Manakkal Ayyampettai Sri Abhimuktheeswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Diety: Sri Abhi Muktheswarar, Sri Piriyaa Nathar, Amman:Sri Abinambigai, Sri NiraikondNayaki.
Temple Address: Manakkal Ayyampettai (Thiru Peruvelur) Sri Abhimuktheeswarar Temple, Manakkal Ayyampettai Manakkal Ayyampettai, Kudavasal Circle Thiruvarur District PIN - 610104
Open between: 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 AM to 08:30 AM

Introduction

Thirupperuvelur Abhimuktheeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Manakkal Ayyampet in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Abhimuktheeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Baagampriyal. The place is also known as Thirupperuvelur / Kattur Ayyampet. This is one of the 78 “Maadakovils”, built on an elevation, by Ko Chenkata Chola Nayanar so that elephants cannot enter the sanctum. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanmars Tirugnanasambandar and ThirunavukkarasarThis is the 209th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 92nd Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Arunagiri Nathar sang Thiruppugazh on Lord Muruga of this temple. Theertham (Holy water): Saravana Poikai, Agni Theertham Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree): Vanni tree

Puranic Significance

It is believed that this temple is built on top of a small piece of Mount Kailash that had fallen down during a fight between Aadhisheshan and Vayu. The historical names of this place are Katturainpettai and Kattur Iyampettai. Now it is known as Manakkal Iyampettai. 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 Murugan came to this place, created a pond and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him with a “Vel” (a weapon). Hence this place gets the name “Velur” and the theertham is known as “Saravana Poikai” (“Saravana” refers to Lord Murugan). It is believed that Lord Mahavishnu prayed to Lord Shiva here so that he could shed his “Mohini” form and come back to his original form. There is a separate shrine for Lord Mahavishnu with Goddesses Sreedevi and Poodevi in this temple. In this shrine, Lord Mahavishnu is seen in a sitting posture. It is also believed that Lord Murugan, River Ganges, Sages Gowtama and Birungi and Saints Thirugnanasambanthar and Thirunavukkarasar have worshiped Lord Shiva here.

Beliefs

This is a “parihara sthalam” for planet Sukran. Devotees with debt burden worship the lord here for relief. Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. In this temple, Chandikeswarar is known as Yoga Chandikeswarar. He is seen along with his wife which is quite rare. It is also believed that couples who are facing problems in their relationship can worship this Chandikeswarar for relief. Those having speech impairment (e.g. stammering) can pray to Lord Saraswatheeswar to seek relief.

Special Features

This is one of the 78 “Maadakovils”, built on an elevation, by Ko Chenkata Chola Nayanar so that elephants cannot enter the sanctum. There are 17 steps to reach the Sanctum. Lord is SwayambuMoorthy Lingam housed on Square Avudayar. This east facing temple has a 3 tiered Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Abhimuktheeswarar / Priyanathar / Avimuktheswarar. Nataraja Saba is present in a mandapam of Wovval Nethi form. There is a separate shrine for Perumal inside the temple. This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 92nd 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 is a “parihara sthalam” for planet Sukran. Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar, Somaskandar, Mahalakshmi, Navagraham, Saneeswarar, Suryan, Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar, Vaikunta Narayana Perumal, Chandikeswarar and Yoga Chandikeswarar with his wife can be seen in the corridors. There are three Bairavars in a single shrine – Kala Bairavar, Bairavar and Vaduka Bairavar. These three Bairavars are known as “Thrikala Bairavars”. Special pujas are performed to these Bairavars during “Ashtami” days. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Vinayakar, Mirukandu Maharishi, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai can be seen. There are six Shivalingams in the corridors – Dharmapureeswarar, Ramalingeswarar, Tharakeswarar, Saraswatheeswarar, Jambukeswarar and Ayiravadeswarar.