17. SRI CHAKRAVAHESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUCHAKRAPALLI (AYYAMPETTAI), PAPANASAM

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	134th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	17th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

Chakkarapally is graced by the Lord with his lightning bright long hair adored with Kondrai flowers and Moon and the golden snake. It is a prosperous land of scholars of the four Vedas revered universally.  In general terms among the people, the place is known as Ayyampettai. As there are many places under this name, this is specifically called Thanjavur Ayyampettai.

The temple is facing east. There was no flag post earlier in this temple. At the entrance, the shrine of the Goddess is on the right side. The sanctum sanctorum is built of stone and the tower is on the west. There are not too many sculptures in the tower. Around the corridor are the shrines of Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahmma and Durga and Lord Muruga.

The Maha Mandapa has the shrines of Sun, Moon, Bhairavar and Nalvar the four saivite saints – Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar.

The epigraphy in the temple mentions the place as Rajaraja Chaturvedimangalam of fertile Chola Kingdom Vilanadu. Another one contains the rules and regulations of the Sabha – Panchayat. Only those above the age of 40 can contest election for the Sabha and he should not have contested for 10 years earlier.

Lord Vishnu was blessed with the discus, and the bird Chakravala paravai worshiped Lord Shiva in the temple, are the two stories mention in the history of the place.

Chakravakeswarar:

The celestial beings called Devas and Jayandhan the son of Indira the king of Devas worshiped in this temple. Lord Vishnu got His discus by worshiping Lord Shiva here, hence, the deity of the temple is named Chakravakeswarar.

Sapthasthalas:

The temple has also the reputation of one of the Sapthasthalas – the seven important shrines worshipped by Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri and Chamundi.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        Thirumal worshiped Lord Shiva and got the Charayutham.

·        Chakkavala bird worshiped Lord Shiva.

·        The temple is facing east and small Dwajasthambam has been installed during renovation.

·        There is no Rajagopuram and only an entrance arch with Iraivan in Rishabhava vahanam.

·        In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dhashinamoorthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

·        In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena samedha Subramaniyar and sandikeswarar.

·        Ambal is in a separate temple facing south.

·        Old Tamil inscriptions are found on the karuvarai wall and are not readable.

·        About 3 feet of the temple is below the ground level.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Chakkaravakeswarar
Ambal	Sri Deva Nayaki
Theertham	Cauvery River, Kaka Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Vilvam

BELIEF:

People pray for family prosperity, removal of obstacles in marriage alliances and progress in education.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Annabishekam
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

Town bus facilities are available from Thanjavur to visit this sivasthalam. It is situated about two and half Kms to the east of Pasupathikoil. Nearest railway station located at Ayyampettai is about 2 Kms from here.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri ChakkaraVaagaeswarar Temple,
Ayyampettai,
Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu – 614201.

LOCATION: