This Shiva temple is located at Thirukondeeshwaram in Thiruvarur district of TamilNadu. This is at a distance of 32 km from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Nagore route, 30 km from Mayiladuthurai i.e. exactly 2 km from Nannilam, 13 kms from Peralam, 9 kms from Poonthottam and 16 kms from Thiruvarur. This is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri. Shaiva Saint Appar has sung a sacred hymn on Lord Shiva in this temple. This is on the southern bank of river Mudikondam which is a tributary of Kaveri. The present temple must be about 1500 years old. The temple existed before the 5th century. The temple was rebuilt with stone by Chola King and later on renovated by Vijayanagar kings. There are stone inscriptions in the temple which date back to Shri Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar kingdom.
Moolvar: Shri Pashupatishwarar
Devi: Shri ShantaNayaki
Sacred Vruksha: Bilva
Sacred Theertha: Kshirapushkarini
Puranik Name: Bilvaaranya, Thirukondeecharam
Present Name: Thirukondeeshwaram
Kshetra Purana:
1. According to the Purana, this is the 2nd of the 4 Shiva Kshetras where Bruhaspati (Guru) worshiped Lord Shiva and received His blessings. Once Lord Shiva decided to come down to the earth and bless human beings. He did not reveal himself to anyone. He decided to hide in the form of an ant hill in the bilva vana at this place. Goddess Parvati, who felt that everyone should get the grace of God, took the form of a cow. She came to this place and started removing the bushes covering the ant hill with her horns. In this process, one of her horns hit the Shiva Linga. This mark can be seen on the Shiva Linga.
2. According to another version, Goddess Parvati was cursed by Lord Shiva as She was not attentive when Lord Shiva was explaining the Vedas. When she asked for atonement, He directed Her to this place and said that the curse will be removed at a proper time. He stated that he would join her later. Goddess Parvati in the form of a cow, roamed all over the earth and finally reached Bilva aranya. Angered by this curse, she was tearing the earth with her horns at various places. When she was tearing earth at this place, accidently she hit the Shiva Linga which started oozing blood. On seeing the blood, the cow started pouring milk on the Shiva Linga to stop the bleeding. At that very instance, she got her original form and Lord Shiva appeared before her. The scar mark can be seen on the Shiva Linga. Hence the Lord is known as Lord Pashupateeshwarar and the temple’s sacred theertha is known as Kshirapushkarini. Kondee in Tamil means a ferocious cow. It is stated in Purana that Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva as a ferocious cow. Hence this place is known as Kondeeswaram.
3. When Sage Agastya visited this place, he was suffering from fever. He prayed to Lord Shiva for relief. The Lord appeared as Lord Jwarahareshwarar and cured him.
Those who worshiped at this place: Goddess Parvati, Sage Agastya, Bruhaspati (Guru).
Salient Features:
1. Shiva Linga is a Swayambhoo Linga.
2. The Sanctum is in the form of a semi-circular moat.
3. The present structure is a renovated structure.
4. Beautiful paintings depicting the Sthala Purana are found in the main mandap.
5. In the sanctum tower there is a sculpture of a cow pouring milk from its udder on Shiva Linga.
6. There is a separate shrine for Goddess Jyesthadevi.
7. On the wall behind the sanctum we find Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu on either side of Lord Lingodbhavar.
8. In the Navagraha shrine all the planets are facing Lord Surya.
9. In the bat head shaped Mandap, there are beautiful reliefs of Lord Aaapatsahayeshwarar, Goddess Parvati worshiping Lord Shiva in the form of a cow and Lord Jwarahareshwarar with three legs.
10. Lord Jwarahareshwarar is sculpted on a pillar.
11. There is a scar on the Shiva Linga.
12. This is probably the only temple where special prayers are offered during Yama Ganda kaal on Thursday (6 am to 7.30 am) in the month of Karthigai.
About the temple:
There is no Rajagopuram. This is an east facing temple with a single parikrama. There is no Dhwajastambha. Balipeeth and Nandi are in the Sanctum. There is an arch at the entrance containing stucco images of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva on Rishabh Vahan. Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga are by their sides. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhoo Linga. At the entrance, we come across Dwarapalakas. There is an arch above the entrance to the sanctum which has stucco images. The Shiva Linga is small but beautiful with a scar on it.
Koshtha Moortis: Lord Nritya Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamoorthy, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga.
We come across Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu on either side of Lord Lingodbhavar. The main mandap has the shape of the forehead of a bat. There are sculptures of Lord Aapatsahayeshwarar and Lord Jwarahareshwarar idols in this temple. Goddess Parvati is housed in a separate shrine.
Shrines and idols in the temple:
In the parikrama we come across Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanei, Nagadevata, Goddess Gajalaxmi, Shivalinga of Lord Bramhapoorishwarar, Lord Agastishwarar, Lord Vishwanaath and Goddess Vishalakshi, Lord Bhairava, Shaiva Saint Sambandhar, Chandra, Surya, Navagraha, Goddess Mahalaxmi, Goddess Jyeshtha Devi, Lord Chandikeshwarar and Lord Shanishwarar. In the main hall, in front of the sanctum, we come across the idols of Naalvars, 2 Ganeshas, Utsava Moorthy and Shaiva Saint Sambandhar.
Shrine of Goddess Jyeshtha Devi: According to some puranas, she is the elder sister of Goddess Laxmi and according to some others, she is the wife of Lord Mahavishnu known as Goddess Niladevi. In Tamilnadu she is known as Goddess Moodevi (not worshiped). In this temple, her shrine is in between that of Goddess Ambika and Lord Shiva’s shrine. Some people believe her to be the wife of Lord Shanishwarar. It is believed that by worshiping her, devotees are blessed with wedding boon, child boon and relief from black magic.
Lord Jwarahareshwarar: On one of the pillars of Lord Shiva’s mandap, we come across the sculpture of Lord Jwarahareshswarar. He has 3 heads and 3 feet. People worship him for relief from various types of fever.
Prayers:
1. Devotees suffering from fever worship Lord Shiva by performing abhishek with hot water. They offer rice with pepper cooked in water. This recipe is known as Pepper Rassam in Tamil. It is believed that by performing this worship one can get rid of all types of fever.
2. People worship here for a happy married life.
3. It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva during Yama Ganda on Thursday of Karthigai removes all sins and gives a peaceful life.
4. People worship here for removing laziness and all types of obstacles.
Poojas:
Regular daily pooja, Pradosha pooja, Pooja on new moon and full moon days
Important festivals:
Aani (June-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-August): Puram (Pooja on Poorva Phalguni nakshatra)
Aavani (August-September): Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aipassi (October-November): Annabhishek and Skanda Shasthi
Karthigai (November-December): Thirukarthigai Deepam festival. On Thursdays of Karthigai, special pooja is held during Yamaganda between 6-7.30 am
Margazhi (December-January): Thiruvathirai, Arudra Darshan
Thai (January-February): Poosam (Pooja on Pushya nakshatra), Makar Sankranti
Maasi (February-March): Shivaratri
Panguni (March-April): Uttiram (Pooja on Uttara Phalguni nakshatra)
Timing: 7 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8.30 pm
Address:
Shri Pashupatishwarar Temple,
At Post Thirukondeeswaram,
Taluka Nannilam,
Dist. Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu 610105
Phone: + 91-4366228033
Priest: Shri Venkatesh Gurukkal +91-94443038854
Courtesy: Various blogs and websites.
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