Thirunaraiyur Sri Soundaryeswarar Temple, Cuddalore

Address

Thirunaraiyur Sri Soundareswarar Temple, Thiru Naaraiyur, Kattumannarkoil Taluk, Cuddalore District. Tamil Nadu – 608 303. Tele: +91- 98420 73704, 94439 06219.

Diety

Soundareswarar, Amman: Thiripura sundari

Introduction

Tirunaarayur Soundaryeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thirunaraiyur in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Soundaryeswarar. His consort is known as Tiripurasundari.It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. Thala Virutcham : Punnai Theertham : Sengazhuneer

Puranic Significance

The legend associated with this temple is that of Sage Durvasa. The sage wanted to seek the darshan of Lord Shiva and was performing rigorous penance. His penance was disturbed by a Gandharva (dancers and singers from the celestial world). Sage Durvasa cursed the Gandharva that he would turn into a crane (Naarai bird). When he begged for forgiveness, the sage advised him to come to this place (Naraiyur) and worship the lord every day with water from the Ganges in Banaras to get relieved from this curse. As a bird, the Gandharva flew to Varanasi (Kasi) every day as fast as he could, fetched water from the Ganges in his beak and performed abishekam. One day there was a heavy storm and he could not continue his journey against the direction of the winds. Despite all the hardships, the bird laboured on. Slowly, he lost all is feathers and started falling down. Some of the water that he was carrying for the abishekam also fell from his mouth. Lord Shiva was very pleased with his devotion and blessed him with salvation (“mukthi”). Hence this place gets the name Naraiyur and this temple is considered to be a “Mukthi Sthalam”. The place where the water fell turned into a pond and it is now known as “Karunya Theertham”. The place where the feathers fell is known as “Sirakizhantha Nallur” (“siraku” means wing and “vizhuntha” means “to fall” in Tamil). This village is about 3 kms away from this temple.

Beliefs

Lord grants all that the devotees wish. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering new vastras.

Special Features

Like his brother Murugan, Lord Vinayakar also has six abodes. They are Thirunaraiyur (this place) Thiruvannamalai, Virudhachalam, Thirukkadaiyur, Madurai and Kasi. Thirunaraiyur is considered to be his first abode.

Festivals

Vaikasi Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov).