Tirupputur Sri Tiruttalinathar Temple, Sivagangai

Address

Tirupputur Sri Tiruttalinathar Temple, Tirupputur Post , Sivagangai District – 623211 PH:9442047593

Diety

Tiruttalinathar, Amman: Sivagami

Introduction

Tiruttalinathar temple is a Siva temple located in Thiruputhur near Karaikkudi. This temple is regarded as the 6th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya kingdom of Tamil Nadu. The temples Rameswaram and Tiruvadanai are the other Shivastalams nearby. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams. Thala Virutcham : Kondrai Theertham : Sridhali Theertham Agamam / Pooja : Shivagama

Puranic Significance

The snakes Vasuki and Kaarkotakan worshipped Lord Shiva there, hence the separate shrine for Tirunageswarar in the outer 3rd prakaram (outer courtyard).Pranavam is said to have realized that Shiva and Pranavam were the same there and is said to have manifested as the Konrai Maram. Goddess Mahalaskhmi once wished to have a darshan of Lord Shiva’s dance. Lord Shiva acceded to her request and told her that she can have a vision of his dance at this sthalam. Accordingly, Shiva revealed a vision of his Cosmic Dance known as Gowri Thandavam to Goddess Mahalakshmi there.Agasthyar, Valmiki, Jayanthan the son Devendran are said to have worshipped there. This temple had royal patronage from the early Chola, Pandiya and Chera kings, and by the later period Pallavas, Sethupathy Raja and Maruthu Pandiyar. Hiranyakshkan, a staunch Shiva devotee had two sons Andakasura and Sambasura. Though they were Shiva devotees, they harassed the Devas who sought asylum at the feet of the Lord. Lord Shiva with His Viswarupa killed Andakasura and Sambasura. This form of Lord Shiva is but the Lord Bhairava. Though He killed the evil demons, as killing is a sin, to relieve Himself of this dosha, Bhairava performed Shivalinga Puja in the temple. He is worshipped as Yoga Bhairava. Devotees dress Him with white silk vastras. He does not have His dog vahan as He graces here in Yoga form. Those unable to visit specific Navagraha temples, may seek relief in this temple worshipping Lord Yoga Bhairava. He is also praised as Aabath Dharana Bhairava as He rushes to the rescue of his devotees when in danger. On Ashtami days – 8th day of new moon and full moon fortnights, devotees worship here with cosmetic items. A one day festival is dedicated to Lord Yoga Bhairava on the first day of Chithirai falling almost on April 14. He comes in procession on Horse vahan. Ashta Bhairava Yajna is performed for six days during the Champaka Sashti festival in Karthikai-November-December. This is an important event in the temple.

Beliefs

Devotees seek pardon for sins committed knowingly or unknowingly.Devotees perform special pujas and abishek offering vastras.

Special Features

Although Thiruputhur is small, the temple is massive. This 15-acre (61,000 m2) temple has a main vimanam with stucco images on the east side and 3 prakarams (outer courtyard). The outer 3rd prakaram (outer courtyard) is a wide courtyard. In the 2nd middle prakaram (outer courtyard) shrines for Lord Subramanya and his consorts Valli and Deivaanai are found. Shiva is called Tiruttalinathar, Sreetalinathar and the Ambal, while his mother Parvathy is called Sivakami, Soundarya Nayaki.The shrine is elevated and faces east. The shrine for Sivagami is situated parallel to the north of the main sanctum and faces east. The mandapam in front of the sanctum has pillars with beautiful sculptured images of Rishabavaaganar, Narthana Ganapathy, Venugpolan and Narasimhar. Metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are seen there. Stone images of Nataraja and Sivakami are there. The Yoga Bhairavar shrine (facing West) is of significance. Metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are there. The Navagrahams are in a seated posture. Entering the 3rd inner prakaram (outer courtyard) from the east side, reveals shrines for Sun God Sooriyan, Mahalakshmi, Mahaganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Varunalingam, Visalakshmi Amman, Agasthiyalingam, Sandeswarar and Durgai on the 4 pathways of the prakaram (outer courtyard). The sthala vriksham is Konrai tree and the Theertham is called Garuda Theertham. The two circular pilasters with circular shafts on four sides of the vimana indicates the antiquity of the temple. The feature is possibly termed Vrittasputitas in silpa texts like Shilparatna. Such a feature is otherwise found only in few other temples like Neyyadiappar Temple, Tillaistanam, central shrine in Moovar Koil in Kodumbalur, Vijayalaya Choleeswaram in Narthamalai, Anantheswara temple in Udayarkudi and Kampaheswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam.

Festivals

The Jayantan Festival is celebrated on the first Friday in the Tamil month of Chittirai. In addition to this Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri, Kartikai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam and Vaikasi Visaakam are celebrated here .