Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 103rd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 49th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
There are two places by
the name of “Kurangaduthurai”. At these two places, Lord Shiva are believed to
have been worshiped by two monkeys (“kurangu” in Tamil) from Ramayana – Sugreev
and Vaali. This place is called as “Vada Kurangaduthurai” as it is located on
the northern side of the river Cauvery and Vaali is believed to have worshiped
Lord Shiva here. The other Kurangaduthurai is called “Then Kurangaduthurai”
since it is located on the southern side of the river Cauvery and Sukreevan is
believed to have worshiped the Lord Shiva there.
This place (Vada
Kurangaduthurai) is now also known as Aaduthurai Perumal Koil. This ancient
temple is believed to have been built about 1300 years ago. This temple is one
of the 88 temples controlled by Tanjore Palace Devasthanam. There are some
stone inscriptions here which date back to the periods of Chola Kings - Koppara
Kesari Varman, Pandian Thalaikonda Koppara Kesari Varman, Raja Rajan-I,
Rajendran-I, Kulothungan-III and Pandiya King Vikrama Pandiya Devan.
Chetti
pen:
On a hot summer day, a
pregnant woman and her husband were passing through this place. As she was
plagued by extreme thirst and fatigue, her husband set out in search of some
water for her. However, she fainted before her husband could return. As she had
been praying to Lord Shiva asking for his help, the Lord came to her rescue.
The Lord made a coconut tree bend and arranged some tender coconuts to quench
the thirst of the woman. When her husband returned, she told him what had
happened, but he did not believe her. At this point, Lord Shiva along with
Goddess Parvathy gave their darshan to this couple. Hence, the lord here is
praised as “Sri Kulai Vanangeesar” (“Kulai” means a bunch of coconuts in
Tamil). The idol of this woman known as a “Chetti pen” can be seen in this
temple’s hall. (“Chetti” refers to the “chettiyar” caste and “pen” means girl
in Tamil).
Vaali’s
tail:
Vaali’s tail got cut in
the Ramayana war and it is believed that he visited this place and worshiped
Lord Shiva. The lord blessed him, and his tail was restored. Hence the lord
here is praised as “Sri Vaali Nathar”.
Sri
Chittilingeswarar:
This place is that a
bird (Chittukuruvi) worshiped Lord Shiva here. The Lord was pleased by the
worship and blessed the bird with salvation. Hence the lord here is also
praised as “Sri Chittilingeswarar”.
Hanuman
prayed to Lord Shiva:
Hanuman prayed to Lord
Shiva at five different temples in order to seek absolution for “Shiva
Aparatham” (a grave sin). This temple is one among them.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This east facing temple with main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
This temple has no flag post
(Dwajasthambam).
·
Lord Natarajar is normally seen in the
form of procession idol in most of Shiva temples. However, he is present here
with Goddess Sivakami in stone sculpture. This shrine is named as “Aadhi
Chidambaram”.
·
In this temple, the idols of
Ardhanareeswarar, Brahma, Durgai and Natarajar look very beautiful.
·
The idol of goddess Vishnu Durgai with 8
hands is very special here. The uniqueness of this temple is that during
abhishekam, the milk offered on this Durgai changes its colour to blue.
·
There is a beautiful idol here of Lord
Dakshinamurthy and his 8 disciples with a banyan tree behind him.
·
There is a beautiful relief in a pillar
in the main hall depicting Vaali worshiping Lord Shiva. In that relief few more
monkeys can be seen assisting him.
·
There are sculptures in the sanctum
tower showing Vaali worshiping the lord and the Chetti Pen receiving coconut
from the lord.
·
In his hymn of this temple, in stanzas 6
and 8, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentioned about Vaali’s worship of Lord Shiva
here.
·
At the top of the second entrance to
this temple, there is a beautiful sculpture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy
with Vinayakar on the lord’s lap and Murugan on the goddess’s lap. Nandhi is
seen standing next to them and playing “Mirudangam” (a musical instrument). On
either side of this sculpture there are paintings depicting the legends of this
temple – Vali worshiping the lord and the woman getting the tender coconut.
·
There is a separate shrine for Lord
Saneeswarar known as “Pongu Saneeswarar”.
·
At the sanctum’s entrance, Idol of
Vinayakar and Dwarabalakas “Thindi” and “Mundi” can be seen.
·
There is a separate shrine in the outer
corridor for “Maaya Karuppu” (a guardian deity).
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Dhayanidheeswarar, Sri Vaalinathar, Sri Kulai Vanangu Nathar, Sri Chitti
Lingeswarar, Sri Azhagu Sadai Mudi Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Azhagu Sadai Mudi Ammai, Sri Jadamagudeswari |
|
Theertham |
Cauvery
river |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Coconut
tree |
BELIEF:
Pregnant women pray to
Goddess Parvathy here for safe childbirth.
It is believed that
those seeking “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon) can pray to the lord
here.
Devotees believe that
by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be
removed.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar
Chathurthi |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Somavaram |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda
Shashti and Annabishekam |
HOW
TO REACH:
Vada Kurangaduthurai is
situated at a distance of about 22 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to
Thiruvaiyaru route. It is less than a kilometre from Aduthurai Perumal Koil en
route Ganapathy Agraharam. From Thiruvaiyaru, this place is about 11 kms away.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Dhayanidheeswarar
Swamy Temple,
Vada Kurangaduthurai,
(Aaduthurai Perumal Koil),
Ullikkadai,
Ganapathy Agraharam Via,
Papanasam,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu – 614 202.
LOCATION:
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