Aiyarappar Temple, Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur
Aiyarappar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located in the
village of Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil
Nadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city. The
Five Rivers are Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamuruttiyaaru and
Kaaviriyaaru.
Thiruvaiyaru is the headquarters of the Thiruvaiyaru
taluk. Thiruvaiyaru is a small, quiet town. However, its modesty belies its
importance as a pilgrim centre. On the highway from Thanjavur, you pass five
bridges ' over the Vadavar, Vettar, Vennar, Kudamurutti and Cauvery, the five
rivers from which Thiruvaiyaru gets its name (thiru = sacred; ai = five; aaru =
river).
The presiding deity of the Siva temple here,
Panchanatheesvarar (in Tamil, Ayyarappan ' both mean the same thing, `the Lord
of the Five Rivers') also gets his name from them. Thiruvaiyaru is considered
as holy as Varanasi and bathing in the Cauvery here is as guaranteed to rid
devotees of sins as bathing in the Ganges.
This Shivasthalam is one of the 6 most sacred places on
the banks of river Cauvery which is considered as equivalent to the temple at
Varanasi. The other 5 Shivasthalams are Thiruvenkadu, Tiruchaaikkadu (Chaayaavanam), Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvidaimarudur and Tiruvanchiam. Tiruvaiyaru is one of the big and famous temples for
God Shiva and is known as Dakshina Kailasam. Tiruvaiyaru is considered to be
the 51st in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located
north of the river Kaveri.
Location
The temple is located in Tiruvaiyaru (also spelt
as Tiruvaiyaru) a panchayat
town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil
Nadu. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri,
13 km from Thanjavur, Thiruvaiyaru has an old Shiva temple dedicated to
Panchanatheeswar. Though pilgrims flock to this temple throughout the year,
Legends
Thirunavukarasar went on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash to
have a darshan of God Shiva. In view of the hardships faced on his way, Thirunavukarasar
found it very difficult to continue his journey to Mount Kailash. With his
divine intervention, god Shiva made Thirunavukarasar to submerge himself in a
pond and asked him to take his bath in the pond. When Thirunavukarasar emerged
from the pond, he was transported miraculously to Tiruvaiyaru and god Shiva
blessed Thirunavukarasar with a vision of Mount Kailash at Tiruvaiyaru.
The Thiruvaiyaru temple is one among a group of seven,
collectively known as the Saptha Sthaanam temples. These temples are unique,
for they are related to the marriage of Shiva’s foremost attendant, Nandi, and
the part that Shiva played in this marriage.
Nandi was born to Siladha Maharshi and performed great
penance to his favoured deity, Shiva. Shiva was so pleased with his worship, he
not only made Nandi his prime attendant, and He also got him married. The
marriage itself took place at Thirumazhapadi near Thiruvaiyaru, and Shiva took
his devotee around these seven temples as part of the Sapthapadi.
Every year, this occasion is celebrated in April/May
with the idol of the Lord starting out in a beautifully decorated
glass-encrusted palanquin from Thiruvaiyaru, and taking a round of these seven
villages. At each village he is received at one boundary by the Lord of that
village and accompanied by him to the next village, where he is received by the
next one. In such a way, he completes a full circle and returns to
Thiruvaiyaru. These seven temples are: Thiruvaiyaru, Thiruchotruthurai,
Thiruvedikudi, Thirupponnthuruthi, Thillaisthanam, Kandiyur and Thiruppazhanam.
All these temples are situated around Thiruvaiyaru and it is possible to visit
all these temples within 4 hours.
A devotee by name Sucharitan was redeemed from untimely
death by Shiva in the form of a column of light (similar to the Markandeya
legend of Tirukkadavur & Vaikavur). Agasthyar is said to have obtained his dwarfed
physical stature here. Ambal is said to have worshipped Shiva with 2 measures
of grains.
The legend has that the King who was ruled the city
while crossing this land in his chariot the wheels got wedged on the ground.
The Kings men were worked hard to pull out the wheels from the ground with the
spear. While the excavation the work was in progress, surprisingly they found a
Linga buried under the ground.
It added the anxiety of the King’s men and they
continued the excavation process. Their hard work turned out fruitful, they
found idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya, Goddess Dharmasamvardhini and
Lord Nandikeswara. Further, they found a Saint engrossed in meditation under
the ground. King and his men were waited anxiously. Saint got out of his
meditation and advised the King to build a temple on its place. In addition to
this, he advised the King to utilize the wealth which was safely kept under the
hoof of Lord Nandikeswara for the construction purposes.
Temple Speciality
Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. If one
calls the name Aiyarappa loudly from a particular spot in the temple, it echoes
seven times. Circumambulating the temple prakarams is a usual tradition but
this is prohibited in this temple.
