Thenkurangaduthurai Sri Abathsahayanathar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thenkurangaduthurai Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple, Aduthurai, Thanjavur District. PH:9443463119

Diety

Abathsahayanathar Amman: Sri Pavazhakodiammai.

Introduction

Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Aduthurai (also called Ten Kurangaadutrai Temple, Aduthurai) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the village of Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Apathsaheswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Prabhavalli. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Puranic Significance

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7th Century. It is believed that this temple was reconstructed with stone by Queen of Gandaraditya, Sembiyan Mahadevi and latter extended by Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions this place Kurangaduthurai was in “Thenkarai Thiraimurnattu thirukurangaduthurai”, Poobalakulavalli Valanattu Thiraimurnattu Thirukurangaduthurai, Uppakondavalanattu Thiraimur Nattu Thirukurangaduthurai and Lord Shiva was called as Thiru kurangaduthurai Mahadevar. Most of the Chozha period inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, maintenance, Poojas and Service, Naivedyam for which lands, Gold and money was gifted to this temple. Sembiyan Mahadevi, Uttama Chozha’s mother and Gandaradita Chozha’s wife, was directly involved in thirupani of this temple. The Pandya King Ko Maranjadaiyan’s 6th ( 4+1+1) reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp with supply of one Uri oil daily by the Sabhai / Village assembly, to this temple Mahadevar of Thirukurangaduthurai in Thiraimur Nadu. Kulothunga Chozha-II’s 10th reign year inscription records the endowment of supplying 6 pots of river water for thirumanjanam / sacred path and bring flower for garland from nandhavanam by Muppiral Dakshinamurti Bhattar. For the same Paddy of 10 kalam and Nandavanam measuring 30 kuzhi was gifted. At the end of the inscription it records that some Siva brahmins agreed to burn 4 lamps during the service and for the same a gift was received from Pichchadeva Bhatta a resident of the place. The Owner of the land purchased by the donor is said to have been a resident of Vikrama chozha Chaturvedi mangalam, which is called a Thiruppallipadai – the last resting place of – obviously Vikrama Chozha. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 28th April 1955 and 21st April 2000. This place is called as Then Kurangaduthurai, since it is located on the south side of river Kaveri. It is believed that Sugriva worshiped Lord Shiva of this Then Kurangaduthurai and Vali worshiped Lord Shiva of Vada Kurangaduthurai temple. It is believed that Suriyan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Sun Rays falls on moolavar on 3 days ie 5th to 7th of Tamil month Chithirai ( April ).

Special Features

The temple is facing east with a three tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. There is no Dwajasthambam ( Place is there, but might have been removed ). In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar ( Brahma and Vishnu on both sides ), Brahma, Durgai. In Dakshinamurthy’s place Agathiyar, Natarajar. Ganga Vicheschanar / Gangadharar, Pichadanar on both side of Sri Durga. In prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Nalvar, Shiva Lingam, Ambal, Sugrivan worshiped Shiva Linga, Viswanathar, Murugan as Mayil Vahanar, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar, Saneeswarar, Suriyan, Chandran and Navagrahas. In Navagrahas all the 8 grahas are facing Suriyan. Stucco image of Sugrivan worshiping Lord Shiva is above the entrance of Mukha mandapam. Bas-reliefs of Chembiyam Mahadevi and Karaikal Ammaiyar and Sugrivan worshiping Lord Shiva are there on the sanctum wall. The 15th Century Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. A moat formation is around the sanctum sanctorum, may be due to rise of Ground Level. A 2 tier Vesara Vimana is on the top of Sanctum. Stucco image of Vali and Sugreeva worshiping Lord Shiva are in the Vimana.

Festivals

The major festivals that are celebrated in this temple include Maha Shivarathri, Thiru Karthikai, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Dharisanam, Aippasi Annabishekam and Markazhi Utsavam