Ashta Veerattanam Sthalangal

Back in February of 2017, we posted this article. Now in upcoming weeks we will be posting an article about each temple from Ashta Veerattanam Sthalangal. Hence reposting the introductory article again to set the context of upcoming articles.

There are 8 Shiva temples in Tanjavur district of Tamil Nadu along the banks of river Kaveri. These temples were built about more than 1000 years ago. In all these places, Lord Shiva has performed destruction and has shown exemplary valor. Here he took these actions to destroy Asuras and evil forces. These temples were built to commemorate the triumph of victory over evil i.e. to remove the negative features like ego, ignorance, lust and fear of death, etc. In one place, Lord Shiva cut one of Lord Brahma’s head and gave him life again (Brahma is a Brahmin and also responsible for creation – hence it was appropriate that he was brought back to life by Shiva). 

These events indicate that evil or ego will not go un-punished. In all these temples, the special feature is that there exists various Shiva idols known as Samhara moortis.

Temple	Location	Name of Lord Shiva	Name of Goddess	Sthala Vruksha	Name of Special Moorthy	Importance of the place
Thiruvadigai Veerattaaneswara Temple	Thiruvadigai, Panruti	Veerattaneshwar	Periya-nayaki	Bahava (Sara Kondrai)	Tripurantaka Moorthy	Tripura samharak place
Tirukovilur Veerateshwarar Temple	Tirukovilur	Veeratteswarar	Shivananda-valli	Bahava (Sara Kondrai)	Gangala Moorthy	Andhakasura samharak place
Amirta-ghateswarar Temple	Thirukadaiyur	Amirta-ghateswarar	Abhirami Amman	Bilva, Pinjalam (Gulabi Chameli)	Kalasamhara moorthy	Markandeya was saved by Shiva by killing Yama
Vazhuvur Viratteswarar Temple	Vazhuvur, Mayiladuthurai	Krithivasar	Ilankilai-naayaki	Shami, Deodar (Indian teak wood), Kapurimadura (Jadi)	Gaja samhara moorthy	The rogue elephant created by sages at Darukh van was slain by Lord Shiva
Tirupariyalur	Keelaparasalur, Nagapattinam	Veerateshwar (Daksha-kurishwar)	Ilam Kobanayal – Balambika	Bilva, Jackfruit	Daksha samhara moorthy	Daksha samhara place
Thirukandeeswarar Temple	Thirukkandiyur	Brahma-sira- kandeeswarar	Mangala-nayaki	Bilva	Brahma-shiracheda moorthy, Hara Saabha Vimochana moorthy	Place where Brahma’s 5th head was cut by Lord Shiva
Thiruvirkudi	Thiruvirkudi, Tiruvarur	Veerataneshwar	Parimala nayaki	Tulasi	Jalandarasura samhara moorthy	Jalandarasura samhar place
Thirukkurakkai	Korukkai, Nagapattinam	Yogeshwarar	Gnanambika	Harada, Punniai (Alexandrian Lourel)	Kamadahan Moorthy	Kamadahan (Manmada) dahan place

Neyyadiappar Temple at Thillaisthanam

This is the seventh Shiva temple of the sapta sthanam. It is one of the 276 Padal Pethra shatalam in the northern bank of river Kaveri. This is located very close to Thiruvaiyaru. Shaiva saints Appar and Sambandhar have sung sacred hymns at this place. The shiva linga is a swayambhu shiva linga. Abhishek is done on the shiva linga with pure ghee first and then with hot water. The temple is east facing and has seven tiered rajagopuram. It has two parikramas of which the first one is very large The temple is about 2000 years old. 

Mulavar: Neyyadiappar, Pashupathishwarar, Krutpureeshwarar (utsav murti),

Devi: Balambika, Elangai Amman (Young)

Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva

Sacred Teertha: Kaveri

Puranik Name: Thiruneythanam

Present name: Thillaisthanam

District: Tanjavur

The shrine of devi Balambika is facing south. The idol of devi is very beautiful and she appears ever young. This the only temple in which Thirunavukkuarasar has praised the devi in his sacred hymns. There are number of stone inscriptions in the temple which help us to know about the work done by various kings. One of inscriptions praises the lord as Neithanamudaiyar. Lord Aiyyaarappar comes to shis temple from Thiruvaiyaru in palanquin three times in a year. This is the only place where we can have the darshan of all the seven palanquins at a time during saptasthanam festivals. 

