Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 184th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 67th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
HISTORY:
The
significance of this place is that its name – “Sivapuram” itself contains the
name of Lord Shiva. The historical names of this place are Kuberapuram, Bhookailayam
and Sanbakaaranyam.
Lord Mahavishnu:
As
per the Sthala puranam, during a deluge, Lord Mahavishnu prayed to Lord Shiva
and took the “Varaha Avatar”. This avatar is also called “Swetha Varahar”
because he took the form of a white pig. In this avatar, Lord Mahavishnu held
the submerging earth on his head. After rescuing the earth, he came to this
place and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him by restoring him to his
original form. A beautiful relief (“pudai sirpam”) depicting this legend can be
seen in the outer wall of the sanctum, near Lord Dakshinamurthy’s shrine. In
their hymns, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Thirunavukkarasar have also
mentioned about this legend.
Ravana:
Ravana
once visited this temple for worship without taking bath and observing other
ritual requirements. Nandhi stopped him from entering the temple. Without
knowing the facts, Kuberan came to help Ravana and asked Nandhi to step aside.
Nandhi cursed Kuberan to be born on earth as a greedy king. Kuberan then took
birth in a royal family and was named as Thalapathy. He worshipped Lord Shiva
in this temple regularly. One day he saw a copper plate in the corridor which
bore the following inscriptions - “On a Shivrathri day in the Tamil month of
Maasi that also happens to be a Monday and Pradosham day, if someone performs
abhishekam to the lord using the blood of a male child, that person will get
enormous money”.
King Thalapathy:
Greedy
King Thalapathy managed to buy a young male child by offering money to a poor
couple. The king took the child and his parents to this temple and started the
pooja. Just as he was about to cut the child, the young boy clung to his
parents in fear and started praying to Goddess Parvathy.
Goddess Parvathy:
Goddess
Parvathy in turn asked Lord Shiva to save the child. The lord pacified her and
informed her that this was infact his ploy to relieve Kuberan from Nandhi’s
curse. He further told her that the couple was none other than Lord Indra and
his wife Indrani and that the child was Agni.
Kuberan:
Lord
Shiva appeared before them and stopped Kuberan. It was then that Kuberan
realised the depth of his avarice and the folly that he was about to commit
because of his greed. Kuberan prayed for forgiveness and Lord Shiva forgave him
and also relieved him from the curse. To signify this incident, there is a
small crack and the mark of a drop of blood on the Shivalingam. When Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar visited this place, he was able to divine that there are
innumerable Shivalingams buried underneath. Hence, he did not want to place his
feet on the ground. He, along with his followers, undertook “angaprathatchanam”
(rolling around the temple so that the feet do not touch the ground) in the
temple. He prayed to the lord and rendered his pathigam from outside the
temple. The place from where he sang his hymn is called “Swamigal Thurai”.
Following this tradition, devotees can be seen performing “angaprathatchanam”
even today.
People who worshipped here:
Lord
Mahavishnu, Kuberan, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukkarasar
(Appar), Ravana, Pattinathar and Arunagirinathar have worshiped the lord here.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is the only
Shiva temple where devotees perform “Angapradakshinam”.
·
This east facing
temple with main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
Saint
Manickavasakar has also rendered pathigam praising the lord here.
·
The main
Shivalingam looks very majestic.
·
The unique
feature of Lord Dakshinamaurthy’s idol is that reliefs of Varaaham (Avatar of
Vishnu) and Rahu can be seen below it. Also, the idols of the Sanakathi rishis
are placed on either side of Lord Dakshinamurthy.
·
This is the only
Shiva temple where “angaprathatchanam” is performed.
This is also the only Shiva temple where Lord Guru can be seen with Rahu and
Varaham (Mahavishnu’s Avatar).
·
In the outer
corridor, there is a separate south-facing shrine for Bairavar in front of the
idol of Nandhi. Bairavar’s mount (dog) is seen on the left side with his head
facing the lord. The dog’s left ear is lifted up as if to signify that our
prayers are being heard by him and forwarded to Lord Bairavar.
·
It is believed
that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays
on the lingam every year in the morning hours for three days - 4th, 5th and 6th
in the Tamil month Chithirai (Apr-May).
·
In front of the
hall of Goddess Parvathy’s shrine, on the ceiling, 12 zodiac signs (Rasi) are
carved beautifully in stone. It is believed that by standing under one’s
respective zodiac sign and praying to the goddess, one’s wishes will be
fulfilled.
·
The procession idol
of Natarajar of this temple is believed to be very beautiful. It was smuggled
into America and was retrieved after many legal battles. Now it is kept under
safe custody in some other temple. The Natarajar idol kept here for worship is
not the original one.
·
Saint
Pattinathar’s sister lived in this place. The idol of Pattinathar can be seen
in the Pattinathu Vinayakar temple.
·
It is believed
that this is the birth place of Saint Aadhi Sankarachariyar’s mother.
·
Saint
Manickavasakar has also rendered pathigam praising the lord here.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Sivagurunathar, Sri Sivapuranathar, Sri
Brahmapurinathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Singaravalli, Sri Aaryambal, Sri Periyanayaki |
|
Theertham |
Chandra Theertham and Surya Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Senbagam |
BELIEF:
Worshiping
the lord here on Deepavali during Kubera Pooja is believed to bring prosperity
to devotees.
“Angaprathatchanam”
is famous in this temple and devotees believe that by doing this, they will be
relieved from illnesses and their legal battles will be resolved in their
favour.
Devotees
worship Lord Kala Bairavar here to seek his help in overcoming their
difficulties.
Kubera
Pooja is celebrated in a grand manner on Deepavali.
|
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 |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Makara
Sankranthi |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha
Shivrathri |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni
Uthiram |
HOW
TO REACH:
Sivapuram
is situated at a distance of about 7 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam
-Sakkottai - Thiruvarur route. From Sakkottai, take the diversion road to
Sivapuram. Sivapuram is at a distance about 2.5 kms from the Sakkottai
“Velaanmai Virivakka Myam”.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Sivagurunathaswamy
Temple,
Sivapuram,
Sakkottai Via,
Kumbakonam,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu – 612 401.
LOCATION:
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