Sri Vellimalai Nathar Temple / Thiruthangur Vellimalainathar Temple / Sri Rajathagreeswarar Temple / வெள்ளிமலைநாதர் திருக்கோயில் / திருத்தங்கூர் / Thiruthengur / Thiruthangur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 233^rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 116^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called Thengur (தேங்கூர்) during the Thevaram period and is now called Thiruthangur.

  

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that  Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunellikaval and Kaichinam.

நம்பர்மகிழ் திருஆரூர் வணங்கிப் போந்து

        நலம்கொள் திருக்காறாயில் நண்ணி ஏத்திப்

பைம்புனல்மென் பணைத்தேவூர் அணைந்து போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருநெல்லிக்காப் பணிந்து பாடி

உம்பர்பிரான் கைச்சினமும் பரவித் தெங்கூர்

        ஓங்கு புகழ்த் திருக்கொள்ளிக் காடும் போற்றிச்

செம்பொன்மதில் கோட்டூரும் வணங்கி ஏத்தித்

        திருமலி வெண்துறை தொழுவான் சென்று சேர்ந்தார்

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

புரைசெய் வல்வினை தீர்க்கும் புண்ணியர் விண்ணவர் போற்றக்

கரைசெய் மால் கடல் நஞ்சையுண்டவர் கருதலர் புரங்கள்

நிரைசெய்து ஆரழலூட்டி யுழல்பவர் இடுபலிக்கெழில் சேர்

விரைசெய் பூம்பொழில் தேங்கூர் வெள்ளியங்குன்ற மர்ந்தாரே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                    -“நீட்டுமொளி

ஆங்கூரிக்லை வேலவனாஅதியர் சூழத்

தேங்கூரில் வாழ் தேவ சிங்கமே”

..... திரு அருட்பா

மருவாழம் புராசி யெழு வரையேழும்

        வலமயிலோன் வருமுன் தான்போய்

ஒருவேழந்தரு பரனை உமையை வலம்

        வந்து கனியுடன் கொண்டோனைப்

பெருவேழந் தீர்த்தன்பு தருமோம்

        பானைப்பசுந்தேன் பிலிற்றுத் தூற்றுங்

கருவேழ மருந்து துகிர்ச் செவ்வேழ

        முகத்தானைக் கருத்துள் வைப்பாம்

........ வினாயகர் துதி .. தல புராணம்

Moolavar  : Sri Rajathagreeswarar, Sri Vellimalai Nathar

Consort    : Sri Birugantha Nayagi, Sri Periya Nayagi

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

The Temple faces east without an entrance arch or  Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the mandapam. Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar, and Murugan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little tall with acca mala, Vibuthi pattam, and silver pirai, looks beautiful. In koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam Nalvar, Somaskandar, Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas worshiped Shiva Lingas, Navagrahas Nayagan Saneeswarar, Navagrahas worshiped Lingams, Maha Bhairavar, and Suriyan. Ambal is in a separate temple, like a sannadhi.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. A 3-tier brick Dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum Sanctorum. Stucco images are in the Aharai and Karnapathi also. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

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 during the Chozha period, extended by the Vijayanagaras, and maintained by the Pandyas and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The recorded inscriptions belong to the Chozha kings,  Rajarajan-III, Kulothunga Chozha-III, Rajendra Chozha-III, and Pandya King Kulasekara Pandya, found on the sanctum walls. The inscriptions mainly speak about the endowment of burning perpetual lamps for which donations were made in terms of Land, money, Goat/sheep, etc.

Pandya King Kulasekara Pandya’s 31^st reign year inscription records that NarasingaDevar’s son Alaivayukanda Perumal, alias Malava Chakravarthy, had established a pooja in his name called  Malava Sandhi, for the same he has given a gift of 200 kalam paddy and 30 kasus.

Rajarajan-III’s 26^th reign year inscription records that Periyathevar Thiribhuvana Veeradevan Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 30^th reign year Karumbuzhan Thiruvekambam Udayan Thiruchotruthurai Udayan established an endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 4000 kasus and a Lamp weighing 200 palam was gifted to the temple. Another inscription records that a land at Sivapatha Sekara Nallur, called “Thirumeikaval,” was given to Karumbuzhan Thiruchotruthurai Udayan, in lieu of that land at another place was received.

Rajendra Chozha-III’s 12^th (11+1) reign year inscription records that Thiruthengur merchants had bought land and given it to a Boyan. Then they decided to give some other land; they gifted 50 kasu, which was given to the temple for the purchase of the above land, and asked to treat that as thirunamathukani. Due to this, they were exempted from the oil tax, which they had to give to the temple. This arrangement was done by the temple authorities. 

Rajarajan-III’s 25^th (24+1) reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which a land of one ma was gifted by the Village Sabha. It was agreed (by the temple authorities) to supply 30 nazhi ulakku aazhakku oil will be supplied.    

Renovations were carried out by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipathi Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi  Swamigal’s Pon Vizha scheme.

LEGENDS

It is believed that during pralayam, Ma Parvati requested Lord Shiva not to destroy this place. When all the places are flooded with seawater, clear water stagnates at this place. Hence, this place was called “Thengur”. In another version, this place was with Coconut trees, hence called Thiruthengur.

Mahalakshmi, left Maha Vishnu to give wealth to all his devotees when she had seen them, came to earth and stayed here. She brought one of the peaks of Velli Malai – Mount Kailash and placed it on this earth. She did a penance and worshiped Lord Shiva and Parvati.  Satisfied with his penance, Lord Shiva and Parvati appeared and blessed Her. Maha Lakshmi requested Lord Shiva and Parvati to stay in this Vellimalai and bless the Devotees. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Vellimalai Nathar. Thiru - Thirumagal, Thangur - a staying/living place, hence this place is called Thiruthangur, which was later corrupted to the present name of Thiruthangur.

In another legend, Sukran, one of the Navagrahas, lost his eyesight due to the curse of Maha Vishnu. He came to this place, Vellimalai, and worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse. Lord Shiva, as Vellimalai Nathar with Ambal Periyanayaki, appeared and relieved him from the curse. Also granted many boons. The other Grahas also worshiped Lord Shiva after creating the Shiva Linga and Worshiped. Hence Navagrahas are in the form of Shiva Lingas in this temple.

In another Legend, Ganga Devi felt that she had become impure due to all the devotees, Sages, and Munis taking baths and relieving their sins. So she came to this temple, created a Theertham, and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva relieved her from all her sins and asked her to stay in this theertha itself and relieve the sins of whoever took a dip in the theertham and worship Him.

It is believed that Suriya worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Every year from March 18^th to 24^th Sun's rays fall on Moolavar.

   

   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Brahmotsavam will be conducted in the month of Vaikasi as Ekadhina (one day). 

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 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 of Masi (Feb – March), and monthly pradoshams.

Vinayagar

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +919442346042 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

On the bus route from Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi, get down at Nellikka, and from there, this temple is 2 Km

Town bus A12 from Thiruvarur to Thirukollikadu passes through this village.

The temple is 20 km from Thiruvarur, 23 km from Mannargudi, 60 km from Kumbakonam, 62 km from Thanjavur, and 352 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---