Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil, Thiruvarur
Kannayariamudayar Temple is a Hindu
temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located in Thirukkarayil
in Thiruvarur district of Tamilnadu. The temple is revered in the Devaram hymns sung by 7th
century Tamil Saivite poet, Sambandar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. This Shivastalam (Tirukkaaraivaasal) is regarded as of
the 7 Sapta Vitanka temples, housing shrines to Thyagaraja - Somaskandar
associated with the Muchukunda Chola legend. Thirukkarayil is located 13 Kms
south of Tiruvarur. This shrine is regarded as the 119th in the
series of Thevara Sthalams in the Chola Region south of the river Cauvery.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/06/kannayariamudayar-temple-thirukkarayil-legends.html
The
Temple
Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthy in the temple and is
called as Kannayira Nathar. Mother is called as Kailasa Nayaki. The east facing
temple has no Rajagopuram. The office of the temple is on the right
side. The flag post-Kodimaram and Bali Peeta are covered with
metal. Nandhi is at a higher level. There is a three tier inner
tower. At the right side of the entrance are epigraphic details on the Sthala
Purana. There are also shrines for Lords Maha Vishnu, Muruga with six
faces, Bhairava and Mothers Saraswathi and Gajalakshmi and Shivalingas.
Thyagarajar here is known as Aadi Vitankar and is
associated with the Kukkuta Natanam dance. The temple covers an area of about
an acre. The Indra Theertham is located to the North of the temple. There are
two sacred springs – Brahmma Theertham and Sesha Theerthams created by Lord
Brahmma and Divine Serpent Adi Sesha. Brahmma created the spring for his
Shiva worship for relief from a curse. Adisesha passed through a well in
the temple to the sanctum to worship the Lord and thus Sesha Theertham came
into being.
Those suffering from vision problems bathe in the former
with an herbal mixture offered in the temple and consume also the fig-honey
Prasad for cure while those with skin defects consume the Sesha Theertham
Prasad offered on full moon days. Sthala Vriksham is Jack Tree. Lord Vinayaka
is worshipped as Pramodha Vinayaka. The word means excited joy. It is believed
that worshipping Pramodha Vinayaka would keep the devotee ever happy. Lord
Dakshinamurthy is praised as Gnana Dakshinamurthy. Devotees believe that Lord
Swarnakarshana Bhairava will help them recover the losses they had
incurred.
There is also Kadukkai Vinayaka in the temple. Kadukkai
is a nut with medicinal value and is used to be powdered and put in muddy water
to make it crystal clear. This is also used as a medicine for cleaning stuffed
belly. A trader stayed in this place with bags of Jadhikai also a medicinal nut
that attracted higher tax. Vinayaka in the guise of a boy came to the
trader and asked him about the contents in the bag. To avoid higher tax,
the trader said that the bags contained Kadukkai. All the contents were
found to be Kadukkai. Realizing that the boy was Vinayaka, the trader
begged his pardon. They became Jadhikkai again. Since that day, the boy
Vinayaka came to be known as Kadukkai Vinayaka.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from
5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Processional
Dance
The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the Ajapa Thanam (dance without
chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of
Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of
reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six
other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur.
The other six images were installed in
Thiruvaimur, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili (Thirukkuvalai), Thirunallaru
and Tirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the
river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to
dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who
actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam
(seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
Temple
|
Vidangar Temple
|
Dance pose
|
Meaning
|
Thyagarajar Temple
|
Vidhividangar
|
Ajabathaanam
|
Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja
resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
|
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple
|
Nagaradangar
|
Unmathanathaanam
|
Dance of an intoxicated person
|
Kayarohanaswamy Temple
|
Sundaravidangar
|
Vilathithaanam
|
Dancing like waves of sea
|
Kannayariamudayar Temple
|
Adhividangar
|
Kukunathaanam
|
Dancing like a cock
|
Brahmapureeswarar Temple
|
Avanividangar
|
Brunganathaanam
|
Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
|
Vaimoornaathar Temple
|
Nallavidangar
|
Kamalanaanathaanam
|
Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
|
Vedaranyeswarar Temple
|
Bhuvanivividangar
|
Hamsapthanathaanam
|
Dancing with the gait of a swan
|
Festivals
Six worship services are offered here each day. The
temple celebrates Brahmmotsavam on Vaikasi Visakam day in May-June. The temple
celebrates special pujas on Tamil New Year day falling almost on April 14,
abisheks to Lords Thyagaraja and Nataraja, Pradosham days-13th day of new or
full moon fortnights, Sankatahara Chaturthi-the 4th day of new moon fortnight,
Jupiter worship on Thursdays, Lord Muruga pujas in
Karthikai-November-December, Kalashtami Bhairava Puja, New Moon and Full Moon
days.
Singers
The temple is praised by Saints Tirunavukkarasar and
Tirugnana Sambandar in their Thevaram hymns. This is the 119th
Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Prayers
It is the faith of the devotees that a bath in the Sesha
Theertha and worship of Lord Shiva would relieve them from sins and
curses. Those suffering from vision problems use to apply the herbal
mixture offered in the temple and bathe in the Theertham. They also
consume the fig Prasad dipped in honey for cure. Those facing skin problems
consume Sesha Theertha Prasad offered on Poornima-full moon days. Devotees can
Perform Abishekam, Archanas and offer Vastras for Lord.
Contact
Sri Kailasa Nayaki – Kannayira Nathar Temple,
Tirukaravasal (Tirukarayil) - 610 202,
Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4366 – 247 824
Mobile: +91 – 94424 03391
Connectivity
Tirukaravasal is located at about 14 Kms from Tiruvarur
on the Thiruthuraipoondi Road, 18 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 30 Kms from
Mannargudi, 75 Kms from Thanjavur and 130 Kms from Trichy. Nearest Railway
Station is Tirunelikkaval Railway Station located at about 7 Kms from Tirukaravasal.
Nearest Major Railway Station is located at Thiruvarur. Nearest Airport is
located at Trichy.