Vaimoornathar Temple / Thiruvaimurnathar Temple / வாய்மூர்நாதர் திருக்கோயில், திருவாய்மூர், Thiruvaimur, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 241^st Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 124^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that when Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal was sleeping at Thirumaraikadu, Lord Shiva asked to follow him to this temple at Thiruvaimur, since he was staying there.

மன்னும் செல்வ மறைக்காட்டு மணியின் பாதம் மனத்தின்கண்
உன்னித் துயிலும் பொழுதின்கண் உமைஓர் பாகம் உடையவர்தாம்
பொன்னின் மேனி வெண்ணீறு புனைந்தா கோலப் பொலிவினோடும்
துன்னி அவர்க்கு வாய்மூரில் இருப்போம் தொடரவா என்றார்.

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

பாட அடியார் பரவக் கண்டேன்
பத்தர்கணங்கண்டேன் மொய்த்தபூதம்
ஆடல்முழவம் அதிரக்கண்டேன்
அங்கை அனல்கண்டேன் கங்கையாளைக்
காடல் அரவார் சடையிற்கண்டேன்
கொக்கின் இதழ் கண்டேன் கொன்றைகண்டேன்
வாடற்றலையொன்று கையிற் கண்டேன்
வாய்மூர் அடிகளை நான் கண்டவாறே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

-“நீளுலகம்
காய்மூர்க்கரேனுங் கருதில் கதி கொடுக்கும்
வாய்மூர்க்கமைந்த மறைக்கொழுந்தே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Vaimoornathar
Consort    : Sri Sheerobavasani, Sri Paalinum Nanmozhiyal.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..
The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy right hand is on Rishabam, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Thiagarajar Sannidhi is adjacent to the south side of Moolavar Sannidhi. Understood that abhishekam will be conducted two times a day ( around 6 AM and 6 PM ).

In prakaram Nalvar and Bhairavar. In the inner prakaram Siva Suryan Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas ( all are in one row ), Neela Vidangar, Vedaranyeswarar, Nalvar, Avudayar, Sathya Narayani Amman, Agora Bhairavar, Ananda Bhairavar, Uththanda Bhairavar, Bala Bhairavar (Guru Bairavar Chanda Bhairavar, Krothana Bairavar and Kapala Bairavars are in the form of Thandam), Siva Suriyan and Chandran. A basrelief of Vanmiki Maharishi worshiping Lord Shiva is above the jolly/ window (The King may be Rajaraja-III or Kulothunga Chozha-III, worshiping Lord Shiva, wrongly written as Vanmiki Maharishi). Ambal is in a separate temple like Sannidhi facing east with sanctum sanctorum and Mukha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE
The Sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala and ardha mandapam. Even though this is claimed as a Mada temple, this temple is on ground level only. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam, and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika, Vishnu kantha pilasters ( with square base, malaithongal, kalasam, thadi, kudam, lotus petals mandi, Palagai, Vreerakandam and Poomottu pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi ( lotus petals ), Kapotham, and Bhoomi desam. Viyyalavari is in the Bhoomi desam.

The superstructure above Bhoomi Desam, 1^st thala, grevam, and sigaram are constructed with brick. No images are in the 1^st Thalam and Greeva koshtas have the images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma.   

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 Pandyas and Vijayanagara Nayakas.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajarajan-III, Rajendra Chozha-III, Kulothunga Chozha-III, and Vikrama Chozha. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Rajendra Chozhavalanattu Vandazhai Velur Kootrathu Thiruvaimur, Chozha Pandya Chaturvedi Mangalam, Rajendra Chozhavalanattu Vandazhai Velur Kootrathu Kattimankudi alias Chozha Pandya Chaturvedi Mangalam,    

Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvaimur Udayar, Thiruvaimur Udaya Nayanar and Thiruvaimurudaya Perumanadigal.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 33^rd reign year inscription records that during Thiruvizha Thiruvaimurudaya Nayanar will be taken in procession to Thiru Thoppu. The King who attended the Thiruvizha found that the street was very narrow. So as per the King’s order Lands were given for widening to Thiruvaimur Udaya Nayanar Temple, Adhi Chandeswarar by the Thiruvaimur Perunguri Sabha. They also agreed to rectify the 4 Mangala streets.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 12^th reign year inscription records that Rajendra Chozha Valanattu Idayalanattu Eechanur alias Parameswara Chaturvedi Mangalam Sabha has given a tank / Kulam and land as irayili for creating a “Narpathonnayiravar Thirunandhavanam” to Thiruvaimur Udayar Temple Adhi Chandeswarar.

Rajaraja-III’s 20^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a Perpetual lamp by a Thevaradiyal Vadugi Vambazhuththal alias Thiruvaimur Manickam, for the same donation was made ( the details are not known ). The interest earned is to be utilized for supplying the oil. This endowment was done during Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 38^th reign year. Since this was not inscribed at that time, the same was inscribed now.

Most of the Chozha period inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps with an ulakku oil, 91 nazhi oil per year, Naivedyam, sacred bath,  etc,. For the same money, paddy, Gold, and lands were donated to this temple. Some of them are received by the Siva Brahmins/Bhattars of the temple and one inscription mentions “Kaniudaya Muppathu Vattathu Kaniudaya Sivabramins”.  These inscriptions record that lands are held by the Siva Brahmins as Irayili ie Tax-free. Also, there was a madam in the village and donations were also made to establish images of the Monks.

LEGENDS 
Lord Shiva asked Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal to follow him to Vaaimur by saying “Vaimuril iruppom thodarnthu vaa - வாய்முயூரில் இருப்போம்  தொடர்ந்து வா” - There is a Shiva Sannidhi in parallel to Moolavar sannidhi called “Apparukku Kaatchi Kodutha  Shiva“ ( Lord Shiva who gave darshan to Appar ).

எங்கே என்னை இருந்து இடம் தேடிக்கொண்டு
அங்கே வந்துஅடை யாளம் அருளினார்
தெங்கே தோன்றும் திருவாய்மூர்ச் செல்வனார்
அங்கே வாஎன்று போனார் அதுஎன் கோலோ

As per the legend,  Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal’s hymns, to open the temple doors of Thirumaraikadu, he sang hymns and stayed at the temple. He was a little upset that the doors were opened only after he completed 10 poems of the hymns. But the doors closed for one poem of Thirugnanasambandar’s Hymns. That night Lord Shiva came in his dream and told him to follow him since he was at Thiruvaimur. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal followed Lord Shiva and reached Thiruvaimur. In the meantime, Thirugnanasambandar searched Appar. He also came to this temple. Lord Shiva gave darshan to both.

திறக்கப் பாடிய என்னினும் செந்தமிழ்
உறைப்புப் பாடி அடைப்பித்தா ருந்நின்றார்
மறைக்க வல்லாரோ தம்மைத் திருவாய்மூர்ப்
பிறைக்கொள் செஞ்சடையார் இவர் பித்தரே

It is believed that there were Ashta Bhairavas in this temple, but there are only 4. For the rest, Dhandas are kept. It is believed that Indra’s son Jayanthan was relieved from the curse due to the grace of Bhairavas. Special “Jayanthan poojas” are conducted on the Chithirai month's first Friday, since it is believed that Jayanthan worshiped on that day. Suriyan also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

This is one of the saptha vidanga sthalam ( Vidangar – Neela Vidangar, Nadanam – Kamala Nadanam, seat – Rathna Simhasanam ). The Legend goes Like this. Maha Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva and Parvati with Kandar as Somaskandar aka Thiyagarajar (but actually it is a Shiva Linga.. ? )  form for child boon. Devendra obtained the Murti and worshiped. Devendra wanted to gift something to Muchukunda Chakravarthy for helping him win the war with Valasuran. When Muchukunda Chakravarthy was asked, what did he want..?. Muchukunda said that he wants only the Thiyagarajar. Devendra made 6 more replicas of Thyagaraja, and told him, if he identified the original, he would give away all the 7 Vigrahams. Muchukunda Chakravarthy identified the original and obtained all 7 Vigrahams. He installed one in this temple at Thiruvaimur. The other temples' details are... ( The others are Thiruvarur – Veedhi Vidangar, Ajapa Natanam, Nagapattinam ( Nagai Karonam), - Sundara Vidangar, Vici Nadanam, Thirukaravasal – Adi Vidangar, Kukkuda Nadanam, Thirukkuvalai (Thiru Kolili) – Avani Vidangar, Brunga Nadanam, Thirunallar – Nagara Vidangar, Unmatha Nadanam, Thiruvaimur – Nlla Vidangar, Kamalana Nadanam and Vedaranyam (ThirumaraiKadu) – Bhuvai Vidangar, Hamsapada nadanam.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), 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 ) and monthly pradoshams.

Special poojas are also conducted on Ashtami days for Bhairavas. Special Abhishekam will be done to Thiagarajar on 1^st day of Aippasi month. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile number +91 97862 44876, may be contacted for further details. Gurukkal +91 9487992974 may also be contacted.

HOW TO REACH
The place is on the road diversion to Ettukudi on the Nagapattinam to Thiruthuraipoondi.The 
Thiruvarur to Vedaranyam bus passes through this village
The temple at Thiruvaimur is 18 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, 27 KM from Thiruvarur, 30 KM from Nagapattinam, 37 KM from Vedaranyam 45 KM from Mannargudi, and 328 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Thiruthuraipoondi and Junction is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Dhandas as Bhairavas

It is a King and not the Munivar

--- 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, Thasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples.