Sattayappar Kovil / சட்டநாதர் திருக்கோயில் / நாகை 12 சிவன் கோயில் 11 வது கோயில் / Mada Temple, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

The Heritage visit to this Sri Sattanathar Temple at Nagapattinam in Nagapattinam district 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. This temple is the 11^th temple out of the 12 Shiva Temples of Nagapattinam and about 750 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar Temple, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples. Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples.

The temple complex consists, of Sattayappar Temple, a Mada temple, and another Sri Adhi Kayarohaneswarar temple with Common parivara deities.

SATTAYAPPAR TEMPLE

Moolavar  : Sri Sattanathar

Consort    : Sri Amirthavalli /Sri Ilamangai

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

This temple faces South with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and kodimaram / Dwajasthambam are under the Kodimara mandapam. 7 steps are provided on both sides to climb up the upper level. The central mandapam protrudes towards Kodimaram.   A balipeedam with simha vahana is in this mandapam (Whose vahana..? and during Brahmotsavam Simha flag is hoisted). Bairavar as Moolavar in the sanctum is on a pital-plated peedam. Bairavar is with 10 hands. The front right hand is Abhaya Hastam and the other right hands are holding Trishul, Sword, Angusam, and Damru. The left front hand resting on a thandam and the other hands are holding a head, Shield / kedayam, pasam, and snake. Ambal Amirthavalli is on left side of moolavar, in kadaka hastam and left hand is dola hastam. Ambal is a latter-period addition.

At lower level vahana mandapam, vasantha mandapam, Ayyanar, Maha Ganapathi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramanya, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, Navagrahas, Suryan, Thirugnanasambandar in dance posture and Bairavar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is a mada style of construction with an upper floor and an empty floor Lower level வெற்று தளம். The lower level – empty floor adhistanam was constructed with upanam padabandha adhistanam muppattai kumudam, pattikai, the bhitti starts with vedhika, short brahma kantha pilasters with vettu tharanga pothyal, in prastram, kapotam and viyyalavari in bhoomi desam. The total height of this floor is 3.41 meters. There are 4 koshtas with Makara torana and all the koshtas are empty.

Mukha mandapam adhistanam is of kapota bandha style with tall pada & kandam. Steps with Shobhana mandapam are provided to access the upper level from both sides in the Kodimara mandapam. The pillars are of a square base with naga bandham supported by Brahma kantha pilasters. The pothyals are with vettu tharanga pothyals.

The Pillars are of Vishnu kantha pillars attached with pilasters. The pillars have sculptures/bas-reliefs of horse riders, warriors holding swords, shields, pathagai / posters, flags, umbrellas, and servants with hookah. These sculptures are on the Yazhi pedestal.

The upper level main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum Vimanam is on a padma upanam and adhistanam is of padabandha style. The Bhitti starts with vedika, supported by Brahma kantha pilasters with vettu tharanga pothyal. The sanctum sanctorum measures 4.76 meters square and has 5 deva Kostas with mahara thorana. A two-tier stucco Vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Ambal Amirthavalli, Pichadanar, and Lord Shiva’s various forms are on the Vimanam 1^st level and greeva koshtam.

The Kodimara mandapam ceiling has the paintings of Lotus medallion and the Mukha mandapam ceiling has paintings of Oorthuva Thandavar, Kali’s dance, Pichadanar, Shiva’s family procession with kallu kudam, and various Puranas.

In Urdhva Tandava's painting, Shiva is dancing with his right leg up and keeping his left leg on Muyalagan. Wearing tiger skin, utara bandham, yagnopaveetha, mahara, and padra kundala. Skull and Chandra are on the Jada makudam. The lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and the other hands are holding Doopakalasam, snake coiled Damru, and parasu.  The front Left hand is on the thigh and the other hands holds a bell, flame, and antelope. The painting also has Vinayagar, Brahma, Narada with veena, Brungi, Murugan with bow Maha Vishnu playing Kuda muzha and Thumburu Muni.   

