VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Athmanathar Temple / ஆத்மநாதசுவாமி கோவில், ஆவுடையார்கோயில் / Avudayarkoil, Thiruperunthurai, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

Saturday, 11 March 2023

Sri Athmanathar Temple / ஆத்மநாதசுவாமி கோவில், ஆவுடையார்கோயில் / Avudayarkoil, Thiruperunthurai, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Second Visit to this Sri Athmanathar temple at Avudayarkoil alias Thiruperunthurai in Pudukkottai District was a part of the Pudukkottai Heritage walk, on 7^th and 8^th January 2023, organized jointly by the Aatrupadai, TTDC, and Ula. Thanks to M/s Trichy Parthy, Prabhaharan, and Francis Edison. This is an updated post to my previous visit on 23^rd and 24^th September 2011.

( mandapam arch Stucco images of Shiva teaching to Manickavasagar )

This is one of the Thiruvasagam hymns Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam, sung by Manickavasagar.

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன்தாள் வாழ்க

இமைப்பொழுதும் என்நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள்வாழ்க

கோகழி யாண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள்வாழ்க

ஆகமம் ஆகிநின் றண்ணிப்பான் தாள்வாழ்க

ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவ னடிவாழ்க

Moolavar : Sri Athmanatheswarar, Sri Guruswamy,

Sri Paramaswamy, Sri Athmanathar

Consort : Sri Yogambal.

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

The temple faces east with a Mukha mandapam. The Rajagopuram is of seven tiers, 200 feet high, which is visible from a long distance. There is no Rishabam, Dwajasthambam / Kodimaram, balipeedam, Navagrahas and Chandikeswarar. Only Avudai is in the sanctum sanctorum, in place of Shivalinga, hence called Avudayarkoil. This signifies Shiva in Aroopa state, which has no beginning and end. In Ambal Shrine also, there is no idol, since Ambal is considered an aroopa state.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The Pillars of the temples have exquisitely carved sculptures.

This temple is famous for its sculpture and architecture. Kodungai of the mandapams are made of single stone shaped to a small thickness and joined together. (even today the sculptors used to enter into an agreement for constructing a new temple with a condition that, “Kodungai will not be similar to Avudaiyarkoil”). Bullet marks by the Britishers can also be seen. It is amazing to see the stone statues on the pillars and the stone chains hanging from the roof.

Front mandapam kodungai ( roof side )

Kodungai

Horse soldier Pillar

Upanam

adhistanam above Upanam

Cheppal details - A Vijayanagara Sculpture

Some of the Sculptures in the Mukha mandapam and temple are, Pichadanar, Natarajar in oorthuva thandavam, Kali, Narashima with Haranyakasibu, Murugan, Shiva as Risbanthigar, Maha Vishnu, Manickavasagar as a Minister and as Sivanadiyar, Manmathan, Rathi, Shiva riding on a Horse, 27 Nakshathra mandala, Paintings on the ceiling, Hanging Chains with mandapam, Pillar sculptures, Udumbu / monitor Lizard, Monkey on the Kodungai, Nayaka Kings in two rows are worth to see.

Shiva as Oorthuva Thandavar

Kali

Narasimhar with Hiranyakashibu

Murugan

Shiva as Rishbanthigar

Sankaranarayanar

A Nayaka King

Ceiling - Hanging Chains

The Vijayanagara Nayakas period paintings are found on the ceilings of 1000 pillar mandapam and Manickavasagar Shrine walls.

Shiva stops the breach of the Vaigai River ( Pittukku man sumantha padalam )
Pichadanar

Manickavasagar worshiping Shiva

Kazhuvetram
Kalasamharamurti

27 nakshatra mandala

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Historians, this temple was built during the Pandya period and later expanded by the Vijayanagara Nayakas. About 200 inscriptions are recorded from this temple of which 5 are in the form of poems. As per the inscription this place was called Mizhalai kuRRathu, Nadivir KuRRam Brahmadesam Thaniyur, Thiruperunthurai alias Pavuthramanicka Chaturvedi Mangalam.

