Aduthurai was also known as Thenkurungaduthurai in olden days. This Shiva temple located at this place is connected with the saptha sthana Shiva temples of Kanjanur. It is situated at a distance of 13 kms from Kumbhakonam on Mayiladuthurai-Kumbhakonam route, 20 kms from Mayiladuthurai. It is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam revered by Shaiva saints Shri Appar and Shri Sambandhar. Shaiva saint Shri Arunagirinathar has praised Shri Muruga of this temple in his hymns. The temple is situated on the southern bank of Kaveri. This temple was originally a brick structure and was constructed as a granite structure by Chola queen Sembian Mahadevi. This temple must have existed before the 7th century. There are 15 stone inscriptions which give an account of work done by Pandya, Chola and Chera kings. Saint Arunagirinathar has sung sacred hymns on Lord Muruga of this temple.
Moolavar: Lord Apatsahayeshwarar
Devi: Goddess Pavalakodi Ammai
Kshetra Vruksha: Parijat tree (Pavalamalligai in Tamil).
Sacred Teertha: Sahay Teertha, Surya Teertha (in front of the Temple)
Puranik Names: Thenkurungaduthurai, Thiraimurnadu, Bhoobalakulavalli
Present Name: Aduthurai
Kshetra Purana:
1. According to Sthala purana, Vaali, king of monkeys, drove away his brother Sugreev from his kingdom due to a misunderstanding. According to purana, Lord Shiva rescued Sugreeva during the fight between Vaali and Sugreeva, when Sugreeva sought the help of Lord Shiva. He changed Sugreev into a mythological bird named AnnaParavai in Tamil (believed to be White Swan). At the same time, he also changed the wife of Sugreeva into a Parijat tree and hid Sugreeva in the Parijata tree. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Abathsahayanathar (the person who helped during calamity/danger).
2. When Lord Shri Ram, Goddess Sita were staying in the forest, they came to his place along with Lord Hanuman and Sugreeva and worshiped Lord Shiva.
As per the sthala purana, in the nearby village (ThiruMangalaKudi), there was a lady who was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. She used to visit this temple regularly and worship Lord Shiva. When she was pregnant, she came to this temple as usual and performed her worship. On the way back from the temple, she could not reach her village as the river had swollen due to heavy rains. At that time she developed labour pain. She prayed to Lord Shiva for help. It is believed that Lord Shiva took the form of a nurse and performed the delivery.
3. This kshetra purana is about Shaiva saint Haradatta. He was born in a Vaishnav family in a nearby village, but he became a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. He used to visit the Sapta-Sthan Shiva temples of Kanjanur (namely the temples at Kanjanur, Thirukkodkaval, Thiruvendaku, Thiruvaduthurai, Aduthurai, ThiruMangalaKudi and ThiruManthurai) everyday, before taking dinner. One day when he was on his way back home after visiting this temple, there was heavy rain. He was unable to return home in the rain and darkness. It is believed that Lord Shiva came in the disguise of a brahmin and helped him reach his home.
4. Sage Agastya and other sages could not witness the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva at Chidambaram. Lord Shiva performed a tandav at this place on their request. This Tandav is known as Anand Tandav.
According to sthala purana, on his way while having darshan of various shiva sthalams, Sage Agastya reached this place. He installed a Swarnaakarsha Bhairav at this place and obtained several boons from Lord Shiva.
5. According to purana, once Lord Hanuman was deeply engrossed in singing the sacred hymns of Lord ShriRam at Kailash. When sage Narada reached that place he was mesmerized by his singing and sat there to listen. He kept his musical instrument on the ground. He was so engrossed by his singing, that by the time he realized the instrument was covered by snow. Narada could not retrieve his instrument as it was buried in snow. He cursed Lord Hanuman to lose his art of singing. Lord Hanuman came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. By the grace of Lord Shiva, he got the art of singing again.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Lord ShriRam, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman, Lord Hanuman, Sugreeva and his wife, sage Agasthya and other sages, saint Haradatta, Lord Brahma and Lord Bhairav.
Salient features:
1. Sanctum-Sanctorum is in the form of a semi-circular moat.
2. The reflected rays of the Sun from the surya teertha fall on the ShivaLinga for three days (5th, 6th and 7th day of the Tamil month of Chithirai)
3. The idols of Lord Nataraja, Lord Gangadharar, Goddess VishnuDurga, Lord Bikshadanar and Lord Brahma are very beautiful.
4. All the sculptures in the temple are exquisitely carved.
5. There is a sculpture which depicts a sthala-puran involving Sugreeva (Monkey king).
6. It is believed that, if both father and son worship Lord Surya and Lord Shani together at this place, they will have a very good relationship.
7. In the NavaGraha shrine, all eight planets face Lord Surya.
8. In the Vimana over the sanctum, there is an idol depicting Vaali and Sugreeva worshiping Lord Shiva.
9. This place was known as Then (meaning south in Tamil) Kurungaduthurai, since this place is on the southern bank of Kaveri. Kurunga refers to Monkey king Sugreeva, who worshiped at this place.
About the temple:
Sanctum-Sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and ardha-mandap.
This is an east facing temple with a 3- tiered Rajagopuram and two Prakarams. When we enter through the Rajagopuram we come across Nandi and BaliPeeth in their normal positions but there is no Dwajastambha. The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of a semi-circular moat. Nandi, Balipeeth and DwajastambhaVinayaka are in a mandap.
Koshta murtis are Lord Narthana Vinayaka, Sage Agastya, Lord Nataraja, Lord Dakshnimurty, Lord Lingodbhava, Lord Brahma, Lord Gangadharar, Lord Bhikshatanar, Goddess Durga.
Ambika’s shrine is facing south in the outer parikrama. Navagraha shrine is in the inner prakaram, where all the Navagrahas are facing Surya.
In the parikrama, we come across the shrines and idols of Goddess Gajalakshmi, Indra linga, Kubera Linga, Lord Chandikeshwar, Goddess Chandikeshwari, Lord Surya, Lord Chandra, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Valli and Deivanai, Lord Somaskanda, Shaiva saints Nalvar, Lord Vayu, Lord MahaGanapati. In the outer prakaram we come across shrines of Lord Kashi Vishwanath and Goddess Vishalakshi, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, and Lord Nataraja with Goddess Shivakami.
In a mandap next to Lord Nataraja’s shrine, we come across shrines of Lord Shanishwarar, Banalinga, Shaiva saint Haradatta and Lord SwarnaAakarsha Bhairav. A stucco image depicts the sthala puran, Sugreeva worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva transforming Sugreeva to a white Swan and his wife into a Parijata tree. There is a sculpture which depicts Shaiva saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar and Queen Sembian Mahadevi worshiping Shri Apatsahayeshwarar.
The hall in which all the festivals are held is named Appar Arangam.
Prayers:
1. Father and son worship together on Saturday and Sunday for good relationship
2. For prosperity and wisdom, the people worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
3. On full moon day people worship Sage Agastya by applying a special oil for fulfillment of their desires.
4. For relief from Kalasarpa dosha people perform abhishek of Lord Shiva.
Poojas:
Daily four rituals are performed.
Fortnightly pradosha pooja is performed.
Special pooja is performed on new moon days to sage Agastya for various boons.
Festivals:
Avani: Vinayaki chaturthi
Aipassi: Annabhishek
Margazhi: Thiruvathirai
Maasi: Mahashivaratri
Address:
Shri Apatsahayeshwarar temple, At-post Aduthurai, Taluka Thiruvidaimaruthur, Tamil Nadu 612101
Phone numbers: 9443463119, 9442425809
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