Thiruppananthal Sri Arunajadeswarar Temple Thanjavur

Address

Thiruppananthal Sri Arunajadeswarar Temple, Thiruppananthal Post, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu – 612 504. Tele: +91- 435 – 256 422, 245 6047, 94431 16322, 99658 52734.

Diety

Sri Arunajadeswarar, Sri Thaalavaneswarar Amman: Periya Nayaki

Introduction

Tiruppanantaal Arunajadewswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Tirupanandal in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Thadagaieswaram. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Aruna Jadewswarar. His consort is known as Periya Nayaki. 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. Hymns in praise of the temple have been sung by Sambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Nambiyandar Nambi and Arunagirinathar.

Puranic Significance

It is believed that Goddess Parvathy worshiped the lord here and received “Gnana Upadesa” (divine learning). Also, lords Brahma, Mahavishnu, Indran, Suryan, Chandran, Sage Agasthiyar and Iravadham, Adhisheshan, Thaadagai and Kungiliyakkalaya Nayanar have worshipped Lord Shiva here. Nagakannikai (Vasuki’s daughter; also called Sumathi) and her husband Arithuvasan from the Naga world have worshiped the lord here. According to legend, an ardent devotee called Thaadagai, who was the daughter of a demon, used to worship Lord Shiva here every day with garlands. She used to do so in order to be blessed with a child. One day while taking a garland to offer to the lord, her saree slipped from her shoulders. She pressed the dress with her elbow to avoid it from slipping from her body and hence could not lift her hands to offer the garland to the lord. Lord Shiva, after seeing her predicament and in order to show to the world her devotion, leaned his head so that she could offer the garland without any difficulty. Then she prayed to the lord that she be given 16 hands to perform the “Shodasa Upachara” pooja to him (“shodasa upachara” means 16 steps pooja in Sanskrit). It is believed that Lord Shiva fulfilled her wish and granted her 16 hands. A beautiful sculpture of Thaadagai with 16 hands performing her pooja can be seen in the inner corridor. As Thaadagai worshiped the lord here, this place gets the name “Thaadagai Echaram”. It should be noted that this is not the same Thaadagai from the Ramayana epic. Since then the lingam is in a tilted position. Many people have tried to straighten the lingam but have failed to do so. When a Chola king named Veerasenan renovated this temple, he tried to straight the bend in the Shivalingam with the help of his soldiers but he could not succeed. He even tried to straighten it by using the force of his elephants but that was also in vain. The king came to know about Saint Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar of Thirukkadaiyur and his devotion towards Lord Shiva. He called him here and sought his help. This Nayanar was famous because his worship always involved the use of the fragrant smoke of Kunggiliam (Benzoin). He tied a rope to the lingam and to the other end of the rope he tied a knife. He wrapped the end with the knife to his neck and started pulling gently. He prayed to the lord that in case he failed to straighten the lingam in this process, the lord should take his life. Even as the rope tightened around his neck, the Nayanar did not flinch. Lord Shiva did not want to test Nayanar any further and returned the lingam back to its straightened position. The Devas showered flowers from heaven on the Nayanar. Everyone was amazed by his efforts and recognised his glory.

Beliefs

This is a sacred place for those seeking relief from the adverse aspects of serpent planets (Naga doshas) and Mars (Sevvai dosha). This is the place for women in particular for relief of all their problems. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer Vastras. They also contribute for the renovation of the temple.

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 39th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This west facing temple has 4 corridors (2 inner and 2 outer) and it has a 7-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram). The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 06.07.2003. Since Lord Shiva is believed to have emerged from under the temple’s sthala viruksham, this place gets the name Thiru Pananthal. (“Panai” means palm tree in Tamil). There are certain stone inscriptions which date back to the periods of Chola Kings Kulothungan-I, Rajarajan-II and few others. The stone inscriptions in this temple mentioned its name as Thala Vanam and Thadagai Echaram. The lord’s name is mentioned as “Sri Thadagecharathu Mahadevar”. This temple was built in stone by a local king called Nakkandharan. The stone inscription also mentions Kungiliyakkalaya Nayanar’s wife’s name as Neelayi. Thala Vanam is derived at from the words “Thala” meaning palm tree and “Vanam” meaning forest in Sanskrit. Kasi mutt (Thiruppanandal Aadheenam) established by Sri Kumara Gurubara Swamigal is located in this town. Aruna Jadeswarar Temple is situated in the town of Thiruppanandal, headquarters of the Thiruppanandal block of the Thiruvidaimarudur taluk. The Thiruppanandal Adheenam is based here. The temple lies on the banks of the Kollidam River. The presiding deity is Shiva in the form of Aruna Jadeswarar. His consort is Periya Nayaki. There are shrines to Ambika, Durga and Naga Kanni. The Rajagopura of the temple faces west. The temple has a total of three prakaras. The temple complex encloses the Kasi matha founded by Saivite saint Kumaragurupara Desikar.

Festivals

Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) is celebrated in a grand manner here. Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (Jul-Aug), Theerthavari at the Brahma Theertham on the new moon day of the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept). Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct) and Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov). Pradosham is also observed regularly.