Tirukkillil Sri Sivanandeswarar Temple, Thiruvallur

Address

Tirukkillil Sri Sivanandeswarar Temple, Tirukkondalam Post Road Vengal Udukottai Circle Thiruvallur District PIN – 601103

Diety

Sivanandeswarar Amman: Anandavalli

Introduction

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 18th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Moolavar is Swayambhumurthy (self-manifested lingam). This temple has a single corridor and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. Moolavar’s shrine (vimanam) is of Gaja Brishtam type. This temple is east facing and has a beautiful tank in front of it. The temple is situated on the banks of Kushasthali river and is said to have been built in the Chola period. According to the legend, Lord Rama’s sons – Lava and Kusha lived at Siruvapuri, a village near Thirukkallil. It is believed that they would often come to Thirukkallil, take a dip in the river and worship Lord Shiva. Since Kusha took a dip in this river, it is called Kushasthali. Another interesting story is that once Lava and Kusha had fought in a war against Lord Rama himself without knowing that he was their father.

Puranic Significance

Another legend associated with this temple is that, when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy was getting married, the celestial world came into a state of imbalance and dipping towards the north side due to the combined weight of the celestial gods (Devars) and sages who had gathered to witness the wedding. To restore the balance, Lord Shiva asked Sage Agasthiar to go to the south. Agasthiar reached a place called Pancheshti near Thirukkallil and performed five yagnas – Deva Yagam, Brahma Yagam, Bhootha Yagam, Pithur Yagam and Manusha Yaaam. Lord Shiva appeared before him in the form of “Somaskandar” and asked him to go to Thirukkallil. Somaskandar is derived from the term – “So-Uma-Skanda” where So means Lord Shiva, Uma means Goddess Parvathy and Skanda means Lord Murugan. It signifies that Lord Murugan is in the lap of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. When Agasthiar reached Thirukkallil, he was surprised to see that the temple itself was in the form of Somaskandar – with Lord Murugan’s shrine situated in between the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. He stayed in Thirukkallil for one mandalam (41 days) and worshipped Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy gave “Shiv-anandha dharisanam” to Agasthiar because he was unable to attend their wedding. Hence Lord Shiva here is also called Sri Shivanandeswarar. Sage Agasthiar prayed to lord that this dharisanam should be available to all devotees. Granting this boon to the sage, Lord Shiva stayed here as a Swayambu Lingam.

Special Features

Lord Natarana Vinayaka, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durga are in the sanctum sanctorum. The Chandeswarar shrine is also located southward outside the sunshine. The four front and Navagriya are present. In ancient times this place was dense with kalli trees (Vajravanam in Sanskrit) and the sacred tree of this temple is also kalli, hence this place is called “Kallil”. Another name for this place is “Thirukkandalam”.

Festivals

Navratri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (September-October), Skanda Sashti in the Tamil month of Ayppasi (October-November), Thirukarthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (November-December), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January) and Mahashivrathri in the Tamil month of Maasi (February-March) are the major festivals celebrated in this temple. Pradosham is also celebrated every month in a grand manner