Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 105th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 51st Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
HISTORY:
Aiyarappar
temple (also called Panchanadeeswarar temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the village of Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, India. The Five Rivers are Vadavaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru,
Kudamuruttiyaaru and Kaaviriyaaru. Shiva is worshiped as Aiyarappar, and is
represented by the lingam and his consort Parvati is
depicted as Dharmasamvardhini.
The
presiding deity is named Aiyarappar or Panchanadeeswarar as the place has five
rivers. In Tamil, ai means five, aru means river
signifying the name.
Thiruvaiyaru
has an old Shiva temple dedicated to Panchanatheeswar. Though pilgrims flock to
this temple throughout the year, Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its
association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama
Sastri, comprises the Trinity of
Carnatic music. Near the Shiva temple
is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed
some of his greatest works. On the banks of the river is the samadhi of the
saint composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country
takes place annually.
Several
inscriptions in the temple affiliates the temple to the Cholas, Pandyas, and other
rulers. Karikala Chola, Rajaraja, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Krishna Devarayar are
associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called
Uttarakailasam and Dakshinakailasam. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja
Cholan's queen in the late 10th century who also made several endowments .
Dakshinakailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan's queen. Appar, one of the
important Nayanmar, was closely associated with this shrine and dedicated one
of the songs in Thevaram to this temple. There is an inscription
(ARE 219 of 1894) dated to the 21st regnal year of Rajaraja I on
the South wall of the temple indicating sale of land. Another inscription
recorded during the 22nd year indicating a gift of 96 sheep for the perpetual
lighting of the temple. An inscription during the 24th year of the king
indicates various types of jewellery gifted to the presiding and processional
deities. An inscription (ARE 215 of 1894) on the east wall of
the mandapa indicated gift of eight pots of silver by Vimaladitta,
the son-in-law of Rajaraja. A record of gift of land during fourth regnal year
of Rajendra
I is found in ARE 216 of 1894. The other major inscription during the
thirty second year of Rajadhiraja I indicates the victories of the ruler
against three Pandya rulers namely Manabharan, Vira Pandya and Sundara Pandya.
A devout devotee of Shiva:
Once
a devout devotee of Shiva who was also the priest in the temple could not
return to the temple on time as he was out to Kashi on
a pilgrimage. On account of the delay, the priest prayed to Shiva for his
inability to perform the days worship practices. When he returned the next day
to the temple, people were astonished as they realized that Shiva descended in
the form of the priest the previous day. It is place where Appar, the famous
Saivite saint is believed to have obtained the vision of Kailasa. Sundarar came
to Thirukkandiyur in the opposite bank of river Cauvery to
worship at Kandeeswarar Temple. He could not
cross the river on account of floods and he prayed to Shiva. It is believed
that on account of his worship, the river paved the way onto the temple.
Nandekasar:
Nandekasar,
the founder of Tirukailaya monastic dynasty, was born at this place to sage
Salandha. The sage left the child in the temple. It is believed that Shiva
performed ablution with Ambika's breast milk on the child, foam from Nandhi's
mouth, nectar from Surya Pushakarni, Amrita pushkarani and Saiva theertham (the
three water bodies). Since the child received from five different water
sources, the presiding deity came to be known as Aiyarappar.
Sapthasthanam:
The sapthasthanam festival
is conducted at Tiruvaiyaru during April every year. As per Hindu
legend, it is the wedding festival of Nandikeswara,
the sacred bull of Shiva on the Punarpoosa star during the Tamil month of Panguni. The
festival deity of Aiyarappar temple of Thiruvaiyaru is carried in a decorated
glass palanquin along with the images of Nandikeswara and Suyasayambikai to the
temples in Thirupazhanam, Thiruchottruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi, Thirukandiyur and
Thirupoonthurthi. Each of the festival deities of the respective temples
mounted in glass palanquins accompany Aiyarppar on the way to the final
destiny, Thillaistanam. There is a grand display of fireworks in Cauvery
riverbed outside Thillaistanam temple. The seven palanquins are carried to
Aiyarappar temple in Thiruvaiyyaru. Hundreds of people witness the convergence
of seven glass palanquins carrying principal deities of respective temples from
seven places at Tiruvaiyaru. The devotees perform Poochorithal(flower
festival) in which a doll offers flowers to the principal deities in the
palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins leave for their
respective temples.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
The temple,
known as Dakshina Kailasam (Southern abode of Shiva), built in an
area of approximately 60000 square meters, has five prakarams (closed
precincts of a temple) and many mandapams (halls).
·
The temple faces
east and is entered via a seven-tiered pyramidal rajagopuram (gateway
tower).
·
There are
five devakoshtas that cover the exterior walls of the sanctum.
·
The images
of Dakshinamurthy and Brahma are
the only ones remaining out of the five.
·
There are two
large Dvarapala,
guardian deities on either side of the entrance of the ardhamandapa.
·
The temple has
also a shrine for Aatkondar or Kalasamharamoorthy.
A Homa Kund started by Saint Adi
Sankara can be found outside the shrine of Aatkonda.
·
While the
presiding deity of temple is named after the five rivers, there are five water
bodies in the temple namely Surya Pushkarani, Ganga Theertham, Chandra
Pushkarani, Palaru and Nandi Theertham.
·
There are two
shrines named Dakshina Kailasam and Uttara Kailasam. There is a Mukthi mandapam
where Panchaksara japam is performed.
·
Thiruvayyaru, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruvenkadu,
Chayavanam and Srivanchiyam are considered equivalents of Kasi. Like in
Kasi, where the city is centered around Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the temples in
these towns along the banks of river Cauvery,
namely Aiyarappar Koil in Thiruvaiyaru, Mahalingeswarar temple in Thiruvidaimarudur, Mayuranathaswamy temple in Mayiladuthurai, Chayavaneswarar temple in
Sayavanam, Swetharanyeswarar temple in Thiruvenkadu, Srivanchinadhaswamy Koil in Srivanchiyam are
the centerpieces of the towns.
·
Tirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet,
venerated Aiyarappar in ten padigams in Tevaram,
compiled as the First Tirumurai and second Tirumuari. Appar, a
contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated Aiyarappar in 12 padigams
in Tevaram, compiled in the Fourth, fifth and sixth Tirumurai. Sundarar, the
8th century Nayanmar revered Aiyarppar in seven padigams, which is
compiled in Seventh Tirumuari. As the temple is revered in Tevaram,
it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples
that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple is counted as the 52nd in the
list of temples in the northern banks of Cauvery.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Aiyaarappar, Sri Panchanatheeswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Dharmasamvardhini, Sri Thiripurasundari |
|
Theertham |
Surya
Pushkarini Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vilvam |
BELIEF:
Devotees pray for
wedding, child and education boons.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
temple is located 10 Kms to the north of Thanjavur. Town bus Bus facilities
from Thanjavur are available.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Iyaarappar Temple,
Tiruvaiyaaru,
Tiruvaiyaru,
Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu 613204.
LOCATION:
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