிலவுதிரு வலிவலமும்  நினைந்து சென்று
வார் ஆரும் முலை மங்கை உமைபங்கர் கழைபணிந்து மகிழ்ந்து பாடிக்
கார் ஆரும் கறைக்கண்டர் கீழ் வேளூர் கன்றாப்பூர் கலந்து பாடி
ஆராத காதலினால் திருவாரூர் தனில் மீண்டும் அணைந்தார் அன்றே

..... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

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

ஒல்லையாறி உள்ளம் ஒன்றிக் கள்ளம் ஒழிந் துவெய்ய
சொல்லையாறித் தூய்மைசெய்து காமவினை அகற்றி
நல்லவாறே உன்றன்நாமம் நாவில் நவின்று ஏத்த
வல்லவாறே வந்து நல்காய் வலிவலமே யவனே

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்.

நல்லான்காண் நான்மறைக ளாயி னான்காண்
நம்பன்காண் நணுகாதார் புரமூன் றெய்த
வில்லான்காண் விண்ணவர்க்கும் மேலா னான்காண்
மெல்லியலாள் பாகன்காண் வேத வேள்விச்
சொல்லான்காண் சுடர்மூன்று மாயி னான்காண்
தொண்டராகிப் பணிவார்க்குத் தொல்வான் ஈய
வல்லான்காண் வானவர்கள் வணங்கி யேத்தும்
வலிவலத்தான் காணவனென் மனத்து ளானே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

நல்லிசை ஞானசம் பந்தனும் நாவினுக்கு
அரையனும் பாடிய நற்றமிழ் மாலை
சொல்லிய வேசொல்லி ஏத்துகப் பானைத்
தொண்ட னேன் அறி யாமை அறிந்து
கல்லி யல்மனத் தைக்கசி வித்துக்
கழலடி காட்டிஎன் களகளை அறுக்கும்
வல்லியல் வானவர் வணங்கநின் றானை
வலிவ லந்தனில் வந்துகண் டேனே

...... சுந்தரர்

-:துன்றாசை
வெய்யவலிவலத் தைவீட்டி அன்பர்க் கின்னருள்செய்
துய்ய வலிவலத்துச் சொன்முடிபே

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Idhayakamalanatheswarar, Sri Manthunai Nathar
Consort    : Sri Valaiyanganni, Sri Angayarkanni,
                 Sri Malaipon Kanni Amman.

Some of the salient features of this temple are……
The temple is surrounded by water on three sides like a moat. The temple faces east with an entrance arch with Stucco images of Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Shiva Sitting on Idabam, Vinayagar, Ambal Parvati on Annavahana, and Murugan sitting on Peacock with his consorts. Kodimaram, Balipeedam, and Idabam are after the Lord Shiva on the “Chenkundrin” top. 2^nd level entrance is to Rajagopuram with 2 tiers. Adipoora Amman is in front of the 2nd-level entrance. On the upper level Natarajar, Somaskandar and Moolavar Sannidhi. Moolavar is of swayambhu. Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.  Utsava murtis are in ardha mandapam.

On the Ground level is Vetruthalam / empty level koshtam Dakshinamurthy,  Maha Vishnu, and Durgai.  In Ground level prakaram Valampuri Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Lakshmi, Kasi Viswanathar, Navagrahas, Bairavars, Chandran, Suriyan, Shiva Lingas, Ambal,  Moovars, Chandikeswarar and 63 var.

In the outer prakaram Yaga Salai, Pidari Amman, Ayyanar and Vasantha mandapam.

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

வடுத்த மாவென நிலைபெறு நிருதனை
அடக்க ஏழ்கட லெழுவரை துகளெழ
வடித்த வேல்விடு கரதல ம்ருகமத               புயவேளே
வனத்தில் வாழ்குற மகள் முலை முழுகிய
கடப்ப மாலிகை யணிபுய அமரர்கள்
மதித்த சேவக வலிவல நகருறை                   பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex was built as mada Temple, consists of Sanctum Sanctorum of 5.64 meters square, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.  The Vetru level / empty level of 2.62 meters tall, is on a prati bandha adhishtana with Padma jagathy, vrudha kumuda, and viyyalavari. The Bhitti starts with Vedigai and Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandai, palagai and poo mottu pothyal. The prastram is with valapi and kapotam. The Kapotham has the lotus medallion Nasikoods and kodipalai karukku. Salas are padra salas protruding outside. Kumbha panjaras are in aharai / saleelantharam ie the space between karnapathi and salaipathi.  Koshtams are with makara thorana. Only Dakshinamurthy is in the koshtam.

The upper level is on the vetru floor வெற்று தளம் / empty floor leaving some space about 2 feet. The upper level is on a prati bandha adhisthana with jagathy, Virutha kumudam, and Viyyalavari. The Bhitti starts with vedikai and Vishnu kantha pilasters and virutha pilasters with malaithongal, kalasam, thadi, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, Veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram is of kapotha style with Valapi, Kapotam, and Viyyalavari. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai are in the upper level koshtams.

