Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 122nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 5th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
Uraiyur
is the ancient capital of the great Chola kings. It is located near Trichy city
in South India. It has an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. As
you enter the temple, a small mandapa with Ganesha and Karthikeya idols on its
either side is the first structure found. After that a moderately big idol of
Nandi is found facing the three tier temple tower. The temple is built based on
maada kovil architectural style (raised platform). On either side there are
thinnai (raised platforms) with pillars; all the pillars are found to be carved
with sculptures.
The
east facing sanctum sanctorum has a small Shiv Linga idol - Panchavarneswarar.
The entrance to the shrine has small idols of Ganesha and Skanda as well as two
big relief images of Dwarapalakas.Nataraja-Sivakami alone with a lot of bronze
idols are placed in a small shrine located in the maha mandapa. Kantimathi is
found in a separate south facing shrine. The inner prakara has a lot of idols
of sub-shrines. Pugal Chola, saint Utanga, Nalvar, 63 Nayanmars, Ganesha, few
Lingas and Amman idols are located here.
The koshta idols around the main shrine are notably beautiful. Dakshinamurthy
idol is found with a serpent on his head and a cow with four saints at his
foot. It appears to be a rare sculpture. The idols of Brahma, Vishnu, Durga and
Chandikeshwara are also found as the other Koshta idols.
The sub shrines of Ganesha, Subramanya with two consorts, Lakshmi and Saraswati
are too located in the inner prakara. The temple tank is located in the area
outside the tower.
This
temple is located in Tiruchirapalli city at a locality known as 1 Km from the
Cauvery, sports one of the oldest and greatest Shiva Temples in Chola Naadu.
This temple tucked away behind tall business complexes on Salai road was built
in the 8th century by the great Pandiya King Varaguna Maharaja II.
The
inscription dated 885 AD has referred to the donation of gold coins to the
village sabha for performing poojas to the temple. Inscription in the Rockfort
Thaymanavar temple at Tiruchirapalli also speak of the donations by the great
padiya king Varagunaa Maharaja II. At the entrance, a beautiful and richly
decorated Nandi greets the visitor. The temple has a maha Mandapam, ardha
mandapam and a sanctum sanctorum. The lingam in the sanctum is small in size.
Lord Shiva is known as Panchavarneswarar, as he is said to have manifested
Himself in 5 different colours to Utanga Munivar.
The
shrine for Utanga Munivar is situated directly across the main sanctum. Inside
the sanctum sanctorum is the magnificent, tall lingam of Thanthondreeswarar,
with a huge impressive base. Goddess Kanthimathi Ammai, the consort of
Panchavarneswarar adorns Ankusam and Lotus in her two hands and faces north.
Close to the shrine, one can see the images of Mahavishnu, the sun god, Lord
Saneeswara and Kala Bhairavamurthy.
In
the arthamanadapam, at the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum, there are two
brilliant six feet tall Dwarapalakas with typical 8th century features. Both
the images are brilliantly docorated. The southern wall of sanctum sanctorum is
adorned with the image of Dakshinamoorthy and the northern wall with that of
Lord Brahma. The 4 feet tall granite idol of Chandikeswara inside the shrine on
the northern side is one of the tallest granite idols. This temple was
renovated in the year 2002.
Garuda,
Kasyapa Muni and Karkotakan are said to have worshiped here. Pugazh Chola
Nayanar and Ko Chenkat Cholan, who built 78 Maadakkovils for Lord Shiva, was
born here. Garuda, Kasyapa Muni and Karkotakan are said to have worshipped
here. Shiva is said to have manifested himself in five different shades of
color to Utanga Munivar (Ratna Lingam in the morning, Spatika Lingam at noon,
Gold Lingam in the afternoon, Diamond lingam at night and Chitra lingam later
on at midnight).
Uraiyur
is also known as Kozhimanagaram as legend holds that a fowl blessed with divine
powers defeated an elephant in a duel.
Five different colours:
Lord
Shiva appeared in five different colors, as Ratna Linga in the morning, Spatika
Linga at noon, Golden Linga in the afternoon, Diamond Linga at night and Chitra
Linga at midnight to Lord Brahma (in terms of colors, they are golden yellow,
white, red, black and smoke ash). It is said that even today the color of Shiv
Linga idol changes slightly as above. As the idol is of five different colors,
he is named as Panchavarneswarar.
