The visit to the Shankara Rameshwarar Temple at
Thoothukudi was a part of the “Temples and Heritage Sites of Thoothukudi District
Visit” on 15th February 2025. This place, "Thirumanthira Nagar", is a part of Thoothukudi /Tuticorin City.
கார்கொண் டகன்று கன்னங்கறே
ரென்னத்
திரண்டு சுருண்டகுழற்
காடுந் திலக பங்கயமுங்
காம்புங்
குழையுங் கழுநீரும்
பார்கொண் டலராக் குமிழ்தளவாம்
பலும்பூத்
துளம்பூத் தலர்ந்துபச்சைப்
பசேலென் றிருந்த கற்பகப்பூம்
பாகம் பிரியா
டனைக்காக்க
பேர்கொண் டிருந்த வகலிகைகல்
லுருவாக்
குபைய தாமரையும்
பிரமன் செனித்த தாமரையும்
பிள்ளைப்
பிராட்டி தாமரையுஞ்
சீர்கொண் டிருந்த நயனமெனச்
செக்கச்
சிவந்த தாமரையுஞ்
செங்கைப் பருவத் தாமரையுஞ்
செழித்த
சொரூபக் கரும்புயலே. (1)
…
தூத்துகுடி பாகம்பிரியாள் பிள்ளைத்தமிழ்
Moolavar :
Sri Shankara Rameswarar
Consort : Sri Bagampiriyal
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and
Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar, and
Murugan are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In
koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai.
In
praharam 63var, Vinayagar, Somaskandar, Pancha Lingas, Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi, Saniswaran, Natarajar, Bairavar,
Chandran, Suuryan, Adikara Nandhi, Agasthiyar, Nalvar, Santhana Kuravars, and
Chandikeswarar.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi in the ardha mandapam, facing south. Ambal is in a
standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
Ambal Sannidhi
Somaskandar
Natarajar with Sivakami
63 var
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antrala, ardha mandapam, and maha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam. The adhistanam
consists of Padma jagathy, kumudam, pattikai, and kapotam. The bhitti starts
with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam,
lotus petals mandi, palakai, and pushpa pothyal. The prastaram consists of
valapi and kapotam. The temple from adhistanam to prastaram was constructed
with stone. The one tala brick vimanam is on the bhumi desam. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams.
The sigaram is of dravida style.
A
mandapam is constructed with two pillars in front of the Dakshinamurthy
koshtam.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is said that the original temple belongs to the 12th to 13th
Century Pandya period, and the same was reconstructed in the 20th
Century.
In
1911, the Sthala puranam “திருமந்திர நகர் தல புராண சங்கிரக
வெண்பா” was
written by Ramanatha Pillai, and the same was printed by Saiva Siddhantha
teacher N. Siva Gurunatha Pillai.
In 1920, as per the request of C. Tha.
Narayana Pillai, Salem Arutkavi S T Venkitarayar, had written the “தல புராண சங்கிரக பாமாலை”.
About 100 years before (in the 1800s),
“பாகம்பிரியாள் அம்மை பிள்ளைத் தமிழ்” was written by Varakavi Veerapandya Pulavar, alias Sankaramurthy Pulavar.
From Thirumanthira Nagar to Thiruchendur,
there were a lot of Holy water tanks, of which “Vancha Puskarani” was in front
of this temple. Now it doesn’t exist.
The kalyana mandapam was built in the year
1075 (1975..?). In 1085 (1985..?), the temple was reconstructed with the Sanctum Sanctorum by Cotton
Godown Pachchai Perumal Pillai, Subramaniya Pillai, Subba Reddiar, and
Lakshmana Chettiar. Ardha Mandapam and
Pagampiriyal Sannidhi were constructed by Nalla Perumal Pillai. Arunachalam
Pillai constructed the Natarajar sannidhi and the main sanctum Vimanam.
In 1085 (1985..?), Subramaniar Temple and mukha mandapam were constructed by the
Thoothukudi and Srilanka merchants.
Adhinarayanan Chettiar, Thiraviam Pillai,
Venkatachalam Pillai, Subbaiah Pillai, Palanikumar Pillai, and Namasivayam
Pillai also contributed to the sub sannidhis.
Maha
Kumbhabhisham was conducted in 1985 and 2003.
Ref:
தூத்துகுடி
திரு சங்கரராமேச்சுரர் கோவில் வரலாறு, எழுதியவர்
திரு இ மு சுபிரமணிய பிள்ளை, தமிழ் ஆசிரியர், சங்கரநயினார் கோவில். 1944 ஆம் வருட வெளியீடு.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, on the way to Thirupanrankundram to witness Murugan’s Marriage,
Shiva and Parvati, along with all the Maharishis, stayed at this place. As per
the request, Shiva explained the meaning of the Pranava mantra (upadesm). During
that time, Shiva stopped the sounds of the Sea’s waves, Palm trees, and the pot makers. Hence, this place is called Thirumanthira Nagar. These are written
in the Sthala Puranam… “சங்கிரக
வெண்பாமாலை”.
தண்டுழைப்
பார்க்க தலைவன் சேயாய் த்தோன்றி
எண்டிசையோர்
போற்ற மணம் ஏய்கிப்பின்-கண்டுமொழிப்
பார்வதியாள்
தானும் பரனுடனே வந்து மந்திர
ஆர்வத்தைப்
பெற்றாள் அகம்.
அப்போதெம்
அம்மை அரனார் பதம் போற்றி
ஒப்பில்லா
மந்திரத்தை ஓதென்றாள் –செப்பக்
கடல்
பனையி னோசை கலக்குவதைக் கண்டான்
படல்
ஓசை மூன்றென்றான் பார்,
In
another legend, a regional Pandya king called Sankara Raman went to Kashi to pray to Sri Viswanatha Swamy for a Child boon. While taking a holy bath in the Ganga, a
divine voice advised him to come to this place and worship Shiva (The Shiva
Linga was installed and worshipped by Kashiba Maharishi). Later, the King
constructed this Shiva Temple. Hence, Shiva is called in the name of the king as
Sankara Ramechurar. He also gifted the Village to this temple for the service. It
is believed that the present village, Inam Mappillai Uranigramam, is gifted.
Ref:
தூத்துகுடி திரு
சங்கரராமேச்சுரர் கோவில் வரலாறு,
எழுதியவர் திரு இ மு சுபிரமணிய பிள்ளை, தமிழ் ஆசிரியர்,
சங்கரநயினார் கோவில். 1944 ஆம் வருட வெளியீடு
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular 5 kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, etc. All important celebrations like Vinayagar Chaturthi,
Thaipoosam, Kanda Sashti, Annabhishekam, etc, are celebrated grandly. Annual
Brahmotsavam is conducted in the Chithirai month, 11 days of Shiva and Ambal
Thirukalyanam in the month of Aipasi.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
mobile number +917708359110 may be contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple is in the eastern part of Tuticorin City, about a km from
Tuticorin/Thoothukudi Railway Station, 2 km from New Bus Stand, and 17 km from
Tuticorin Airport.
The
temple is about 39 km from Thiruchendur and 56 km from Tirunelveli Railway
Station.
The nearest Railway Station is Thoothukudi.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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