Arpar Yamadhandeshwarar Shiva Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Arpar Yamadhandeshwarar Shiva Temple, Thiruvarur

Arpar village, Kudavasal circle,

Thiruvarur district,

Tamil Nadu

Moolavar

Yamadhandeshwarar

Amman

Akilandeswari

Introduction

Arpar Yamadhandeshwarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Arpar village, Kudavasal circle, Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. Arpar village can be reached by going five kilometres on Kudavasal – Tiruvarur road. This is the city that was called Arappal during the Chola period later called as Arpar. Here the presiding deity is called as Yamadhandeshwarar and Mother is called as Akilandeshwari.

Puranic Significance

The Temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old. To get rid of the sin caused by throwing the pasaka rope on Lord Shiva, Yama took the advice of his father Sun and made a Shiva linga on the banks of the special (Vettaru) Agathyakaveri River and performed penance in remembrance of Lord Shiva. Satisfied with his penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked him what to do. Lord Shiva forgave him and gave him his powers and grace. Hence Lord Shiva is called “Yamathandeeswarar”.

Beliefs

All the devotees who worship in this temple will get rid of their sins, have a long life and are blessed with children.

Special Features

A small and beautiful town, there are ponds and temples of Lord Shiva, Perumal Temples, Pitari and Iyanar temple as mentioned in inscriptions of thousands of years ago. The Shiva temple faces east and has a two-acre compound with palm trees. Here the Lord Yamathandeeswarar has separate sanctum towards east and Akilandeswari towards south. Two sanctums are built with black stone to the ground level and brick above it.

The small temples, which are very simple construction, but the most famous one is the small Lord Ganesha at the gate of the temple. Nandi Mandapam is located in a large space opposite to the lord. Vinayagar and Murugan are located in the Prakara temples. The south-facing Ambigai temple alone has a concrete mandapam in front of it with a west-facing deity and the sun near it. Adjacent to Ambigai sanctum to the north is the small Selliyammankoil. There is also Navagraga mandapam. A defaced statue of Dakshanamurthy is also isolated.