Koil Kannappur Sri Natuthariappar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Koil Kannappur Sri Natuthariappar Temple, Koil Kannappur P.O., via Valivalam, Thiruvarror Taluk, Thanjavur District 610 207. Phone Numbers: +91 -4365 – 204 144, 94424 59978

Diety

Naduthariyappar, Amman: Sri valli nayagi

Introduction

Nadutariappar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kovil Kannapur Village near Thiruvarur Town in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Vasthathampapureeswarar / Natuthariappar / Natutharinaathar. Mother is called as Valli Nayaki / Maathumai Nayaki. Sthala Vriksham is Kalpanai (a variety of Palm Tree). Theerthams of this temple are Gangaamirtham, Sivagangai (at the opposite side of the temple), and Jnanaamirtham. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Appar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. This is the 237th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 120th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place is also called as Thirukandrapur and Koil Kanraapur.

Puranic Significance

One time Lord Siva and his wife Uma Devi was in Mount Kailash. In the leadership of Lord Brahma the devas were carrying on their job of conception. A vidhyadara girl,Sudhavalli, acted as Goddess Uma before the Lord and made him happy. Goddess Uma got angry on seeing Sudhavalli taking her form and cursed her to take birth on this earth. Sudhavalli who was unknown to the consequences felt very sad and shivered. Then Goddess her that she could prayu to Lord Siva on the earth and then reach their abode. Sudhavalli similarly reached the southern Tamil Nadu and on the southern part of Thevoor was born in the traditional saiva vellala lineage and was growing as a girl with abundant Sivajnana, Kamalavalli. She was brought up in the Saiva tradition, continually worshipping Lord Siva, unending her dedication of her previous birth. When she attained marriageable age, she got married to a Vaishnavaite and settled near Thiruvarur.She was unable to resist worshipping Lord Shiva against the demand of her husband.Still,she continued her devotion in the cattle shed behind her house by supposing the axis to which the calf was tied as a representation of Lord Shiva.

Beliefs

To be relieved from eye diseases, devotees take bath in the Jnanakoopam Theertham; to become renowned and to get issues, they take bath in the Sivagangai Theertham. Once the prayers are fulfilled, the devotees perform abishekam to the Lord and adorn him with new clothes.

Special Features

This east facing temple has a 3 tiered Rajagopuram, Palipeedam and Nandhi are in an elevated level. The outer prakaram is spacious which houses a platform (“Thirumaaligai paththi”) where we find many Shivalingas. Presiding Deity is called as Vasthathampapureeswarar / Natuthariappar / Natutharinaathar. Mother is called as Valli Nayaki / Maathumai Nayaki. Sthala Vriksham is Kalpanai (a variety of Palm Tree). Theerthams of this temple are Gangaamirtham, Sivagangai (at the opposite side of the temple), and Jnanaamirtham. The Prime Deity offers grace as self-manifested icon. Even today we can see the ax-cut at the head of the Prime Deity. In the Karuvarai base miniature sculptures of 63 Shaivite Nayanmars can be seen. The Ambal shrine faces south. Dhakshinamoorthi in the Deva Goshtam is awesome. He is flanked on both sides by Chanakaathi Rishis as seen everywhere. But the unusual additions here are the deities of Saints Sambandar in dancing position and Appar on one side and Adhikara Nandikeswara with folded hands standing along with his wife. All the ten songs of Appar’s Padigam are carved in a stone slab and installed in the Mahamandapam. In the inside paved corridor the sanctum of Lords Vinayaka, Sundareswarar, Six types of Vinayakar, Pidariamman, Muruga, Durgai, Chandran, Suryan, Lingodhbava, Navagrahas, Saneeswarar, Three Bhairavars, Karpaganathar are seen. Of the Naalvar adjacent to Sani Bhagwan, two appear to be Thirugnana Sambandar and two as Appar. The other two are not to be seen. Nattukkottai Nagarathaar have renovated and converted the Temple to granite structure few decades ago. The Temple is so neat that it presents a divine atmosphere to the devotees.

Festivals

Poojas are performed five times a day. A grand festival is conducted for three days during Vaikaasi Visaakam. For the Utsava Deity here, Mariamman (Seethlaambikai), during the month of Chithirai every year for ten days, an ostentatious festival is celebrated.