Idols and other shrines:

In the inner corridor, we have the shrines of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga with Valli and Daivanai. In the koshta, we have the koshta murtis - Lord Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Nardana Ganapati and Ardhanarishwarar. Ashtabhuja idol is in a separate shrine. Dakshinamurti is in seating position. In the main corridor we have idols of Saraswati, Nagakannika, Mahalakshmi, Navagraha, Kalabhairav, Anugrahabhairav, Chandra and Chandikeshwar. Idols of Shani, Adi Vinayaka, and Saraswati are in a row. In the corridor we have Shiva linga of all sapta sthanams. The sculpture depicting a kind of lion known as Yaezhi which is a symbol of Pallava architecture indicates the work done by Pallava kings. 

We have the balipeeth, dhwajasthambha and Nandi mandap in front of shiva linga. In the shrine of Devi, we have a separate Nandi facing her. 

Those who worshiped here:

Kamadhenu, Sage Gautama and Srilankan king, Kayavahan, Goddess Saraswati. The Srilankan king arranged for number of festivals at this temple by creating an endowment and donating wealth.

Kshetra puran:

According to Kshetra purana, it was observed that cow was shading milk from its udder at a particular place daily. Later on milk turned into ghee. Observing this, the cowherd tried to trace the cow. But it had disappeared. It is believed that this cow was celestial cow kamadhenu. When the villagers dug the spot they found a shiva linga. They informed king who built a temple, performed pranapratishtha (consecration) and arranged for daily puja with ghee (ghee in tamil in nei). Hence the lord is known as Neyyadiappar.

According to Kshetra puran, a devotee used to pluck spinach leaves on the way back from the temple after lighting a lamp in the temple. He sought the mercy of lord as he was aging and unable to go to temple. The lord told him that he cannot show mercy as he had taken spinach leaves as wages for lighting lamp.

Festivals: 

• Chitrai (April-May) - Sapta Sthanams festival and Brahmotsav
• Avani (August-Sept) - Ganesh chaturthi, 
• Purattasi (Sept-Oct) - Navaratri 
• Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival 
• Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam
• Thai (Jan-Feb) - Makar Sankranti 
• Masi (Feb-Mar) - Shivaratri. 

Besides this the daily rituals, weekly pujas and fortnightly pradosha pujas are conducted. Arudra darshan is celebrated.

Puvananathar Temple at Thiruppoonthuruthi

This Shiva temple is the sixth in the sapta sthana temples. This is one of the 276 Padal Pethra Sthalam. Poo (pu means flower in Tamil), thuruthi (means place between the rivers in Tamil). This place is between the rivers Kaveri and Kudumurutti. Hence this place got the name Thiruppoonthuruthi. 

Lord Shiva obtained flowers for Nandi’s wedding from this place. The place is on the southern bank of river Kaveri on Tanjavur Kallani route.

Mulavar: Pushpavaneshwarar, Adi Puranar, Poyleliyar

Devi: Saundarya nayaki, Azhakalamarthanayaki

Kshetra vruksha: Bilva

Sacred Teertha: Surya, Kashyap, Ganga and Agni

Puranik Name: Thiruppoonthuruthi

Present name: Melai-poonthuruthi

District: Tanjavur, Tamilnadu

The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. The temple is very old temple, more than 1500 years old, spread over 2.5 acres. There is a huge nandi said to have been made for the shaiva saint Sambandhar. 

The Rajagopuram is about 100 feet in height. The main shrine of Lord Shiva faces the east, whereas devi’s shrine faces the south. In this temple Lord Dakshinamurti is with a veena, hence he is known as Veena Dakshinamurti. 

Idols and other shrines:

The koshta murtis are Vinayaka, Ardhanarishwarar, Bhiskhatanar, Veena Dakshinamurti, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga.

In the corridor we have the idols of sapta matas. The history of Nalvars i.e four shaiva saints is painted on the walls. In the somaskanda mandap, we have nataraja sabha and the navagrahas facing surya. We have the shrine of Durga and Kashi Vishwanatha in the corridor. 

