Thepperumanallur Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thepperumanallur Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Viswanatha Swamy Temple, Thepperumanallur, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District – 612 204 Phone: +91 435 246 3354 Mobile: +91 94435 27247

Diety

Sri Viswanatha Swamy Amman: Vedanta Nayaki

Introduction

Viswanatha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thepperumanallur Village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam Town in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Vishwanatha Swamy / Naga Vishwanathar / Rudraksheswarar and Mother is called as Vedanta Nayaki. The temple is believed to build by Rajaraja Chola. This Temple is Parihara sthalam for Sani Dosham and financial crisis. The Temple is situated very close to Thirunageswaram Naganathaswamy Temple and Thiruvinnagar Uppiliappan Temple.

Puranic Significance

Lord Shiva tore Sani into two pieces: As per Sthala Puranam, once Sani came to Mother and told her that the next day, he had to keep Shiva under his control for (around 3 hours). Mother was incensed. Next day, when Sani came to keep the Lord under his control, Mother asked Shiva to hide behind a nearby Peepal (arasa) tree and she stood in front of the tree, guarding the Lord. Sani stood there for 3 hours and went back with a swagger, keeping his hands on his hips. When Mother asked him the reason for his arrogant behavior, He told that he could arrest the Lord behind the Arasa tree as ordained. Lord became furious and took the form of Maha Bhairava and tore Sani into two pieces. Sani then pointed out that he was doing only his duty and if it was not allowed, the human race would be totally lost in chaos and he sought pardon for his behavior. Lord understood the logic and gave him back his normal form. This explains both the presence of Maha Bhairava and Sani. When Ambal calmed the ferocious Maha Bhairava, he took the normal form and became Shanta Bhairava. Hence, Sani is seen here at this temple in a ‘Garva Kolam’ (arrogant posture). As he was defeated by Shiva here, Sani’s negative powers are believed to not work here in this place. Hence those who come here and offer their sincere prayers will be relieved from Sani Dosham and financial problems. Angry at Sani for his disruptive act, Lord Shiva directed all the planets to inter change their positions and face Surya. Marupiravi Illa Koil: Once, Sage Agasthya came this side and wanted to have darshan of the Lord. Since Agastya was destined to have re-births. Lord Shiva did not want to give him darshan. He asked Makarantha Rishi who was performing Poojas, to stop Agasthya from entering this temple. The Rishi took the form Makarantha flowers and covered the entire area. Makarantha flowers bloom only once in 48 years and one flower is equivalent to Kailasa darshan. Agasthya could not reach the temple without stepping on the flowers. When he used his spiritual powers, he understood that the flowers were in fact only the Makarantha Rishi. He asked the latter to move aside to avoid receiving his curse. Makarantha Rishi refused. Agasthya cursed him to become a Yazhi (Lion faced animal). Rishi explained that since Agasthya was The power of this temple is such that Rahu and Kethu Doshas are taken off. The couple who come here for children is bestowed with kids. By worshipping Lord Shiva, devotees believe that this would be their last birth, and they will be not entitled to the birth-cycle anymore. Devotees pray to Sani Bhagawan for relief from his adverse aspects. People pray to Lord Annadhana Dakshinamurthy for relief from serpent planets and for wisdom. Devotees offer water choked rice as nivedhana to Lord Dakshinamurthy as he would not leave his devotee ever hungry. Kabala Vinayaka is the source of relief from any wrongs committed knowingly or unknowingly and for success in efforts. Devotees perform Kumkum Archana to Mother Vedanta Nayaki for pleasant settlement in marriage alliance talks. It is also said that only those blessed with total salvation would visit this temple. Still subjected to re-birth, he could not enter the place and he was only carrying out the orders of the Lord. Agasthya realised the issue and in order to give relief to the Rishi, he said that the Yazhi face would become normal, when he performs Pooja to the Lord with something which was not tried hitherto. Rishi used all substances – water, oil, milk, honey etc, for 50 years, but in vain. One day the Rudraksha Mala around his neck snapped and the Rudrakshas fell on the Lord. As this was the first time Rudraksha was used in any Archana, the Rishi got back his normal face. From that time onwards, this practice continues in this temple. Hence even today it is believed that only those who do not have rebirth, can have darshan of this Lord. The belief is that those who worship in this temple are freed from the cycle of rebirths. (Marupiravi Illa Koil). This is the only temple in India where Rudraksha Kavacha Alankara is done to Lord Shiva. Rajaraja Chola, builder of this Temple: On hearing the legend relating to this Lord, Rajaraja Chola expressed interest to have darshan at this place but was prevented by his ministers as it was not possible for all to have darshan of the Lord here and that it was not advisable for him to go there at this point of time. Disregarding the advice, Rajaraja Chola came here on his horse. Since the king’s feet was not to touch the ground here, the intelligent horse is believed to have taken his King on his back around the Lord 12 times that led Lord Shiva to exclaim that in this great Chola kingdom even the horse is intelligent. It is believed that the Lingam changed to 12 different forms during this time. At the end of this process, the dutiful horse is believed to have presented himself to the Lord at this same place as a sacrifice for the well-being of the king and his vast kingdom. Pleased Rajaraja Chola is said to have built this temple with a unique mix of Honey and Slaked Lime in a way that the rays of the sun falls on all the days of the year except one. Devotees speak to Nandi’s right ear to settle their grievances: While Nandhi was coming down to the place, he slipped on the right side injuring his left ear. Lord assured Nandhi that he would bless people who narrated their grievance in its right ear. Devotees experience their grievances settled when they speak to the right ear of Nandhi. Ananda Swaroopa Darshan: Lord provides an Ananda Swaroopa Darshan here at this temple and only those who are blessed will be able to visit this temple. Serpent King’s Penance: For 12 years the Serpent King undertook severe penance invoking the blessings of Lord Shiva. On the Eclipse day, the Snake attained Moksham. On this day, seen in its full form, the Serpent King prevented the sun’s rays from reaching the Lord. Ambal’s dance steps can be heard on Pradosham Days: On Pradosham days, Ambal’s dance steps can be heard at this temple to those devotees who offer their sincere prayers. Theerthavari Utsavam: In centuries gone by, Four Lords from in and around Kumbakonam used to congregate here for Theerthavari Utsavam during Maasi Magam. During this festival, it is believed that Rahu took bath in the sacred tank and got Moksham.