The Dhyana Mandapam – Meditation Hall – of the temple is
built with lime and palm jaggery – Karuppati in Tamil. Deep pits
were dug to store these materials. The wages for the workers were
paid in gold and silver, it is said. These precious metals too were
put in two pits and the workers were allowed to take what they could
carry. These pits still exist in the temple.
Greatness of Temple
Mother Goddess in the temple is praised
as Aram Valartha Nayaki in Tamil and Dharma Samvardhini in Sanskrit
meaning Mother who upholds Dharma. It is the strong belief of Hindus
that women are better guardians of Dharma than men. As Mother of all
beings in the world – Jagan Matha – She is pursuing her devotees to follow the
path of Dharma. To emphasize the fact that every day is a Good Day,
the wedding festival for mother is conducted on Ashtami
nights. There is generally a belief that Ashtami – eighth day of new
moon or full moon fortnights is not an auspicious day. But with the
gracious look of Mother, what we call inauspicious becomes auspicious.
A priest of the temple could not be present for his puja
duty in time. It was reported to the king. He rushed to
the temple to check but was astonished to see the priest on duty doing abishekam
to Lord. The priest returned to the place only next day from his
Kasi pilgrimage. The king and people were more surprised to know the
truth and understood that it was Lord Aiyarappar, in the form of the priest,
was conducting pujas for himself. Lord Aiyarappar is always with
those who keep him in their heart and soul.
It is noteworthy that devout Saivite Saint Appar – Thirunavukarasar
worshipped here and had the Mount Kailash darshan from
here. He had his holy bath in the Manasa Sarovar at Kailash and
returned from the Tiruvaiyaru tank. This Surya Pushkarani Theertha
is all sacred.
Mother Dharma Samvardhini is praised as Lord Mahavishnu
in this place. Hence, there are no Vishnu temples around this place.
Prohibition
to circumambulate the shrine:
Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. It
is believed that his long and thick turf is spread throughout the place behind
the shrine. As a devotee cannot afford to tread on the Jadamudi of
Lord, circumambulation is prohibited.
Lord Dakshinamurthi in the prakara has a special
significance. Lord Vishnu had worshipped him. He is only
Guru in Tamilnadu worshipped by Perumal-Vishnu. He is praised a as
Soouru Hari Shivayoga Dakshinamurthy. In the place of Muyalagan –
symbol of ignorance – we usually see under his feet, there is a tortoise. The
architectural skill of the temple is such that multiple echoes could be heard
if one loudly calls Aiyarappa standing at a particular
place. Foreign engineers had tried to find out this miracle but
could not till this day.
Of the Navagraha importance, the place belongs to
Sun. He is facing west. The temple has five corridors-prakarams. Devotees
choose the prayer hall (Mukthi Mandapam) for mental peace.
Thyagaraja Samadhi & Aradhana festival
Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with
Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri,
comprises the Trinity of Carnatic music. Near the Shiva temple is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed some of
his greatest works. On the banks of the river is the Samadhi of the saint
composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country takes
place annually. Nearby are the Samadhis of some of the other saints like Siva
Prakasha Swamigal and Bangalore Nagarathanamma, who actually identified and
rebuilt the Samadhi of Sri Thyagaraja.
The Thyagaraja Aradhana festival is held in January when most of the
leading exponents of Carnatic music come to perform and are watched by
thousands of ardent fans of classical music. A huge complex is now under
construction at this site to accommodate the large audience that come to the
concert in ever increasing numbers every year.
History
There are several inscriptions here relating the temple
to Cholas, Pandyas, Krishna Devarayar and other rulers. Karikala Chola,
Rajaraja Cholan, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan & Krishnadevaraya are
associated with Tiruvaiyaru. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Cholan’s wife
(late 10th cent) who made several endowments. Dakshinakailasam was renovated by
Rajendra Cholan's wife. Appar was closely associated with this shrine, and on
his trek to Kailasam, divine intervention is said to have miraculously
transported him to Tiruvaiyaru the equivalent of Kailasam. This incident is
celebrated in the month of Aadi - New Moon. The river Kaveri in spate is
said to have parted to allow Sundarar to walk across to Tiruvaiyaru. The vast
temple in this town, known as "Dakshina Kailasam" (Southern abode of
Siva), built in an area of approximately 60000 square meters, boasts of 5 prakaram (outer precincts used for religious purposes) and
many 'mandapams' (great halls).
The Thevaram trinity (Appar, Sambhandar, and Sundarar)
have composed more than 100 songs on the presiding deity of this temple town
mentioned as "Aiyaru" by them. The Tiruvaiyaru temple has also a
shrine for Aatkondar or Kala Samharamoorthy, which is unique in the world. A
Homa Kundam started by Saint Shri Adi
Sankara can be found outside
the shrine of Aatkondar. In the Kundam a sort of incense-like called
"Kungaleyum" is dropped in it. It is believed these wards of scorpion
stings or some such bites and also gives longevity of life. The Kungaleyum is
available from vendors around there hand-packed in loose papers.
