Sivaloganathar Temple, Gramam, Thirukovilur, Villupuram
Sivaloganathar Temple is located in Thirumundeeswaram
aka Gramam, Thiruvennainallur taluk near Thirukovilur in Villupuram district.
This village during the reign Parantaka Chola I served as the garrison and the
Chola prince Rajaditaya and his brother Arikulakeasari guarded the territory
with the strong army. According to the inscription, one Vellankumaran of
Nandikkaraiputtur, Chera kingdom and the commander of Rajaditaya has
constructed this temple. Prince Rajaditaya, while riding on an elephant, was
killed treacherously killed in Takkolam Battle by the chance arrow shot by the
Ganga feudatory Butuka II.
Highway board of the place (Gramam) is available on the
road for easy identification. This place is located at 3kms from
Thiruvennainallur on the state way from Thiruvennainallur to GST road joining
at Arasur.
This place is located on the southern bank of the Pennar
River. This small village is having very old Sivan temple called Sivaloganathar.
This temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam, its 19th Devara Stalams in the
nadu naadu region of Tamilnadu. This Shivasthalam is in the vicinity of
Thiruvennainallur.
Deities: The presiding
deity is Mundeeswarar, Sivaloka Nathar and the Ambal Kaanaarkuzhali, Soundara
Nayaki.
Legends
The Dwarapalakas of Shiva Thindi and Mundi worshipped
the lord here. Thindi worshipped the lord at Tindivanam and at this place Mundi
worshiped the lord the original name of the place was mundishwaram.
The Lord offered a bag of Vibhuthi (Pokkalam) to king
Veerapandian, so he is known as Pokkalam Kodutha Nayanar.
King Chokkalingam is supposed to have built this temple.
Once he saw some strange variety of Lotuses in a tank since he could not reach
it, he let go an arrow and the entire pond was filled with blood as the arrow
had wounded the Shivalingam here. Startled king realized his folly and prayed
to Shiva and built this temple on the bank of the pond. The Shivalingam of this
temple carries a scar on the head till today. The place came to be called Thiru
mouli gramam (Lord’s crowned Head village) and now only Gramam remains.
The Temple
The temple is built in the Somaskanda pattern that is
Lord Murugan Sannidhi is between Lord Shiva and mother Parvathi Sannidhi. As
you enter you see the Nandi and the East facing Main Shivan Sannidhi. The small
spaces you see on either side have Vinayaka on the left and Murugan on the
right side of Shivalingam which is the reverse of the usual arrangement in
Shiva temples.
The main entrance is from the south direction where there
are statues for the Nayanmars and the small ante room where Thindi and Mundi
are shown. This leads to the main Sannidhi where the Shivalingam is
resplendent. Behind is the Sannidhi for Vinayaka. The Koshta Vigrahas are
Ganapathy and a unique Vrishaba Dakshinamurthy without the usual Tree canopy.
The Murugan Sannidhi is behind the main Sannidhi and the
Amman Sannidhi is to the left of the main Sannidhi. The other koshta Vigrahas
are Lingothbhavar, Brahma and Durga. There is a Navagraha Sannidhi in front of
the Durgai. Next you see the Amman Sannidhi with a tall standing
idol Soundaryanayaki, Ambal also known as Kaanaarkuzhali, Selvambikai.
The two guards (Dwarapalakas) of Lord Shiva are called
Thindi and Mundi. The place where Thindi worshipped Shiva is called as
Thindeeswaram now called as Tindivanam. The place where Mundi worshipped Shiva
is called as Mundeeswaram now called Thirumundeeswaram or Gramam. Appar is said
to have sung in this temple. Appar Vizha is one of the festivals held in this
temple.
The sthala Vriksham is Vanni and the Theertham is known
as Mundaka Theertham.
This is a Paadal Petra Sthalam in the Thevaram
hymns of saint Thirunavukarasar. This is the 19th Lord Shiva Temple in Nadunaadu
region praised in Thevaram hymns.
Connectivity
This temple is 3.5 kms from the Arasur Cross road at
Chennai – Trichy National Highway.
From Villupuram: Take NH45 towards
Ulundurpet. Once you reach Arasoor, take a right turn. Thirumundeeswaram
Temple falls to left hand side of the road.