Shri Ayavandeeshwarar Temple at Seeyathamangai

This place is at a distance of 3 kilometers from Thirumarugal on the Thirumarugal-Nagore route. It is at about a distance of 28 kilometers from Thiruvarur and 48 kilometers from Kumbhakonam. This Padal Pethra Sthalam is on the southern bank of Kaveri and was revered by Shaiva Saints Sambandhar and Vallalar. This place was earlier known as Thiruchathamangai and this temple was known as Ayavanthi during the sixth to seventh century. This shows that the temple must have existed even during the sixth-seventh century. It was reconstructed as a stone structure by Chola kings. Later on extensions were made by Pandya, Nayaks, and Nagarathars. There are stone inscriptions in the temple giving an account of gifts and endowments made by various kings. This temple is on the northern bank of river Mudikondan which is a tributary of Kaveri. This is the birth place of Thiru NeelaNakka Nayanar. 

Moolavar: Shri Ayavandeeshwarar, Shri Brahmapurishwarar
Devi: Shri UbhayaPushpaVilochini, Shri Malar-kann-ammai, Shri Eru-malar-kann-ammai
Sacred Theertha: Temple tank in the front of the temple. Half of it is praised as Chandra Theertha. The other half is praised as Surya Theertha.
Pooja / Agama: Rudrayamal Tantra Agama
Sacred Vruksha: Bahuva (Kondra in Tamil)
Puranik Name: Thiruchathamangai
Present Name: Seeyathamangai

Kshetra Purana:

1. According to the Puran, Lord Brahma who is also praised as Lord Ayavan worshiped Lord Shiva at this place. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Lord Ayavandeeshwarar and Lord Brahmapurishwarar.

2. The Sthala Puran is about ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar who is twenty eighth of sixty three nayanmars. He was a brahmin priest, an expert in Vedas and staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. He served Lord Shiva devotees by welcoming them first and washing their feet. He used to worship as per the agama rules. Once on a full moon day, he went to the temple along with his wife. While he was performing his rituals a spider fell from its web on the top of Shiva Linga. The wife blew away the spider which was considered as sacrilege of the rules (blasphemous by ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar). He felt that she should have removed this spider by some other means. He apologized to Lord Shiva and offered rituals to purify the Shiva Linga. He abandoned his wife and left her in the temple. At night Lord Shiva appeared in his dream in which his body was normal but the rest of the portion was swollen due to spider’s poison. Lord Shiva told him that the portion where his wife blew away the spider was normal whereas the remaining portion was swollen. Then ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar realized that the devotion to Lord is superior to rituals. At dawn he went to the temple, worshiped Lord Shiva and was reunited with his wife. He continued his service to Lord Shiva and Shiva devotees. 

3. Once ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar visited Shaiva Saint Sambandhar who was a child. At that time Sambandhar was accompanied by ThiruNeelaKantha Yazhppanar. They were coming to Seeyathamangai. NeelaNakkaNayanar welcomed them and made arrangements for them to stay at his place for the night. At the suggestion of Sambandhar he asked Yazhppanar and his wife (who were of different cast) to stay near the homakunda. The fire in the homakunda burnt brightly during the night and gave testimony of the couple’s devotion. It exhibited to ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanr that devotion is superior to caste and its barrier. Sambandhar accompanied ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar to the temple and composed a sacred hymn in honour of Lord Shiva and ThiruNeelaNakkar. Sambandhar invited ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar to his wedding at ThiruManaNallur where ThiruNeelaNakka officiated as presiding priest. Then all of them went to ThiruManaNallur where Sambandhar prayed for salvation. All of them merged in the light of Lord Shiva. 

4. According to Sthala Puran, once a group of traders were passing through ThiruSeeyathamangai. At that time a girl appeared before them from nowhere. She invited the eldest person of the group to visit the dilapidated temple in the village. As that person was mesmerized by the divine look of the girl, he did not feel like disappointing her. He agreed to visit the temple and all of them accompanied the girl to the temple. On entering the temple the girl vanished. Then the traders realized and believed that the girl was none other than Goddess Parvati of the temple. So they decided to rebuild the temple and built the temple.

Those who worshiped here:
Lord Brahma, Traders, ThiruNeelaNakka Nayanar and his wife and Shaiva Saint Sambandhar

Special Features:

1. In Goddess Ambika’s shrine, Ambika has a third eye just like Lord Shiva on her forehead. 

2. The idol of Lord Ardhanarishwarar has one leg on Nandi which is very rare and unique.

3. Lord Shanishwarar has one leg on his mount i.e crow.

4. Daily four rituals are conducted according to Rudrayamal Tantra Agama.

5. The sculptures of Lord Ayavandeeshwarar and Lord Balakrishna on the pillars are very attractive.

About Temple:

This is an east facing temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram surrounded by granite wall on all sides. The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, Antarala, and Ardhamandap. There is a stucco arch at the center. Recently a mandap was built around the Sanctum.  Balipeetham and Nandi are facing the Sanctum. The sacred theertha (temple tank) is in the front of Rajagopuram. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga and the Sanctum is in the shape of linga. There are blisters on Shiva Linga. There are Dwarapalakas on the entrance of the Sanctum. At the entrance of the Sanctum, we have the shrine of Lord Ganesha and Lord Dandapani.

Koshta Murtis: Lord Nardana Vinayaka, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma, Lord Ardhanarishwarar, Sage Agastya, Aalingan Murti, Lord Bhikshadanar and Goddess Durga. 

Lord Ardhanarishwarar is in a standing position with his hand on Nandi. Goddess Ambika is in a separate shrine facing west. Her shrine is guarded by Dwarapalikas. She is depicted in a standing posture with four hands. She has a third eye on her forehead similar to Lord Shiva. There is a Nandi facing her Sanctum from a raised platform. Her shrine and Sanctum have separate entrances. In the parikrama of her shrine there are shrines of Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and Lord Surya. Shayanagraha is in her shrine. 

Other shrines and idols in outer parikrama:
Lord Chandra, Lord Surya, Lord Shanishwarar with one leg on his mount, the crow, Sapta Matrika, Lord Bhairav, Navagraha, Mahalinga, Lord Kashi Vishwanath with Goddess Vishalakshi and Lord Ganesha. 

In the inner prakaram we come across Lord Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Shaiva Saint Naaalvar, ThiruNeelaNakkaNayanar with his wife, Mangaiarkarasi, Lord Somaskandar, Lord Mahaganapati, Utsav Murtis and Nardana Sundarar.

In the Nataraja Sabha, we come across Lord Nataraja with Goddess Shivakami and Shaiva Saint Manikkavachagar. 

In the outer prakaram under the kshetra vruksha there are idols of Lord Ganesha and Shiva Linga. On the pillars we come across the sculptures of Lord Anjaneya with a bell on his tail and Lord Balakrishna crawling on his legs. 

Prayers:

1. This is a parihar sthala for Mula Nakshatra.

2. Devotees worship here for removal of marriage obstacles, excellence in education and knowledge and prosperity.

Pooja:
Daily four rituals according to agama rules. Pradosh pooja.

Important Festivals:

Avani (Aug-Sept): Ganesh chaturthi and festival on mula nakshatra.

Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek

Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai

Masi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri

Temple Timings: 6 am to 11 am, 4 pm  to 8.30 pm 

Address:

Shri Ayavandeeshwarar Temple at Seeyathamangai,
Taluka and district: Nagapatiinam,
Tamil Nadu 609702

Phone: +91-4366270073, +91-9751075028

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs