Kanchipuram Sri Muktheeswarar Temple (Garudesam)

Address

Sri Muktheeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram Kanchipuram – 631 501 Mobile: +91 96009 99761

Diety

Sri Muktheeswarar

Introduction

Muktheeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kanchipuram City in Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. This Temple is also called as Kanchi Muktheeswaram. This temple is situated near Vazhakkuraitheeswar Temple. This Temple and Garudeswarar Shrine (Garudesam) in this temple are considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples mentioned in Kanchi Puranam.

Puranic Significance

Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar: Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar is one of the 63 Nayanars (63 ardent devotees of Lord Shiva revered as saints in Shaivism). His life is recorded in traditional hagiographies like Periya Puranam , Thiruthondar Anthadi and Thiruthondar Thogai. The saint was serving the Shiva devotees by reading their facial expressions and understanding their actual needs. This service earned him the name Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar (Thiru is an honorific term in Tamil; Kurippu means facial expressions and Thondar means voluntary servant). Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar was born in a Vannar family at Kanchipuram, the ancient capital of the Pallava dynasty, located to the south-west of Tamil Nadu’s modern capital of Chennai. This religious centre of South India is regarded as one of the seven holiest cities in India, and is also considered the land of devotees, poets, philanthropists, saints, and savants. The saint was a single minded staunch devotee of Shiva and served the devotees of Shiva by reading the faces of Nayanars. He derived utmost satisfaction in washing the clothes of Saiva devotees. The devotees of Shiva appreciated the selfless washing services of the saint and considered him as the selfless launderer. He was not only physically washing the dirt from clothes but also spiritually washing the three blemishes of the human being. Lord Shiva decided to relieve Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar from the miseries of rebirth and wanted him to bless with salvation. Before blessing him with salvation, he wanted the Nayanars to go through tough times and wanted to put saint’s devotion and faith by trials and testing. On an eventful day, Lord Shiva appeared before the saint in the guise of a ripened Saiva devotee with thin frame and wearing old and dirty rags. The saint stopped him and volunteered to wash his rags. The old devotee also agreed that the clothes deserve good washing. However, he also claimed that the clothes are the only possession and it protected him against the chilly weather during night time. Therefore, the old devotee insisted that the clothes need to be duly washed and delivered before sunset Thiru Kurippu Thonda, without hesitation, agreed to complete the washing service before evening. The poor man even left a warning: if the washing is delayed, the act of delay would harm his body. At that time there was enough sunlight and therefore the saint was hoping to complete the service before sunset. All of a sudden, the climate becomes cloudy till evening and soon there was heavy rain. The saint was developing the signs of desperation and hopelessness. Soon he was wailing and weeping with grief. Even he felt guilty and attempted to break his head on the washing stone. The devotion and faith of Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar melted Shiva and he appeared before him and valued his act with benign grace. The determination shown by the saint earned him a place in the abode of Lord Shiva. During the Tamil month Chithirai, the nakshatra of Swathi is observed as Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar’s puja day in all Shiva temples. Garudeswarar: As per legend, Sage Kashyapa had two wives Vinata and Kadru. They wanted to have children and Kashyapa granted each of them a boon. Kadru asked for one thousand Naga sons, while Vinata asked for just two, but each an equal to all of Kadru’s thousand sons. Kashyapa blessed them, and then retreated to a forest to meditate. Later, Kadru gave birth to one thousand eggs, while Vinata gave birth to two eggs. After incubating them for five hundred years, Kadru’s eggs hatched and out came her 1,000 sons. Vinata, eager for her own sons, impatiently broke one of her eggs. From this egg emerged the partially formed Aruna, looking radiant and reddish as the morning sun, but not as bright as the midday sun as he was promised to be. Aruna chided his mother, Vinata for her impatience, and warned her to not break open the second egg, cursing her to be a slave until his brother rescued her. Aruna then left to become the charioteer of Surya, the sun god. Vinata waited, and after many years the second egg hatched, and Garuda was born. After losing a bet to Kadru through trickery, Vinata was forced to become her slave. Garuda later on asked his brothers to free his mother from her slavery, to which they demanded Amrita from heaven. Garuda waged a war against gods with his extraordinary might and abilities beyond thinking, and defeated all of them, including Indra. He then took Indra’s nectar vessel and flew back to earth. Lord Vishnu then came to Garuda, and asked him to be his ride, to which he agreed. Indra requested that Garuda not give the Amrita to the Nagas though, as it would bring great trouble later, so they forged a plan. Upon reaching his brothers Garuda placed the vessel before them and asked them to first purify themselves before drinking. Meanwhile, Jayanta (the son of Indra) stole the vessel back. On returning, the Nagas were all devoured by Garuda. Then, Garuda installed as Shiva Linga in Kanchipuram and worshipped it. The Linga came to be called as Garudeswarar. It can be seen in the temple premises.

Beliefs

People pray here for removing obstacles in marriage, for excellence in education and becoming rich.

Special Features

The Temple is believed to be more than 1500 years old. This Temple is facing towards east with a three tiered Rajagopuram on the western side. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Artha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Nandhi and Bali Peedam can be seen before Mukha Mandapam, facing the sanctum. The Sanctum is situated at about three feet below ground level. Presiding Deity is called as Muktheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Swarna Rekha can be seen on the Lingam. Kamakshi Amman of Kanchi Kamakshi temple is considered as the consort of Lord Shiva. There are shrines for Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Vinayaga, Garudeswarar, Kala Bhairavar, Saneeswarar, Navagrahas, Suryan, Naalvar and Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar in the temple premises. Theertham associated with this temple is Shiva Theertham. It is situated in front of the sanctum.

Festivals

During the Tamil month Chithirai, the nakshatra of Swathi is observed as the birthday of Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar in this temple. This temple observes twin pradoshams; one at Garudeswarar Shrine and other at Sanctum. Maha Shivaratri and Margazhi Thiruvadhirai are the other festivals celebrated here.