Saturday, February 20, 2016

Dayanidheeswarar Temple, Vadakurangaduthurai, Thanjavur

Dayanidheeswarar Temple, Vadakurangaduthurai, Thanjavur
Dayanidheeswarar Temple is Hindu temple located at Vadakurangaduthurai in the Thanjavur district of Tamil NaduIndia. The Lord of this place graces us as Swayambu Lingam.

Highlights:
·        Sambhandar has revered the temple in his verses in Tevaram
·  God - Dayanidheeswarar aka Kulaivanangunathar aka Vaaleeswarar aka Chitti Lingeswarar
·        Goddess - Jadamukhuteswari aka Azhagu Chadaimudi Ammai
·        Teertham (Holy water) - Cauvery, Kudamurutti, Kamadhenu Teertham
·        Stala Vruksha (Holy tree) - Coconut tree
Legends
Lord Siva has revealed in many places his miracles.  Kurankaaduthurai is the place where Vaali was graced to have his tail grown.  It can be asked when Vaali’s tail got cut.  Even Ravana was afraid of Vaali.  It is said that perhaps the tail was cut when Vaali hit him hard with his tail.  He prayed to Lord Siva that his tail should grow.  He came to Kurankaaduthurai, prayed to get back his strong tail and his tail grew. Here Lord Siva is called Dayanidheeswarar.  Ambal is Jataamakuta Naayaki.

Here Lord Siva has bestowed Moksha even to a sparrow.  Hence he is also called ‘Chittilingeswarar’. He has poured mercy to all as his name ‘Dayanidhi’ denotes.  A pregnant woman, ‘Chettippenn’ with acute thirst was walking along near this temple. She was likely to die because of thirst. There was no water in the surrounding.  As she was about to breathe her last, she worshipped the Sivalingam there.  Lord Siva appeared, bent the nearby coconut tree, plucked the tender coconut and gave her. The lady’s thirst was quenched.  So, there is also the name to the Lord, ‘Kulaivanankinaathar’.
It is also believed that Lord Hanuman worshiped Lord Shiva in this site.
Greatness of Temple
Pregnant women considerably visit this temple.  It is usually said that the pregnant women should not go to the temples.  Since Lord Siva had graced a pregnant woman, the belief is that visiting this temple would result in safe delivery.  The place is consecrated by Tirugnanasambandar and Arunagiri Naathar.  A person’s wealth gets increased, by worshipping Mahalakshmi of this place during Navarathri days.
Importance of Durga:
Here Vishnu-Durgai graces us with Chakra and Conch in her hands.  This Durgai has eight arms and it is surprising that if milk Abhishekam is done to this deity, the milk turns blue in colour.  In no other Durgai sanctum such a miracle happens.  Mental strength gets enhanced by worshipping this miraculous deity, during the Navarathri days.
The Temple
The east facing temple has a five-tier tower. It occupies large area with two prakarams (corridors). The main shrine is divided into three parts - sanctum sanctorum, Ardha Mandapa and a long Maha Mandapa. A slightly larger Shiva Linga named as Dayanidheeswarar adorns the sanctum. The bas-relief image of Vaali worshiping Shiva is also found here.

The big statues of Dwarapalakas at the entrance of Ardha Mandapa are very attractive. A small idol of Ganesha is also found adjacent to Dwarapalakas. The entrance of Maha Mandapa is adorned with Ganesha, Subramanya and very tiny idols of Sastha with his two consorts.

The niche images, Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, another Ganesha, Lingodbhava, Ardha Nareeswarar, Brahma and Durga on the external wall of the main shrine are mind blowing. Especially the image of Ardha Nareeswarar is inexplicably beautiful. The nice image of Vishnu Durga graces us with eight arms. It is believed that the milk which is poured (during Abhisheka) on this deity turns blue in color. 
Usually the bronze images of Nataraja are found in all Shiva temples in South India. However, in this temple there is a sub shrine where the large stone images of Nataraja and Sivakami are found. It is another highlight of this temple.

The sub-shrines of Ganesha, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Chandikeshwarar and Maha Lakshmi are located in the inner prakara. The idols of twin Bhairavas, Surya, the pregnant woman, Naga and Nalvar are also found in this temple.
There is a huge open area found between the tower and the main temple structure. Nandi and Bali peetham are located there facing the direction towards the main shrine. In this open area, the shrine of the Goddess Jadamukhuteswari is found facing the southern direction.
A separate Nandi is placed facing the Goddess. Navagrahas sub-shrine and a small mandapa are found adjacent to this shrine. The Chola period inscriptions are also found in this temple.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 8am to12 in the morning and in the evening between 4pm to 9pm.
Festivals
Panguni Uthiram and Navarathri ten days are celebrated with much fanfare. On the Karthigai day it is significant to see women circling round Amman 1008 times.
Prayers
Hanuman also had worshipped here to be relieved off some of his sins.  To worship the Dakshinamurthi here enhances the ‘gurubalam’, the strength of Guru. The offerings can be done by donning new clothes to Swami and Ambal, and by donating to the temple renovation.
Singers
The temples are also associated with legends of the sage Arunagirinathar. Sambandar has sung praises of this temple in his Thevaram Hymns as follows;
 “nilamaa maninirath tharakkanai yirupathu karaththotalka vaalinaar kattiya vaaliyaar vazhipata mannukoil elamotilaiyilavangame yinjiye manjalunti aaliyaa varupunal vadakaraiyatai kurankaaduthuraye”
This is the 49th sacred place in the northern banks of Kaveri consecrated by Thevaram.
Contact
Arulmigu Dayanidheeswarar Thirukoil,
Vadakurangaduthurai – 614 202,
Thanjavur District
Phone: +91 4374 240 491, 244 191
Connectivity
This sacred place is at 20 kms distance in the Kumbakonam-Thiruvaiyaru route and from Thanjavur 57 kms. Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam & Nearest Airport is Trichy.