Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 182nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 65th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Sundaramurthy
(Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
This temple is called
“Siddheecharam”.
The historical names of
this place are Sidheeswaram, Suganthavanam, Narapuram, Kuberapuram and
Brahmapuram.
Goddess Mahalakshmi:
Sage Medhavi Munivar
worshipped Lord Shiva here for a long time and prayed that Goddess Lakshmi be
born as his daughter. Lord Shiva talked to Mahavishnu and arranged for her to
appear before the sage in the form of a small girl. The sage named her
“Vanjula” and raised her. The sage got her married to Lord Srinivasa Perumal
(Mahavishnu) here with the help of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva
and goddess Parvathy performed the wedding as her parents. As Goddess
Mahalakshmi was born here, her idol is in the form of a small girl and she is
called “Mazhalai Mahalakshmi” (“mazhalai” means sweet speech of infants).
The idol is also dressed up in the clothes of a young girl.
After the wedding,
Mahalakshmi is believed to have been sent to the nearby Vishnu temple in
Naachiyarkoil. In the traditions of southern India, every year during Deepavali
and Pongal festivals, gift items are taken from the parental house to the house
of a girl’s in-laws. Following this tradition, gifts items are taken from this
temple to the Vishnu temple in Naachiyarkoil during Deepavali and Pongal. Also,
idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are taken in a procession to the
Vishnu temple on the next day (“Vaikunda Ekadasi”) to see the Mazhalai
Mahalakshmi.
Korakka
Siddhar:
Korakka Siddhar is one
of the 18 Siddhars. It is believed that he was cursed by the devas and he was
performed penance here to seek relief. Hence the lord here is called “Sri
Siddheswarar” and the place is called “Siddheecharam”. In the corridor, there
is a relief that depicts Korakka Siddhar worshiping Lord Shiva.
Sage
Dhurvasa:
Sage Dhurvasa visited
this temple and worshiped Lord Sidhdhanathar to seek relief fof his sins. Lord
Shiva relieved him from his sins and blessed him with salvation.
Naran
and Narayanan:
Two rishis named Naran
and Narayanan had performed penance here. As they did not pay any attention
when Sage Dhurvasa visited this place. This angered Sage Dhurvasa and he cursed
that both of them will turn into birds (crane). Both of them sought pardon from
Sage Dhurvasa and worshiped Lord Shiva here in the form of birds. Lord Shiva
restored them to their original forms. As a crane (“Naarai” in Tamil) worshiped
the lord here, this place gets the name Naaraiyur. In the corridor, there is a
beautiful relief depicting Naran and Narayanan worshiping the lord.
Chandraguptha:
There was once a
merchant called Chandraguptha who was suffering from an incurable disease. It
is believed that he consumed a small portion of the oil that was used for
performing Lord Shiva’s abhishekam and was miraculously cured.
People who worshipped here:
Lord Murugan, Brahma,
Mahavishnu and Kuberan, the Devas, sage Markandeya, Arjunan, Gandharvas,
Siddhars and Saints Sundarar and Thirugnanasambanthar have worshiped Lord Shiva
here.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is Goddess Mahalakshmi’s “Avathara”
Sthalam.
·
This west facing temple withmain tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
Goddess Durgai here is known as
“Prasanna Durgai” and is having eight hands holding various weapons. Her right
leg is placed one step in front. This is quite unique and it looks very
beautiful.
·
In this temple, Lord Dakshinamurthy is
facing the west direction. Usually his idol faces the south. This west facing
Dakshinamurthy is considered very auspicious. Secondly, Navagraham is right in
front of this lord.
·
Most of the idols in this temple are
beautifully carved. Some notable mentions are - Pitchadanar, Ardhanareeswarar,
Lingothbavar, Durgai and Brahma. However, the hands of Lord Natarajar are
broken in his idol.
·
The idol of Lord Balasubramaniyar is
quite unique as he is shown in a seated posture.
·
In a single shrine, there are three
idols of Chandikeswarar.
·
The hall (Mandapam) in front of Goddess
Soundhara Nayaki’s shrine is designed to look like the forehead of a bat
(“Vovval Nethi Mandapam”). This looks very beautiful.
·
It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun)
worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every
year for three days each in the Tamil months of Aavani (Aug-Sept) and Maasi
(Feb-Mar).
·
Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either
sides of Lord Lingothbavar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma
in a worshipping posture. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords
(Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very
auspicious.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Siddhanatheswarar, Sri Vedeswarar, Sri Ramanatha Swamy |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Azhakammai, Sri Soundarya Nayaki, Sri Parvathavarthini |
|
Theertham |
Soola
Theertham, Jada Theertham, Sidhamirtha Theertham, Kadika Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Pavazha
Malligai (a jasmine variety) |
BELIEF:
Children suffering from
speech related problems such as stammering are brought here in the hope that
Lord Shiva will cure them.
Devotees believe that
by worshiping Lord Shiva here, they will be blessed with a sweet voice.
To seek cure for skin
diseases, devotees perform abhishekam to Korakka Siddhar using gingili oil and
then consume a few drops of that oil.
Those who have “Navagraha dosham” in their horoscope can worship Lord Dakshinamurthy and Navagraham here to seek relief.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani Thirumanjanam |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Pooram |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar Chaturthi |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thiru Karthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
10-day Brahmotsavam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiru Naraiyur is
situated at a distance of about 9 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to
Nachiyar Koil route. Naraiyur is in the outskirts of Nachiyar Koil.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Siddhanatheswarar Temple,
Thirunaraiyur Post (Nachiar Koil),
Kumbakonam,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu- 612 102.
LOCATION:
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