This temple is located at Uraiyur, a suburb of Trichy. This is a Padal Pethra sthalam on Southern Bank of Kaveri revered by the shaiva saints Appar and Sambandhar. So this temple must have existed even before the 7th century. The temple is believed to be rebuilt by King Varagu Pandya II. This temple has been renovated and extended by Chola, Vijayanagar kings and Nattukotti Chettiars. There are stone inscriptions in the temple which give an account of the various endowments made by the kings. This temple was renovated recently in 2002. Earlier this place was known as Mukkicharam. Chera kings, Chola kings and Pandya kings have worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This place was a part of Trichy and capital of Chola kings. The ancient city is believed to have been destroyed by a storm.
Moolavar: Shri Panchavarneshwarar, Shri Thantondreenathar
Devi: Shri Kanthimati Ammai, Shri ValaykappuNayaki
Sacred teertha: Shiva teertha and Naga teertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva
Puranik Name: Mukkicharam
Present Name: Uraiyur
Kshetra purana:
1. According to purana Lord Brahma came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. At that time Lord Shiva gave him darshan in five different colors namely golden yellow, white, red, black and smoky ash. At that time Lord Shiva stated that he exists in five bhutas (elements) and will manifest as golden yellow (earth), white (water), red (agni), black ash (air), ash color (sky). As water in Thiruvainnaikaval, as earth at Kanchi, as Agni at Thiruvannamalai, as wind at Kalahasti and as Akash at Chidambaram. At this place he exists with all these elements together. Hence Lord is praised as Panchavarneshwarar and the place is known as Uraiyur (in Tamil Urai means to stay, ur means village or place)
2. According to Purana, Sage Uttanga was well versed in Vedas, Agamas and Puranas. Once when he was bathing in Prayag in river ganges along with his wife, a crocodile dragged his wife into the water and injured her. This disturbed him very much. For peace of mind he came to Uraiyur and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva graced him as Ratnalinga in the morning worship, Sphatika linga in the afternoon worship, a gold linga in the evening worship, a diamond linga in the first part of night and as a chitra linga in Ardhajama worship. Hence he is praised as Panchavarneshwarar at this place. By this divine vision Sage Uttanga became calm and peaceful. He attained dnyan, finally mukti at this place.
3. At this place Lord Shanishwarar, Lord Bhairav and Lord Surya are in the same shrine. Hence this place is a parihar sthala for graha dosha.
4. At this place, Goddess Parvati graces as Kanthimati and Lord Vinayaka as Panchamukha Vinayaka. Hence this place is a parihar sthala.
5. According to Sthala purana, King Veervathikan was traveling through this place. (According to some the Chola king Karikalan was traveling). He was travelling on his elephant. His elephant became uncontrollable. At that time both king and his mahauth were unable to find any way to subdue the elephant. At that time a cock came from nowhere and sat on the elephant’s head. It started pricking the elephant on his head and subdued it. After that the cock disappeared near a bilva tree. The king was surprised and ordered his servants to dig near the bilva tree. They found a shiva linga and then the king constructed the temple at this place.
6. Another sthala purana says that the local king saw five daughters of Nagaraja (serpent king) each worshiping a Shiva linga at this place. He married the youngest daughter and requested Nagaraja to give him the custody of shiva linga. Nagaraja gave custody of half the number of shiva linga to his youngest daughter. She collected all the remaining four from her sisters and all the five shiva lingas merged into a single shiva linga under the bilva tree. Then the temple was constructed at this place. Hence the Lord is praised as Panchavarneshwarar.
7. According to sthala purana, the queen of a local king was a devotee of Lord Shiva. She used to worship Shri Thayumanavar at Trichy daily. After some time she became pregnant and during the advanced stage of pregnancy she could not visit the temple. She cried and prayed to Lord Shiva i.e. Thayumanavar who was pleased with her devotion gave her darshan at Uraiyur itself. In the same way as he appears at Thayumanavar temple at rock fort in Trichy. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Thantondreeshwarar and Goddess Parvati is praised as ValaikappuNayaki.
8. The sthala purana describes a person who was an atheist. Once he ignored the sacred ash (vibhuti) offered to him as prasad in this temple. In the next birth he became a pig. He had to live in ugly, muddy and unhygienic conditions. He realized that his present condition was a result of his behavior at the temple in the past birth. He came to this temple and took a bath in the sacred teertha. As soon as he emerged from the sacred teertha, he was freed of sin. Later he worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple.
9. Shaiva saint Sambandhar has revered this place as Muktishwaram (Mukkicharam) in his seventh century hymn Thevaram.
10. This is the birthplace of Kochengat Cholan Nayanar and shaiva saint Shri Pugazh Chola Nayanar. King Kochengat Nayanar attained salvation at this place at the feet of Lord Shiva.
11. This place is the birthplace of Vaishnava saint ThiruPanazhwar.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Garuda, Karkotaga, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Sage Kathiru (wife of Sage Kashyap)
Special features:
1. The shiva linga changes to five different colors during each puja.
2. The temple has very beautiful sculptures.
3. The idol of Chandikeshwarar is about four feet tall and is tallest idol in the temple.
4. In this temple, in the Kostha, there is Ardhanareeswarar instead of Lingodbhavar.
5. Idol of Lord Dakshinamurti is unique.
6. Lord Anjaneya is with three eyes and is known as Rudra Anjaneya.
7. In the Navagraha shrine, all the Navagrahas have their spouses with them.
8. It is believed that if at any place in the world a shiva puja or shiva darshan is done, it reaches this place. Hence the place is known as Uraiyur.
About temple:
This is a east facing temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram and has three prakarams. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, artha mandap and maha mandap. There is a three tiered Rajagopuram at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Nandi is in Nandi Mandap. Balipeeth and Nandi are before the Rajagopuram. Dhwajastambha and another balipeeth and Nandi and after Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum are about eight feet tall and beautiful. This may be belonging to Pandya kings period around the 8th century. This shiva linga is a swayambhu linga which is small and made of granite. Lord Shiva showed five colors namely golden yellow, white, red, black and smoky ash to Lord Brahma. Hence he is praised as Panchavarneshwarar. During each puja the shiva linga changes the color. It is believed that Lord Shiva manifested in five colors to Utanga Muni.
Koshtha murtis are Lord Ganesha, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ardhanarishwarar instead of Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga. Lord Chandikeshwarar is on the north side and is about 4 feet tall. This granite idol is the tallest in the temple. The mandap has pillars with beautiful sculptures of Lord Ganesha in different forms, Lord Shiva performing Tandav and Goddess Kali. In the prakaram we come across idols and shrines of Chandikeshwarar, Uttanga Muni, Pugazh Chola Nayanar, 63 Nayanmars along with Sanatana Kuravars, Karpaga Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Lord Bhairav, Shaiva Saint Naalvar, Ucchishtha Ganapati, idols of Nagas, Thanthondreeswarar, Lord Mahavishnu, Surya, Lord Kalabhairav and Lord Shanishwarar. In the Maha mandap, Ambika is in a separate shrine facing north. She is holding Ankush in her hands. Close to this shrine we find the idols of Lord Mahavishnu, Surya, Shanishwar and Kalabhairav.
In the mandap leading to the sanctum we come across granite idols of Lord Vinayaka, Nandi, and Navagrahas. Many interesting sthala puranas are depicted in the temple. 1) When the chola king Veera Adithyan’s elephant became uncontrollable a cock came from nowhere and controlled the elephant. The place where the temple is located is Kozhiyur (Kozhi means cock in Tamil). Hence Lord Shiva is also named as Shri Kozhishwarar. There are very beautiful sculptures like 1) a sculpture appears like five women from one side while it appears like a horse from another side 2) ladies form elephants 3) Manmadha on an elephant with a bow and arrow 4) Goddess Kali in dancing posture 5) Lord Bhairav and Rishabhandhikar, Sage Vyaghrapada, Sage Patanjali, Lord Bhikshatanar, Lord Thiruparanthakar, Urdhva Tandavarar and Lord Mahavishnu worshiping shiva linga are on the pillars and are very beautiful.
Prayers:
1. As a serpent king Karkotaga and king of birds Garuda worshiped here, this place is a parihara sthala for all types of doshas.
2. As Lord Brahma worshiped here, devotees believe that worshiping here will give them success in business.
3. Devotees believe that worshiping Lord Panchavarneshwarar on full moon day of Aadi is highly beneficial
4. Devotees believe that one can overcome enemies by worshiping Lord Muruga at this place.
5. It is believed that by worshiping at this place one will be freed from the cycle of birth and death.
6. Worshiping Lord Panchaverneshwarar is considered to be equal to worshiping Lord Shiva at five pancha bhuta sthalams
Pujas:
Daily six rituals, special pujas every week on Mondays and Fridays, regular Pradosha puja. Special puja on new moon, full moon, on the day of Krittika nakshatra and on sankatahara chaturthi.
Some important festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): full moon day
Vaikasi (May-June): Brahmotsav
Aani (June-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-August): Pournima (full moon day)
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Mool nakshatra
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aipassi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Thai (Jan-Feb): ThaiPusam (pushya nakshatra)
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri
Panguni (Mar-April): Panguni Uttiram (Uttarashadaha nakshatra)
Timing: 6 am to 12.30 pm, 4 pm to 8.30 pm
Address: Shri Panchavarneshwarar Temple at Uraiyur, District Trichy, TN 620003
Phone: +91-4312768546, _91-9443919091, +91-9791806457
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
No comments:
Post a Comment