45. SRI EZHUTHARI NATHESWARAR TEMPLE AT INNAMBUR

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	99th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - North
Chola Naadu - North	45th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

HISTORY:

This ancient temple is located on the banks of Kollidam River.

Iravatham:

Iravatham (Indra’s white elephant) after taking a dip in this temple’s holy water, worshiped Lord Shiva here and was relieved of his sin. Since the entrance was small, he was unable to enter the sanctum. Iravatham prayed to Lord Shiva that he be allowed to enter and complete his prayers. In order to allow him to enter, Lord Shiva then made the sanctum and its entrance very wide. The lord is praised as Sri Iravatheswarar and the holy tank is called Iravatha Theertham.

Lord Suryan:

Lord Suryan, the Sun God, lost his grace and power due to a curse. He consulted with some Maharishis to find a solution. They advised him to visit this temple.

Suryan came to this temple and tried to worship Lord Shiva but he couldn’t do so as the Nandhi and Vinayakar in front of the lord were blocking him. He pleaded to them that they let him worship Lord Shiva. On his request both Nandhi and Vinayakar moved a bit to the side. Suryan then worshiped Lord Shiva and was relieved from the curse. This place’s name “Innambur” is derived from “Inan Nambia Oor” (“Inan means Suryan, “Nambia” means trusted and “Oor” means a village in Tamil).

Sage Agasthiyar:

Sage Agasthiyar is believed to have worshiped the lord here and was taught the intricacies of Tamil grammar by Lord Shiva. Hence the lord is also praised here as “Sri Atcharapureeswarar”.

Sri Ezhutharinathar:

It is believed that this temple’s accountant Suthasman, a Shiva devotee, used to submit the temple’s accounts regularly to the Chola King who ruled that area. Once the king had a doubt about the account and called him for clarifications. Afraid that he might have made some mistake, the accountant prayed to Lord Shiva for help. The lord is believed to have come in the guise of the accountant and submitted a fresh account and clarified the king’s doubts. When Suthasman went to the king for clarification, the king asked him why he had come again after already giving the clarifications. Then the accountant realised that it is none other than Lord Shiva who had done the work for him. He informed the king about this miracle. The king also apologised for doubting the accountant. As Lord Shiva himself wrote the accounts of this temple, he is praised here as “Sri Ezhutharinathar”.

Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple:

Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year on three different occasions. These are –

three days (13th, 14th and 15th) in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr),

one day in the Tamil month of Aavani (31st) and

two days in the Tamil month of Purattasi (1st and 2nd).

On these occasions special poojas are performed to Lord Shiva.

5 “Kalas”:

There are 5 “Kalas” (“Kumbham” or “Kudam” in Tamil) in the sanctum’s tower (vimanam). They represent the five jobs that the lord performs. They are known as - Shristi, Sthithi, Samharm, Thirobavam and Anugraham (Pataithal, Kathal, Azhithal, Maraithal and Arulal in Tamil).

People who worshipped:

Lord Suryan, Chandran, Iravatham and Sage Agasthiyar have worshiped the lord here.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This east facing temple with main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.

·        There is no flag post (“dwajasthambam”) here.

·        The vimanam (roof tower) of the sanctum sanctorum has been constructed according to the Gaja Brishtam style of architecture. This is a very big vimanam.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Ezhuthari Natheswarar, Sri Iravatheswarar, Sri Atcharapureeswarar, Sri Thanthontreesar
Ambal	Sri Sugantha Kundhalambigai and Sri Nithya Kalyani
Theertham	Iravatha Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Jack fruit tree and Shenbagam

BELIEF:

Since the lord here is praised as Sri Ezhutharinathar, devotees conduct the ceremony of “Vidhyapyasam” (beginning their child’s education) in this temple. This is done in the hope that their child excels in the field of education.

Devotees bring their kids who are facing speech impairment here and perform certain poojas. The priest starts the pooja by writing on the kid’s tongue with a grain of paddy. It is believed that once they complete the specified rituals, the kids will be cured of their speech problems.

Devotees believe that by worshiping Goddess Nithya Kalyani here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. For this, special poojas are also performed on full moon days.

Devotees also believe that by worshiping the lord here they will be absolved of the sins accrued from their previous birth. 

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chathurthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Annabishekam
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

Innambur is located at a distance of about 9 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Thiruvaiyaru route. Travel for about 6 kms to reach Puliancheri and then take the diversion road to Innambur and proceed further for about 3 kms to reach this temple.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Ezhuthari Natheswarar Temple,
Innambur,
Thiruppurambiam-Via,
Kumbakonam ,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu - 612 303.

LOCATION: