Sathanur Siddheswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Sathanur, Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk,

Thanjavur District,

Tamil Nadu– 612 101

Mobile: +91 96984 07067

Moolavar

Siddheswarar

Amman

Anandha Gowri

Introduction

Siddheswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sathanur Village near Aduthurai Town in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Siddheswarar and Mother is called as Anandha Gowri. Sathanur is also considered as Avathara Sthalam for Siddhar Thirumoolar, one of the famous 18 Tamil Siddhars and author of Thirumandiram. The Temple is situated on the southern bank of Veera Cholan River.

Puranic Significance

Tirumular:

Tirumular originally known as Sundaranathar was a Tamil Shaivite mystic and writer, considered one of the sixty-three Nayanmars and one of the 18 Siddhars. His main work, Thirumandiram consists of over 3000 verses, forms a part of the key text of the Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta, the Thirumurai. Verse 74 of the Thirumandiram makes the claim that Tirumular lived for 7 Yugams before composing the Thirumandiram. He probably belonged to the beginning of the eighth-century CE. Sundaranathar, as the saint is known, was a Yogi originally from Then Madurai (currently Madurai) who travelled to Mount Kailasha and was initiated directly by Lord Shiva’s chief attendant Nandi. Lord Shiva favored him completely. After imparting all the knowledge, Nandi directed him to move to South. He undertook a journey to meet his contemporary sage friend Agasthya in Podhigai Hills.

After having darshan in various temples, finally he reached the Kaveri delta and had darshan at Thiruvavaduthurai. After darshan, while he was walking near Sathanur village, he saw a group of cows shedding tears near the dead body of the cowherd, Moolan. He took pity on the cows and using his spiritual powers; he separated his physical body from life and kept the body in a bush. He then entered the dead body of Moolan (In Tamil it is called Koodu Vittu Koodu Payudal or Parakaya Pravesam). Due to this, Moolan got up as if he was awakened from his slumber. The cows rejoiced after seeing their keeper alive. Moolan brought the cows back home. On his arrival, Moolan s wife tried to touch him. Sundaranathar told her the entire story of his entering Moolan’s body. When the villagers did not believe him, he made a demonstration by entering into the body of a dead goat and then re-entering Moolan’s body. The villagers realized that they were in the presence of a great saint. The Yogi went back to the place where he had hidden his original body. To his surprise, he could not find it there. He then went into a trance and realized that his entering Moolan’s body is also one of the commands of the Lord. Lord Shiva appeared before him and he was ordered to write the Saivite philosophy and the rules for proper living in simple Tamil, so that everyone could understand and follow. Hence this place became an important pilgrimage centre to celebrate the conversion of uneducated Moolan into the revered Thirumoolar. He was deeply immersed in meditation under a peepul tree in Thiruvavaduthurai and received the holy hymn verse in Tamil. 3000 of holy hymns have been documented in to the book called Thirumandiram. After completion of his work, Shri Thirumoolar returned to Kailash. Today, there are 3,047 hymns are available in Thirumandiram. Possibly, 47 hymns might have been added later on. Apart from being part of the 18 Siddha group, he is also revered as one of the 63 Nayanmars. It believed Thirumoolar worshipped Lord Shiva of Pancha Linga Kshetram.

Sathanur:

Sathanur was a large village in ancient times. Current Thiruvavaduthurai was a part of it in those days. Over a period of time, Thiruvavaduthurai became an important place and Sathanur went to obscurity.

Special Features

The temple is said to be more than 1800 years old. The temple is facing east with an unfinished Gopuram. The Temple is located on a raised platform. Presiding Deity is called as Siddheswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. The Bana is tall and housed in square Avudaiyar. Mother is called as Anandha Gowri. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There are shrines of Vinayaga, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Nataraja along with his consort Shivagama Sundari, Arumugam, Durga, Dakshinamoorthy and Utsava Idols in the temple premises. Siddhamrutha Theertham is situated to the northern side of the temple.