Andankoil Sri Swarnapureesar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Andankoil Sri Swarnapureeswarar Temple, Kaduvaikarai Puthur (Aandankoil) Post, Valangaiman Taluk,Thiruvarur District,Tamil Nadu-612 804. PH:9943178294

Diety

Sri Swarnapureeswarar, Sri Sempon Nathar Amman: Sri Swarnambikai, Sri Sivambigai, Sri Sivasekari.

Introduction

Kaduvaikarai Puthur (Andan koil) is situated at a distance of about 12 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam – Kudavasal – Valangaiman route. It is about 2 kms southeast of Valangaiman.This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 97th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. Theertham (Holy water): Thirisula Gangai, Sorna Gangai (well), river Kudamurutti Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree) : Vanni tree

Puranic Significance

This ancient temple is on the banks of the river Kudamurutti. Earlier this river’s name was “Kaduvai”, hence this place gets the name Kaduvai Karai Puthur. “Karai” means bank and “Puthur” means village in Tamil. However, now this place is called Andankoil. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi chose this place as a resting place since it is a quaint village. They were attracted by its richness and fertility. The Ganges was brought here by the lord. Goddess Parvathi performed abhishekam to Lord Shiva using the Ganges water and worshiped him by making offerings of flowers and gold. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Sempon Nathar” (“sempon” means gold in Tamil). According to legend, when the Chola King Musukundha Chakravarthy was building a temple for Lord Thiyagaraja in Thiruvarur, his minister Sunda Devar was assigned the task of procuring the construction material. When Sunda Devar reached this place for buying some goods, it had become dark. Sundadevar had made it a habit to go to a temple and seek the darshan of Lord Shiva before having dinner. However, he was told by the villagers that there was no temple here. As he could not worship the lord, he did not eat and sat under a tree to take rest. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and said that there was a Shivalingam under a Vanni tree nearby. The lord did not want his devotee to sleep without having his food. So the lord advised him to worship that Shivalingam and have his dinner. Sundadevar wanted to build a small temple where the Shivalingam was found. He started squirrelling some stones and mortar from each cart that was meant to go to Thiruvarur. Using this material, he built this temple. Later, the minister told the story to the king and requested him to visit this temple. After seeing the temple, the king demanded the minister to pay for the cost incurred and also the “karma” that he had earned by building this temple. The minister replied that he could not part with the karma but he was willing to pay for it with his life. The king was not convinced. He said that since the temple was built using stolen material, he should be punished. The king ordered his men to behead the minister in front of the temple itself. King Musukundha’s men executed the order. While falling, the last word that was uttered by the minister was – “Andava” (“oh my lord”). The king then realized that he had killed a true Shiva devotee and wanted to severe his own head as a repayment for his sin. At this point, it is believed that Lord Shiva appeared before the king and stopped him from killing himself. Further, the lord restored the minister’s life. Hence, this place is named “Aandavankoil” which has later been changed to Aandankoil. On a pillar in this temple, there is a relief that depicts this incident. It is believed that Sage Kasyaba, Roma Maharishi, King Musukundha Chakravarthy, his minister Sundadevar and Saint Thirunavukkarasar have worshiped Lord Shiva here.

Beliefs

Devotees pray for child boon. It is believed that girls having a bath in the place and lighting lamps in the shrine of Lord Shiva would attain puberty if the same is delayed unduly after the proper age.

Special Features

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Siddhi Vinayakar, Sorna Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar, Mahalakshmi, Chandran, Musukundan, Roma rishi, Sunda Devar, Nalvar with Sekkizhar, Dakshina Kailasa Nathar, Uthira Kailasa Nathar, Arunachaleswarar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visaalakshi, Navagraham, Saraswathi, Durgai, Suryan and Bairavar can be seen in the main hall and the corridors. There are two shrines for Goddess Parvathy here – one as Sri Sornambikai and the other as Sri Poornambikai. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Vishnu Durgai can be seen.

Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham is also observed regularly.