Kalyanasundaresar Temple, Nallur – The Temple
This is one of the Mada Koils (one where an elephant
cannot reach the sanctum) built by the famous Chozha king Ko Chenganan, others
include Thiruvanaikaval. This temple is located 5 kms east of Papanasam. In the
Kumbakonam – Papanasam route, after Sundara Perumal koil, take a diversion at
Uthani village for about 2 kms to Nallur. The main deity is Swayambu
linga known as Periyandeswarar, Kalyana Sundarar, Pancha Varneswarar, and
Sundara nathar, Soundara Nayakar with Ambal Giri Sundari, Parvatha Sundari
Kalyana Sundari, Malaiazhagi, and Vanduvaazh Kuzhali.
The miracle of the temple here is the color of the deity
changes 5 times a day as copper, light red, molten gold, Emerald and Multicolor
for every 2 hours and 20 minutes. And so the other name is Panchavarneswarar.
Many researches have been done for the color changes, but till now the
reason is unknown and could not be found.
There are two lingams on a single square
avudaiyar (not anywhere in the world). Since Lord Shiva gave Deeksha
to Thirunavukarasar by placing his feet on him, as a rare custom in a Shiva
temple, the devotees are blessed by placing Sataari as done in Vishnu Temples.
It is believed that the Lingam starts from the land and ends at the top of
the mount. It said that the Jada Mudi of lord Shiva is present at the
back of temple, so we are not allowed to make a full round. Oblations to the
manes take places here.
The lingam has many holes across. Sage Bringi, an ardent
devotee of Siva, was not ready to worship the Goddess. So he took the form of
vandu (bee family) and worshipped Shiva alone by flying around him. Hence there
are small holes on the Shiva linga. Vaalakilya Munivar performed Thapas as
vandu (beetle) in the holes and attained Mukthi here.
Kunthi Devi got rid of her curse by taking a dip in the
Saptha Sagaram Theertham on a Masi Magaham day. Muchukunda Chakravarthy
who belongs to Dwaparayuga, the third Yuga, has worshipped here.
According to Bujandar naadi, Sri Maha Kali who was responsible for
defending this region against the invasion of Malik Kafur is glowing with her
divine presence here. Worshipping her on Fridays and Ashtami is believed to
absolve many doshams of devotees. Ashtapuja Kali with 8 arms is
present in the south praharam of this temple.
The temple also has a bronze image of Nataraja, the cosmic dance form of Shiva. Nataraja in the temple
is depicted with eight hands and in a standing posture over the head of a
demon. The image is considered to be one of the nine dance poses of Shiva,
called Navathandavam. The temple has sculptural and metallic images
of Ganapathi (elephant god), sage Agasthya and the three Saiva
saints Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. The temple also has an image of Somaskanda (a representation of Shiva with his consort Uma, and Skanda as a child), which is considered similar to the
one present in the Thyagaraja temple in Thiruvarur. The third prakaram downstairs houses a separate shrine for the Hindu
god Kali. The temple has a large tank called Sapthasagaram,
located outside the main entrance. The temple complex is enclosed by granite
walls, built around the third precinct.
Mother Thiripurasundari blesses the devotees from a
separate shrine. There is a shrine for Lord Nataraja with 8 hands in a
dancing posture with Lord Kasi Viswanatha, Sage Agasthya, Lord Gananatha and
three Saivite Saints Tirugnanasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. An
image of Kalyana Sundareswarar and his consort are seen in the sanctum behind
the Shivalingam. Two worship services are offered here each day. During the
annual festival, festival images of deities from nearby towns converge to
participate. The practice of placing an icon containing the imprint of the
deity's feet on the heads of devotees is carried out here like in Vaishnavite
temples, commemorating Appar's surrender at the deity's feet here at
Tirunallur. The image of Natarajar here is of great beauty. Each of the idols
seen at this temple is also special. The Chathura Thandava Nataraja is one not
seen in any other temple.