One of the Panchatchara mandapam poem inscriptions records that this mandapam was not constructed with human effort, but constructed by Yoga Nayagi ( the name of Consort to Shiva of this temple ), Gopuravelan ( Murugan on the old Gopuram ) and Manickavasagar.

‘பாக்கலெலாம்

வேடிக்கை யாகச்செய் தானெங்கள் கோபுர வேலவனே’

Another poem inscription records that Panchatchara mandapam construction was started in Vijaya year, Thula month, and completed in Bilava year by Yoganayagi Karigai.

‘பலஞ்சேரும் நாளில் கனக சபைதனில் பாக்கலெலாம்

நலஞ்சேர வேமுகித் தானெங்கள் ஆளுடை நாயகனே’

’கண்காண வேமுகித் தாள்யோக நாயகக் காரிகையே’

திதிக்கும் சகாத்தமிங் கொன்றரை ஆயிரம் செல்லுறுநான்கு

உதிக்கும் பிலவத்தில் பங்குனி மாதத்தில் ஒன்பதிற்குப்

பதிக்கும் கனக சபைமண்ட பந்தனிற் பாக்கலெலாம்

மதிக்கும் படிமுகித் தானெங்கள் மாணிக்க வாசகனே!

Another poem inscription records that painting on the walls and laying of pavukkal was done by Vinayagar.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Manickavasagar was a Minister in Pandya Kingdom. The Pandya King gave money to purchase a Horse. On the way to the fort, Manickavasagar stayed here and constructed a Temple for Shiva with the money given to purchase the horses. Shiva taught Manickavasagar as a guru under the kuruntha tree. When the king asked the horses, Manickavasagar prayed to Shiva. Shiva changed the Foxes into Horses and given to the King. In the night all the Horses changed back to foxes and ran away.

வெள்ளைக் கலிங்கத்தர் வெண்திடு முண்டத்தர்

பள்ளிக் குப்பாயத்தர் அன்னே என்னும்

பள்ளிக் குப்பாயத்தர் பாய்பரிமேற் கொண்டென்

உள்ளம் கவர்வரால் அன்னே என்னும் ... ( திருவாசகம் )

Sthala vruksham is Kurantha Maram, under which Shiva taught Manickavasagar. The specialty of the tree leaves is, they have three different smells.

"குருந்தின் கீழ் அன்றிருந்த கொள்கையும்
பட்ட மங்கையில் பாங்காய் இருந்து அங்கு
அட்ட மாசித்தி அருளிய அதுவும்
வேடுவன் ஆகி வேண்டு உருக் கொண்டு
காடு அது தன்னில் கரந்த உள்ளமும்
மெய்க் காட்டிட்டு வேண்டு உருக் கொண்டு
தக்கான் ஒருவன் ஆகிய தன்மையும்” (கீர்த்தித் திருவகவல்)

In another legend, A regional king under Pandya's rule forcibly took over the people’s lands. The people complained to the King. When the king asked, the regional king said that the lands belonged to him. The people do not have a choice except to pray to Shiva. Shiva, to the prayers of the people, took the form of a human being and went to the king, and the Regional king was also called. The King asked about the type of land and the Regional king said that the land was a drought land. But Shiva said that it is a fertile land and water will come if you dig. When this was proved, the regional king felt shame and returned back the lands.

Devotees pray to Shiva and Ambal to excel in education, marriage, child boon, etc.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Margazhi Utsavam, Arudra Darshan, Karthigai Somavarams,

The naivedyam is boiled rice satham kept on the stone slab in front of the Avudayar. The only steam from the Satham is the naivedyam. The vegetables offered in the temple are Bitter guard, and spinach/Keerai, which are not offered in any other temples. ( To teach Veda to Anthanar children, Lord Shiva was offered keerai, bitter guard by the Anthanars).

6 Kala Poojas are conducted even on Solar and Lunar eclipse days, unlike other temples.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline numbers +91 4371 233301 and the mobile numbers +91 9894731606, and +91 9159854014 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Frequent buses are available from Aranthangi on Aranthangi ( 14 KM ) to Mimisal.

Buses are available to Aranthangi from Thanjavur, Madurai, Chennai, Karaikudi, Trichy etc.

Nearest Railway junction is Pudukkottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE