Kandeeswarar Temple, Thirukkandiyur, Thanjavur
Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar Temple in Thirukkandiyur or Tirukkandiyur
is a Hindu temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva located near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu.
The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thirugnana
Sambandar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
The Shiva temple here is one of the Ashta Veeratta Sthalams.
The eight temples are as follows
1. Thirukkadaiyur
2. Thirukkandiyur
3. Thirukkovilur
4. Thiruvathigai
5. Thirupparaiyur
6. Thiruvirkudi
7. Vazhuvur
8. Thirukkurakkai
This ancient temple is very close to the Tiruvaiyaru
temple just down the road. It is both a Veerattanam where Shiva killed Brahma’s fifth
head and also a sapthasthanam for Nandi's wedding. It lies on the banks of the
Kudamurutti River. Interestingly there is a Perumal koil in front which is a Divya
Desam and the perumal is supposed to have removed the curse of killing Brahma.
In another version Shiva became a Bhikshandar due to this act of killing Brahma
and had to wander around till Utthamar koil to get relief from the curse.
Legends
As per Hindu legend, Brahma,
the Hindu god of creation and Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, had originally five
heads. Parvathi,
the wife of Shiva once got confused and performed Patha Pooja (ablution
of feet, considered an act of respect) to Brahma instead of Shiva. Shiva got
enraged and cut off one of the heads of Brahma. The cut head got stuck in his
hand of Shiva on account of a curse of Brahma. To get rid of the sin, Shiva
worshipped Vishnu at Thirukarambanur as Bhikshadana, where a
part of his sin was relieved. He got his curse fully relieved after visiting
Vishnu at Thirukkandiyur and taking a holy dip in the temple tank, Kamala
Pushkarani. Since Vishnu relieved (Vimochana) the sin (saabha) of Shiva (also
called Hara), the temple is called Hara Saabha Vimochana Temple. After the
incident, the tank came to be known as Kapala Theertham (kapala indicates
skull). Shiva was pleased and he built the Hara Sabha Vimochana temple and also
built a temple for himself near it.
As per another legend, Lakshmi,
the consort of Vishnu requested Shiva to cut off one of the heads of Brahma as
she felt that Vishnu would ignore her and show all his affection towards
Brahma. Sage Bhrigu, King Mahabali and Chandra (Moon) all got their sins
relieved worshipping Vishnu here in the temple. Sage Bhrigu once wanted to test
the superior of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. He kicked Vishnu in his chest in
anger and got relieved of the sin here. Chandra, who had done sin by seducing
the preceptor's wife, got partially relieved of it by worshipping Hara Saabha
Vimochana Perumal.
Since one head, out of the five heads of Brahman was
plucked in this place came to be known as ‘Kandanapuram’ or ‘Kandiyur’. The
Lord brought the Bael Tree from Mount Kailas for Sage Saathaathaapar;
so this holy place is also called “Aadi Vilvaaranyam”. Sage Saathaathaapar
used to go to Kaalahasthi on the ‘Pradosham’ day to have darshan of the
Lord. Once when he came to Kandiyur, he could not go to Kalahasti in
time. The legend is that the Lord graced him with the Kalahasti
darshan at Kandiyur itself. This sacred site is also the place to
placate the Brahmahatthi curse.
Lord Shiva has a temple here and is praised
as Kandeeswarar. The place has the reputation of being honored
as Mummoorthy (Three Lords) Sthalam. Since there is no temple for Brahmma,
He has his place in Kandeeswarar temple gracing with Mother Maha Saraswathi.
The Lord of the temple is praised by Saint Thirumangai Azhwar in his
Mangalasasanam hymns.
According to the scriptures, the temple was built
by Emperor Mahabali and is located between Kudamurutti and Vennar
Rivers.
Temple's Speciality
Goddess of Wisdom Saraswathi graces with her Lord
Brahmma, hence the temple has a special significance for the devotees.
The Temple
The temple is located 21 km away from Kumbakonam on
the Kumbakonam- Tiruvaiyaru
- Tanjore
road. The temple is 2 km away from Tiruvaiyaru.
The best mode is taking town buses from Kumbakonam or Tanjore.