Serpent Karkodaga:
Serpent
Karkoda and his arch rival Sri Garuda Bhagwan had worshiped in this temple, it
is the staunch faith of the devotees that they would be freed from any adverse
effects falling on them. Also, as the Lord of Creation Brahma had worshiped
here, success is certain any endeavor taken by the devotee.
Chola king Karikalan:
Karikal
Cholan, a famous king of Chola dynasty during his travel from
Kaviripoompattinam passed through this place. A cock struck on the forehead of
his elephant. The elephant immediately began to retreat. The king realized the
greatness of the place, built a city and stayed here making it his
headquarters. The place is also called Urayur Kozhi. Kozhi in Tamil means cock.
A
Chola king saw the five daughters of Nagaraja (the serpent king) worshiping
five Shiv Linga idols. He married the youngest daughter. As per his request,
his father in law gave half of Shiv Linga idol to him. The youngest daughter
collected the other five Shiv Linga idols from her sisters and merged all the
six idols into one Shiv Linga. It is believed that it is the site where that
merged idol was installed.
Vibhuti-sacred ash:
An
atheist ignored the Vibhuti-sacred ash Prasad offered to him in the temple. He
was born a pig in his following birth and had to live in ugly muddy
environment. He realized that his condition was the result of earlier behavior.
He bathed in the Shiva theertha and was freed from the sin. Mother Gandhimathi
Ammai was worshiped by Naga virgins in the Nagaloka – serpent world- and was
installed here by a Chola king, according to history. Sri Rama worshiped Lord
Shiva in Rameswaram. Lord Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva in Mukkeeswaram.
Pancha Bhooda places:
Pancha
Bhooda places, Tiruvanaikaval belongs to Water, Kancheepuram to Earth,
Tiruvannamalai to Fire, Kalahasthi to Wind-Vayu and Chidambaram to
Space-Akasha. Karkodan, his rival Garuda, Lord Brahmma had worshiped in this
temple.
Lord shiva in five colours:
Shivalinga
in the temple showed Brahmma five colours – golden yellow, red, black, white
and smoke ash here. For Sage Udangar, Shivalinga appeared as a Gem, Spatika,
Gold and Diamond and as a portrait. Lord also appeared here as Cock and
controlled a wild elephant. Uraiyur also has the reputation of being the birth
place of Vaishnavite saint Tirupanazhwar and Saivite saint Pugazh Chola
Nayanar. Kochengatchozha Nayanar attained the Lotus Feet of Lord in this place.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
Sambandhar has
revered the temple in his verses in Tevaram.
·
The temple was
built by Kochchenganan Chola.
·
It is the birth
place of Pugal Chola Nayanar and Kochenganan Chola.
·
Lord Shiva
appeared in five different colors in five different periods in a particular to
the saint Utanga; hence, the Lord is named as Panchavarneswarar which means 'the
Lord of five colors'.
·
Lot of
sculptures on the stone pillars. All are worth to see. Of which, Elephant of
Chozha King was defeated by a Cock in a fight relief and 5 females forming a
horse, etc, are excellent. The temple structure / pillars are beautifully
chiseled.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Panchavarneswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Gandhimathi |
|
Theertham |
Shiva Theertham, Naga Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vilwa Tree |
BELIEF:
The
devotee can have the collective benefit of worshiping in these five shrines if
he worships Lord Shiva in this temple.
Their
influence plays all benefits to the devotee here ensuring success over the
rival though he/she is as strong as an elephant.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
Chithra Poornima |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
Vaikasi Brahmotsavam |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani
Tirumanjanam |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Pooram |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Avani Moola |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Annabishekam |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Thai Poosam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
temple is located in Tiruchirapalli city at a locality known as Uraiyur. Town
buses are available from both Central Bus-stand and Chatram Bus-stand, since it
is part of Trichy City.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Panchavarneswarar
Temple,
Uraiyur,
Trichy,
Tamil Nadu – 620003.
LOCATION:
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