Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Shri KeertiVageeshwarar Temple

Today we are posting information about KeertiVageeshwarar temple at ShoolaMangalam.

This Shiva temple is located on Tanjavur-Kumbhakonam route near Papanasam.

This is one of the Sapta-Mangai temples where Goddess Parvati along with Sapta-Matrika performed Sharad NavaRatri. The temple is more than 1200 years old.

This temple is associated with Kaumari, one of the Sapta-Matrika.

Moolavar (Main deity): KeertiVageeshwarar (KariUraithaNayanar - Lord who skinned the Elephant)
Consort (Devi) : AlankaraValli.
Kshetra Vruksha : Bilva
Sacred Teertha : Shoola Teertha.
Old name : ShoolaMangai
Taluka : Papanasam 
District : Tanjavur (TamilNadu)

This temple has three tier main tower (RajaGopuram). Lord Shiva here is a Swayambhu-linga.

Legends (Kshetra Puran):

It is believed that Lord Shiva defeated Gajasur at this place.

After tearing the skin of Gajasur (Elephant), he wore it, hence the Lord is known as KeertiVageeshwarar (KariUraithaNayanar).

AstraDeva, who makes weapons for the Gods, worshiped Lord Shiva at this place and received a number of boons.

It is believed that on the third day of NavaRatri (Tritiya) Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva along with Kaumari, one of the Sapta-Matrika. They had darshan of Lord Shiva's Trishul (Trident). This is known as TrishulDarshan.

Trishul in Tamil is known as Shoolam hence the place is known as ShoolaMangalam.

It is stated in Puran that on the day of Amavasya (new moon) in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Lord Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva at this place and won the war against demon KalaNemi.

On the same day, Lord Brahma had worshiped Lord Shiva at this place and got relief from his stomach pain hence a Vrat known as ShoolVrat is observed on that day.

A staunch devoted couple NadaSharma and AnaVidya got the divine darshan of AdiParaShakti in her kumarika form.

Idols and other shrines in this temple:

There is a separate shrine for AlankaraValli (Goddess Parvati).

The ShivaLingam is covered by a Kavach which signifies killing of Gajasur.

As per tradition we have the Koshta-Murti.

In the Koshtam, the idol of Lord DakshinaMurti is with matted hair and sitting under a Kallal (Mulberry) tree and is a unique feature of this place. This posture of Lord DakshinaMurti is not found anywhere else.

The idol of AstraDeva is in a standing position in a worshiping posture near the entrance.

There is a separate shrine of Lord Muruga with Valli and Daivanai and a separate shrine of Lord Nritya-Vinayaka.

Festivals in the temple:

1. MahaShivaRatri festival in Tamil month of Masi (February-March).

2. ShivaRatri festival in Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June).

3. AnnaAbhishek in Tamil month of Aippasi (October-November).

4. ArudraDarshan (known as Thiruvathirai) in Tamil month of Marghazi

5. SaptaSthana festival in the Tamil month of Panguni.


Courtesy : Inputs are from TamilNadu-favtourism.blogspot.com

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