Some of the experts of the opinion that, this temple does not qualify for a mada Koil considering the aspects of Moolavar as Shiva Linga on the Ground floor and Sattainathar on the first floor / upper level similar to, Sirkazhi and Ambar Mahalam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is claimed that the original temple was constructed  by the Chozha King Ko Chenkat Chozha.  ( As per the Historians this temple is about 1.5 KM from the sea. Since Chozha’s capital, Kaviripoompattinam was destroyed due to the Tsunami – azhi peralai-to save from the tsunami the temples along the seashore were built as mada Temple ). Later received contributions from Pallavas, Chozha, and Vijayanagaras.

But as per Purana, this temple was built by a small king / குறுநில மன்னன் called Thirumalairayan in 15^th Century on the south side of Melai Karonam as an inner / ( upa ) temple. 

Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbabishekam was conducted on 08^th December 1929, 24^th April 1994, 10^th May 1988, and 21^st October 2010. 

LEGENDS

In one of the Legend, Lord Shiva as Sattainathar – Bhairavar-suppressed the arrogance of Maha Vishnu’s avathara as Thiruvikrama, who killed Mahabali Chakravarthy. Due to this Maha Vishnu was infected with a sin. Maha Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva to get relief from Sin. Lord Shiva took the skin of Maha Vishnu and wore it. By doing so, Maha Vishnu was relieved from the sin. Hence Lord Shiva is called Sattainathar. On seeing Lord Shiva wearing Maha Vishnu’s skin, Maha Lakshmi mistook that Maha Vishnu was killed, which is another legend associated with the Sattainathar temple of Sirkazhi.

As per Purana, Ramadevar who was well versed in 4 Vedas and a staunch devotee of Sattainathar reached Kasi to attain mukti. Ramadevar gave Sattainathar Vigraha to Solingamudayar, one of the disciples for worship. One Night Sattainathar came in the dream of Solingamudayar to come to Nagapattinam. With Sattainathar Vigraha, Solingamudayar came to Nagapattinam and worshiped Nagai Karonam after taking a bath in Muni theertham.

In the meantime, the Thirumalai Rayan, the Local King’s daughter was caught by the Brahmaraksasha spirit. SolingaMudayar went to the King’s palace and drove away the spirit. As a part of thanksgiving, King Thirumalarayan built this temple to Sattainathar.

The legend about Ramadevar... He is celebrated as one of the 18 siddhars. With the Siddha power, he went to Kashi to worship Lord Shiva. When he had a dip in the river, he obtained the Sattainathar Vigraham. After worshiping for some period, he gave it to his disciple Solingamudayar and went to Arab countries such as Yakope, where he did research on Kayakalp Herbals. Finally came back to Chathuragiri Hills and attained Jeeva samadhi on the Azhagar Koil Hill.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular Poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosam and Maha Shivaratri days.

This temple is the 11^th temple out of 12 Shiva Temples of Nagapattinam, where special worship is conducted on Maha Shivaratri day. ( The 12 Temples are… Velivai Shiva Temple, Kayarohaneswarar temple, Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Amara Nadeeswarar Temple, Malaieswarar Temple, Kattiappar Temple, Naduvatheeswarar Temple, Azhanatha Swamy temple, Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Chokkanatha Swamy Temple, Sattaiyappar Temple and Naganathar Temple.

Annual Brahmotsavam will be held in the month of Chithirai after flag hoisting in Panguni. The temple Chariot will be pulled in 4 mada streets. The Nagapattinam Railway staff will also participate in pulling the Chariot. One year due to a misunderstanding they didn’t participate. A Tamil Teacher of Nagapattinam Desiya Higher Secondary School invited them with a poem and they participated. (Thanks to yaathirai.blogspot.com ). The poem reads as...

மட்டாருஞ் சோலை மலருந் திருநாகைச்

சட்டையப்பர் கோயில் தனித்தேரில் – கட்டும்

வடம் பிடிக்க வாருங்கள்,  வண்கயிலை தன்னில்

இடம் பிடிக்க வேண்டுமேல் ஈங்கு.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is about 750 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples.

This Sri Sattanathar temple is about 1.5 KM from Nagapattinam railway station, 20 KM from Karaikal,  20 KM from Thiruvarur,  53 KM from Mannargudi, and 303 KM from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Nagapattinam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Ravana 

The painting of Moolavar 

The pillars have sculptures/bas-reliefs of horse riders, warriors holding swords, shields, pathagai / posters, flags, Umbrellas, and servants with hookah. These sculptures are on the Yazhi pedestal.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---