The Rajagopuram with five stages stands
majestically. Armoured Flag-post, Nandi and altar are seen. Lord
Vinayakar is seen in the Flag-post. In the inscription, this Lord is
noted as “Thiruveerattaanaththu Mahadevar, Thirukkandiyur Udaiya Mahadevar”.
This is the 12th sacred place in the southern banks of
Kaveri, consecrated by Thevaram. The Rajagopuram with five stages stands
majestically. Armoured Flag-post, Nandi, altar and Lord Vinayakar are seen in
the Flag-post. The sanctum of Dhandapani is a separate temple with a
mandapam. In the ‘sapthasthanam’ festival, the Lord takes a procession.
Ambal stands south facing. Within are the sanctums
of Vinayagar, Subrahmanya with Valli - Deivanai, Mahalakshmi, Nataraja, Vishnu -
Durgai, Bhairavar, and many kinds of Vinayagar and Arthanareeswarar in the
sitting posture. Chandeswarar is in separate temple. Brahman,
Lingodhbavar, Dakshinamurthi, and Bhikshatanar appear as koshta murthis.
Near the door-guards (dwarapalakars), are the image of
Sage Saathaathaapar and the sanctum of Kaalathinaathar, who revealed himself to
Sage Saathaathaapar, Sapthasthanam Lingams and Pancha bhuta Lingams. In
the Navagrahas sanctum the Sun god is seen with his two spouses. The
Prime Deity a Swayambu murthi is on a slightly high pedestal. On both
sides of the sanctum, Lord Muruga is present. The statues of Brahman and
Saraswathi are near the sanctum of the Lord. Both the statues look so
appealing.
The statue of seated Brahman looks lovely appearing with
folded hands in prayer holding Lotus flower and rosary. After plucking his
head, Brahman prayed to the Lord to restore his beauty. The Lord blessed
him to get back the beauty of his five faces in his four countenances and
Brahman gladly received this benediction. The Lord Shiva who took the
Vaduga form to chip off the head of Brahma is located in the opposite left of
the main deity shrine.
Every year in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb) on 13th,
14th, 15th in the evening between 5:45pm to 6:15pm, sun rays will fall on the
Lord. This temple is 5th in the Saptha Sthana Sthalas. In this
temple, Lord Muruga appears with Rosary in right hand and power of Vajra in
left hand. Hence he was called as Gnana Sakthidhar. He was also
called as Gnana Kandar.
Religious significance
It is the fifth of the seven saptastanams of Aiyarappar
temple at Tiruvaiyaru.
It is noted for the sculptures in Chola style. The
temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saint
poets, Appar and Sampanthar.
The sapthasthanam 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
|
Puvananathar Temple
|
Thirupanturuthi
|
Thanjavur
|
Neyyadiappar
Temple
|
Tiruneithaanam
|
Thanjavur
|
This temple is one of the 7 shrines associated with Saptamatrikas
(seven female deities in Siva temple).
Temple Opening Time
The temple is opened from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and
4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Pooja Details
·
4 Times a day,
·
Morning: 9.00 A.M. – 9.30 AM.
·
Noon: 11.30 A.M. – 12.00 A.M.
·
Evening: 6.00 P.M – 6.30 P.M.
·
Night: 8.00 P.M. – 8.30 P.M.
Prayers
Devotees worship this Lord to get rid of ‘Brahmahatthi’
curse and to become beautiful. Devotees can perform Abhishekam to the Lord and
Ambal, and adorn them with new clothes.
Festivals
·
Maha Shivarathri in Masi
(February-March)
·
Margazhi Thiruvadirai (December-January)
Contact
Shri Shirakandeeswrar Temple, Kandiyur,
Thanjavur district,
Phone: +91-4362-261 100,
262 222
Connectivity
Kandiyur is about 9 kms distance from Thanjavur, in the
Thanjavur-Tiruvaiyaru road. The temple is situated in the middle of the town.
The Road from Tirukattupalli along the Vellar north bank
ends at this temple a right turn leads to Tanjore and a left turn leads to
Tiruvaiyaru, So about a few furlongs from the Tiruvaiyaru temple brings
us in front of this temple.
