The temple is situated at Thiruvarur in Tamilnadu. This is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam. This is also one of the Saptha Vidanga sthalam. As one of the Athar Sthalam, it represents Muladhar chakra. Thiruvarur is about 70 kms from Tanjavur and 42 kms from Kumbhakonam. Shaiva saints Sambandhar, Appar, Sundarar and Manikvachagar have sung glory of the lord of this temple. The temple is located on the southern bank of river Kaveri. The temple is about 2000 years old.
Mulavar: Thyagarajajar, Vanmikanadar
Devi: Kamalambika, Nelottapala-ambal
Sacred teertha: Kamalaalayam, Shankha Teertha, Gaya Teertha, Vani Teertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Padri Tree (Trumpet Flower Tree)
Historic or puranic name: Aaroor (Arur).
Earlier this place was also known as Kshetravarapuram, Devayagapuram, Mukundapuram etc
The name of the vidanga is Veedhividangar which is Shivalinga. The dance performed during the festival (by Shiva) is Ajabanatanam (dance without chanting resembling the dance of tyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu’s chest)
This place represents the Muladhar Chakra and hence this place also known as Muladhara-sthalam
The present structure was built by the chola kings in the ninth century and later on additions were done by Vijayanagar kings in the thirteenth century. The temple is revered from the olden days for dance and music festivals.
The temple is spread over 30 acres. It has four gopurams and four entrances. The eastern entrance gopuram is 118 feet high and it is four tiered. In this complex we have a large number of small shrines. The most prominent shrine is that of Thyagaraja (Veedhivdangar) and Neelotpalambal. The main deity is Vanmikanadar (Lord Shiva). Totally there are nine gopurams inside the complex and five parikramas. Lord Shiva (Vanmikanadar) is an ancient structure on an anthill. In this temple all Navagrahas are in a straight line facing south in the northwest corner of the first parikrama. There are thirteen mandapas and 365 shivalingas representing the days of the year and about 100 shrines, 8 Ganesh idols. The major shrines are Neelotpal Ambal, Asaleshwarar, Adageshwarar, Kamalambal and Annamaleshwarar. The foot of Lord Thyagaraja is always kept covered with flowers. The left leg is kept uncovered on the day of uttara nakshatra in the month of Panguni Uttaram and on the night Thiruvathurai. People can have darshan of Lord’s feet in Vilamal which is 3 kilometers from this place. Here in this temple we find Nandi in a standing position. There are a large number of pillars which have stone carvings and the walls are covered by sculptures.
The temple complex is in the form of Sri Chakra. Second enclosure represents seven bases of Sri Chakra. When we leave the inner parikrama we come to the Kamalambal Sannidhi. There is a point in this shrine from where we can observe all seven gopurams.
The Kamalalayam temple tank is the largest temple tank in the country and panel of Sapta Matrika is nearby. In this temple there are separate shrines of Veedhividangar, Vinayaka and Achaleshwarar.
We have the shrines of Kamalambal, Neelotpalambal, Rudra durga, Runavimochan, Lord Dakshinamurti, Annamaleshwarar and Vottu-Thyagarajeshwarar temple where Thyagaraja worshiped. Shrines of Anandeshwarar, Siddheshwarar, are also present. In the parikrama we come across lingas worshiped by Lord Indra, Cheranatha, Pandyanatha, Adikeshwarar, Pulastya rushi, Lankeshwara. We have the linga of Bhaskareshwarar, Vishwanatheshwarar, Padaleshwar shrines. At the entrance to the Rajagopuram we have the shrine of Lord Anjaneya. It is believed that by worshiping him at this place we people can get back the things lost by them.
In Devi shrine’s inner parikrama, we have shrines of Lord Dharmashasta and Vinayaka. There is a canal near the temple. Generally in the temple facing the east the processions begin from east entrance but in this temple they begin from North East entrance. Lord Dakshinamurti in the Devi’s shrine is seen with six disciples instead of usual four. Devi Neelotpalambal is in a separate shrine where a maid holds an infant Lord muruga in her hands. Goddess Saraswati is with a Abhayamudra without Veena. And she is believed to be doing penance at this place. There is an idol of Lord Hayagriva performing Shiva Puja. Akashbhairav is the custodian deity and is found in the Gopuram of Kamalambika shrine. Lord Bhairav is addressed here as Siddhi Bhairav. On the right side of Sanctum Sanctorum of Kamalambika we have Kamalamuni Siddhar peetham. On the corridor of Lord Shiva’s shrine, we have a tall idol of Lord Surya. The shrines that are found in this temple are 1. Ganapati, 2. Adikeshwarar, 3. Chandikeshwar, Durga, Kamalambal, Achaleshwarar, Tyagaraja, Vanmikanadar, Chariot and stone carvings. In short, we observe that it will take one full day to go through this temple completely.
Special features in this temple:
In Lord Shiva sanctum we have Thyagaraja who is the king of all devas. The temple is also the greatest of all temples as well as one of the oldest. It is believed that even you go to Thirunallar for relief from Shanideva you have to go to Thiruvarur for complete relief. According to the puran, there was a king named Sadayagupta. He got affected by Shanidosh and he fought with Navagrahas. The Navagrahas out of fear complained to Lord Shiva at this place and sought his refuge. Lord Shiva saved them from the attack. Hence the Navagrahas stand in a line at this place facing Lord Shiva. We have an idol of Lord Ganesha in the Navagraha shrine. It is believed that he keeps watch over the Navagrahas so that the Navagrahs do not trouble devotees of Lord Shiva.
There are four famous Vinayaka shrines (out of 84) in this place. In Devi’s parikrama we have Nadukkam Vinayaka, near west Gopuram, Matru-Uraitha Vinayaka. He checked the purity of gold given to Sundarar by Lord Shiva. Muladhar Ganapati is in the first corridor of Lord Shiva shrine. Here he is in the middle of a coiled five headed serpent performing narthana (yoga) form. There is also Vatapi ganapati revered by Muttuswami Dikshitar. In the ashta durga shrine, Muttuswamy Dikshitar has sung hymn on Mahalakshmi and Ashta Durga. In the northwest corridor we have a stone chariot. It is believed that Lord Indra wants to get back Vidanga and hence he stands on the eastern entrance. Hence the procession of Vidanga avoids eastern entrance. King Muchukunda had installed original Vidanga he got from Indra at Thiruvarur. Indra decided to get Vidanga back and he stood at the eastern entrance to pick up the vidanga when it brought out in procession. Hence people take out vidanga’s procession in Ishanya (North east) disha. So most of the people avoid eastern entrance.
Devi Kamalambika resides in this place as mentioned in Lalitasahasranaam. Hence the sacred teertha is known as Kamalalayam. It is believed that bathing in this teertha during Panguni Uttaram one gets benefit of bathing 12 times in Mahamagha tank at Kumbhakonam during Mahamagha festival. There is a shrine of Nagadevata in the middle of this tank. People worship here for eradication of Nagasosha. At this place pradosh puja is held daily between 4.30 and 6.30 in the evening and is known as Nitya pradosha puja. It is believed that all 33 crores of devas come for darshan during this pradosha puja.
Kamalambika wears a crescent moon like Lord Shiva in her shrine. She has a flower in her right hand and left hand is on the waist sitting in yogasana and appears like a queen. This temple is considered to be older than any other temple. The chariot of the temple is the largest in Tamilnadu. Lord Shiva has performed 364 miracles at this place. It is stated that those who are born in Thiruvarur attain mukti so that Lord Yama has no work. Hence Yama is Chandikeshwrar at this place. Behind sanctum sanctorum there is believed to be a secret known as Daiva Rahasya.
About festivals and puja
Nitya puja is performed between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm. There is no daily abhishek for Thyagaraja. Abhishek of the small shiva linga worshiped by Lord Indra is done at 8.30 am and 7 pm after that it is placed in a small silver casket amongst the flower. This casket is always kept to the right of Thyagaraja. This is a Shaktipeeth known as Kamala Shakti Peeth.
Festivals:
10 day panguni uttaram festival. Flag hoisting on hasta nakshatra in the month of masi. Car festival on the tenth day signifying darshan of Lord Shiva to Sage Vyaghrapada.
Arudra Darshan (Dec)
Vansat utsav - this festival was originally performed by Manmada and Rati for Lord Tyagaraja in the month of panguni for their reunion.
Thiruvaduthurai festival in the month of Margashirsha (Dec-Jan)
Adi puram festival for 10 days - This festival is held for the utsav murti of Devi.
Masimagam festival
Chariot festival in April-May
Puja during Diwali, Pongal, Makara sankrant, Tamil and English new year
Besides this pujas are performed 6 times a day. The chariot is the largest and is about 90 feet in height. It is the second largest in asia.
Kshetra Puran for Tyagaraja Temple
Once there was an argument in devaloka about the greatness of a person or deva in delivering justice. At that time Sage Narada, king of calamity, stated that the Chola king Manuneedhi Cholan was the greatest in all three lokas. In order to test him Yama took the form of a cow and went to Thiruvarur with a calf which was the kingdom of Manuneedhi. Yama enacted a scene in which the prince accidentally kills the calf by driving his chariot over it. The calf reached the court of the king seeking justice for killing the calf. In order to have same sort of suffering as that of the cow, in losing its calf, the king drove the chariot over his son and killed him in order to experience the same suffering as that of cow which he considered as the only justice that can be done. Yama blessed the king after manifesting in true form. And accepted the king to be the greatest in delivering the justice.
Prayers:
People perform rahu kaal durga puja for obtaining boons. People pray to Lord Vanmikanadar for various boons on Purattasi Navami teethi. People worship with milk and rice for eradicating enmity. At this place people pray Thyagaraja for marriage, child boon, upliftment in education and for wealth. People worship the Nandi behind the Vanmikanadar for rain.
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