Odhanavaneswarar Temple, Tiruchotruthurai, Thanjavur

Odhanavaneswarar Temple, Tiruchotruthurai, Thanjavur

Odhanavaneswarar Temple (Also called as Oppillaselvar Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Appar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is located 5 km east of Tiruvaiyaru and 4 km away from Thirukkandiyur. The temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saint poet, Appar. The temple is built in the early Chola style of 9th century made of granite.

It is considered as the 13th among the Tevara Paadal Petra Stalams (274 most important temples of Lord Shiva) located in Chola region south of Cauvery river.

Legends

As per the legend, Gautama Rishi cursed Indira and Indira got rid of his sin by worshiping Lord Shiva in this site.

As per another legend, after Lord Rama left to forest, his father, the king Dasaratha came here and worshiped Lord Shiva.

Thanks to the blessing of the God and Goddess of the temple, rice instead of paddy (unhusked rice) was grown once in the nearby fields. Also the nearby lake got rice instead of water to ensure the people of this region do not experience hungry. Hence, the Lord is called as 'Chotruturai Nathar' and the Goddess is named as 'Anna Poorani' whereas the words Choru and Annam refer food/rice.

It is also said that the Lord gave Akshaya bowl for a couple to remove their poverty.

As the very name of the Lord Chottruthurai Nathar suggests, Lord not only offers adequate food to his devotees but it also means that he ensures total salvation to the souls. The place, Tiru Chottru Thurai is one among the seven places where Lord fed his devotees. Saints Ramalinga Vallalar and Arunagiriar had praised this temple in their hymns. Lords Brahmma and Vishnu, Sage Gautama, Sun God and Indira worshiped Lord in this temple. Indira got a highest position. Sage Gautama attained salvation. The wedding festival of Nandhi Bhagawan and Suyam Prakasai daughter of Sage Vykrapada is celebrated on the Punarvasu star day in the month of Panguni-March-April.

Once, a severe famine struck the place. A Shiva devotee, Arulalan by name, men, women and children were suffering from starvation. Arulalan cried to Lord that he should come to rescue the people to save them from starvation deaths. The priest stopped coming to the temple long back. A temple staff coming to light a lamp in the evening also fell down due to hunger. The temple was dark. Arulalar, sitting in the dark temple wept and dashed against the entrance steps and cried for help.

It suddenly began to rain incessantly and the whole place was inundated with flood water. A bowl came floating in floods. Arulalar picked it up. He heard a voice saying that it was Akshaya Patra which will never go dry and would be feeding the people to quench their hunger. Rice, dal, ghee and curry poured from the divine bowl. People’s joy knew no bounds.

Temple Highlights

·        Sundarar, Sambhandar and Appar have revered the temple in their verses in Tevaram.

·        It is considered as the 3rd of Tiruvaiyaru Sapta Stana temples.

·        God - Odhanavaneswarar aka Tolaiya Chelvar aka Chotruturai Nathar

·        Goddess - Annapoorani aka Oppilambigai

·        Teertham (Holy water) - Cauvery

·        Stala Vruksha (Holy tree) - Paneer tree

Temple Architecture

The east facing temple built during the Chola period does not have tower. The main shrine is long divided into three divisions - sanctum sanctorum (moolasthanam), Ardha mandapa and Maha mandapa. Lord Odhanavaneswarar in a big Shiva Linga form is found in the sanctum.

Maha Mandapam has Nandi idol facing the sanctum. In addition, the idols of Ganesha, Kasi Linga and the couple who got Akshaya bowl from the Lord, are all located in Maha mandapa.

The inner prakara (corridor) has the sub shrine of a beautiful Maha Ganapati. There are a lot of idols located across the entire prakara such as a beautiful sculpture of Adikara Nandi, Lingothbava, Navagraha, Surya, Bhairava, Sapta Mata, Pancha Lingams, Sapta Stana Lingams, three more Shiva Lingas, two Ganesha’s, Ayyanar, etc.

Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga along with Chandikeshwarar in a sub-shrine are present as Koshta deities on the outer wall of sanctum. The vimana and the outer wall look old and attractive. 

The right side of sanctum has two big shrines - one dedicated to Arumuga Nayanar - Subramanya with six heads and another to Maha Siddhar.

The open area outside the main shrine has flag staff, Bali peeta and a Nandi idol facing towards the main deity.

There is a separate shrine for Goddess Anna Poorani aka Oppilambigai. She is found in her wedding attire. A separate Nandi idol is found facing her shrine too. Small idols of Ganesha and Subramanya are placed at the entrance of the shrine.

There are inscriptions of Chola period starting from Aditya Chola I found in this temple complex.

Prayers

Those facing delays in wedding pray to Nandhi Wedding festival celebrated in Chithirai – April-May for removal of obstacles in their case. Devotees offer vastras to Lord and Mother and contribute for the temple renovation projects.

Saptha Stanam

The sapthasthanam festival is conducted at Tiruvaiyaru during April every year. Hundreds of people witness the convergence of seven glass palanquins carrying principal deities of respective temples from seven places at Tiruvaiyaru. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand, the crowd witnessed the Poochoridhal (flower festival) in which a doll offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochoridhal, the palanquins left for their respective places. The seven temples are

Temple	Place	District
Aiyarappar temple	Thiruvaiyaru	Thanjavur
Apathsahayar Temple	Tirupazhanam	Thanjavur
Odhanavaneswarar Temple	Tiruchotruthurai	Thanjavur
Vedapuriswarar Temple	Thiruvedhikudi	Thanjavur
Kandeeswarar Temple	Thirukkandiyur	Thanjavur
Puvananathar Temple	Thirupanturuthi	Thanjavur
Neyyadiappar Temple	Tiruneithaanam	Thanjavur

Contact

Arulmighu Tholaiyaselva Nathar Temple

Tiruchotruthurai Post, Via Tirukkandiyur S.O

Tiruvaiyaru Taluk, Thanjavur district

Pincode – 613202

Phone: +91 99438 84377.

Connectivity

The temple is located 5 kms east of Tiruvaiyaru and 4 kms away from Thirukkandiyur and is about 13 Kms from Thanjavur.

Town bus facilities are available from Tiruvaiyaru. Another Paadal Petra Shivasthalam Thiruvedhikudi is located 3 Kms to the south from Tiruchotruthurai.

Nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur & Nearest Airport is Trichy.