Thirubuvanam Kampaheswarar Temple- Thanjavur

Address

Thirubuvanam Kampaheswarar Temple- Thirubuvanam, Thanjavur Tamil Nadu 612103

Diety

Kampaheswarar(Shiva) Amman: Dharma Samvardhini (Durga)

Introduction

The Kampaheswarar Temple or kampa-hara-ishvarar ( kampa-hareswarar ) is a dedicated to the god Shiva. It is situated in Thirubuvanam, a village in Thanjavur district in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu, on the Mayiladuthurai- Kumbakonam road. Shiva is worshiped as “Kampahareswarar” as he removed the quaking (Skt. Kampa) of a king who was being haunted by a Brahmarakshasa. It was built by Kulothunga Chola III and is considered the last of the four masterpieces built during the Medieval Chola era. The temple has a shrine for Sharabha, a depiction of Shiva, a part-lion and part-bird beast in mythology, who, according to Sanskrit literature, is eight-legged and more powerful than a lion or an elephant, possessing the ability to clear a valley in one jump. The temple is considered in the line of Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, with the trio forming the Great Living Chola Temples.

Puranic Significance

King Varaguna Pandian was proceeding on a war against his enemies. He was riding fast on the horse. As a Brahmin came crosswise, to save him, the king tried to reduce the speed. But, as fate had it, the Brahmin died of the accident. His spirit occupied the king with Brahammahati dosha-sin of murder. He came to Tiruvidaimarudur for worshipping the Lord, where the spirit left him and stood at the eastern entrance. He proceeded to Tirupuvanam and yet was trembling with the fear of the spirit catching Him again. Lord Kambakareswarar saved the king from trembling. Hence, He is praised as Nadukkam (trembling) Theertha Nayakan. Lord Sarabesa has in Him the collective powers of 1) Lord Shiva, 2) Lord Vishnu, 3) Mother Pratyangaradevi and 4) Mother Durga (Sulini Durga). The blood of demon Hiranya stayed His body during the Narasimha Avatar which made Him very furious. To cool Him down, the Devas approached Lord Shiva. They were afraid of the birth million wicked souls if that demon blood fell on earth. As the blood was in the body of Mahavishnu with nectar in Him, these wicked souls, if born would become indestructible. Lord Shiva alone could offer a solution. Lord Shiva took a very strange form with Yazhi face, human body, eight legs, four hands and two wings. One wing was Mother Pratyangaradevi while the other was Mother Durga Sulini. He chased Narasimha into sky and space to a point where gravitation will not work. He pressed Narasimha with His nails to bring out the impure demon blood and get it evaporated there. Sooner the demon blood left His body, Lord Narasimha became soft and smiling and worshipped Lord Shiva. Thus worshipping Lord Sarabeswara brings the devotee the benefit of worshipping all four Gods. Lord is also known as Nadukkam Theertha Nayakan meaning that He saved the devotee from shivering or trembling for some reason or other. Mother is also known as Aram Valartha Nayaki meaning that she upholds Dharma forever. Agni, Mandhadha, Varaguna Pandian, Moon and Sun had worshipped Lord in this temple. Mother graces the devotees with Abhaya Mudra – ensuring protection with one hand and holding lotus flower and Akshamala in other hands in a standing posture. The peeta (dais) is called Odyanapeeta and Padma Peeta. There are numerous paintings and sculptures in the temple depicting scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The temple is built by Kulothunga Chola III, grandson of Rajaraja Chola resembling Thanjavur Big Temple – popularly known as Thanjai Peria Koil.

Beliefs

People pray to Lord Sarabeswara for relief from illness, worries, court matters, effects of witchcrafts, threats from hidden enemies, spells, adverse situations caused by planets. They will achieve a life of their choice, promotion in job, wise children, and freedom from debt burdens. Those praying to Lord Kambakareswarar are blessed with total relief from neurology problems, shivering, meaningless fear in mind, lack of brain growth and other ailments. They are also blessed with healthy longevity. Mother Ambica frees Her devotees from sin, ensures unity among couples and child boon. Devotees perform Sahasranama archanas (chanting 1000 names of Lord), sandal abishek, Saraba Yajnas to Lord Sarabeswara for 11 weeks continuously. They perform archanas with red flowers, fragrant leaves called Marikozhundu in Tamil, Vilwa, Nagalinga flowers and offer vastras. This is an important commitment. They also perform abishek with curd and milk for relief from ailments and longevity respectively. Generally abisheks are offered to Lord with oil, rudrabishekam, offering vastras to Lord and Mother, Annadhanan-feeding and nivedhanas for distribution to devotees.

Special Features

Lord shiva is a Swayambumurthi in the temple. The temple follows the Tamilian style of architecture. An unusual feature of the temple is that the vimana is extremely high unlike other Dravidian-style South Indian temples. The architecture of the temple is similar to the Big Temple at Thanjavur, Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram temples. The distinct features of all the temples are the vimana, the structure over the sanctum, being taller than the gateway tower, which is an unusual feature in Tamil temples. There is a separate shrine for Sarabeswarar and a metal icon of the same deity within the sanctum, which has fine artistic work. The temple is approached through a five-tiered pyramidal rajagopuram, the original structure, according to Sarkar, is from Kuluthonga’s regime. The vimana, the shrine over the sanctum is axial and of same height of that of the gopuram.

Festivals

Utsav on the Sunday following the Brammotsavam is celebrated in the temple with Eka Dina (single day) Archana throughout the night. Lord comes in procession that day in His silver car. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Ashtami (eighth day of new moon or full moon fortnights) are the days dedicated for special pujas to Lord Sarabeswara. Also daily Saraba Homa is conducted in the temple. Special pujas are performed for Lord Muruga on every Karthika star day. Sankatahara Chaturthi Puja is performed for Lord Vinayaka. Navarathri in September-October and Shivrathri in February-March are festival days. Also Poornima procession is celebrated each month. The devotee crowd will be huge on Pradosha days (13th day of full moon or new moon fortnights). Also Tamil and English New Year days and Pongal are celebrated in the temple with special abisheks and Aaradhanas.