Abirameshwarar Temple, Thiruvamathur, Villupuram
The Abirameshwarar Temple is a 7th century CE Pallava
shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Muthambikai. This is the 21st
Shiva temple in the ancient division of Tamilnadu, the Nadunaadu region (near
Villupuram) that is featured in the Thevaram hymns of the big four of Tamil
literature: Thirunavukarasar (Appar), Sambandar, Sundarar and Arunagirinathar.
On the right side of the Chennai-Tiruchi Road, near the
bypass of Villupuram a board shows the way through a small road to this temple.
At a distance you can see the gopuram (entrance tower).
It is located 7 km north-west, from Villupuram station,
on the northern bank of a small river called as Pambai.
Temple Speciality
Lord Shiva, a swayambumurthy is facing east. Mother Muthambikai
was installed by Sri Adi Sankara. As a tradition, Lord and Mother grace the
devotees from a single temple. Here, Lord Shiva has his own temple facing east
and Ambica her own facing west. The tail part of a serpent is on the Thirumeni
(body) of Mother. There is a hole between the two temples through which Lord
and Mother use to see each other. Shivalingamurthy of Tiruvattaparai is very
famously treated here. According to history of the place, Lord Sri Rama and
Sugriva entered into an alliance to fight and kill Ravana sitting at this spot.
Mother Muthambikai appears in a standing form facing
west. There are shrines for Lords Mal Thuyar Theertha Vinayaka, Muruga,
Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodhbava, Brahmma, Mother Durga, Lord Bikshadana,
Sahasralingas, Lords Sattanathar, Kasi Viswanathar, Arunachaleswarar, Sri Rama,
Sapthamadhas, Naalvar, 63 Nayanmars, Chandesvara, Bhairava and the Navagrahas
the nine planets in the prakara.
There is a mandapam called Sathya Palakai in the
southwest corner. A Nandhi of big size, Padala Nandhi, Bali Peeta and the
flag post receive the devotee at the entrance.
There are some epigraphic details related to the period
of Koparakesari, Rajendra Chola I, Veera Rajendran and Kulothunga I.
Legends
Rishi Bhringi wanted to see Lord Shiva but was prevented
by Nandi, the bull, as Shiva was with his consort Shakthi (Parvathi). This
enraged the sage who took the form of a bee, entered their private chambers and
only went around Shiva. This enraged Shakthi and when Shiva did not react to this
invasion of privacy, she stormed out. She cursed the Rishi to become a Vanni
tree (Prosopis Spicigera) which is the sthala Vriksham (temple tree) of the
Abirameshwarar Temple.
Originally, it is believed that cows did not have horns
and were harassed by other wild animals. They prayed to Lord Shiva and were
blessed with horns to protect themselves. Legend says that this happened in
this place, Tiru Aa Mathur (Tamil: Aa-cow). This place is now revered as the
Mother House of cows.
According to the Hindu faith, all Devas (gods) including
Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi reside in the body
of the cow. As cows are worshipped here, this temple is an important pilgrimage
center. Lord Abirameshwarar appears holding the feet of the cow on his head.
Legend has it that Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of
Vishnu and Sugriva (the monkey king of Kishkintha) entered into an alliance to
fight and kill Ravana sitting in this spot. Lord Rama also visited this shrine
with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana while returning to Ayodhya after the
war. They worshipped the Shivalingam with abhimanam (reverence) so the deity in
the Thiruvamathur Temple is also called Abhimaneshwarar. To cleanse himself of
the sin of killing Ravana, the ten-headed demon, Rama worshipped Lord Shiva
here and performed the abishekam (ablution) with Danda Theertham.
Before marching out to fight Surapadman, Lord Muruga
worshipped his parents Shiva and Parvathi here and was blessed with his special
weapon, Vel (spear). Others who have worshipped Abirameshwarar and Muthambikai
in this temple are Vinayaka, Muruga, Parvathi, Maharshi Narada, Sages Vysa,
Romasa, Madanga Muni and Ashta Vasus.
Saint Arunagirinathar had praised Lord Muruga in the
Abirameshwarar Temple in his Thirupugazh hymns.
Architecture
The Abirameshwarar Temple, built in the 7th century CE
by the Pallavas, did not have a super structure or a Rajagopuram (entrance
tower). A trust was formed and this was added a few years ago with public
contributions. The new seven-tier Rajagopuram is 110 ft tall. The black Dhwajasthambham
has an exquisite carving of Lord Siva with his Rishabha Vahanam (bull vehicle).
The sculpture is highlighted with the vermilion and turmeric application to the
deity.
There are two separate shrines for both the deities,
Lord Shiva and Muthambikai, facing each other. The main deity is a Shivalingam,
a swayambumurthy (self - manifested) facing east, which was the object of
worship by cows that were unprotected and needed succor. The lingam has a hoof
mark on the top and many fine lines marked on it that are said to have been
formed by the dripping milk from these cows.
The lord granted them a boon that they would sport horns
to protect them from assailants! As per legend, that is how the cows got their
horns. Abirameshwarar Temple attracts many Veerashaiva’s of Karnataka as they
consider Basava (Nandi) as their patron god.
Goddess Muthambikai was installed by Adi Shankaracharya
in a separate shrine facing west. The tail part of a serpent can be seen on the
body of the goddess. There is an ingenious hole created between the two temples
through which they say Shiva and Muthambikai can see each other. Next to the
shrine of the goddess is a famous Shivalingamurthy or Tiruvattaparai (a
square-shaped lingam with ridges all over) which was used as a pramanam stone
or as a symbolic presence of the divine by village leaders.
There is a narrow niche in the walls of Abirameshwarar
Temple where the belief is that if you insert your hand and you have told a
lie, your hand will get stuck.
The Abirameshwarar Temple complex also has shrines for
an Akashalingam, Sri Murugan and his brother, the elephant-headed Vallabha
Ganapathy, who is shown with his consort.
Look out for the beautiful sculpture of the Trimurthi’s
of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The lofty hundred-pillar mandapam is an impressive
structure.
Theertham: Well - Thanda Teertham
and Pushkarani (Tank) known as Ambalam Poompoigai.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from
5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Prayers
People pray to Mother Muthambikai for removal of
obstacles in marriage talks, child boon. Devotees offer milk abishek to Amman
and offer pudding-Pongal as nivedhana.
Festivals
Shivarathri in Masi (February-March) and Navarathri in
Purattasi (September-October) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Contact
Sri Abirameshwarar Temple,
Tiruvamathur-605 402,
Villupuram district
Phone: +91- 4146-223 379
Mobile: 98430 66252
Connectivity
The temple is on the right side of the Chennai-Trichy By pass road, around 6 kms
from Villupuram town. Nearest Railway Station is Villupuram & Nearest
Airport is located at Chennai.
References