This Shiva temple is one of the saptasthana shiva temples of Kanjanur. It is located at Thiruvalangadu (in Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu). It is at a distance of about 21 kms from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Mayiladuthurai highway. This is a medium sized temple built by the Cholas. The present structure is about 1500 years old. The prakar mandap around the sanctum sanctorum was constructed by Maratha kings.
Mulavar: Shri Vataranyeshwarar, Shri Putrakameshwarar
Devi: Shri Vandarkuzhali
Sacred Teertha: Putrakameshthi Teertham
Kshetra Vruksha: Banyan Tree
This is a west facing temple without any Rajagopuram at the entrance. There is a stucco idol of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi at the top of the entrance. The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. As soon as we enter the temple we come across Dhwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi.
The sacred teertha (the temple tank) is on the right side of the entrance. At the second level (prakara) we come across a five tiered Rajagopuram. Shri Ambika Devi is housed in a separate shrine facing the south to the right of Shri Shiva’s shrine. In the mukha mandap we come across the shrine of twin idols of Shri Vinayaka. There is also an idol of Shri Subramanya with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai. Of the twin Vinayaka, one is a very old one and new one was installed by Sage Bharata and it is known as Shri Putrasantana Vinayaka.
The koshta murtis are: Shri Durga Devi, Shri Ardhanarishwarar, Shri Rishabhantikar, Shri Brahma, Shri Lingodbhavar (Annamalayar), Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Ganesha and Shri Vishnu. There is a separate Shrine for Shri Bhairav. Special prayers are offered to him on Amavasya and Ashtami. There is a shrine of Shri Saraswati Devi which is as famous as the shrine of Shri Saraswati Devi at Kothanoor.
There is a separate shrine of Shri Shanmukha on his peacock mount along with his consorts Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai. There is a separate shrine for Shri Jwarahareshwarar.
There are two idols of Shri Ambika Devi in this temple, of which one is in a damaged condition. When they tried to remove this after installing the new one, they could not remove it. A divine voice directed them to leave the idol alone and perform daily puja along with the new one.
In the parikrama, we have Shri Nataraja, Shri Gajalaskshmi Devi, Shri Saraswati Devi, Shiva Linga. The koshta murtis are Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Brahma, Shri Chandikeshwarar. We come across the idols of Shri Shanishwarar, Shri Surya, Shri Nagaraja, 63 Nayanmars, Shri Somaskanda, Shri Kashi Vishwanath along with Shri Vishalakshi, Shri Kaveri and Shri Putrakameshwarar.
Kshetra Puran:
The great advaitik scholar Shri Appaya Dikshitar spent his last days at this place. He believed to have performed lot of miracles. It is stated that he transformed his colic pain into a towel so that he could meditate without disturbance. In order to test his maturity and devotion, once he consumed juice of the poisonous Dhatura seed and was in delirium. In this condition he had dictated fifty stanzas known as Unmattar (drunken or semi-conscious state) panchasti.
According to Puran, Sage Bharata who was childless, desired to have Shri Parvati Devi as his daughter. When he prayed to Shri Shiva at Kutralum, he was directed to pray at this place and performed Putra kameshthi yadnya. Shri Parvati Devi came out of the pyre as a small child. She was brought up by Sage Bharata and his wife Subhadra.
Those who worshiped at this temple:
Sage Bharata and his wife Subhadra got divine darshan of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi and also got Shri Parvati Devi as their daughter.
Sage Kashyap and his wife Aditi worshiped at this place and got devas as their children.
Shri Indra got Jayant as his son by worshiping at this place
Prayers:
In the month of Panguni on new moon day, people perform Putrakameshti yadnya in the shrine of Shri Putrakameshwarar after taking bath in the sacred teertha. They offer cow ghee lamp in the shrine of Shri Ambal Devi.
People perform kumkumarchana at Shri Ambika Devi’s shrine on new moon, full moon and panchami for fulfillment of desires.
Parents pray at Shri Sarawasti Devi’s shrine on Punarvasu nakshatra, Panchami and Wednesdays for the education of their children. It is believed she is as generous as in Kothanoor.
People pray at Shri Jwarahareshwarar shrine for getting relief from fever and ailments.
Festivals:
Chitrai (April-May): Brahmotsav, Chitrai Pournima
Vaikasi (May-June): Vaikasi Vishakham, Kalyan Mahotsav
Aani (June-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-August): Adipuram
Avani (August-September): Vinayak (Ganesh) Chaturthi
Purattasi (September-October): Navaratri
Aippasi (October-November): Annabhishek, Skanda Shashthi
Karthigai (November-December): Thirukarthigai, Karthigai Deepam
Margazhi (December-January): Thiruvadirai
Thai (January-February): Makar Sankranti, Pongal
Maasi (February-March): Mahashivaratri
Panguni (March-April): Panguni Uttaram. This is an important festival in this temple.
Temple timings: Morning 7 to 12, evening 5 to 8
Address: Shri Vataranyeshwarar temple, South Street, Thiruvalankadu, Kumbhakonam-Mayiladuthurai road, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu 609810
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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