The visit to Sri Azhagiya Koothar Temple at
Sepparai, Tirunelveli was a part of “Tirunelveli Heritage Walk”, organised by Culture Circuits, on 11th to 13th July 2025. Thanks to Balakumaran GS and Krishnakumar TK for arranging this walk.
This
Sepparai Azhagiya Koothar temple, a part of Rajavallipuram, is on the banks of the Thamirabarani River, where the river flows as Uttarvahini, ie, South to North. Although
this temple is dedicated to Shri Shiva, Natarajar Sabha is considered a
special place in this temple. It is claimed that this is the real Tamra Sabha (not
the Nellaiappar Temple), one of the Pancha Sabhas, where Shiva performed his
cosmic dance. (Kanaka Sabha –
Chidambaram, Ratna Sabha –
Thiruvalangadu, Silver Sabha – Madurai,
Tamra Sabha - Chepparai (Tirunelveli - Nellaiappar Temple), and Chitra Sabha – Coutralam).
Moolavar :
Sri Nellaiappar
Consort :
Sri Gandhimathi
Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a mandapam. Stucco
images of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the
top of the mandapa. Karaikkal Ammai Punithavathiyar Mandapam is on the right
side before the temple entrance. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are in the mukha mandapam after the main entrance. Vinayagar & Subramaniar are on both
sides of the entrance, and a Rishabam is in front sanctum sanctorum. Dakshinamurthy
alone in koshtam
In praharam Chandran, Suryan, Jwaradevar, Kanni
Moola Ganapati, Somaskandar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Lakshmi,
Sainswarar, Meikandar, Natarajar, Sivakami, Bairavar, and Shiva Lingas.
Tamira Sabha is under a separate mandapam, faces
south. The pillars are fixed with metal (Gold) plates. In Tamira Sabha
Natarajar and Sivakami.
Ambal Gandhimathi is in a separate sannidhi facing south.
Ambal is in a standing posture. She holds a lotus bud in her right hand, and her left
hand is in dola hastam.
The maha mandapam pillars have the sculptures of Manapadai Maharaja, Patanjali, Agni Bhagavan, Vyagrapada, etc.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on
a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The
bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with
kalasam, kudam, mandi with lotus petals, palakai, and Vettu pothyals. Although
no images are in the koshtas, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma bas
reliefs are in the makara torana. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and madalai. The vimanam from adhistanam to prastaram was
constructed with stone. The vimanam above the prastaram was constructed with
bricks. The brick vimana is of one tala, greevam, and sigaram. The sigaram is
of the vesara style. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the
greeva koshtam.
TAMRA SABHA
The Tamra sabha is supported will pillars clad
with gold-plated brass plates. The vimanam was constructed in the Kerala Style of
architecture, similar to Chidambaram. The specialities of this Tamra Sabha are…
1. The 5 steps represent the pancha bhutas, ie, Land
(Earth), Water, Agni, Space, and Earth.
2. The 4 pillars of the sabha represent Rig, Yajur,
Sama, and Adharvana Vedas.
3. The 8 beams of the sabha ceiling represent 8
siddhis, and they are Anima, Mahima, Vasina, Karima, Eesithva, Vasitva, Prapti,
Prasaamya, and Ashtama.
4. The 9 padmas represent 9 Nava grahs / planets.
5. The 16 beams represent Chandra’s sodasha arts.
6. The 11 paved palakas represent the eleven Ekadasa
Rudras.
7. The 12 pillars holding the vimana represent 12
Adityas.
8. The ceiling Tamra plates are supported by 28
purlins.
9. Next to the above 6 purlins represent 6 athvas,
via Varna, Bhuvana, Thathva, Kala, Pana, and Mantra.
The roof paved with 11000 plates represents Shiva’s 5
faces, Eesana, Thathpurusha, Agora, Vamadeva, and Sathyojatha, the six Parts,
say Hrudaya/Hearts, Sirasu/head, sika/hairs, Kavasam, Astra, and Nethra/eyes.
The 33000 mails represent 33 thathvas except Saktithathva, Sivathathva, and
Sadasivathathva.
