This shiva temple is at a distance of 12 kms from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Patteeshwaram route. It is about 2 kms from Patteeshwaram. It is one of Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri. This temple was revered along with the Pazhayarai Vadathali Shiva temple by shaiva saint Appar. Lord Muruga of this temple was revered by the shaiva saint Arunagirinathar. This temple was built by Chola kings. During the six and seventh centuries, Jains had sealed this Shiva temple and built monasteries. They were opposed by the Chola king. This indicates the original temple must have been more than 1600 years. The temple was in ruins and now efforts have been taken to rebuild this historical temple of Cholas.
In ancient days this place was a part of Chola capital. The city of Pazhayarai was 8 kms X 3.5 kms. It contained a number of villages namely Patteeshwaram, Muzhayur, Udaialur, Shaktimutram, Cholanmaligai (King’s palace), Darasuram and Ramnathan Kovil. Pazhayarai was divided into four blocks namely Vadathali (Vada = north, thali means temple), Matrali, Keezhthali and Thenthali. This temple is located at Keezhthali. This place was bound by river Mudikondan (Pazhaiaru) in the north and Thirumalairayan in south.
Moolavar: Shri Somanathar, Shri Somesar, Shri Chandramoulishwarar
Devi: Shri Somakamalambika
Sacred Teertha: Soma Teertha, Jatayu Teertha, Indra Teertha, Kamala Teertha
Sacred Vruksha: Gooseberry tree (Amala tree)
Puranik name: Pazhayarainagar, Nandipuram, Mudikonda cholapuram, Rajarajapuram
Kshetra Purana:
1. According to Purana, Garuda wanted to release his mother from bondage. In order to achieve this, he was on his way back after fetching a pot of nectar from Lord Indra. At that time he was attacked by asuras. During this fight three drops of nectar fell at this place. They turned into Shiva linga, Ambika and Sacred teertha. Garuda had a dip in the teertha and worshiped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The teertha is known as Jatayu teertha.
2. According to sthala purana, Lord Chandra worshiped at this place by digging soma teertha to redress from his sins and relief from illness. As Chandra (Soma) worshiped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati at this place, they are praised as Somanathar and Somakamalnayaki.
Salient features:
1. The idol of Kailashnathar is beautiful and unique.
2. The idols of Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ardhanarishwarar and Goddess Veeradurga are very beautiful.
3. This place was a forest with abundant trees as mentioned below. Neem trees in Kritayuga, Plantain trees in Tretayuga, Kadamba trees in Dwaparyuga and Gooseberry trees in Kaliyuga.
4. This is the birth place of Nayanmar Mangaikarasi who was the daughter of Chola king and wife of Koonpandiyan of Madurai
5. Chola king Manimudidevan was associated with Shaiva saint Appar.
6. This is the birthplace of Amarneedhinayanar. At the nearby village Nallur.
7. This place was capital for Chola kings during the later period.
8. It is stated in kshetra purana that worshiping at five other Shiva temples along with this temple on a single day in Dakshinayan is very auspicious and beneficial. They are namely Nallur, Valamchuzhi, Shaktimutram, Patteeshwaram and Avoor.
9. This may be one of the few places where Lord Vishnu, Garuda and Adi Shesha have worshiped Lord Shiva.
This is an east facing temple with two prakarams. The main rajagopuram is in a damaged state. There is a new one constructed with three tiers. There is no Dhwajastambha. Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha mandap, Mukha mandap. Sanctum is on an elevated place (about 6 feet) like Maada kovil just after the new Rajagopuram. The temple has a lot of similarity to the temples at Darasuram, Tribhuvanam, Chidambaram and Thiruvarur. The architecture and the construction features are similar to Chidambaram, Darasuram and Tribhuvanam temples. Various Bharatanatyam poses are depicted on wall panels. The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga and is facing the east.
Koshta murtis: Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Ardhanarishwarar and Lord Brahma. There is a three tiered gopuram over the sanctum. It has the images of Uma Maheshwarar and Gajasamhar murti. In the artha mandap there is a shrine for Veera Durga made of single stone. There is a shrine for Lord Shiva praised as Kadantheerkum Kailashnathar (kadan means loan / debt and theerkum means repaying). In the mukha mandap there is an idol of Mangaiyarkarasi. Ambika’s shrine is facing south to the right of the sanctum. There is a sculpture of Lord Narasimha near her shrine. This shrine is constructed in such a way that it has the shape of a chariot. There are shrines for Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Lord Chandikeshwarar and Navagrahas in the inner parikrama. Besides this, we come across the idols of Lord Bhairav, Surya, Chandra, Nalwar, and Sekkizhar.
There are some sculptures depicting Lord Narayana with Prahlad, Lord Narasimha slaying Hiranyakashipu with eight hands and Ravana lifting the Kailash.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship here for removal of marriage obstacles, proficiency in arts, and relief from sufferings due to illness.
2. Devotees worship Ambika for 11 months or 11 weeks or on 11 Mondays or on 11 Saturdays by lighting lamp for relief from stress and death.
3. It is believed that a dip in Soma Teertha relieves mental illness.
4. Devotees believe that a dip in Jatayu teertha cures diseases like leprosy.
Poojas: Daily, weekly and fortnightly rituals are conducted on regular basis. Pradosh puja is performed regularly.
Festivals:
Aadi (July-August): Adi Puram
Aavani (August-September): Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattassi (September-October): Navaratri
Aaipassi (October-November): Anna abhishek, Skandhashasti
Karthigai (November-December): Thirukartigai, Thiruvathirai
Thai (January-February): Makar Sankranti
Maasi (February-March): MahaShivaratri
Panguni (March-April): Panguni uttiram
Timings: 7 am to 12 noon, 5 pm to 8 pm
Address: Shri Someshwarar Temple, Pazhayarai Vadathali, at post Patteeshwaram, Taluka Kumbhakonam, TN 612703
Phone: 91-9894569543
No comments:
Post a Comment