This
Sri Kandanatha Swamy Temple is also called Adhi Kandanathaswamy Temple and
believed that this temple is the earlier temple to the Swamimalai, Swaminatha
Swamy Temple. This place was called “Eaar” during the 8th – 9th
Century and is now called Eraharam.
This
Temple is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam, sung by Thirunavukkarasu
Swamigal in Thevaram 6-51-6, 6-70-3
பெரும்புலியூர் விரும்பினார் பெரும்பா ழிய்யார்
பெரும்பற்றப் புலியூர்மூ லட்டா னத்தார்
இரும்புதலார் இரும்பூளை யுள்ளார் ஏரார்
இன்னம்ப ரார் ஈங்கோய் மலையார் இன்சொற்
கரும்பனையாள் உமையொடுங் கருகா வூரார்
கருப்பறிய லூரார் கரவீ ரத்தார்
விரும்பமரர் இரவுபகல் பரவி யேத்த
வீழி மிழலையே மேவி னாரே.
…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் திருவீழிமிழலை, திருத்தாண்டகம் – 6-51-63
இடைமரு தீங்கோ யிராமேச் சரம்
இன்னம்பர் ஏரிடவை ஏமப் பேறூர்
சடைமுடி சாலைக் குடிதக்களூர்
தலையாலங் காடு தலைச்சங் காடு
கொடுமுடி குற்றாலங் கொள்ளம் பூதூர்
கோத்திட்டை கோட்டாறு கோட்டுக் காடு
கடைமுடி கானூர் கடம்பந்துறை
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே.
…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் திருபுகழூர், க்ஷேத்திரக்கோவை, மன்றுறைவாரின் வாழ்பதிகள் – 6-70-3
Nachinarkiniyar also praises Murugan’s manthra as
“ஏரகத்து உறைவோனின் ஆறேழுத்து மந்திரம்” - "நமோ குமாராய"
Moolavar : Sri Sankaranathar
Consort : Sri Sankara Nayaki
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with an entrance arch with Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati
as Rishbaroodar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal, and Murugan.
Moolavar is small on a round avudayar. In Kostam Nardhana Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.
In
praharam, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Suriyan, Chandran, Bairavar, Vinayagar,
and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar.
Ambal
Sri Sankara Nayaki is in a separate Sannidhi facing South. Ambal is standing
posture with abhaya varada hastam.
Sri Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy
Sri
Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy is on the back side of the Shiva temple in a separate
sannidhi. Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy is standing with right hand in abhaya hastam and left hand in uru hastam. Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in
praise of this Sri Adhi Kandanatha Swamy Temple in his Thirupukazh on
Thiruverakam ( Swamimalai ).
காமியத் தழுந்தி….. யிளையாதே
காலர்கைப் படிந்து… மடியாதே
ஓமெழுத்தி வன்பு….. மிகவூறி
ஓவியத்தி லந்த……. மருள்வாயே
தூமமெய்க் கணிந்த…… சுகலீலா
சூரனைக் கடிந்த…… கதிர்வேலா
ஏமவெற் புயர்ந்த…… மயில்வீரா
ஏரகத் தமர்ந்த……. பெருமாளே
…..அருணகிரிநாதர் திருப்புகழ் ( 205 )
ஒரு தரம் சரவணபவா என்று சொல்பவர் உள்ளத்தில்
நினைத்த எல்லாம் உடனே கைகூடும்
என வேதங்கள் மொழியுதே உண்மை அறிவான பொருளே!
பரிவாகவே அநந்தந் தரம் சரவணபவா
என்று நான் சொல்லியும் பங்குமிக காங்கேயா!
அடியனேன் எண்ணியது பலியாதிருப்பது ஏனோ!
குருபரா ! முருகய்யா! கந்தா! கடம்பா! சொல் குமரா!
குகா! சண்முகா! கோலாகலா!வெற்றிவேலா!
எனக்கருள்கொடுத்தாளவை முத்தய்யனே!மருமலர்க்குழலழக!
தேவகுஞ்சரி வள்ளி மணவனே! என் துணைவனே!
வண்ண மயில் வாகனா!
பொன் ஏரகப்பதியில் வளர் சுவாமிநாதகுருவே!!
