Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 39th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Nadu Naadu |
Nadu Naadu | 7th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
The
Thiruvathigai Temple was originally built as a Jain temple by
the Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the 6th century AD.
However, on his conversion from Jainism to Hinduism,
Mahendravarman demolished the existing temple and built a temple to Shiva in
its place. The temple contains some remaining Jain artifacts.
There
is also another Shiva temple and a Vishnu temple nearby believed to
have been constructed from the remains of the demolished Jain temple. King Raja_Raja_Chola_I is
believed to have stayed in this temple for a long time to study the
architecture before building Brihadeeswarar_Temple.
The
temple's architectural style is belonging to the dravidian style of
architecture. This temple is built on the 7 acre land. The age of this temple
is not known accurately but this temple was constructed and builds before
tanjore brahadeeshwarar temple. The great king Raja raja cholan got an idea to
build the Tanjore temple is after seeing this temple. There are many amazing
thing are present in this temple.
The
beautiful veerattaneswarar temple is faced towards the east, with the first
rajakopuram having 7 store's and 7 kalasam's. at the entrence of the
rajakopuram there are 108 sculptures , representing the thandavas in the
bharthanatiyam.after entering inside the temple's first rajakopuram a " 16
kaal mandapam " is present and an open space ,were a 5 ft buddha statue is
present in the right side(north side).
Veerattaneswrar
is in the form of suyambhu lingam with 16 stripes in the face of the lingam.the
temple garbgiragha's kopuram is built by the pallava style of architecture ,it
is built in such a intectual way that the shadow of the garbhagiragha kopuram's
" vimaanam" will not fall at the ground in any of the season in the
year. at the back of the molavar sanathi the temple's godess periya nayaki
sanathi is present and the statues of the 63 nayanmar is present inside the
temple .
Appar’s first hymn “Kodhil Neediya
Tirupathigam”:
The
place and the temple are closely linked with the history of Saint
Tirunavukkarasar. Though born to Saivite parents and
brought up by his Shiva devotee sister Thilagavathy, Marul Neekiar – that was
his baptism name – embraced Jainism and rose to Guruhood there with the name
Dharumasenar. His sister, a staunch Shiva devotee, dedicated herself
to the service of Lord Shiva by maintaining the temple, prayed to the Lord
seeking her brother’s home coming to Saivism.
Lord
Shiva caused a severe stomach pain to Appar. None in the Jain camp
could cure him. He came to sister Thilagavathy, fell at her feet for
relief. The affectionate sister took the brother to Veerattaneswarar
shrine, chanted the Panchakshara-five letters-Na Ma Shi Vaa Ya – and put the
sacred ash on his forehead.
Appar
also consumed the ash and was miraculously cured instantly of his deadly
stomach pain. Out came spontaneously Appar’s first hymn called
Kodhil Neediya Tirupathigam beginning with the line “Kootru Aayinavaru Vilakka
hileer”. Pleased with his poetic skill, Lord Shiva honoured Appar with the
title Tiru Navukku Arasar-Tirunavukkarasar meaning king of tongues.
Appar's sister
Thilakavathiyar settled here during her later years and devoted her lifetime
service to Shiva. Afflicted by a painful illness, Thirunavukkarasar prayed for
relief at this temple where his sister Thilagavathiyar served and was cured.
Legend holds that this temple is the place where Shiva destroyed
three rakshashas and the three cities created by them.
Saranarayana
Perumal, another name of Vishnu, is the one who gave the arrow to
Shiva for killing the demons. The Saranarayana Perumal temple is also
located in Panruti.
8 Temples:
Thiruvathigai
is one of the eight temples in Tamilnadu where the lord Shiva is seen in his
fierce form as the destroyer of evil ( Ashta Veeratta sthalams) .
Atta Veerattana Sthalams : Where Lord Shiva vanquished the Thiripura
demons (Thiripura Samharam).
The
lists of these eight temple towns are:
1)
Thiruvathigai
2)
Thirukadavayur
3)
Parasalur
4)
Kurrukai
5)
Valuvur
6)
Virkudi
7)
Kandiyur
8)
Thirukovilur
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
Veerattaaneswarar
temple has two prakarams
·
Thirunavukarasar
, Thirugnanasambanthar
, sundarar all these poet-saint of tamilnadu has worshiped and sanged songs and
written hyms about this temple.
·
The idol called
panchamuga lingam (5 faces) is present inside the temple which is a rare one,
the four faces of the lingam are facing on each directions and the fifth one is
facing at the top. This panchamuga lingam belongs to pallava period this idol
is one of the very rare piece of lingam in the world this kind of ancient idol
cannot be found anywere.
·
The tradition of
breaking the coconut in the ground ( " sitharuthengai ") has come
from this temple only.
·
This temple is
one of the most important temple ( "sthalam") among the 8 temples (
" 8 sthalam" ) in the world were the bravery exposed by the lord
shiva (veeratteneswarar).
·
The temple is in
the form a Ratha as it is believed that the lord came by Ratha.
·
The temple
garbhagiragha's vimanam is build in such an intellectual way that the shadow of
the vimanam will not fall in the ground at any season of the year.
·
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy
(Sundarar)The temple was
constructed and build before the Tanjore brahadeshwarar temple build.infact the
great king Raja rajacholan had got an idea to build the tanjore temple after
seeing this temple
·
This temple is
one of the most imporatant temple among the 108 shiva temple (“108 shiva
sthalangal ").
·
It is believed
that the Temple was build 2000 years before.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Veerattaneswarar, Sri Samharamurthi, Sri
Tirupurasundari |
|
Ambal |
Sri Perianayaki |
|
Theertham |
Shoola
Theertham, Chakkara Theertham, River Kedila |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Sarakondrai |
BELIEF:
Devotees
seeking the grace of Lord Veerattaneswarar are relieved from the three basic
evils glued with humans – viz. Aanavam-arrogance, Kanma, that which follows
birth after birth and illusion.
Devotee
visiting this temple reaps the benefit of seeing the Lord in His abode
Kailash.
Any devotee visiting
this temple is bound to get immense peace of mind and is believed to get cured
of all ailments particularly stomach disorders.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Panguni-
Chithirai |
Mar-May |
10 days vasanth
utsav (Maasi Maham festival) |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
Sadayam Star
festival on saint Appar salvation event |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
10 days
Vaikasi Brahmotsavam with Panchamurthi procession on silver vahan |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
10 day Aadi
Pooram |
|
Margazhi |
Dec-Jan |
10 day
Manickavasagar utsav |
|
Margazhi |
Dec-Jan |
1 day
Margazhi Tiruvadhirai with Theerthavari |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
temple is located 2 Kms south-west of Panruti on the north bank of river
Kedilam. Town bus services from Panruti to Cuddalore go via Thiruvathigai. One
has to get down at Thiruvathigai temple bus stop and walk a short distrance to
reach the temple.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Veerattanathar
Temple,
Tiruvathigai,
Panruti Post,
Panruti Taluk,
Cuddalore District,
Tamilnadu – 607106.
LOCATION:
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