The 5 kalasas represent the adhipathis of Atma
Thathva, Vidhya Thathva, Siva Thathva, Maheswara Thathva, and Sadasiva Thathva, and
they are Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheswara, and Sadasiva.
PC - website
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to the early Pandya period, and the present structure may be 300 to 350 years old. Built by a Mudaliar,
whose image is on the mukha mandapa pillar. As per history, the original
temple was washed away due to a flood in the Thamirabarani River. The Gurkkal was able to retrieve the Nataraja from the flood. When the Mudaliar wished to
reconstruct the temple, the Gurukkal gave the details of the temple, sanctum
sanctorum, Natarajar Ambalam, Mandapas, etc, from his memory. This new temple
was a reconstructed replica of the original temple.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, the king Singavarma, who ruled
Chidambaram, is the first person to make the Natarajar idol, through the
sculptor Namasivayamuthu with Tamra metal (Cheppu- copper). The idol looked
beautiful, so he asked the sculptor to make another idol with gold. To their
surprise, the golden idol changed to the Tamra idol. In his prayer, Shiva came in
his dream and told that the idol would look like gold for the King’s eyes and like Tamra
(Copper) to others’ eyes. So the King installed the idol at Chidambaram. The
first made Copper idol was handed over to another sculptor, and Shiva instructed
him to take it to the South.
At the same time, Rajavallipuram, on the banks
of the Thamirabarani River, was ruled by the king called Rama Pandya. He used to
take food only after worshiping Nellaiappar of Tirunelveli. One day, he couldn’t
go to Nellaiappar temple due to a heavy flood in the river. He felt sad and
didn’t take food either. That night, Shiva came in Rama Pandya’s dream and told him that you not need to come to Tirunelveli; instead, he would stay near the King’s palace.
For the same, a sculptor from the north will bring a Natarajar idol and install
it at a place where the ants will move in large numbers. The King was very
happy. The next day, the sculptor brought the first idol made by Sculptor Namasivayamuthu.
When the sculptor approached the place, he felt that the idol had become too
heavy. So he placed the idol on the ground and slept for a while. When he woke
up and found that the idol was missing. So he complained to the King. The King
and his soldiers searched in the forest and heard the sound of Salangai.
They found the Natarajar idol there with ants’ movements. So the king Rama
Pandya installed the Natarajar at the same place and built a temple.
In another legend, the Chozha King, who was affected
by the Veppu Noi (disease), roamed in the forest and felt very thirsty. He found
a Tadaka full of water and drank. To his surprise, the effect of Veppu Noi
has reduced on the parts of his body where the water touched. He found that
Patanjali and Vyagrapada are doing penance under the tree. When the king asked about the
specialty of the water, the sages replied that they used to see Shiva’s dance
in the water. The king expressed his wish for Natarajar’s darshan in the Tadaka
water. With the penance power, the sages showed Shiva’s dance in the Tadaka
water. The King wants to make an idol, what he had seen. So he had drawn a
picture of Nataraja and asked his sculptors to make the Nataraja idol. In the
meantime, Shiva came to the spot in the form of an old man and dropped Cheppu coins as a part of the share. After completion, the king felt that the idol was of
inferior quality. So he asked to make a new idol with gold. Since both idols
are beautiful, the king is confused, which one to install. Shiva, in
the form of a divine voice, instructed to install the second idol and move the
first idol to this place on the south side. The sculptor Namasivaya Muthu
carried the first idol to this place, Sepparai, and installed it.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darshan, etc. The abishekam to
Natarajar will be done on Thiruvathirai in December, Margazhi Thiruvizha in
December, Margazhi Chariot procession, Arudra darsan in January, and
Varushabhishekam, Maha Shivaratri, Thiruvathirai, and Chaturthi days throughout
the year.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 7.30 hrs to 10.00
hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The archagar G Viswanathan’s mobile number
+919842980551 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The Sepparai Azhagiya Koothar temple is 2 km from
Rajavallipuram main Road, 16 km from Tirunelveli nee bus stand, 19 km from
Tirunelveli Junction, 63 km from Tenkasi, and 155 km from Madurai.
The nearest Railway Junction is Tirunelveli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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