In the outer parikrama, we have a shiva lingas and idol of kadavanamali, the place where he manifested. In this place Lord Shiva gave darshan to Appar. Durga idol is depicted as doing penance on one leg as if to get rid of the sin of killing mahishasur. 

Those who worshiped at this place: Lord Indra, Sage Kashyap, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Surya and saint Appar. 

Lord Shiva created 13 teerthas in a well to appreciate penance of sage kashyap. He granted his darshan to the sage on new moon day in the tamil month of Adi. Girivalam on new moon day is undertaken to get rid of pitrudosha. It is believed that sambandhar carried the palanquin of Appar on his shoulders.

Kshetra purana: 

Nandi is said to have moved slightly to allow Lord Shiva to sight Appar and Sambandhar arriving together. River Kaveri was born from the kamandalu of Sage Agasthya when a crow (Lord Ganesha) toppled kamandalu. It flowed through various places including Kandiyur, Thirupazhanam, Thiruvaiyaru, Thiruneithanam and finally she became stagnant to become the sea. On the way she submerged Karuppur, Konerajapuram, Nadukaveri, Thiruvalampozhi and Thirupoothur. Lord Indra after worshiping Ayyarappar (Lord Shiva) made her towards the east by the grace of Lord Shiva. This made land fertile and she flowed through Kandiyur and Poothur. At a higher level on the bank of the river there was a banyan tree. As the land was fertile and soft the place got the name Poonthurutti. 

Indra was cursed by Sage Gautam for his immoral act, to have thousand ugly signs on his body. In order to get rid of them he did penance at various shiva sthalams. When he worshiped Lord Shiva at this place with flowers he got completely relieved of the curse. 

Two angels (Vinayas) who were cursed to beome eagles got their original form by worshiping Lord Shiva at this place. 

Festivals: 

1. Chitrai (April-May), Sapta Sthanams festival and Brahmotsav 
2. Avani (August-Sept) Ganesh chaturthi 
3. Purattasi (Sept-Oct) navaratri 
4. Aippasi (Oct-Nov), Annabhishek and Skanda shashthi festival 
5. Karthigai (Nov-Dec), Festival of light known as Karthikeya Deepam 
6. Margazi (Dec-Jan) - Ardra darshan
7. Thai (Jan-Feb) Makar Sankranti 
8. Masi (Feb-Mar) Shivaratri. 

Besides this the daily rituals, weekly pujas and fortnightly pradosh pujas are conducted

Bramhashirkandishwarar temple at Thirukandiyur

This Shiva temple is the fifth in the sapta sthanam temples. It is also the first in Ashthaviratteshwar temples. It is more than 1800 years old. It is also one of the 276 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. The temple is associated with one of the seven Shiva temples where the Saptamatrikas worshipped Lord Shiva.

Mulavar: Brahmashirkandishwarar, Virateshwarar, Bruhadnadar, Aadivilvavanadar

Uthsavar murthy: Somaskandar

Devi: Mangalambika

Khsetra vruksha: Bilva

Sacred Tirtha: Nandi tirtha, Kudamurtti tirtha (river), Daksha tirtha, Brahma tirtha

Puranik name: Kandapuram, Thirukandiyur, Aadivilvaranya, Viratam, Trimurtisthala

City: Kandiyur

District: Tanjavur, TN

This temple is on the bank of Kudamurrutti river. It is one of the 108 divya desams revered by Vaishnavas. In front of the Shiva temple we have a Vishnu temple known as Harashaapvimochana temple i.e. Haravimochana perumal kovil. According to scriptures this temple was built by Mahabali between Kudamurutti and Vennar river.

About the temple: This is a west facing temple with a 5 tiered rajagopuram. There is a flagpost, Nandi, Balipeetha and idol of Vinayaka near the black post. On stone inscription, the Lord is mentioned as Thiruviratmahadevar, Thirukandiyur mahadevar. The Lord is a swayambhoo linga on an high pedestal.

