Shri KeertiVageeshwarar Temple

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

This temple is part of various groups of temples. It is one of the Sapta Sthana temples around Chakrappali. This is also one of the Sapta-Mangai temples where Shri Parvati Devi 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.

Mulavar (Main deity): Shri KeertiVageeshwarar (KariUraithaNayanar - Lord who skinned the Elephant)

Devi (Consort)): Shri AlankaraValli.

Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva

Sacred Teertha: Shoola Teertha.

Old name: ShoolaMangai

Taluka: Papanasam 

District: Tanjavur (TamilNadu)

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

Legends (Kshetra Puran):

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

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

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

It is believed that on the third day of NavaRatri (Tritiya) Shri Parvati Devi worshiped Shri Shiva along with Shri Kaumari, one of the Sapta-Matrika. They had darshan of Shri 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), Shri Vishnu worshiped Shri Shiva at this place and won the war against demon KalaNemi.

On the same day, Shri Brahma had worshiped Shri 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 Shri NadaSharma and Shri AnaVidya got the divine darshan of Shri AdiParaShakti in her kumarika form.

Idols and other shrines in this temple:

There is a separate shrine for Shri AlankaraValli (Shri Parvati Devi).

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 Shri DakshinaMurti is with matted hair and sitting under a Kallal (Mulberry) tree and is a unique feature of this place. This posture of Shri 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 Shri Muruga with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai and a separate shrine of Shri Nritya-Vinayaka.

Festivals in the temple:

Masi (February-March): MahaShivaRatri festival

Panguni (Mar-April): SaptaSthana festival 

Vaikasi (May-June): ShivaRatri festival

Aippasi (October-November): AnnaAbhishek

Marghazi (Dec-Jan): ArudraDarshan (known as Thiruvathirai)

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs