Sri Manikkavannar Temple / Manickavannar Temple / Karinatheswarar Temple / மாணிக்கவண்ணர் கோயில், / Rathnapureeswarar Temple. திருநாட்டியதான்குடி / Thirunattiyathankudi, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 235^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the  118^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place has maintained the same name since the  Thevaram period as Nattiyathankudi.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar describes Sundarar’s Visit to Thirunattiyathankudi, Kotpulinayanar’s House, and, as per his request, Sundarar accepted his daughters “Singadiapan” and “Vanapakaiyar” and his own daughters.

மாலும் அயனும் உணர்வரியார் மகிழும் பதிகள் பலவணங்கி

ஞாலம் நிகழ் கோட்புலியார்தம் நாட்டியத்தான் குடிநண்ண

ஏலும் வகையால் அலங்கரித்து அங்கு அவரும் எதிர்கொண்டு இனிதிறைஞ்சிக்

கோலமணி மாளிகையின் கண் ஆர்வம் பெருகக் கொடுபுக்கார்.

Sundarar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

பூணாண் ஆவதோர் அரவங்கண்டு அஞ்சேன்

        புறங்காட்டு ஆடல்கண் டிகழேன்

பேணா யாகிலும் பெருமையை உணர்வேன்

        பிறவேன் ஆகிலும் மறவேன்

காணா யாகிலும் காண்பன்என் மனத்தால்

        கருதா யாகிலுங் கருதி

நானேல் உன்னடி பாடுதல் ஒழியேன்

        நாட்டியத் தான்குடி நம்பீ

...... சுந்தரர்

                                                              -எல்லற்கண்

சேட்டியத்தானே தெரிந்து சுரர் வந்தேத்தும்

நாட்டியத்தான் குடிவாழ் நல்லினமே”

...... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Manikkavannar, Sri Rathnapureeswarar,

                  Sri Kari Natheswarar, Sri Nattiyathu Nambi.

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai, Sri Mamalai Mangai

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

The temple faces east with a three-tier Rajagopuram. At the entrance of the temple sannidhi for “Kaikaattiya Vinayagar” for Sundarar. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma. Paintings of Lord Shiva as Natarajar are on the back wall of the Sanctum Sanctorum. 

In praharam Vinayagar, Murugan, Viswanathar, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, and Kotpuli Nayanar. Nataraja sabha and Urchavars are in the maha mandapa. 

  

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, Antarala, and Artha mandapam. A Two-tier brick vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum Sanctorum.

   

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has 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 extended by the Vijayanagaras and maintained by the Nattukottai Nagarathars.

LEGENDS

There are two brothers, Rathnaintha Chozha and his brother, who are ardently devoted to Lord Shiva, who tried to share the diamonds that were left by their father with the help of a diamond trader. When a dispute arose between the two brothers about the sharing of diamonds based on their quality, they prayed to Lord Shiva to help them. Lord Shiva came in the form of a diamond merchant and divided into two parts, and gave them. Hence, Lord Shiva is called “Rathnapureeswarar” and “Manickavannar”.

An Elephant worshiped Lord Shiva of this Temple to get rid of the previous birth’s sin, hence Lord Shiva is called “Karinatheswarar”

This is the birthplace of Kotpuli Nayanar. Sundarar accepted Kotpuli Nayanar’s daughter ”சிங்கடியார்” & ”வனப்பகையார்” as his own daughters in this temple.

கூடா மன்னரைக் கூட்டத்து வென்ற கொடிறன் கோட்புலி சென்னி

நாடார் தொல்புகழ் நாட்டியத்தான்குடி நம்பியை நாளும் மறவாச்

சேடார் பூங்குழற் சிங்கடி யப்பன் திருவா ரூரன் உரைத்த

பாடீ ராகிலும் பாடுமின் தொண்டீர் பாடநும் பாவம்பற்று அறுமே

When Sundarar was staying in his house, he went to worship Lord Shiva at this temple. Since Lord Shiva and Parvati were not there, Vinayagar asked, "Where are Lord Shiva and Parvati ?". Vinayagar didn’t speak but showed the fingers in Eesanya's direction. Sundarar followed the direction and found Lord Shiva and Parvati were planting the paddy saplings. Sundarar has sung as...

நட்ட நடாக்குறை நாளைநடலாம்

நாளை நடாக்குறை சேறு தங்கிடவே

நட்டது போதும் கரையேறி வாரும்

நாட்டியத்தான்குடி நம்பி”

After this, Lord Shiva and Parvati disappeared from the field and returned to the temple. Sundarar followed them, and a snake stopped him from entering the temple. Sundarar sang the hymns as “Poonanavathor – பூணாணாவதோர்” and worshiped Lord Shiva. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Kotpuli Nayanar’s Mukthi / Guru puja day and Lord Shiva and Parvati planting paddy saplings on kettai nakshatra day in the month Aadi (August) are celebrated in a grand manner.

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile numbers of Panneer Selvam, +918098298505, and Balaji, +918098297016, may be contacted for further details.  

HOW TO REACH

On the bus route from Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi, get down at Mavur Koot road, and from there, the temple is on the way to Vadapathimangalam.

The temple is 14 km from Thiruvarur, 27 km from Mannargudi, 53 km from Kumbakonam, 65 km from Thanjavur, and 344 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---