Other shrines and idols in the temple:

God Dandapaani is in a seperate shrine with a mandap. Ambika faces the south. She has 4 hands and abhaya mudra. In the shrine of Vinayaka, we find Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai. We have the idols of Mahalaxmi, Nataraja, Vishnu-Durga, Bhairava, Saptavinayaka and Ardhanarishwar in a seating position. In the koshta, we find the koshta murthys Brahma, Lingodbhavar, Bhikshadanar, Nartanavinayaka and Ardhanarishwar. Chandikeshwar is in a separate shrine. There is a separate shrine for Kalahastinadar. Near dwarpalakas, we have the idol of sage Shatapaada muni and Shivalinga of saptasthanam and Panchabhootalingams are found along-with idol of Lord Muruga. In a Navagraha sanctum, the idol of Surya with his wives is installed. Near Shiva’s sanctum sanctorium we have the idols of Lord Brahma and Saraswati. Lord Brahma is seated and is worshiping Lord Shiva. He has a rosary on one hand and lotus on other hand. There is a separate shrine of Rajaganapati under the Bilva tree. A statue of a hunter indicates the form taken by Lord Shiva (Vadugar - hunter) to cut the 5th head of Lord Brahma. It is near the entrance door to the sanctum of Lord Brahma. Near the entrance to the sanctum sanctorium, we have 2 idols of Lord Muruga, one japamaal in his hand is known as Shree Gyanaskandar and other is with a lotus flower in hand. This is known as Veeraskandhar. The Navagrahas are facing the idol of Surya. On top of the 2nd entrance, we have the sculpture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati seated at mount Kailash while Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati are worshiping them.

Those who worshiped here: 

Lord Brahma, Goddess Saraswati, Surya, Sage Shatapada, Dronacharya, Daksha and King Bhagiratha.

Special feature: 

The rays of the Sun fall on the Shiva Linga on 13th, 14th and 15th in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-March) between 5.45 pm to 6.10 pm. It is believed that the Sun worships Lord Shiva during these days. This is a parihara sthala for Brahma hatya dosha, Kalatra dosha.

Kshetra puran: 

Originally, Lord Brahma had 5 heads like Lord Shiva. Mistaking Lord Brahma to be Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati did padhya pooja of Lord Brahma (as an act of respect) as this was an act of deceit by Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva severed one of the heads of Lord Brahma at this place. Hence this place is known as Kandiyur or Kandanpuram. Head of Lord Brahma stuck to the hand of Lord Shiva As an atonement, Lord Shiva worshipped Lord Vishnu at Thirukarambur in the form of Bikshadanar. By this He could partially get rid of the sin at this place. Later Shiva worshipped Vishnu at this place by taking a holy dip in the temple tank known as Kamalapushakarini and got rid of the curse completely. Since Lord Vishnu relieved sin of Lord Shiva, he is known as Shaapvimochan perumal. Later Lord Shiva built a temple for Lord Vishnu at this place very close to his temple and is known as Harashaapvimochana temple. Later on Kamalapushkarini came to be known as Kapalatirtha. As per another Puran, Goddess Laxmi requested Lord Shiva to cut one of the heads of Lord Bramha to get complete attention of Lord Vishnu. King Mahabali, Moon got relieved of their sins at this place. Sage Bhrigu got rid of the sin he got by kicking Lord Vishnu in chest. Chandra was partially releived of the sin he got for seducing the preceptor's wife. Sage Shatapada use to go to Kalahasti to worship Lord Shiva on pradosha day. To test him, Lord Shiva sent rain and thunder on his way to Kalahasti. As he could not go to Kalahasti on that day, sage Shatapada tried to kill himself by jumping into the Agnikunda at Kandiyur. Lord Shiva graced him with Darshana of Kalahasti at this place. Lord Shiva brought a bilva tree from mount Kailash for the sage to perform worship. Hence the place is also known as Aadibilva-vanam. This place has the honor of having all the three trinity. Hence this is known as Trimurthy sthalams.

Festivals at this place:

1. Chitrai (April-May) - Satpasthanam festival
2. Aani (Jun-Jul) - Thirumanjanam at Lord Vishnu’s temple
3. Aadi (Jul-Aug) Puram (purva falguni nakshatra) festivals
4. Avani (Aug-Set) Ganesha chaturthi
5. Purattasi (Sep-Oct) - Navaratri
6. Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Anna abhishek, Skandha shasti festival
7. Karthikgai (Nov-Dec) - Karthigai deepam
8. Margazi (Dec-Jan) - Ardra darshan
9. Masi (Feb-Mar) - Mahashivaratri
10. Panguni (Mar-April) - Panguniuttharam (Uttar phalguni nakshatra)