..........நவரத்னபாமாலை கடுக்கண தியாகராஜ தேசிகர்
ARCHITECTURE
The
Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a prati bandha adhistanam with jagathy,
vrudha kumudam, and prativari. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The pilasters
are Vishnukantha pilasters with square bases, kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai,
and vettu pothyal. The Prastaram consists of valapi, and kapotam with Nasi
kudus. One tala Brick Vimanam is on the prastaram, greevam and Vesara sigaram.
In Tala koshtas, Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma. Maha Vishnu and
Brahma are with their consorts.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the temple was constructed during the 12th Century
Chozha King Vikrama Chozha ( 1118 – 1135 CE ). Hence this place was called
Mumudi Chozhamangalam, Kumarapura, etc. Later
received contributions from Nayakas and Marathas.
12th
Century inscriptions are found on the adhistanam. The inscriptions are
completely erased by sandblasting during the renovations. Only impressions are
found in some of the places. As per the inscriptions, this place was called
Mudikonda Chozhapurathu Eragaram.
As
per Thevaram and Thirupukazh, This place was called “Eaar” during the 8th
– 9th Century and now called Eraharam, and this temple was existed
before Swamimalai, Swaminatha Swami temple.
A
fragment of a 12th-century inscription stone was found during our Visit to this
temple. Some of the words found are, Iru Nazhi – இரு நாழி,
amuthu – அமுது. This inscription
may record the endowment of Naivedyam offered to Shiva of this temple.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 19th March 2014.
The remains of inscription after the damage
LEGENDS
It
is believed that this temple is the one mentioned in the Thevaram and
Thirupukazh. To save Devas, Murugan came to this earth on his Mayil Vahana. He
did pooja to Shiva and Ambal, and got the pasupata asthara – Sakthi ayutham. He
Killed the demon at Thiruchendur and returned to Eragam. He was welcomed by
Devas who crowned him with a Golden crown. Hence Murugan blesses the Devotees
wearing Golden Crown.
As
per another legend, since Brahma has the power of creation, thought of himself,
as superior to Shiva, Maha Vishnu, and Devas. On seeing his misbehavior and
attitude, Muruga asked Brahma, to explain the meaning of Pranava, OHM, and Brahma
couldn’t answer. So Muruga hit him on his head and lodged him in the
prison. Due to this, the creation was affected.
On
the other part, Brighu did a severe penance on Shiva to attain mukthi. He also
cursed to forget the Brahmagnanam, if anybody disturbed his penance. The Devas afraid of Brighu Maharishis
penance, along with Maha Vishnu, requested Shiva to help them. At the request
of Devas and Maha Vishnu, Shiva touched the head of Brighu Maharishi. Maharishi
woke up and found that Shiva was standing in front of him. On Seeing Shiva,
Maharishi, is afraid that his curse may affect Shiva also and requests Shiva to
pardon him. Shiva told Maharishi, that this is one of his Thiruvilaiyadal.
Shiva also forgot the meaning of the Pranava mantra.
Shiva
asked Muruga to release Brahma. Muruga told Shiva that since Brahma didn’t know
the meaning of the Pranava mantra refused to release Brahma. Shiva asked
Muruga, whether he knew the meaning of the Pranava mantra. Muruga replied that,
when Shiva hears Sisya, he can explain the meaning of the Pranava mantra. Both
Shiva and Muruga came to this place, Muruga taught Shiva the meaning of the
Pranava mantra, in the position of Guru. Since this is the place where the
meaning of the Pranava mantra was revealed to Shiva, Shiva is called Sri
Kandhanatha Swamy. This temple is older than the Swamimalai, Shiva is called
Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy.
Brighu
Muni worshiped Muruga and Shiva of this temple.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, pradosham, Maha Shivaratri,
Kiruthigai, Karthigai Deepam, Thipoosam, Kandar Sashti, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs to 20.00
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
HOW
TO REACH
Sri
Kandanatha Swamy temple is on the western side of the village, IS ABOUT 5 km
from Innambur Shiva Temple, 8.8 KM from Kumbakonam, 38 KM from Mayiladuthurai
34 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, and 43 KM from Thanjavur.
Nearest
Railway Station is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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