The Temple
The temple, known as Dakshina
Kailasam (Southern abode of Shiva), built in an area of approximately
60000 square meters, has 5 prakarams
(closed precincts of a temple) (outer precincts used for
religious purposes) and many 'mandapams' (great halls). The Tiruvaiyaru temple
has also a shrine for Aatkondar or Kalasamharamoorthy. A Homa Kundam started by Saint Adi
Sankara can be found outside
the shrine of Aatkondar.
This grand temple with five prakarams and a 7
tiered Rajagopuram covers a 15 acre area. Somaskandar (Ologamaaaveedivitankar)
is housed in a separate shrine in the 2nd prakaram, adjacent to the Japesa
Mandapam (Kukti Mandapam). The Shivayoga Dakshinamurthy shrine is also of great
significance here.
The shrine to Ambal Dharmasamvardhini Amman has two
prakarams by itself. . The outer prakaram houses the Dakshinakailasam, and the
Uttara Kailasam. . To denote the primordial nature of Sound - Nada Bhrammam,
there are spots in this temple designed to produce echoes. The Shivalingam here
resembles that at Tiruvarur.
The lingam in the main sanctum and the idols of Goddess
Dharmasamvardhini (Aramvalartha Nayaki in Tamil ' both mean, `She who nurtures
dharma'), Vinayaka, Muruga and Nandi, are said to have been found underground
by a king whose chariot wheels got embedded in the ground where the temple now
stands. A wise minister advised the king to dig around the wheels and there
came into view not only the idols but also a living Siddha (a realised being)
who was in deep meditation, his locks spread across the pit like banyan roots.
The stunned king fell at his feet. The yogi blessed him and commanded him to
build the temple for Aiyarappar at the same spot. 'You will find the gold and
the materials required for the construction under the hooves of the Nandi
idol,' he further told the king. So it was found. Inscriptions and
architectural details point to the temple having been built in the early Chola
period.
Of special importance is the shrine of Shiva as
Alkondesar, opposite the southern entrance. Legend goes that it was here that
Shiva killed Yama, the god of death, for daring to lay hands on a young devotee
of his. Outside the shrine, kungiliyam (benzoin) burns in a holder night and
day, the belief being that the smoke protects people from the fear of death.
Notice the words: not death but the fear of it.
In the third prakaram of the temple is an interesting
feature: if one stands in its south-western corner, faces the north, and calls
`Aiyarappa!', the word echoes several times. The temple tank, Surya Pushkarani,
is a large one. It was from bathing in this tank that the aging and frail
saint, Thirunavukarasar, rose to see a vision of Shiva on Mount Kailash. The
west facing Temple has beautifully carved deities in Deva koshtam. They
include Ardhanareeswara and Dhakshinamurthy. A small tank is seen in the front
and The Goddess' (Dharmasamvardhini) shrine is facing south. Lot of
inscriptions is seen on the outer wall of the Sanctum. Tiruvavaduthurai Adheenam
who maintain the Temple have renovated it and performed Kumbabishekam few years
back.
Theertham – Surya Theertham
– Holy dip in this river eradicates all the sins committed in one’s life and
provides the pieties equivalent to Holy dip in river Ganges.
Sannidhis: Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya, Lord Nandikeswara and
Saint Thyagaraja.
Mangalasasanam:
Thirunavukarasar.
Saptha Stanam
The Sabthasthanam 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
|
Pushpavananathar
Temple
|
Thiruppoonthruthi
|
Thanjavur
|
Neyyadiappar Temple
|
Tiruneithaanam
|
Thanjavur
|
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from
4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Prayers
Devotees pray for wedding, child and education boons.
Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer Vastras.
Six worship services are presented each day. Aiyarappar
is taken to the Kaveri River on new moon days in every month.
Festivals
Six worship services are offered each day. Aiyarappar is
taken to the Kaveri River on new moon days in every month. The Tirukalyanam of
Nandi is celebrated in the month of Panguni at Tirumazhapadi. The annual Brahmotsavam
is celebrated in the month of Chittirai, where the 5th day. Saptastana
Utsavam where Shiva is taken in procession in a glass palanquin to the 7
Stanams of Tiruvaiyaru in the month of Aries - Full Moon is of great
significance in this area. The float festival is celebrated on Aavani Moolam,
while the Appar festival is celebrated in the month of Aadi.
Maha Shivrathri in February-March is very devotionally
celebrated in the temple.
Contact
Sri Aiyarappar Temple,
Tiruvaiyaru-613 204, Thanjavur district
Phone: +91-436 -2260
332,
Mobile: 94430 08104
Connectivity
Tiruvaiyaru is 16 km far from Thanjavur. Bus facilities
are available. Tiruvaiyaru Temple is located in Tiruvaiyaru, a panchayat town
in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the banks of the river
Kaveri, 13 km from Thanjavur.
