This Shiva temple is situated at Ambar (Ambal) in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is at a distance of 5 kms from Poonthottam, 5 kms from Koothanur and 9 kms from Peralam. This place is on the Poonthottam-Karaikaal route and it is about 40 kms from Kumbhakonam. This is a Padal-Petra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri, revered by Shaiva Saint Sambandhar. It finds a mention in the sacred hymns of Shaiva Saint Appar. Saint Arunagirinathar has praised Lord Muruga of this temple in his sacred hymns. This temple must have existed even before the 7th century as it has been praised by Shaiva saints. The place, Ambar finds a mention in the Sangam-era text. It is believed that the temple was built in the 3rd century as a granite structure by Chola kings. This is one of the Mada kovils built by Chola king Kochengat Chola. It was reconstructed during the early Chola period. Extensions were carried out by Pandya, Vijaynagar and Maratha kings. There are four stone inscriptions in the temple and most are in damaged condition.
Moolavar: Shri Brahmapureeshwarar, Shri Ambareesar, Shri Marapureeshwar.
Devi: Shri Sugandhakundalambika, Shri Poongkuzhalambika, Shri Vandamarkuzhali, Shri Vampavanakuzhali.
Sacred Theertha: Brahma Theertha, Indra Theertha, Shoola Theertha, Annamam poigali
Sacred Vruksha: Punnag tree.
Puranik Name: Ambar Perunkovil, Brahmapuri, Makalipuram, Punnagvanam, Nandarajapuram, Shembagavanam.
Present Name : Ambar, Ambal.
Kshetra Puran:
1. In our earlier blog, we have explained about the failure of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma in their endeavor to find the top (head) and bottom (feet) of Lord Shiva. At that time, since Lord Brahma lied that he found the top, he was cursed to become a white swan and henceforth no one will worship him on earth. When Lord Brahma asked for relief, he was advised by Lord Shiva to perform penance at this place. Lord Brahma came to this place, dug a sacred Brahma Theertha and did penance. After several years, he got the divine darshan of Lord Shiva who relieved him from the curse, he also gave him the permission to start his work of creation.
2. According to puran, Sage Durvasa had two sons namely, Amban and Ambarasural from celestial damsel mother Madhalola. The sons did severe penance and got several boons from Lord Shiva. They started tormenting the gods, sages and others. When sages, gods approached Lord Shiva for relief, Lord Shiva directed goddess Parvati to help them. Goddess Parvati cast her vision on Goddess Kali. Goddess Kali disguised herself as a very young, beautiful girl. She came to this place and was accompanied by Lord Vishnu disguised as an old person. When the sons of Durvasa saw this young beautiful girl, they fell in love with her and started fighting amongst themselves to win over her. During this fight, the elder brother was killed and later Goddess Kali killed the younger brother also. The place where she killed Amban became known as Ambakarathur. Due to the killing of the asura, Goddess Kali was inflicted with BrahmaHatya dosha. To get relief from this sin, she made a Shiva Linga with her own hands and installed it near the sacred theertha. She worshipped with bilva leaves, leaving her fingerprints on the Shiva Linga which are visible even today. As Goddess Kali killed the demons and worshiped Lord Shiva, this place is praised as AmbarMakkalam. Lord Vishnu also played a significant role in the destruction of demons. There is a small Vishnu temple near this place where he is praised as Vetrirundha Perumal. An idol of Goddess Kali is also present in this temple.
3. According to sthala puran, there was a descendant of Sage Pulasthi who was a demon named Samharasheela. He did severe penance on Lord Brahma who bestowed him with immense power. Samharasheela defeated Lord Indra and other gods. They approached Lord Brahma for relief from the atrocities of the demon. They were advised by Lord Brahma to worship Lord Shiva at Punnagvana. Lord Indra and other gods worshiped Lord Shiva and did penance. The demon also reached this place. Lord Shiva directed Lord KalaBhairav to kill the demon and save Lord Indra and other gods. The place came to be known as Indrapuri as Lord Indra worshiped at this place.
4. The sthala puran is about Somasi Mara Nayanar. He was a contemporary of Shaiva Saint Sundarar who lived in the 7th century. He is the 33rd amongst the 63 Nayanmars. He belonged to a priestly community of brahmins and was a priest at Ambar. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and used to perform Soma Yagnya and hence was known as Somasi. He used to serve all the devotees without any distinction. Somasi Nayanar, whose wife was named Sushila, went to Thiruvarur and became an ardent devotee of Shaiva Saint Sundarar. Once he wanted to perform Soma Yagnya in honor of Lord Shiva. He wished that Lord Shiva should attend and accept oblations (havis). At that time, Sundarar was on a pilgrimage and stayed at Ambar. When Somasi Naynar met Sundarar, he found that the saint was suffering from a cold and cough. He made a herbal paste from the leaves of a herbal plant named Thooduvalar and gave it to Sundarar daily. Sundarar came to know that Somasi Naynar was giving him the medicine daily. After he was cured, Sundarar came personally to thank Somasi Naynar. At that time, Sundarar came to know about the Soma Yagnya and the wish of Somasi Naynar. Sundarar persuaded Lord Shiva to be present during the yagnya on the day of Ashlesha nakshatra in the Tamil month of Vaikashi. This news spread like a wild fire and almost all saints, sages and others converged in Ambar to witness the yagnya. Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga arrived at the spot disguised as a hunter family. The four vedas followed them as four dogs. Lord Shiva had a dead calf on his shoulder. At this site of hunter’s family (considered as outcast in those days), the vedic scholars and sages thought that a great blunder had been committed in performing the yagnya and they ran away. But, Somasi Naynar welcomed the hunter family and they accepted his hospitality. In memory of this event, there is a small Lord Vinayaka in this temple where he is praised as Achhu Theertha Vinayaka. He is depicted in this shrine with a human face. After accepting the havis, the family gave darshan to Somasi Naynar in their true form. There is a small mandap in this place where the Soma Yagnya is believed to have been performed. The yagnya kunda is situated in between AmbarMakalam and AmbarPerunthirukovil.
5. According to the sthala puran, a brahmin named Vimalan along with his wife was on a pilgrimage from Kashi. They reached Ambar and stayed here for several years. They worshiped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with great devotion. They were granted several boons by Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva brought water from Ganges into the sacred theertha for them. They took bath in the sacred theertha and were blessed with a son named Madhavan. They attained moksha at this place.
6. According to puran, once the penance of Sage Vishwamitra was disturbed by the celestial apsaras. He experienced a romantic feeling and believed that Manmada’s (Lord of Love) arrows were responsible. He cursed Manmada that henceforth his arrows would become useless. Manmada approached Lord Brahma for relief, who advised him to worship Lord Shiva at this place. Manmada came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva and was relieved of the curse.
7. According to sthala puran, a sage named Pingalakkan was performing penance in the forest wearing a tiger skin. King Nandan of Khambhoj who was hunting in the forest mistook the sage to be a tiger and killed him with an arrow. The King was afflicted with BrahmaHatya dosha. The King visited several temples for relief but the dosha stuck to him. When he reached Ambar, the dosha stopped at the border of the village. The sages advised the king to worship Lord Brahma at this place. The king worshiped at this place and was relieved of the BrahmaHatya dosha.
Those who worshiped here:
Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Sage Vyasa, Sage Durvasa, King Nandan, Manmada, SaptaRishis, Vimalan, Goddess Kali and other gods.
Special Features:
1. The sculpture of Somaskandar behind Lord Shiva is a very rare site.
2. This is the birthplace of Somasi Mara Naynar who had the divine vision of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Vinayaka.
3. This temple is like a Mada kovil.
4. There are three Lord Vinayaka idols in the temple.
5. There are three idols of Lord Nataraja in the Nataraja sabha.
6. The Utsav idol of Lord Shiva is in a standing position besides Nandi and is depicted as giving darshan to Lord Brahma, this is very rare and unique.
About Temple:
This is an east facing temple with a three tiered Rajagopuram and has two parikramas enclosed by compound walls. The temple consists of Sanctum, ArdhaMandap and MahaMandap. After the Rajagopuram we come across the Dwajastambha, Balipeeth, a stone Nandi and stucco image of Nandi facing the sanctum. There are twelve steps on the southern side to reach the sanctum as this is a Mada Kovil. The Shiva Linga is Swayambhu Linga and it is housed in the sanctum and is in the shape of a Linga. Behind the Shiva Linga, there is a sculpture of Lord Somaskandar.
Koshta Murti:
Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga. Except for Lord Dakshinamurti, others are located on the ground level below the sanctum. The shrine of Lord Chandikeshwarar is in the usual position.
On the right hand side of the sanctum we come across a shrine of Lord SomaSkandar. Navagraha shrine is on the lower-level and the Nataraja sabha is on the right side of maha-mandap.
Idols and shrines in the parikrama:
Three idols of Lord Vinayakar and Lord Padikkasu Vinayakar, Kochengat Chola, Goddess Saraswati, Shaiva Saint Sambandhar and Appar, Sushilambal, Sthala Vinayakar, Lord Subramanya, Lord Ayyappa, Goddess Mahalaxmi, Lord Jambukeshwarar, Lord Surya, Sage Somasi Marar and Lord Punnagavananathar.
There is a sculpture of Lord Kalabhairav on the wall opposite to the shrine of Lord Shiva.
Goddess Ambika is in a separate south facing shrine. This shrine is on the ground-level to the left of the sanctum. There is a shrine of Goddess AadipooramAmman by the side of Goddess Ambika’s shrine.
The sacred theertha Annampoigai is on the left side of rajagopuram. The Utsav Murtis are (1) Idol of Lord Shiva with Nandi when he gave darshan to Lord Brahma. (2) Lord Brahma, (3) Shaiva saints Nalvar.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship Goddess Parvati for various boons.
2. Devotees worship Lord Shiva for five consecutive weeks to remove obstacles in marriage.
Pooja: Daily rituals, weekly rituals and pradosh pooja.
Festivals:
Masi (Feb-March): MahaShivaratri, Masimagam
Margazhi (December-January): Thiruvathirai
Aippasi (October-November): Annabhishek
Vaikasi (May-June): Special Yagnya in the Tamil month of vaikashi on the day of Ashlesha nakshatra. On this day, no pooja is held in the afternoon at the Thyagaraja temple at Thiruvarur.
Temple Timings: 7 am to 11 am and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Address:
Shri Brahmapureeshwarar temple,
At-post : Ambal
Via Poonthottam
District and Taluka : Nagapattinam
Tamil Nadu - 609503
Phone: +91-4366238973
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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