Shri Kampahareshwarar Temple at Tribhuvanam

This Shiva temple is one of the Saptasthana Shiva temples of Thiruneelakudi. It is situated at Tribhuvanam town near Kumbhakonam. This is a huge temple similar to the temple at Darasuram, Shri Brihadeshwarar temple and Gangaikondacholapuram. The present temple was constructed by Kulothangacholan-III. After his successful North India campaign, he was given the title of Tribhuvan Chakravarthy after he defeated Chera, Pandya and Simhali kings. In the sculptures we find the mention of Chidambaram Nataraja temple, Madurai Meenakshi temple, Shri Kanchi-Ekambareshwarar temple, Shri Mahalingeshwarar temple at Thiruvidaimarudur and Shri Bruhadishwarar temple. There are lot of inscriptions on the walls of the temples giving details of the work done by Kulottangacholan-III. 

Mulavar: Shri Kampahareshwarar, Shri Tribhuvaneshawarar, Shri Tribhuvanmaheshwarar, Shri Nadukamteerthanayagan

Devi: Shri Dharmasamvardhini, Shri Aramvalarthanayaki

Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva

Sacred teertha: Sarabha teertha and 11 other teerthas

Puranic name: Thribhuvaneshwaram

Kshetra Purana:

1) Shri Sarabheshwarar is combination of Shri Shiva, Shri Vishnu, Shri Kaali (Pratyankara devi) and Shri Durga (Shulini). Shri Shiva manifested at the request of Devas to subdue Shri Narasimha whose fury could not subside even after slaying Hiranyakashyapu. Devas stated that even a drop of blood from Shri Narasimha fell on the ground the children born will be able to cause great harm and chaos. Moreover blood of Shri Narasimha contained Amrut, hence the children cannot be killed. Shri Shiva manifested with the face of Yali (kind of lion), human body, 8 legs, 4 hands and 2 wings. The wings were Shri Shulini devi and Shri Pratyankara Devi. Shri Sarabheshwarar lifted Shri Narasimha and took him to the sky. He pierced him with the nails so the drop of blood got mixed with air. The moment bad blood came out of Narasimha’s body, he became calm. 

2) The Pandya king while coming back from a hunting trip, caused death of an old bramhin. The king did not notice it. Later, the soldiers following the king informed the King about this. He sought advice of Sages and bramhins for atonement from bramha-hatya dosha. They advised him to go to Shri Sundareshwarar at Madurai temple and worship him. When he was doing pradakshina in the Sundareshwarar temple, a celestial voice advised him that a Chola king will invade his country. That sound advised him to go and defeat the Chola king. When the Chola king flees from the battle, he was advised to follow the king and reach Thiruvidaimarudhur temple and worship Shri Shiva at that place. By doing that, it stated the he will be relieved of bramha-hatya dosha. The king reached Thiruvidaimarudhur and prayed to Shri Mahalingeshwarar. He was relieved of the bramha-hatya dosha at that place. The king was advised to leave the temple by western entrance as the bramha-hatya dosha was waiting for him on the southern entrance. But the king Varagunpandya was still trembling with fear that the bramha-hatya dosha may again catch him. When the king reached this temple and prayed to Shri Shiva, his trembling stopped. Hence Shri Shiva is praised here as Shri Kampahareshwarar. 

3) According to Purana, Shri Murugan, slayed Tarakasur. His three sons, namely Taraka, Vidumali and Kamalakshi were advised to avenge the death of their father by the asura guru – Shukracharya. He instructed them to do penance by standing on one leg for about 1000 years on Shri Bramha. Shri Bramha was pleased by their penance and granted them a boon. (We have mentioned about this in earlier blogs, how Shri Shiva destroyed the 3 cities). The trembling (nadukkam in Tamil) of Devas and the living things due to the fear of these 3 asuras vanished when Shri Shiva slayed them. Hence Shri Shiva is known as Nadukkamtirthanayakar at this place.

