Aathur Muktheeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
Muktheeswarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located in Aathur Village near
Chengalpet in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. Aathur village is situated 5
kms off the Chengalpattu Bridge on the west of GST Road. This Temple belongs to
Chozha period. Kulothungan Chozhan I first had found the Shiva lingam in midst
of mango tree forest on his way from Kancheepuram to Mahabalipuram. Koperuchingan
further developed the temple. During the period of Koperuchingan, the Athur Muktheeswarar
temple's revenue has been collected and diverted to build the south raja
gopuram in Thillai (Chidambaram Natarajar Temple). This inscription is sculpted
in the stones (epigraph) both in Chidambaram (Thillai) and Aathur Muktheeswarar
temple.
The main
deity here is Muktheeswarar and Goddess is Dharmasamvardhini Ambaal, also
called Aram Valartha Naayagi. Here Shiva is in the form of Shiva Lingam facing
east. The unique feature of this Lingam is, a thin ray of line separates the
top portion (Baanam) of Lingam into two equal halves vertically. It is said
that such Lingam is very rare to see and it represents the Arthanareeswarar
(Shiva & Shakthi in equal halves) form of Lord Shiva.
Vinayagar
has a separate shrine in the temple’s outer prakaram and is facing east. There
are many stone inscriptions found all along the walls of the temple. According
to the inscriptions this Vinayagar was installed by a local villager in this
temple during Chozha reign. The inscriptions also reveal that the funds
generated from this temple were donated to build one of the Gopurams of
Chidambaram Natarajar Temple. It thus shows the prosperity of this temple in
those days.
This
temple lies on the banks of the river Palar, also called Ksheera Nadhi which
serves as the Theertham for this temple. It is also said that as the temple
lies on the river banks of Palar, the place was originally known as ‘Aatru Oor’
(Aaru means, river in Thamizh) which later corrupted to become Aathur. This
temple has beautiful prakarams. The outer prakaram has Vinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy,
Brahma and Durgai around the sanctum.
Just
near Dhakshinamurthy shrine, a small underway is seen, which is kept closed
using an asbestos sheet. There is a small room under the ground level which is
said to be the hiding place during the times of war. Valli Devasena Sammedha Shanmugar
has a separate shrine on the prakaram. The idol of Shanmugar is yet to get Astabandhanam
done. The idol is wonderfully sculpted with Lord Shanmugar with 6 faces, 12
arms holding weapons and seated majestically on an aesthetic peacock which is
holding the snake in its beak. All the details of this idol along with its base
is made of single stone and is just kept in the shrine without fixing it (Astabandhanam)
to the floor. The idol is made in such a way that it aptly balances itself
firmly on the ground.
On the
North West side of the prakaram Jyeshta Devi is seen facing east. Jyeshta is
elder to Lakshmi as she evolved out prior to Lakshmi during the churning of the
mighty ocean, Ksheera Sagaram (Paarkadal). It is said that Jyeshta Devi was one
of the main deities for the then Chozha rulers. A beautiful Nandhi is seen
facing west towards the Lord. There is a window beautifully sculpted on stone
in front of Nandikeswarar, having 9 holes to it. It is called Navadhwaram in
Sanskrit. The northern side of the prakaram has the shrine for Ambaal Dharmasamvardhini.
Ambaal is so beautiful and charming and is facing south.
At the north
eastern side of the prakaram, about 4 Lingams are kept in a separate mandapam
which were found during excavation. Out of 4 Lingams, 2 are Baana Lingams,
without the Aavudaiyar (base). It is said that, this temple as 8 Shivalingam
shrines (Ashta Lingam) around it on all 8 directions, like Thiruvannamalai
temple. But the people were able to locate only a few till now. There is a
stone marking on one of the walls of the temple, mentioning that the
Kumbhabhishekam (Consecration) was held last on 30.08.1917.
The
Theertham for this temple is Ksheera Theertham (Palar River) and there are 2
Sthala Viruksham for this temple, Vilvam and Maa Maram (Mango tree). This mango
tree has a very unique quality. This tree branches into two from the base and
the fruits formed from each half of the tree has different tastes. It is said,
as Lord Shiva here is in the form of Arthanareeswarar the tree too naturally
gives fruits with 2 different tastes, symbolizing the dual form of Lord Shiva.
Pradosham
and Maha Sivarathri are celebrated in a grand manner in this temple. Like
Thiruvannamalai temple, this is one of the temples which conduct 6 times Pooja
during Sivarathri.
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