39. SRI ARUNAJADESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUPPANANTHAL

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	93rd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - North
Chola Naadu - North	39th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

 

HISTORY:

Of the 276 Paadal Petra Shivasthalams, six temples have Palm trees (Panai) as their Sthala Viruksham. These are Panaiyur, Panankattur, Puravaar Panankattur, Cheyyar, Thirumazhapadi and Thiruppanandal. Since Lord Shiva is believed to have emerged from under the temple’s sthala viruksham, this place gets the name Thiru Pananthal. (“Panai” means palm tree in Tamil). Thala Vanam is derived at from the words “Thala” meaning palm tree and “Vanam” meaning forest in Sanskrit. Kasi mutt (Thiruppanandal Aadheenam) established by Sri Kumara Gurubara Swamigal is located in this town.

Goddess Parvathy:

Goddess Parvathy worshiped the lord here and received “Gnana Upadesa” (divine learning). Also, lords Brahma, Mahavishnu, Indran, Suryan, Chandran, Sage Agasthiyar and Iravadham, Adhisheshan, Thaadagai and Kungiliyakkalaya Nayanar have worshipped Lord Shiva here.

People who worshipped here:

Nagakannikai (Vasuki’s daughter; also called Sumathi) and her husband Arithuvasan from the Naga world have worshiped the lord here.

Thaadagai:

An ardent devotee called Thaadagai, who was the daughter of a demon, used to worship Lord Shiva here every day with garlands.  She used to do so in order to be blessed with a child. One day while taking a garland to offer to the lord, her saree slipped from her shoulders. She pressed the dress with her elbow to avoid it from slipping from her body and hence could not lift her hands to offer the garland to the lord. Lord Shiva, after seeing her predicament and in order to show to the world her devotion, leaned his head so that she could offer the garland without any difficulty.

Then she prayed to the lord that she be given 16 hands to perform the “Shodasa Upachara” pooja to him (“shodasa upachara” means 16 steps pooja in Sanskrit). It is believed that Lord Shiva fulfilled her wish and granted her 16 hands. A beautiful sculpture of Thaadagai with 16 hands performing her pooja can be seen in the inner corridor. As Thaadagai worshiped the lord here, this place gets the name “Thaadagai Echaram”. It should be noted that this is not the same Thaadagai from the Ramayana epic.

Since then the lingam is in a tilted position. Many people have tried to straighten the lingam but have failed to do so. When a Chola king named Veerasenan renovated this temple, he tried to straight the bend in the Shivalingam with the help of his soldiers but he could not succeed. He even tried to straighten it by using the force of his elephants but that was also in vain.

The king came to know about Saint Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar of Thirukkadaiyur and his devotion towards Lord Shiva. He called him here and sought his help. This Nayanar was famous because his worship always involved the use of the fragrant smoke of Kunggiliam (Benzoin). He tied a rope to the lingam and to the other end of the rope he tied a knife. He wrapped the end with the knife to his neck and started pulling gently. He prayed to the lord that in case he failed to straighten the lingam in this process, the lord should take his life. Even as the rope tightened around his neck, the Nayanar did not flinch. Lord Shiva did not want to test Nayanar any further and returned the lingam back to its straightened position. The Devas showered flowers from heaven on the Nayanar. Everyone was amazed by his efforts and recognised his glory.

Nagakannikai Theertham:

Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar’s son expired in this place. It is believed that when he was taken for cremation, Lord Vinayakar intercepted and advised them to bathe his son in the waters of the Nagakannikai Theertham. When they did so, the Nayanar’s son was restored back to life. 

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This is west facing temple with 7-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram). 
·        As Goddess Parvathy received “Gnana Upadesa” from Lord Shiva here, their shrines are located facing each other. This sthalam is considered to be an “Upadesa Sthalam”.
·        There are marks on the Shivalingam which indicates that it was first bent in order to receive Thaadagai’s garland and then straightened by Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar using a rope.
·        Beautiful sculptures depicting Nayanar pulling the lingam and Thaadagai worshiping the lord with her 16 hands can be seen in the inner corridor.
·        The temple’s sthala viruksham palm trees can be seen in the outer corridor. Under the tree there is small shrine for a Shivalingam which symbolises the legend of Thaadagai’s worship.
·        There is a well near the sthala viruksham and it is believed that the Nagakannigai came from this well to worship the lord.
·        The front hall (Mandapam) of this temple is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (“Vovval Nethi Mandapam”). This looks very beautiful.
·        In all the stanzas of his hymn, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentioned this place as “Thiru Thaadagai Echarm”.
·        Keezha Perumpallam, Kalahasthi and Thirunageswaram male snakes were worshipped the lord, whereas in Thiruppananthal female snake “Naga Kanni” worshipped.
·        Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year for few days in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May).
·        The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of semi-circular tank (akazhi in Tamil).

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Arunajadeswarar, Sri Thaalavaneswarar, Sri Senjadaiappar, Sri Panangateesar
Ambal	Sri Brahan Nayagi, Sri Thalavaneswari, Sri Periyanayagi
Theertham	Brahma Theertham, Iravadha Theertham, Thadagai Theertham, Nagakannigai Theertham, river Manniaru
Sthala Vriksham	Panai (palm tree)

BELIEF:

It is believed that worshiping the lord here will help devotees attain salvation and will help them break away from the repetitive cycle of birth and re-birth.

Those seeking wedding boon or those facing difficulties in their marriage proposals can pray to the lord here.

Sapthasthanam (“ezhur”) festival is celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Chithirai	April-May	Brahmotsavam
Adi	July-Aug	Aadi Puram
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Avani	Aug-Sept	Theerthavari at the Brahma Theertham
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam

 

HOW TO REACH:

Thiruppananthal is situated at a distance of about 18 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Anaikkarai road (Chennai highway). From Aduthurai, it is about 10 kms.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Arunajadeswarar Temple,
Thiruppananthal,
Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu - 612 504.

LOCATION: