Kalyanasundaresar Temple, Nallur – Religious
Significance
The Lord of the temple is praised by Saint
Tirunavukkarasar in eleven verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Second
Thirumurai. Appar, a contemporary of Sambandar, also venerated
Kalyanasundaresar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Sixth
Thirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified
as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva
canon. The temple is counted as the 20th temple on the southern bank of Cauvery that are recorded in the canon.
பெண்ணமருந் திருமேனி யுடையீர் பிறங்குசடைதாழப்
பண்ணமரும் நான்மறையே பாடியாடல் பயில்கின்றீர்
திண்ணமரும் பைம்பொழிலும் வயலுஞ்சூழ்ந்த திருநல்லூர்
மண்ணமருங் கோயிலே
கோயிலாக மகிழ்ந்தீரே.
“You have a holy
body in which a lady stays.
When the glittering sadai
is hanging low, you are practising dance singing the four Vedams in which there
are melody-types. In Tirunallur which is surrounded by fields and verdant
gardens of great strength. You are rejoicing in dwelling in the temple which is
desired by the people of this world”
The temple tank, Sapthasagaram, is considered
sacred. Kunti, the mother of Pandavas from the Mahabaratham period is believed to have taken a holy dip in the
tank, worshiping Kalyanasundaresar. This incident is recorded in some of the
inscriptions in the temple. Lord Panchavarneswarar appearing in five different
colours is a Swayambumurthy. The lingam in the temple is believed to
change colours five times during the day time. From 6:00-8:24 a.m, it takes the
colour of copper, light red from 8:25-10:48, molten gold from 10:49-15:12,
unknown colour from 13:13-15:36 and emerald green from 15:37-18:00. The Vilwa tree in the temple is believed to be the first of
its kind in the planet and hence called "Aadhi tree". Gananatha, a
form of Shiva, in the form of Balipeeta (platform for offering), is
located in the temple. It is the only other place outside Varanasi, where Gananatha is found in the form.