Thirucherai Sri Saraparameswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thirucherai Sri Saraparameswarar Temple,Thirucherai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu 612605,Phone: 0435 246 8001

Diety

Sri Saraparameswarar, Sri Senneriyappar Amman: Ganambigai, Ganavalli

Introduction

Sara Parameswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirucherai in Kumbakonam Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Saraparameswarar / Senneriyappar and Mother is called as Gnanambigai / Gnanavalli. This temple is situated at the southern banks of the river Mudikondan, a tributary of the river Cauvery This temple is famous for its Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar / Kadan Nivartheeswarar Shrine. It is a general belief that worshipping Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar in this temple helps improve the financial status and be debt-free. Hence, this temple is considered as Kadan Nivarthi Sthalam. This temple is also called as Udayar Koil by the locals. Theertham (Holy water): Markandeya Theertham, Bindusudha Theertham, Gnana Theertham Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree): Mavilangai

Puranic Significance

There are three famous “Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar” temples in the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams. They are – Thiruvarur, Thirucherai (this temple) and Achalpuram. This temple is situated at the southern bank of the river Mudikondan, a tributary of the river Cauvery. There are two stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the period of Chola King Kulothungan. It is believed that this temple was built by him. This temple is also known as “Udayar Koil”. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). The lord here is also praised as Sri Senneriyappar. This means that the lord shows everyone the righteous way of living (“senneri” means “right way” and “appar” meaning the lord in Tamil). Sage Markandeyar installed and worshiped a Shivalingam here. He prayed to Lord Shiva here and he was cleansed of the debts that he had accrued in his previous birth (“poorva janma kadan”). He also attained salvation (“moksham”) here. The Shivalingam of this temple is known as “Sri Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar” (the lord who gives relief from debt) and “Kadan Nivartheeswarar”. Devotees throng to this temple on Mondays and Fridays in large numbers. It is believed that Lord Suryan and Sage Thoumiya have worshiped the lord here.

Beliefs

This is a famous Parihara Sthalam for those having significant debts. Devotees are required to perform special pooja to Sri Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar for 11 consecutive weeks to get relief from their debts and other related problems. These poojas are performed on Mondays and Fridays. Finally, on the 11th Monday or Friday, an “abhisheham” is performed to the lord. Devotees also believe that by worshiping this lord here, they will be relieved of any sins that they might have accrued. Devotees also believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. This is also a parihara sthalam for performing poojas for “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon).

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 95th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakaar, Shivalingam, Dhandapani, Navagraham, Suryan, Saneeswarar, Nagar, Gajalakshmi, Jeshta Devi, Amirthakadesar with Ambal, Nalvar, Juralingam and Sapthamadhars can be seen in the hall and the corridors. There is a separate shrine for Sri Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar in the inner corridor. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Bairavar, Chandrasekarar, Brahma, Durgai (3) and Chandikeswarar (2) can be seen.

Festivals

Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov