Innambur Sri Ezhuthari Natheswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Innambur Sri Ezhuthari Natheswarar Temple, Innambur Post, Thiruppurambiam-Via, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District Tamil Nadu – 612 303. Tele: +91 435-2000157, 2459519.

Deity

Ezhuthtarinathar Amman: Suganda kundalambigai

Introduction

Innambur Ezhutharinathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Innambur, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam, in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Ezhutharinathar and his consort Parvati as Nithya Kalyani. Ona Kantheeswarar 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, the 276 temples revered in the canon. Theertham (Holy water): Iravatha Theertham Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree): Jack fruit tree and Shenbagam

Puranic Significance

Located on the banks of the Kollidam River, this ancient temple carries immense mythological and historical significance. The temple has stone inscriptions dating back to the reigns of Chola King Rajakesari Varman and Vijayanagara King Veera Kampanna Udayar. It is currently under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE), Government of Tamil Nadu.

Worship by Divine Beings

Several celestial beings and sages are believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple, seeking relief from curses and acquiring divine blessings:

1. Iravatham (Indra’s White Elephant) and the Sanctum’s Miracle
   • Iravatham, the divine elephant of Lord Indra, took a holy dip in the temple tank (Iravatha Theertham) and prayed to Lord Shiva to be relieved of a sin.
   • Due to the small entrance of the sanctum, Iravatham was unable to enter and complete his prayers.
   • Moved by Iravatham’s devotion, Lord Shiva expanded the sanctum and its entrance, allowing the elephant to worship.
   • Hence, the deity is revered as Sri Iravatheswarar, and the sacred tank is called Iravatha Theertham.
2. Suryan (The Sun God) and the Positioning of Nandi and Vinayakar
   • Suryan lost his grace and power due to a curse and sought the guidance of Maharishis.
   • As advised, he came to this temple to worship Lord Shiva.
   • However, the Nandi (sacred bull) and Vinayakar (Ganesha) obstructed his view of the sanctum.
   • Suryan pleaded with them, and miraculously, both Nandi and Vinayakar moved slightly to the side, allowing him to have darshan of Lord Shiva.
   • Suryan regained his power and radiance after worshipping Shiva here.
   • The temple’s location, Innambur, is derived from “Inan Nambia Oor” in Tamil, meaning “the trusted place of Suryan” (Inan = Suryan, Nambia = trusted, Oor = village).
3. Sage Agasthiyar and the Gift of Tamil Grammar
   • Sage Agasthiyar, one of the greatest Tamil saints, worshipped Lord Shiva here.
   • Lord Shiva himself taught Agasthiyar the intricacies of Tamil grammar at this sacred site.
   • Due to this divine event, Shiva is also worshipped here as Sri Atcharapureeswarar (“Lord of Divine Letters”).

Divine Assistance to the Temple Accountant

• A devout accountant, Suthasman, was responsible for maintaining the temple’s financial records.
• He regularly submitted these accounts to the Chola king.
• One day, the king doubted the accuracy of the accounts and summoned Suthasman for clarifications.
• Fearing that he might have made a mistake, the accountant prayed to Lord Shiva for help.
• Lord Shiva, in the guise of Suthasman, personally appeared before the king, presented a fresh set of accounts, and clarified all doubts.
• Later, when Suthasman arrived at the palace, the king was puzzled and asked why he had returned after already giving clarifications.
• Realizing that Lord Shiva himself had performed this task, Suthasman informed the king of the divine intervention.
• The king, humbled by the miracle, apologized for his doubts.
• Since Lord Shiva himself maintained the temple’s accounts, he is worshipped here as Sri Ezhutharinathar (“The Lord Who Wrote the Accounts”).

Beliefs

Since the lord here is praised as Sri Ezhutharinathar, devotees conduct the ceremony of “Vidhyapyasam” (beginning their child’s education) in this temple. This is done in the hope that their child excels in the field of education. Devotees bring their kids who are facing speech impairment here and perform certain poojas. The priest starts the pooja by writing on the kid’s tongue with a grain of paddy. It is believed that once they complete the specified rituals, the kids will be cured of their speech problems. Devotees believe that by worshiping Goddess Nithya Kalyani here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. For this, special poojas are also performed on full moon days. Devotees also believe that by worshiping the lord here they will be absolved of the sins accrued from their previous birth.

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 45th 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 east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. There is no flag post (“dwajasthambam”) here. The vimanam (roof tower) of the sanctum sanctorum has been constructed according to the Gaja Brishtam style of architecture. This is a very big vimanam. The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 16.09.2013 and prior to that on 21.06.2000. Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Balasubramaniyar, Sage Agasthiyar, Narthana Vinayakar, Suryan, Chandran, Bairavar, Kala Bairavar, Nalvar, few lingams, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Then Kayilaya lingam, Mahalingam, Natarajar with Sivakami (stone), Mahalakshmi, Vishnu Durgai, Jyesta Devi and Navagraham can be seen in the hall and the corridors. There are two shrines for Goddess Parvathy here, one in the name of Sri Nithya Kalyani which is on the right side of Lord Shiva’s shrine and the other in the name of Sri Sugantha Kunthalambigai which is in the outer corridor. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Vinayakar, Pithandavar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma, Katchi Kodutha Nathar, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen.

Festivals

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

Century/Period/Age

1000 to 2000 years old

Managed By

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HRCE)

Nearest Bus Station

Innambur

Nearest Railway Station

Kumbakonam

Nearest Airport

Trichy

Videos

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