Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 79th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 25th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
HISTORY:
Goddess Parvathi was
cursed to be born on earth. She is believed to have appeared from the fire of
Sage Bharatha’s “Kameshti yagna”. Sage Bharatha raised her as his own daughter.
Goddess Parvathy performed rigorous penance for 16 consecutive Mondays to seek
relief from the curse and to be taken back to the abode of Lord Shiva. When she
grew up and attained the marriageable age, the sage prayed to Lord Shiva that
he help him find a suitable groom for her. Responding to his prayers, Lord
Shiva appeared before him and told him that he would marry his daughter soon.
The lord further told the sage that his daughter was none other than Goddess
Parvathy herself. He also explained him that the reason for her appearance on
earth was to grant her the wish of being married on earth.
This is the place where
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi came after their wedding at Thiruvelvikudi. It
is further believed that they stayed back here as a married couple. Hence this
place gets the name “Thirumanancheri” (“Thirumanam” means wedding and “Cherri”
means village in Tamil) and the name of the Lord is “Sri Kalyanasundareswarar”
(“Kalyanam” also means wedding in Tamil). As per the “Sthala Puranam” the
“seven seas” (“Sapta Saharam”) came to this place and offered themselves as
garlands for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. They also stayed back here to
form the temple’s holy tank. This tank is in the form of a semicircle (“Akazhi”
in Tamil) around the temple and is known as “Sapta Sahara Theertham”.
Thirumanancheri:
·
Thirumanancheri enjoys a special place
in mythology..
·
At Therezhunthur, Lord Shiva cursed
Goddess Parvathy which made her turn into a cow. Lord Mahavishnu played the
role of a shepherd here.
·
At Thirukkozhambam, Goddess Parvathy,
who was in the form of a cow, worshiped Lord Shiva. During the worship, as the
cow’s leg hit Lord Shiva by mistake, its hoof made a mark on the lord’s chest.
·
At Thiruvaduthurai, again Goddess
Parvathy (in the form a cow) worshiped Lord Shiva. It is here that Goddess
Parvathy was relieved of her curse and got restored to her original form.
·
At Thiruthuruthi (Kuthalam), Sage
Bharatha performed a yagna and it is believed that Goddess Parvathy came out of
the fire in the form of a child.
·
At Ethirkolpadi, Lord Shiva was received
as a groom by his father-in-law, Sage Bharatha.
·
At Thiruvelvikudi, the wedding ceremony
including the yagna (“Velvi”) was performed. This is the great place where the
earthly wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy took place.
·
At Thirumanancheri, Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvathy granted their wedding darshan to everyone.
Cupid
Manmathan:
Manmathan disturbed Lord
Shiva when he was meditating. Angered by this distraction, Lord Shiva
opened his third eye and burnt Manmathan by unleashing a torrent of fire. This
incident happened at a nearby place called Thiru Kurukkai (another Devara
Paadal Petra Sthalam). Rathi Devi, Manmathan’s wife, pleaded to Lord Shiva to
pardon him. Manmathan was restored back to life and united with Rathi Devi by
the grace of the lord of this temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
· This east facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
· Goddess Parvathy can be seen here in a sitting posture with a coy look on her face. This idol depicts Goddess Parvathy as a newly-wed bride. This posture of the goddess is quite rare.
· Thirumanancheri is considered to be a place where the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy is celebrated every day (“Nithya Kalyana Kshetram”).
· The procession idols of Lord Shiva holding Goddess Parvathy’s hands in wedding form are placed. They are praised as Sri Kalyanasundarar and Sri Kokilambal. A large number of devotees can be seen performing special poojas to these procession idols every day.
· Every month during new moon day (Amavasai), special prayers are conducted in front of Lord Raahu in the morning hours. This is done so to seek the blessing of “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon).
· Lord Raahu here is in his human form wearing earrings and other ornaments.
· There is a well in this temple called the “Kubera well” / “Kubera Hundial”.
· Karu Oomathai (black daturas), Vanni and Kondrai are also considered to be the sacred trees of this temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Manavala Nayakar, Sri Arul Vallal Nayakar, Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar, Sri
Uthvaka Nathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Kokilambal, Sri Yazhmozhi Ammai |
|
Theertham |
Saptha
Saharam, Kubera well |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Karu
Oomathai, Vanni |
BELIEF:
Devotees who are facing
delays in their marriage can visit this place, offer two garlands to the lords
and then take them back for themselves. It is believed that by doing so
obstacles from marriage proposals will be removed. After successful marriage, the
couples can visit this temple again with the same old garlands to perform the
pooja and complete the worship.
This is a “parihara
sthalam” for Raahu dosha. It is believed that those seeking “santhana prapthi”
(child boon) can pray to Raahu here.
Devotees can get relief
from the adverse effects of planets Raahu and Kethu by worshiping the lord
here.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
The 3-day Wedding festival of Lord
Shiva and Goddess Parvathi is celebrated on the Poosam star day |
|
Adi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Puram |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thirumanancheri is
situated at a distance of about 17 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the
Mayiladuthurai to Kumbakonam (via Kuthalam) route. From Kuthalam take the
diversion road to Panthanallur. After crossing the village Anjar Varthalai, ask
for Thirumanancheri. (Mayiladuthurai to Kuthalam is 11 kms and Kuthalam to
Thirumanancheri is 6 kms). This temple is located at a distance of about 26 Kms
from Kumbakonam.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Arul Vallal Nayakar Temple,
Thirumanancheri,
Kuthalam Via,
Mayiladuthurai,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu – 609813.
LOCATION:
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