This Shiva temple is situated at a distance of 14 km from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Karaikkal route at Thirunallam. This is also famous as Panchaloga-Nataraja temple. This padal petra sthalam was revered by Shaiva saint Sambandhar and Appar. This is on the southern bank of Kaveri. The present name of the place is Konerirajapuram. Once this place was submerged in flood waters and was excavated later. The original temple must have existed even before the 7th century. The old brick temple was rebuilt with granite by the Chola queen Sembian Mahadevi. The stone inscriptions indicate that the temple was maintained by Chola kings for about 3 centuries.
Moolavar: Shri Umamaheshwarar, Shri Mamanieshawara, Shri Bhoominathar
Devi: Shri Angabalanayaki, Shri Mangalnayaki, Shri Thegasoundari
Sacred teertha: Shakti teertha, Bhoomi teertha, Brahma teertha
Sacred vruksha: Peeple tree and bilva tree
Puranik name: Thirunallam, Thiruvallam.
Kshetra purana:
1. According to sthala purana, King Varaguna Pandyan (according to some Chola King Gandaraditha) had ordered for a pancha-dhatu idol of Lord Nataraja for this temple. Besides, the best effort of Sthapathis (idol makers) could not make an idol to the satisfaction of the king. The head sthapati was worried as the king has set a deadline with the condition that he will behead him if the deadline is not maintained. He had prepared and kept molten metal required for pouring into the mold. At that time an old couple came there and asked for water. As head Sthapathi was in deep distress, even without looking at them, in anger he asked them to drink the molten metal if they were so thirsty. After some time, he found that they had disappeared after drinking the molten metal. In their place, there was a life size idol of Lord Nataraja and Goddess Shivagami. Lord Nataraja’s murti looks more human than a mere idol. On seeing the idol, the king was amused and he did not believe the real incident narrated by the sthapathi. He took his sword, and struck the leg of the idol. Blood poured out of the cut on leg and some drops fell on the king. Immediately the king was afflicted by leprosy. He praised Lord Shiva and asked for forgiveness. Lord Shiva advised him to worship at this temple as he is present as Lord Vaidyanathar for 42 days. He did accordingly and got relieved. The cut made by the sword is visible even now. According to priests who perform the daily pooja, the idol has the impressions of human hair, nails and even moles like a human being. Like the temples at Uttarkoshamangai and Madurai there is no procession of Lord Nataraja’s murti.
2. According to Sthala purana, King Pururavas, was afflicted with leprosy. He worshipped Lord Shiva at various temples seeking relief. Finally when he reached this temple on the southern bank of Kaveri and worshiped Lord Shiva, he was relieved immediately. As a token of gratitude, he constructed the vimaan (shikhar) with gold covering and arranged for Brahmotsav in the Tamil month of Vaikashi in Vishakha nakshatra
3. According to purana, Lord Mamanishwarar, instructed Goddess Bhoomadevi, to construct this temple. The Shiva linga was sculptured by Vishwakarma under her direction. She worshiped the Lord who was facing the west after taking bath in the Brahma teertha. Hence Lord is known as Bhoominathar and the place is known as Bhoomicharam,
4. According to purana, Nandi worshiped Lord Shiva at this place.
5. According to purana, before proceeding to Thirunallar (the Navagraha sthala for planet Saturn) king Nala and wife Damayanti worshipped Lord Shanishwarar at this place. They secured the blessings of Lord Shanishwarar at this place. Generally the idol of Shani is draped in black color whereas at this place he is draped in white as he is anugraha murti. Devotees worship him with white gingelly oil instead of the black
6. Sage Agastya was given a darshan of the wedding scene of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati along with Lord Vishnu at this place.
7. It is stated that Lord Yama came to this place after he was punished by Lord Shiva at Thirukadyur. Because he was suffering from a shock, he worshiped Goddess Durga at this place and got relief.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Sage Agastya, King Nala and queen Damayanti, 16 Siddha purushas, Asthadikpaals, Lord Yama, Nandi, Goddess Bhoomadevi, King Pururavasa, King Varaguna Pandya, Chola king Kandarathithan and Chola queen Sembian Mahadevi
Special features:
1. This place is very popular for the unique, largest metal idol of Lord Nataraja.
2. It is believed that the original place was Thirunallam which got submerged and later excavated.
3. The Navagrahas in the Navagraha shrine are placed in a unique manner.
4. Near the sanctum, there are idols of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva in wedding posture along with an idol of Lord Vishnu as if he is participating in the wedding.
5. This place is believed to be as holy as mount Kailash and sacred teertha is believed to be as auspicious as Ganges.
6. According to Shaiva saint Appar, only those having blessings from previous births have the good fortune of visiting this place.
7. There are 6 idols of Lord Ganesha in this temple complex
8. There are 3 idols of Lord Chandikeshwarar
9. There is a relief of Chola queen Sembian Mahadevi worshiping Lord Shiva
10. There is a stone inscription which states that this temple was built in memory of her husband King Kandarathithan who was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva
11. There is a separate shrine for Lord Tripurasamhar murti
12. This is one of the 3 important kshetras where the Peeple tree is the sacred vruksha. The other 2 are Kashi and Thiruvaduthirai
13. This temple was a special place of worship for His Highness Shri Kanchiparamacharya, Shri Chandrashekhar Saraswati. He used to narrate the term UMACHI (meaning God (used for children)) which originated from this temple
14. The sacred vruksha Bilva tree has 13 leaves in each stem
15. Below the sacred vruksha there is an idol of Lord Vinayaka known as Arsamara-Vinayaka
16. The backside of gabhara (sanctum) has the shape of Gajaprustha.
About the temple:
This is a west facing temple. The rajagopuram is without tiers but has beautiful sculptures of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga. The temple has 2 parikramas. The Shiva linga is a Swayambhoo linga about 4.5 feet tall, facing the east. In front mandap, balipeeth, dhwajastambha and Nandi are facing the sanctum. Lord Vinayaka under the dhwajastambha is praised as Kodimara (Dhwajastambha) Vinayaka. The Shiva linga is beautiful and is adored with Rudraksha. The backside of the sanctum is in Gajaprustha (hind side of elephant) shape. The vimaan (shikar or tower) above the sanctum is praised as Asthadwarpaal vimanam. There is another swayambhoo linga known as Vaidyanaath swami. It is believed that the 4 vedas stand as 4 pillars of the sanctum.
Kosthamurti – Mangaipagar, Lord Lingothbhavar, Lord Durga, Lord Brahma, Bikshadanar, Jwarahareshwarar, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ganesha, Sage Agastya, Lord Natraja (a very rare site), Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu are on either side of Lingothbhavar behind the kostha wall. There is a shrine for Lord Shiva as Thripura-samhar-murti. Devi Anagaval nayaki is in a separate shrine in the inner mandap facing the east.
In the parikrama, shrines and idols – Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Shiva linga known as Vaidyanathar, Yaagshala, Lord Mahaganapati, Shri Agnishwarar, Shri Sanathkumar, Shri Shenbaga Aranyeshwarar, Shri Sundareshwarar, Shri Pashupatishwarar, Shri Kailashnathar (all Shiva lingas), Shri Kanva linga, Shri Shanishwarar, Navagraha and the Shiva lingas worshiped by 9 planets.
In the Navagraha shrines, 8 planets face Lord Surya and Shani faces the west. In a shrine there are 3 Chandikeshwarars. In one of the shrines we have the idol of Sundar-Kusambika. In the inner parikrama, we come across Brahmalinga, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Natarajasabha, Utsavmurti, Shaiva saint Naalvar, Lord Ganesha, Agastya linga and Lord Brahma. Besides these we have shrines of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu in the parikrama. In this temple, there is a bronze idol of Lord Natraja along with the graceful idol of Goddess Shivagami by its side. This idol is bigger than the one at Chidambaram temple. In another shrine, by the side of Lord Nataraja the utsav murti of Lord Nataraja is placed. He is praised as Shri Kalyansundarar and his consort is praised as Devi Katyayani. To the right of Lord Shiva’s shrine, we have the shrine of Lord Shanmuga with his wives Valli and Devasena. To the left of Lord Ganesha, the bhootganas are present. One of the bhootganas has a bunch of bananas on his head and one of the other bhootagana has jackfruit. The ceiling of the main mandap has paintings of 5 faces of Lord Shiva namely – Tatpurasha, Eshana, Vaamdeva, Sadjyota and Aghora. Besides these murtis, the 4 vedas are also present there. In the mukha mandap, there are bronze idols of Lord Nataraja and Lord Kalyanasundarar of the 10th century. There are 6 Vinayakas in a single shrine. Lord Dakshinamurti is facing the west. There is a shrine for Lord Muruga, praised as Muthukumarswami.
Prayers:
1. Devotees believe that if they take bath in the sacred teertha and pray to Lord they will be relieved of the disease of any severity.
2. Devotees worship at this temple for settling the land disputes and removal of obstruction in the construction work.
3. Those having obstructions in wedding, obstructions in health, pray at this place on Mondays. They perform abhishek of Lord Shiva and Vasudara yagnya of Goddess Parvati.
4. Devotees worship Lord Tripursamharmurti on krishnasthami to overcome fear and troubles from enemies
5. This is a parihaar sthala for doshas related to marriage and child birth.
6. As Nandi worshiped Lord Shiva at this place, devotees believe worshiping during Pradosh kaal is very auspicious and gives manifold benefits.
7. This is a parihaar sthala for Shani dosha.
Poojas:
Daily 6 time rituals are performed. Besides these, weekly poojas on Mondays and Fridays, Pradosh pooja and special pooja on new moon day, full moon days on Kritika nakshatra and Chaturthi are performed.
Some important festivals:
Special festivals:
Vaikashi Vishaka festival
Margazhi Thiruvathirai festival
6 days of Bramhotsava during Vaikashi. During this time Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s marriage festival is held.
Abhishek of Lord Nataraja is performed 6 times in a year i.e. in the Tamil month of Chitrai, Aani, Aavani, Puratassi, Margazhi and Massi
Other festivals:
Aani (June-July): Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattassi (Sept-Oct): Skandhashashti festival
Massi (Feb-March): Shivaratri
Temple Timings: 6.30 am to noon; 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Address: - Shri Uma Maheswarar Swamy Temple at Konerirajapuram (Thirunallam), Dist Mayiladuthurai, TN 612201
Phone: +91-9486510515; +91-4352449830; + 91-4352449800
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