Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Thukkachi

Address

Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Thukkachi, Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk, Tanjore District – 612 202 Phone: +91 435 246 3354

Diety

Abathsahayeswarar, Amman: Soundaranayaki

Introduction

Abathsahayeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Thukkachi Village near Kumbakonam in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Abathsahayeswarar and Mother is called as Soundaranayaki. The Temple is famous for Durga Shrine in the Temple premises. She faces south, unlike in other Shiva temples where she faces north. The Sarabeswarar shrine of the temple is considered to be the first of the three Sarabeswarar temples built in the temple town of Kumbakonam. The Temple is similar in construction like famous DarasuramAiravateshwarar Temple. The Temple is considered as equivalent to Kalahasthi. Hence, the temple is called as South Kalahasthi. The temple is famous for its sculptural and architectural beauty. The temple once had seven Prakarams but currently only two prakarams remain. Also, only three Gopurams are seen of which two have been damaged extensively. Deep rooted trees pose danger to the remaining structures. The Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers but only 3 tiers are remaining. The Sanctum Sanctorum is having ArthaMandapam, MahaMandapam and Sanctum. There are nine steps on northern and southern side to reach the Mandapam. These steps are usually called as NavarangaPadi. This Structure is designed in Chariot style driven by horses and elephants. There is a shrine for Somaskandar in south side of the Mahamandapam. No Idol is there presently. Presiding Deity is called as Abathsahayeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Vimana over the sanctum is similar to the one at DarasuramAiravatesvara temple.Chandikeswarar is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Mother is called as Soundaranayaki. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There is a separate shrine for Durga on the right side in the first prakaram in the temple premises. Her shrine is having a front Mandapam. It is a dilapidated structure over which plenty of plants have grown The damaged idol of Durga has been shifted and kept separately. She is in standing posture with 8 hands. She faces south, unlike in other Shiva temples where she faces north. There is a shrine for Sarabeswarar in the Temple premises. This shrine is older than ThirubhuvanamSarabeswarar Temple. Hence, he is called as AadhiSarabeswarar. This Shrine is situated in the MahaMandapam in the north side and he is facing south. The Sarabeswarar shrine of the temple is considered to be the first of the three Sarabeswarar temples built in the temple town of Kumbakonam. Poojas are conducted to him on Sundays during Rahukalam to get rid of diseases, enmity etc. There is a shrine for Chamundeshwari in the prakaram facing south and worshipped on all important dates. She answers the prayers in the absence of Durga Devi. Special poojas are conducted during Rahu Kalas and on Fridays to cross all obstacles in this birth. There are two Bhairavars (MahaBhairavar&KaalaBhairavar) in this temple. People conduct Parihara pujas here to free themselves from the bad effects of Sani. As there is no Navagrahapeeta for the people of this village only few Grahas are installed, that too facing the same direction. KarpagaVinayaga Shrine can be found in the south west side of the first prakaram. Murugan Shrine can be found in the west side of the first prakaram. He is gracing the devotees along with his consorts Valli&Deivanai. Idols of Saptha Mathas and Vinayaga can be found in the ThiruMaligaiThiruchutru of the first prakaram (enclosed mandapam running around the first courtyard). There is an entrance to the second prakaram in the south side of the first prakaram. The front Mandapam in this prakaram contains Chola paintings in ruined state. There is a big VasanthaMandapam on the right side in the second prakaram. This mandapam is in complete ruins. It was a dream temple of vikrama Chola NOW it has lost all its glory. We await archaeological department to restart the renovation.

Puranic Significance

The original temple was built by RajendraChola I (ruled between 1014-1044 CE). The name of the place got derived from Goddess Durga. As she is the protector and ruler of this place, it is known as DurgaAatchi (ruled by Durga). Legend says that VikramaChola suffered from vitiligo and visited many temples to pray for respite from the disease. Lord Abathsahayeswarar visited him in his dream when he was camping near Thukkachi and asked him to worship him for 48 days. The king was completely cured in due course and subsequently ordered the expansion of the temple. The temple is also known as Southern Kalahasti after the temple town of Sri Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh. In 2015, on the advice of the state government, work began on renovating the temple, which had been left in disrepair. The Indian government contributed 5.5 million rupees, while devotees have also contributed to the ongoing restoration efforts. There are inscriptions which belonged to RajendraChola, KulothungaChola, VikramaChola which talk about donations and renovations done to this Temple. There is an inscription in KoohurAaditheswarar Temple near to Thukkachi dated to 7th regnal year (992 A.D) and 14th regnal year (999 A.D) of RajarajaChola I. This inscription mentions this village as VidelViduguThukkachiChathurvedhimangalam. VidelVidugu is one of the nick names of Nandi Varma Pallava II. The village can be dated back to 730 A.D to 795 A.D. This Village might have been donated to Brahmins by Nandi Varma Pallava II. This name remains same till RajendraChola I. During RajathirajaChola I, the village name got changed to ThukkachiVijayaRajendraChathurvedhimangalam. There was an inscription dated to 30th regnal year of KulothungaChola I found in this village. The inscription informs about land grant given by local Sabha to sing Thirupathigam on Then KalathiMahadevar Temple, situated in VijayaRajendraChathurvedhimangalam (Thukkachi). Same inscriptions also talk about the grants given by the local Sabha to KoohurAmravaneswarar Temple. The older name of this Temple is Then ThiruKalathi as per the inscriptions. The Temple is considered as equivalent to Kalahasthi. After VikramaChola, son of Kulothunga Chola renovated to the Temple, the temple came to be called as Vikrama Chozheeswarar. There is an inscription in this temple dated to 4th regal year of Vikrama Chola. Lord came to be called as Abathsahayeswarar and Mother came to be called as SoundaraNayagi. Demon Mahishasura waged war against the Devas, as the Devas and Asuras were perpetually in conflict. Mahishasura had gained the boon that no man could kill him. In the battles between the gods and the demons, the Devas led by Indra were defeated by Mahishasura. Dejected by their defeat, the Devas assemble in the mountains where their combined divine energies coalesce into goddess Durga. The new born Durga led a battle against Mahishasura, riding a lion. Mahishasura was wounded but drops of blood falling on the ground created innumerable other Mahishasura. Confused Mother Durga asked for Kali’s help. At this point, the Goddess Kali joined the battle, who stretched her tongue over the earth and licked up each drop of blood pouring from Mahishasura’s body. Kali devoured his duplicates into her gaping mouth. Ultimately, Mahishasura was annihilated by Durga by decapitating his head. Thereafter she is named Mahisasuramardini, meaning “the killer of Mahishasura”. According to popular folklore, after killing Mahishasura and most of his entire army, Goddess Kali went on fury to kill all creatures. Shocked Durga prayed to Lord Shiva for solution. Lord Shiva instructed Durga to install a Shiva Linga in PathiriVanam on the northern banks of Arasalaru River and perform penance on him. On account of her intense penance, Kali regained her conscious and returned back to her normal form. There is a separate shrine for Durga in this Temple in memory of this incident. People who worship her in Rahu Kala will be freed from all obstacles and problems. # “With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.