The superstructure above the upper-level prastaram was built with bricks, The thala koshtas are with stucco images of Veena Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu with his consorts, Brahma with his consort. In Greeva koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu on Adiseshan and Brahma. The sigaram is of Vesara style with 4 maha nasis and 4 alpha nasis.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This is one of the Mada Temples constructed by Ko Chenkat Chozhan. Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple by Chozhas and further extended by  Vijayanagara Nayakas.

When reciting Thevara hymns, it starts with “பிடியத உருஉமை கொள” belongs to this temple.

பிடியதன் உருஉமை கொளமிக கரியது
வடிகொடு தனதடி வழிபடும் அவர்இடர்
கடிகண பதிவர அருளினன் மிகுகொடை
வடிவினர் பயில்வலி வலம்உறை இறையே

The Inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozha Kings Rajendra-III, Kulothunga Chozha-III, Rajarajan-III, and Pandya King Sundara Pandyan. As per the inscriptions, This place was called Arumozhitheva Valananattu Valivala Kootrathu Upayakula Suddha Chaturvedi Mangalam alias Valivalam. Lord Shiva was called “Manathul Devar”

The in-charge ( Kariyam paarpar – காரியம் பார்ப்பார் ) of the temple, transferred a land, which was on the south side of the temple. to Ethir Oppilathar Somanathadeva Mudaliar from the “Thevaperuman Thirumadam”.

A Land was sold to Thirumuladevar Thirumadam, by Sivachariyars of this temple. In this Rajarajan-III was mentioned as Periyadevar.  And this was happened during the King’s 14^th reign year.   

Rajendran-III’s 15^th reign year inscription records that temple authorities transferred some land to Thavaperumal Madam Somanathadeva Mudaliar.

Rajendran-III’s 20^th reign year inscription records the gift of some land to Thavaperumal Thirumadam chief Thirusakthimutram descendant Ethir oppilathar Somanathadeva Mudaliyar by the Villagers of Arumozhideva Valanadu Valivala Kootrathu Thenvidangalur.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 3^rd reign year inscription records that an alternate land was given for the excavation of a water tank aka Rajathirajan Perungulam in the temple land at Arumozhideva Valanattu Valivala Kootrathu Valivalam alias Upayakulasudhdha Chathurvedimangalam Manathular Temple devadanam Village aka devadanam village Kulothunga Chozha Nallur.

The inscription without the King’s name and year records the gift of land at Kulothunga Chozha Nallur. Rajarajan –II’s 14^th reign year inscription records the gift of land purchased at a higher cost to this temple. The same king's 12^th reign year inscription records that Muththalai Eetti was planted in the temple land and the land was announced as Devadhana land.

Sadayavarman Sundarapandyan’s 7^th reign year inscription records the sale of land at KooRRur alias Ponmeintha Perumal Nallur, Arumozhideva Valanattu Valivala KooRRathu Valivalam ManathuLa Nayanar by Pandya Mandalathu Madhurothayavalanattu Alathur  Nattu Palaikurichi Vayiratharayan’s wife.  

LEGENDS
The Thevara hymn starts with  “Pidiyathan Uru Umai kol’’, belongs to this temple. Karanamamunivar, Suryan, and Karikuruvi ( Valiyan ) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

In another legend, a small bird Sparrow – Valiyan - afraid of bigger birds hides in a tree’s hole. A Saint was teaching his disciples under the tree. He said nothing is great like Lord Shiva of Madurai and Potramarai Kulam. It flew to Madurai, took a dip in the theertha, and worshiped Lord Shiva for many days. Satisfied with its devotion, Lord Shiva, asked what it wanted. The Sparrow asked for a boon of bigger strength ( Valian ) to face the bigger birds. Hence this place was called “Valivalam”. It attained mukti after worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Brahmotsavam in the month Chithirai ( April – May ), Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Sundays and Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 
The landline number +91 4366 205 636, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi bus route via Keevalur.
On the Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi road, we can reach via Pulivalam and Maavur.
The Temple at Valivalam is 14 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, 20 KM from Thiruvarur, 29 KM from Nagapattinam, 33 KM from Mannargudi, 50 KM from Vedaranyam and 324 KM from Chennai.   The 
The nearest Railway station is Thiruthuraipoondi and Junction is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Mahishasuramardini as Pidari 

Ayyanar with his Consorts

Bairavars

Maha Vishnu - Brahma - Durgai

Chandikeswarar

Pidari Temple

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

The second Heritage visit to this Sri Manathunai Nathar Temple at Valivalam was a part of the “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organized by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05^th and 6^th March 2022.   Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahsildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples.