This temple is at a distance of about 3 kilometers from Thirukkannapuram, 3 kilometers from Thirumarugal, 20 kilometers from Karaikkal, 21 kilometers from Thiruvarur and 15 kilometers from Nannilam, very close to Thirupugalur. This is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saints Sambandhar and Appar. This temple must have existed even before the 7th century. It was reconstructed during the Chola period. It was extended further by Pallava kings. There are stone inscriptions in the temple which give an account of endowments and gifts made by Chola kings. This is the birth place of Siruthonda Nayanar. He was the commander of Pallava kings army and this temple was earlier known as Parayur.
Moolavar: Shri Ganapatishwarar, Shri Uttarpatishwarar, Shri Uttarpashupatishwarar
Devi: Shri Vaaithar Thirukuzhal, Shri Umai Nayaki
Sacred Theertha: Surya Theertha, Chandra Pushkarini and the well praised as Theertha well.
Sacred Vruksha: Audumbar Tree, Wild fig tree
Puranik Name: Ganapaticharam, Raktaaranya Kshetra
Present Name: Thiruchenkattankudi
Kshetra Purana:
1. According to Sthala Puran, Paramjyothi was the commander of Pallava army and lived at this place. He was a very strong devotee of Lord Shiva. By the grace of Lord Shiva he had won many battles for the Pallava kings. The king came to know about his devotion and service to the Shiva devotees. He felt that if Paramjyothi met with any mishap while serving in his army, it will be great disrespect to Lord Shiva. Hence he asked Paramjyothi to continue only with his service to Lord Shiva and Shiva devotees. Paramjyothi married a woman named MangaiNallal. A son was born to them who they named Cheeralan. The family used to take their food daily only after serving food for Shiva devotees. At the same time, they never turned away anyone who came to their house. On a particular day no one came to their house for having food. So Paramjyothi went in search of a Shiva devotee. At that time Lord Shiva disguised as a Shiva devotee went to their house. His wife and servants welcomed him and asked him to take food. But the Shiva devotee refused saying that Paramjyothi was not at home and hence he cannot take food. He told them that he will stay under the Kshetra Vruksha in the temple. When Paramjyothi returned home empty handed he came to know about the Shiva devotee waiting for him in the temple. Paramjyothi went to the temple and requested the Shiva devotee to come to his place for having food. The Shiva devotee told him he will take the food that is cooked with Paramjyothi’s son Cheeralan’s body. Paramjyothi came home, killed his son and prepared it as food. When Shiva devotee sat for a meal he asked Paramjyothi to call his son so that he can take food along with him. Paramjyothi, his wife and servant went out of the house and called out loudly his son’s name. To their surprise the son came running to meet them. When they looked inside the house Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati gave darshan to four of them. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Uttarpashupatishwarar. We come across the idol of Pashupatishwarar under the Kshetra Vruksha. Later on, Paramjyothi attained the status of Nayanar praised as Siruthonda Nayanar.
2. The Sthala Puran says that Lord Ganesha (idol) may have come to this area from Vatapi (now known as Badami). During a war with Pulikesi, Paramjyothi worshiped Lord Ganesha at Vatapi. He won the war at this place and he got the Ganesha idol. He was worshiped as Vatapi. He installed it at this place. Hence Lord Vinayaka is praised as Lord Vatapi Ganesha.
3. According to Puran, Lord Ganesha was afflicted with a dosha when he killed demon Gajamukhasur at this place. In order to get rid of the dosha, he came to this place and worshiped the Shiva Linga. He was relieved of the dosha when Lord Shiva gave him darshan. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Lord Ganapatishwarar. When the blood from Gajamukhasur flowed on the ground, he was destroyed. The place came to be known as Raktaaranya Kshetra (in Tamil Thiruchenkattankudi). It is believed that the Lord killed Raktabeeja and other demons.
5. According to Sthala Puran, a king who was ruling over this place had no child. As he was a staunch Shiva devotee, he did a yagnya to please Lord Shiva for getting a child. At that time a celestial voice (Lord Shiva) told him that Goddess Parvati will be born as a daughter to him. Once the king went on a hunting trip, at that time he came across four female children. He raised them as his own daughters. Girls were very staunch devotees of Lord Shiva from a very early age. When they became of marriageable age the king requested Lord Shiva to marry them. Lord Shiva married them. They stayed at four places around this area namely 1) Shri Sarivarkuzhali (at this place), 2) Shri Vaaithakarukuzhali ( at ThiruChangattunkudi), 3) Shri Karundharkuzhali (at Thirupugalur), 4) Shri Vanduvaarkuzhali (at Thirumarugal). All of them have a common name, Shooliambal.
6. According to Sthala Puran, there lived a poor woman who was a staunch devotee of Goddess Ambika. Once she became pregnant. One night her mother went out on an errand to the opposite bank of the river. There was very heavy rain at night and her mother could not reach home. She stayed on the opposite bank for the night. When labor pains started, it is believed that Goddess Ambika came in the form of her mother and helped in delivery. Hence the four Ambikas in these four temples are praised as Shoolambika (Shool in Tamil means fetus). As Goddess Ambika had come out of the temple and helped in the delivery, she could not go to the temple. So they stayed outside the temple. Hence we find that the shrines of Goddess Ambika in these four places are outside the main temple. At these places the naivedya consisting of rice, pepper, salt, ghee and jeera are offered during Ardhajam puja.
7. Once the King wanted to make an idol of Lord Shiva who had given darshan to Siruthondar. Even after a number of attempts, the sculptors were unable to make a perfect idol. Once a Shiva devotee came to that place and asked for water. As the sculptors were in a bad mood, by mistake they gave a molten metal instead of water. The devotee who drank the molten metal became an idol at that very instance. When the king came to know of this incident he installed the idol in the temple. There was a small drop of molten metal on the forehead of the idol. When the sculptor touched this spot of the idol with a chisel, it caused a wound on the forehead of the idol. And the blood started oozing out of it. They applied camphor and turmeric paste on the wound and blood flow stopped. Even now we can observe the scar left by the wound on the forehead of the idol (Lord Uttarapashupatishwarar).
Those who worshiped at this place:
Siruthondar Nayanar, his wife, and his son, a King, Lord Ganesha and Lord Bhairav.
Special features:
1. Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga.
2. There is a scar on forehead of Lord Uttarapashupatishwarar.
3. There are samhar murtis of Lord Shiva in a row which are unique and not found anywhere.
4. Lord Subramanya along with his consort is seated on an asura who is in the form of a peacock.
5. Saint Arunagirinathar had sung a sacred hymn on Lord Subramanya of this temple.
6. Goddess Durga in the koshta is Ashtabhuja Durga carrying weapons including a boat.
7. Lord Surya in the Navagraha shrine is on a raised pedestal.
8. This temple is one of the Nava (nine) Tandav kshetras of Lord Shiva.
9. Though this is the Shiva temple, it is famous for Lord Ganesha.
About Temple:
The temple occupies an area of 2 acres. The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, Antarala and Ardha Mandap. This is one of the places where Lord Shiva performed one of his plays known as Thiruvilayaval in Tamil.
This is an east facing temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram. The temple tank is known as Satya Theertha. On the bank of this tank, there is an idol of Lord Vinayaka praised as Mangala Vinayaka. In the Mukha Mandap we come across Dhwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi. There is another three tiered Rajagopuram at the second level. There is a stucco image of Lord Shiva in seating position along with Siruthondar Nayanar. Shiva linga is a Swayambhu Linga and has a scar on the top of it.
Koshta Murtis: Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Ardhanarishwarar, and Goddess Durga.
Lord Shiva graces from a separate shrine near the Shiva Linga as Lord Uttarapashupatishwarar. He has a trident, a small drum (udukkai in Tamil) and a begging bowl (Thiruvodu in Tamil). He represents Lord Bhikshadanar, manifestation of Lord Shiva. We find Kshetra Vruksha and idols of the family of Siruthondar before the shrine of Lord Shiva.
Goddess Durga is depicted with 8 hands (Ashtabhuja Durga) holding weapons in her hands of which one is a bow.
In the inner prakaram, we come across the idols of Lord Bhikshadanar, Santan Nangai, Seeralathevar, Siruthondar Nayanar and Sixty Three nayanmars. In the prakaram we come across Lord Siddhivinayaka, Shaiva Saints Nalvar, Naga idols (Serpent) with Sanganidhi and Padmanidhi, Lord Vatapi Ganapati, Satpashada Maharshi, Shiva Linga worshiped by him, Shiva Linga worshiped by Lord Brahma (having twin Banas), Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Vinayaka with human face praised as Adi Ganesha. There are eight Samhar murtis of Lord Shiva that are found in Ashtamurti Mandap (Lord Bhujalinga murti, Lord Gajasamhar Murti, Lord Urdhvatandav Murti, Lord Kalasamhar Murti, Lord Bhikshadanar, Lord Tripurasamhar Murti and Lord Bhairav) are in a line. There is a sculpture of Shaiva Saint Siruthondar being taken to Mount Kailash. In Navagraha Mandap Lord Surya is on a high pedestal.
In the Ashtamurti Mandap we come across Goddess Durga, Veeratta Murtis, Nataraj Sabha, Navagraha, Lord Bhairav, Lord Stambhamurti Vinayaka and Lord Surya.
The nine Tandavas of Lord Shiva are
1. Urdhva Tandav at Thiruvalangadu
2. Ved Tandav at Mount Kailash
3. Rahasya Tandav at Thiruvenkadu
4. Anand Tandav at Chidambaram
5. Kaal Mari Tandav (left leg on the ground instead of right leg. Kaal means leg Tamil. Mari means change) at Madurai
6. Adavallar Tandav at Kumbhakonam
7. Darukvan Tandav at Valluvur
8. Tripura Tandav at Atkai
9. Ubhay Pandav Tandav at this place
There is a maragada (emerald) linga and is kept in a safety locker.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship for pardon of the sins committed by them.
2. Devotees worship to get rid of doshas and for a calm and clear mind.
3. Pregnant ladies worship Goddess Ambika for easy and safe delivery.
4. Devotees worship for child boon.
Pooja:
Regular pooja is performed six times in a day. Pradosha pooja.
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): Special pooja on Bharani nakshatra known as PillaiKari. This is to commemorate the incident of Siruthondar’s Nayanar’s son.
Aani (June-July): Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek and Skanda Shashthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thiru Karthigai
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Special pooja on Shatabhisha Nakshatra on Shashthi and Ganapati festival
Thai (Jan-Feb): Special pooja on Pushya nakshatra
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri
Temple Timings: 7 am to 10 am, 5 pm to 8 pm
Address:
Shri Ganapatishwarar temple / Shri Uttarpashupatishwarar Temple
Thiruchenkattankudi, Ganapati Charam,
District Thiruvarur
Tamil Nadu 690704
Phone: +91-4366270278, +91-4366292300, +91-94443113025
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