Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 97th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 43rd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
The
presiding deity of this temple, Yoganandeswarar is also known as
Sivayoginathar. Eight Shiva yogis after severe penance on Lord Shiva, merged
with the Lingam and hence the name Sivayoginathar. This place was a vilva
forest at one time and hence He is also called Vilvaranyeswarar. He is also
known as Puradhaneswarar. His consort here is known as Soundaryanayaki or
Shantha Nayaki. The sthala vriksham is Arasa maram and the Theertham Jatayu
Theertham. In ancient times, this region was a forest densely
covered with Vilwa trees. This temple is one of the 88 temples controlled by
Tanjore Palace Devasthanam.
Four Yugas:
This sacred place has
existed during all the four Yugas. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Sri
Puraathaneswarar in the Kritha Yuga, Sri Vilvaaranyeswarar in the Tretha Yuga,
Sri Yoganandeeswarar in the Dwaapara Yuga and Sri Sivayoginaathar in the Kali
Yuga.
Lord
Mahavishnu and Goddess Lakshmi:
Lord Mahavishnu and
Goddess Lakshmi received the blessings of Lord Shiva here for their marriage.
There is a shrine for Lakshmi Narayanar in the corridor which is quite unique.
Goddess Lakshmi is seen sitting on Narayanar’s lap. Worshiping this Lakshmi
Narayanar on “Shravan Nakshatram”, “Ekadasi” and on all Saturdays is considered
very auspicious.
Sri
Shivayogi Nathar:
Lord Brahma was once
born on earth to one Vishnu Sharma. He along with six other yogis performed
rigorous penance here. On a Shivrathiri day, Lord Shiva appeared before them
and blessed them by turning them into seven guiding lights. He also granted
them salvation by merging them with himself. It is believed that seven strands
of hair are present at the back of the Shiva lingam to depict this merger.
Hence, Lord Shiva here is also praised as “Sri Shivayogi Nathar”.
Sthala
Puranam of this temple:
The Sthala Puranam of
this temple mentions the following stories:
(a) There was once a
brahmin who had ignored his duties and was leading his life in a wrong way.
When he realised his mistakes, he visited this temple and worshiped the lord.
Although he was a habitual sinner, he came to Lord Shiva with full devotion.
For this reason, Lord Shiva blessed him by absolving him of his sins (“papa
vimochanam”).
(b) There was once a
prince called Ganapathy, from a kingdom in Kerala. The prince was involved in
various criminal activities. He had illicit relationships with women and had
also committed many other sins. He came to this place and worshiped the lord
here after taking a dip in this temple’s Theertham. It is believed that Lord
Shiva pardoned his mistakes and blessed him with salvation.
(c) A devotee of Lord
Shiva. This devotee visited this temple to worship the lord. However, his life
was about to end by that time. Yama, the lord of death had also reached there
to perform his duty. In order to save the devotee, Nandhi stopped Yama and
punished him. Yama realised his mistake and pleaded to Lord Shiva for
forgiveness. It is believed that Lord Shiva pardoned him and let him go. The
Nandhi in this temple is positioned in between the Bali Peet and the flag post.
Further, the Nandhi’s head is turned to a side.
Chathur
Kala Bairavars:
There are four
Bhairavars in this temple (Chathur Kala Bhairavars). Each of them represents a
phase in the lifespan of a human. They are also referred to as the four Yugas.
These four Bairavars are -
Gnana Kala Bhairavar:
The Brahmacharya phase of the human life is dominated by his quest for
knowledge. Gnana Bhairavar bestows good education and good employment
opportunities to his devotees.
Swarna Akarshana
Bhairavar: In the Grahastha phase, Swarna Akarshana Bhairavar blesses his
devotees with excellent growth in career and material gains.
Unmaththa Bhairavar: In
the Vanaprastha phase, his devotees are blessed with good health, financial
stability and good luck.
Yoga Kala Bhairavar: In
the Sanyasa stage of life, a man is supposed to be totally devoted to God.
It is believed that by
praying to Yoga Kala Bhairavar and Uthara Kailasa Nathar (who is besides the
Yoga Kala Bhairavar), devotees can attain salvation.
Saint
Sridhara Venkatesa Iyyavaal:
This is the birth place
of the renowned scholar Saint Sridhara Venkatesa Iyyavaal who lived in this
place about 300 years ago. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He is known
for bringing the river Ganges to a well in his house. The legend is that while
performing the yearly ritual ceremony (“Srardh”) to his ancestors, he offered
food to an outcaste hungry beggar. The brahmins attending the ceremony opposed
this as the tradition did not allow any food offering to be made before
completion of the ceremony. They boycotted him and asked him to go to Banaras
(Kasi) to take a dip in the holy Ganges and seek absolution for the sin that he
has committed. Instead, Iyyavaal prayed to Lord Shiva who directed the Ganges
to flow to a well in his house. As the water from the well started
flooding the village, the villagers fell at his feet and requested him to stop
this flood. He then prayed to the lord to restore normalcy. Even now, thousands
of people throng to his house to bathe in the water from this well on the new
moon day in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec).
People
who worshipped here:
Jadayu, the king of
vultures, worshipped Lord Shiva here.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
· This east facing temple with main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
· This is the birth place of the renowned scholar Saint Sridhara Venkatesa Iyyavaal.
· Saint Agasthiyar worships Lord Shiva here on every Maha Shivaratri.
· The unusual thing in this temple is that the Nandhi is placed in between the Bali peetam and the flag post (dwajastambam). Normally in all temples, the flag post is placed in between Bali peetam and Nandhi.
· Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year for three days (on 1st, 2nd and 3rd) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May). Special poojas are performed during these days.
· This is the birth place of Uyyavantha Deva Nayanar (12th century), who authored one of the fourteen Meykanda Sasthras, “Thiruvunthiyar”.
· There is a beautiful relief on the wall of the sanctum which depicts Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu worshiping Lord Shiva.
· There are eight Theerthams and eight trees associated with this temple.
· There is a sundial in the periphery wall of this temple opposite to Goddess Parvathy’s shrine. This shows the time accurately from 6 AM to 6 PM. It is believed that this clock is more than 800 years old. This shows the architectural, astronomical and scientific knowledge of the people during the Chola period.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Sivayoga Nathar, Sri Yoganandheswarar, Sri Vilvaaranyeswarar, Sri
Puraathaneswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Soundra Nayagi, Sri Santha Nayagi |
|
Theertham |
Jadayu
Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vilvam
tree |
BELIEF:
It is believed that by
worshiping the Chathur Kala Bhairavars during the “Ashtami” days, devotees will
get prosperity, better prospects in business, good health and protection from
evil spirits.
Devotees are advised to
light lamps containing gingili oil and black pepper for eight consecutive
Sundays during “Rahu kalam” (4.30 PM to 6.00 PM) at this Bhairavar’s shrine.
Doing so will help them in getting back the lost property and wealth.
It is believed that those
who pray to the lord here during Pradosham days will be absolved of all their
past sins.
This is a “Parihara
sthalam” for all those whose birth star is “Rishabha Rasi”.
|
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 |
Skanda
Shashti and Annabishekam |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Makara
Sankranthi |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiruviyalur
(Thiruvisanallur) is situated at a distance of about 8 kms from Kumbakonam on
the Kumbakonam to Poombuhar route (Via Veppathur).
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Sivayoga Nathar Temple,
Thiruvisanallur,
Veppathur Via,
Kumbakonam,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu – 612 105.
LOCATION:
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