Ambal Sri Ambal Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Sri Brahmapureesar Temple,Sirkazhi,Nagapattinam District,PIN 609110 PH:04364-270235,04366-238973

Diety

Brahmapureesar Amman: Perianayagi

Introduction

Ambal Brahmapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Ambal in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Now the place is known as Koilpatthu. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Brahmapureeswarar. His consort is known as Poonkuzhalammai. The historical name of the place is Punnakavanam. Shiva is worshipped as Brahmapureeswarar and his consort Parvathi as Poonguzhalammai. Ampal Brahmapureeswarar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, the 275 temples revered in the canon. The temple is believed to be the last among the sixty maadakoil built by Kochengat Chola. Thala Virutcham : Punnai (Mast Wood Tree) Theertham : Brahma Thirtham, Indra Thirtham, Annamaam Poykai, Choola Thirtham

Puranic Significance

According to legend, that Saint Thirugnanasambanthar was born in this place during the 7th century. Sambanthar was born in a Brahmin family to Sivapada Hrudayar and his wife Bhagavathiar. Once when Sambanthar was about three years old, his father had taken him to a nearby Shiva temple. When his father had gone to take a dip in the “Brahma Theertham” (the temple’s tank), young Sambanthar started crying. Noticing the crying child, Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvathi appeared before him. It is believed that Goddess Parvathi fed him with wisdom milk (Gnanappaal). When Sambanthar’s father returned, he was astonished to see drops of milk on the child’s mouth. He asked him who had fed him, whereupon the boy pointed to the sky and responded with a song “Thodudaya Seviyan” – the first hymn and verse of the revered DevaramHis worship. After many years, His curse was absolved. He was freed from His swan form and He commenced His duty of creation. The traditional festival, the Lord’s appearing before Brahma, is celebrated every year on the Maasi Maham day. 2. Annihilation of Ampara and Aampara : Ampara and Aampara were born to Sage Dhurvasa and Madalola, a heavenly maid. Because of the power they got through their askesis, they were worrying the world. The Lord directed Shakti to see Kali, who came as a maid. Both Ampara and Aampara took her to be an ordinary maid and quarreled with each other to have her. The elder fellow died and the younger one was killed by Kali. The place where Kali killed Ampara is Ampakarathur. To be liberated from the sin of killing. Kali worshipped the Lord at Thirumaakaalam and got His blessings. 3. Extermination of Samkaaraseelan : Samkaaraseelan was a demon. Being afraid of this demon, the devas, according to the direction of Lord Brahma, occupied this holy place. To protect the devas, the Lord sent Kaala Bhairava to kill the demon and thus shielded the devas. 4. Benediction of Vimalan : Vimalan a Brahmin went on pilgrimage, came to this place and worshipped the Lord for many years. The Lord, for his sake, brought the Ganges of Kasi and granted many boons to him. 5. Absolving off Manmatha’s curse : Sage Viswamithra had cursed Manmatha that his arrows should become powerless. Manmatha got relief from this curse by conducting worship in this sacred place. 6. Nandaraja’s release of Brahmahatthi sin : King Nandkoopan shot with his arrow a sage wearing the tiger’s hide, thinking him to be a tiger,. For this reason, he incurred Brahmahatthi sin and got released from it by worshipping the Lord here. He also consecrated the temple and happily conducted many festivals. 7. Kocchenkat Chola Nayanar : In his previous birth he worshipped Jambukeswarar at Tiruvanaikkaa, as a spider living under the white plum tree. Because of this great fortune, He was born as King Kocchenkat Cholan and built seventy small temples that could not be climbed by elephants. He is one of the sixty three nayanmars. This is the temple built by him. It must be noted that Jambukeswarar sanctum is also here in this temple.

Beliefs

To fulfill their desires, people pray to the Goddess of this temple.

Special Features

Here Lord Brahmapureeswarar appears as a self-manifested deity. In the sanctum sanctorum, behind the swayambu murthi Brahmapureeswarar, we can have the darshan of Lord SomaskandaThe three inscriptions in this temple belong to the periods of King Raja Raja Cholan and King Kulothungan III. Here Brahmapureeswarar reveals as a self-manifested deity.