The visit to this Suttarathnesvarar Temple at
Oottathur, in Perambalur District, was a part of the “Perambalur & Ariyalur
Districts Heritage Walk” organized by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4th and 5th November 2023. This place, Oottathur, is on the banks of the river Nandhai.
This temple is also called the Pancha Nathana
Natarajar temple. Since moolavar was made of the Purest Gem Ruby, called Suddha
Rathneswarar – சுத்த ரத்னேஸ்வரர். This temple is also one of the Thevara Vaippu
Sthalam. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Shiva of this
temple.
நறையூரிற் சித்தீச் சரம்நள் ளாறு
நாரையூர் நாகேச்சரம் நல்லூர் நல்ல
துறையூர் சோற்றுத்துறை சூலமங்கை
தோணிபுரந் துருத்தி சோமேச்சரம்
உறையூர் கடலொற்றி யூரூற் றத்தூர்
ஓமாம் புலியூர் ஓர் ஏட கத்துங்
கறையூர் கருப்பறியல் கன்றாப் பூருங்
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே
… Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal ( Kshetra kovai
-6-70-10 )
பிறையூருஞ் சடைமுடியெம் பெருமா னாரூர்
பெரும்பற்றப் புலியூரும் பேரா வூரும்
நறையூரும் நல்லூரும் நல்லாற் றூரும்
நாலூருஞ் சேற்றூரும் நாரை யூரும்
உறையூரும் ஒத்தூரும் ஊற்றத் தூரும்
அளப்பூரோ மாம்புலியூ ரொற்றி யூரும்
துறையூருந் துவையூருந் தோழுர் தானுந்
துடையூருந் தொழஇடர்கள் தொடரா வன்றே
… Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal ( Adaivu
Thiruthandagam -6-71-4 )
Moolavar :
Sri Suttharathneswarar
Consort :
Sri Akilandeswari
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple faces east with a 5-tier
Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are under a mukha mandapam.
Brahma Theertham is before the entrance of ardha mandapam. A Rishabam is facing the Brahma Theertha well / Ootru / Spring through an ardha mandapam hole.
Dwarapalakas Dindini, Mundini, Vinayagar, and Murugan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little big on a round avudayar. (Moolavar is made
of Ratha, a ruby stone that glitters during Camphor aarati). In kostam
Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.
In the praharam two, Amman, Chandikeswarar, Rishabam, Sri Kasi
Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Panchanadhana Stone Nataraja, Sivakami (face is tilted towards
Natarajar to see the dance), Veerabhadra, Adhikara Nandhi (Human form with Rishabam head), and Natarajar
Sabha.
Ambal is in a separate temple facing east on the
left side of the moolavar. A Rishabam is in front of the temple. Dwarapalakis are
on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum entrance. Ambal is in a standing posture
with abhaya varada hastam. Ambal’s various forms are in the kostam. Vinayagar,
Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, and Chandikeswari are in the praharam.
Brahma Theertham
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. A spring Well also called Brahma Theertham, is before the maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a prati bandha
adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam, and viyyalavari. The bhitti starts
with vedikai.
Since renovation is in full swing, we do not know
the exact location of the sannidhis. The present Natarajar was in a big
mandapam, which is empty now. The mandapam was built with various sizes,
shapes, and period pillars. Some of the Pillar palakai above the kudam are very
big, similar to the Rashtrakuta/Chalukya style, which is not commonly available
in Tamil Nadu Temples.
The Natarajar was made of a variety of stone called
Panchanadhana stone, which has the property of absorbing sun rays (some of the
other variety stones are Aalinganadhanam, Singanadhanam, Yaanainadhanam, and
Yazhinadhanam). This Panchanadhana stone will emit an ohm sound when it is
tapped.
Dakshinamurthy Mandapam
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
This original temple has existed since the 7th –
8th century Pallava period, and the same was reconstructed as a stone
temple during Rajaraja-I’s period. Another temple, called Chozheeswarar
Temple, was also built in the same village. About 42 inscriptions, which include Rajaraja
Chozha-I, Rajendra Chozha, and his son Rajadhiraja’s inscriptions, are recorded
from this temple.
The earliest inscription belongs to Rajaraja
Chozha-I’s 24th reign year. Since the inscription was found in
damaged condition, only a few officials, like Vel Mutharaiyan and ThiruveNNavallalan, are readable.
Rajendra Chozha-I’s period inscription records an
important message. Suruthiman Nakkan Chandran, alias Rajamalla Mutharaiyan of
Ootrathur, died during a war with the Chalukya when he was trying to kill the
Chalukya king Sathriyasiriyan. In memory of him, his brother established an
endowment by burning a lamp at this temple.
Kulothunga Chozha-I’s period inscription records
that Kashyapa Munivar did a yagna, and the Idangai Group came from Yagna kund to
destroy Asuras. They were taken to the new Agara along with the King and the Munivars.
They were also allowed to carry their Cheppal / footwear and umbrella. These
Indangai 98 Groups were made to settle at Thiruvellarai, Pachil, Thiruvasi,
Thirupidavur, Ootrathur, Chennivala Kootram, and Keeraikadu villages. Since they
stepped down from the Chariot, on the left side of the Munivars, they were called Idangai. These 98 groups understood their early life and entered the King's
40th year of reign. They agreed that the group would cooperate with
each other and live like brothers. During their meetings, they should show their
symbols of Kombu/horn, Kalam / an air musical instrument. Also, they were advised to wear Crane’s feather,
loose hair, and a conch should be blown before them. If anybody acts against these
rules will be treated as enemies. This document was written by
Thirunallurudaiyan Ilaiyakoil, Thiruchitrambalamudaiyan of Ainthu Nattar row.
Rajaraja Chozha-III’s period inscription records
the sale of land. Rajaraja Valanattu Ootrathur Araiyan Mallan, alias
Bramatharaya Mutharaiyan’s Meikavalar (Agambadiyar), purchased land from Sruthiman Nayan Choran, alias Nerkulam
Irungol, for 6000 Narkasus.
Ref:
A Handbook issued during the Heritage walk
LEGENDS
As per the legend, during Rajaraja Chozha’s visit to
this area, the shrubs and creepers on the path were cleared. In the process, the
tool spade hits a Shiva Linga made out of the purest Gem- ruby, which was hidden
in the shrubs. Blood was oozing out from the Shiva Lingam, and the same was
reported to the king. Rajaraja Chozha constructed a temple in the same place called Suddha Rathneswarar. The Shiva Linga will glitter like a Rathna /
ruby in the Camphor harati. Still, we can see a hit mark on the moolavar.
It is believed that the Lingodbhava form of Shiva
is one way connected to this temple. To get rid of the sin caused due to lying,
as advised by Shiva, Brahma created a spring and brought all the holy water to
the spring / Ootru and worshipped Shiva. Hence the theertham is called Brahma Theertham. It is believed that the Chozha King Rajaraja Chozha came to
this place when he was ill. The holy water was sprinkled on him, and he was relieved from the illness.
It is believed that Natarajar is made of herbals. Vetiver
garland (with 48 pieces) is to adorn Natarajar, and abhishekam will be
performed. It is further believed that the abhisheka water will cure kidney
ailments if one takes it for 48 days (one mandala).
During his visit to this place, Thirunavukkarasu
Swamigal found that the stones in this village resemble the Shiva Linga. So
he stayed near a village and sang hymns in praise of Shiva of this temple.
Hence, that place was called Padalur, which is about 5 km from this place.
It is believed that Suriyan worships Shiva of this
temple. The Sun Rays used to fall on moolavar in the Masi months 12, 13, and 14.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darshan, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Theipirai Ashtami, Valarpirai Panchami, Dakshinamurthy worship, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
Sri Pancha Nathana Natarajar abhishekam will be
from 10.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Nataraja Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at +91 9788062416 or Karthikeyan at +91 8883852198 & +91 8015402683 for further
details.
HOW TO
REACH
This place, Oottathur, is 4.5 km off from Perambalur
to Trichy Main Road.
The temple is about 23 km from Perambalur, 35 km from Ariyalur, 47 km from Trichy, 68 km from Thanjavur, and 297 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Ariyalur.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Chandikeswarar & Dakshinamurthy
Bairavar
Veerabhadra
Maybe Manickabasagar
Erotic sculpture
Dwarapalakis
Vamana
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
