Dayanidheeswarar Temple, Vadakurangaduthurai,
Thanjavur
Dayanidheeswarar Temple is Hindu
temple located at Vadakurangaduthurai in the Thanjavur district of Tamil
Nadu, India. 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’.
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.