Special Features

This temple is a very old one and it is constructed in such a way that most of the rules of temple architecture are not followed here. Even the deities in this temple appear differently. Hence this temple is called Bedham Koil (different temple). Though the temple faces east, the entrance to the main shrine is from the back. The shrine of Vinayaka is on the backside of the main shrine. Mahavishnu’s shrine is in a place where normally one finds Brahma. Presiding Deity is called as Vishwanatha Swamy / Naga Vishwanathar / Rudraksheswarar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam and is facing east. This is the only temple where Lord Shiva is covered with Rudraksha Kavacha. This is the only temple where Archana to Lord Shiva is done with Rudraksha – Archana with eka mukha to 12 mukha Rudrakshas. The Power of this Linga is said to be the combination of all the 12 Jyothirlingas in India and therefore unique. The sanctum is seen as being pulled by a chariot with wheels. Lord Nandhi graces from the Mahamandapam in the eastern entrance. Nandi in this Temple has only one ear. He is facing the sanctum. This is one of the rare temples where the Sunrays fall on the Lord every day. The eastern side of the main shrine is constructed in such a way that it acts like a window through which the sunlight falls on the Lingam. Only after the Sun has his darshan, the doors of the shrine (not the eastern one which is always kept locked) are opened for the other devotees to see the Lord. It is also believed that a Jade stone in fixed on the Avudai of the Lingam and when the Sunrays fall on the Lord, the entire sanctum becomes very bright by the reflected light. The main shrine is believed to be constructed by a mixture of honey and lime. The Dakshinamurthy on the Southern side of the main shrine is also an unusual Murthy. He faces South west direction and is sitting on a Nandi without any disciples or Muyalagan at his feet. The Dakshinamurthy Idol is unique and is considered more powerful and boon bestowing than Alangudi. The Neivedhyam here is Pazhaya Sadam (the rice cooked the previous day and immersed in water). This is the only temple where such an offering is made. As per local legends, when one prays to him sincerely, will get food, apart from knowledge and hence he is called Annadhana Murthy. Mother is called as Vedanta Nayaki. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated on Maha Mandapam. Mother is seen in a unique posture with her right leg slightly ahead of the left. As she is seen chanting the Vedas, she is referred to here as Vedanta Nayaki. Devotees perform Kumkuma Archana on Friday to get hurdles removed in fixing marriages. There is a shrine containing two Bhairavas – the smaller Shanta Bhairavar and the other one is a nearly 5 ft Maha Bhairavar near the Mother shrine. There is a special shrine for Sani Bhagavan who stands proudly with his hand on his hips by the side of the Bhairava shrine. There is a shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai on the North west side of the temple. There is a Ganapathi shrine in this temple called Kapala Ganapathi. This shrine is in the southwest segment of the main prakaram. Ganesa is having eyes in the centre of the face (unlike the normal Ganesa whose eyes are on the sides) and his hands, legs, fingers and toes would appear to be like those of humans. He is wearing a garland of skulls on his waist. Mahavishnu appears on the Northern Koshta wall. There is a separate Vishnu temple near this place. During Navaratri celebrations, there is a belief that Vishnu gives gifts to his sister Parvathi and her husband for which function both Shiva and Parvathi visit the Perumal Temple on the last day of Navaratri. Since Perumal had honoured Shiva in such a way, as a mark of respect, he is given a place on the Koshta wall of this temple. The other unusual features include two Chandikeswaras in a single shrine, the large one facing south and the smaller one facing east. Similarly, there are two Durgas in this temple. The one near the Chandikeswarar shrine is the Vishnu Durgai with four arms and the other one on the back side of the Mother shrine, is the normal Durgai with eight arms. There is a temple tank called Brahma Theertham on the eastern side of the Temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa Tree. Naga Worship: There are several miracles and unique things about this temple. There is a recorded incident of a Cobra offering Vilva leaves to the Lord on the solar eclipse day on Jan 15, 2010. This was captured in both video and still photos and reported in all the newspapers. Locals noticed a cobra entering the temple and lying on top of the Shiva Linga minutes before the Solar Eclipse started, at around 10:30 am. Later the Snake slowly descended from the Lingam and went towards Vilwa tree which is Sthala Vriksham – Holy tree of the temple. It climbed the tree and picked a Vilwa leaf and returned back to Sanctum. Locals noticed that the snake hissed at every devotee that tried to go near it. It again climbed onto the Shiva Linga and opened its hood only to drop the Vilwa leaf on Lord Shiva. The cobra did not stop at that; it repeated it again and again for few times. Once the news spread, in and around the village, hundreds of villagers rushed to the temple to have the magnificent and glorious Darshan of Lord Shiva with Cobra lying above him. The name Naga Viswanathar is in connection with his equation with snakes. The outer skin of snakes which gets peeled off periodically (Pambu Chattai in Tamil) is seen in the shrine on number of occasions.

Festivals

Monthly Pradosha pujas and abisheks, monthly Shivarathri and all Shiva related festivals are duly observed in the temple. Navaratri in Purattasi – September-October is grandly celebrated