About temple:

This is the east facing temple with 7 tiered Rajagopuram with 2 parikramas covering an area of 5.5 acres. As soon as we enter through the Rajagopuram, we come across Shri Dhwajastambha Vinayaka, Dwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi. There is a three tiered Gopuram for inner prakaram. On the left side of the entrance we come across, Shri Aadhikarnandi. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Arthamandap, Mahamandap, Muktamandap, Somaskandhamandap. Just like madakovils, the sanctum sanctorum at this place is on a elevation. In the sanctum, the Shiva linga is facing east and is a swayambhoo linga. The koshta murthis are Shri Bhikshadanar, Shri Dakshinamurthi, Shri Lingotbhavar, Shri Bramha and Shri Durga Devi. The shikhar (Vimanam in Tamil) of the sanctum is 7 tiered and 126 ft in height. Shri Ambika is in an east facing shrine to the left of sanctum. Idol of Shri Parvati Devi is in a standing position with one hand in Abhaya mudra and the other holding Akshaymala and Lotus flower. The base (peetha) of the idol is called Odyanapeetha or Padmapeetha. 

Other shrines and idols: There’s separate shrine for Shri Sarabheshwarar opposite to the shrine of Ambika facing south. Shri Sarabheshwarar is a combination of human (man), bird (eagle) and animal (lion). Generally, we come across his sculpture on the pillars of the temple. This is only temple where there is separate shrine for him and can be considered for 1st shrine built for Shri Sarabheshwarar. The idol is about 7 ft tall along with his consorts Shri Shulini Devi and Shri Pratyankara Devi. He is depicted with 8 legs, human body, face of a lion and 4 arms. Shri Narasimha is at his feet and he has 8 hands. In the shrine we find, the sculptures of Shri Bhoodevi, Shri Sridevi and Shri Dwarapalakas at the entrance. We also find sculptures of Shri Saptamata, Shri Subramanya with his consorts, Shri Nataraja, Shri Bramha, Shri Chandikeshwarar and Shri Navagraha. There are sculptures in the temple depicting Bharatnatyam poses in the Somaskandha mandap. Yali (a sculpture) with a face of a lion and a symbol of Nayaka dynasty is sculptures on the pillars. There are sculptures and painting which depict incidents from Mahabharat and Ramayana.

People who worshiped here:

Shri Vishnu, Bhakta Prahlad, Shri Brahma, Shri Agni, King Varagunpandiyan, Shri Surya, Shri Chandra

Prayers:

Devotees worship Shri Sarabheshwarar for relief from illness, mental stress, enemies and planetary doshas. Devotees pray to Shri Shiva for relief from fear and nervous tensions, longevity and good health. Devotees pray to Shri Parvati Devi for child boon, for union of estranged couple and removal of sins. Devotees worship Shri Sarabheshwarar by performing abhishek for 11 weeks, perform sahasranama archana and Sarabha yagnya. They perform abhishek with curd for removal of doshas and milk with longevity. Besides this, they offer vastras and perform annadana. 

Festivals:

Panguni (Mar-April): Panguni Uttaram. Panguniuttara bramhotsava – this is performed for 18 days and followed by Shri Sarabheshwarar utsav on the following Sunday. Procession of Shri Shiva is taken out in a golden chariot at night. Special poojas are performed for Shri Sarabheshwarar on Fridays, Saturday, Sunday, Ashtami & full moon days. Daily Sarabhahomam is performed. Abhishek of Shri Murugan on every Krittika Nakshatra, Abhishek of Shri Ganesha on Sankatharachaturthi. 

Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri

Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Deepavali

Thai (Jan-Feb): Pongal

Masi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri

Every month procession of Lord is taken out on full moon day. Special worship on Diwali, Pongal, new year. Pradosh pooja is performed on every pradosh day.

Timing: 6-12.30 pm; 4-9 pm

Address: Shri Kampahareshwarar temple, Tribhuvanam, Thiruvidaimurudhur Taluka, TN- 612104

Phone: +91-4352460760