Muktheeswarar Temple, Sethalapathy, Thiruvarur
Muktheeswarar Temple is a Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located at Sethalapathy in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding
Deity is called as Mathi Muktheeswarar / Thilathaimathimukthar / Mutheesar /
Mandara Vaneswarar with his consort Goddess Porkodinayaki / Suvarnnavalli / Marakathavalli.
Sthala Vriksham is Mandaram. Theerthams associated with this temple are Brahma
Theertham, Arasalaru and Chandra Theertham. In India 7 places are considered as
special or important place for performing Last Rites. They are Kasi,
Rameswaram, Gaya, Thiriveni Sangamam, Srivanchiyam, Thiruvengadu and
Thilatharpanpuri.
The important deity of this temple is “Nara Mukha
Ganapathy” in a separate shrine at the entrance of the temple. This Vinayaga
has a human face here and nowhere can we see Vinayaga in this form. Normally we
know Vinayaga only with Elephant Head, but in this temple, Lord Vinayaga is
seen with Human Head and called as "Adhi Vinayagar". Hence the temple
is known by Nara Ganapathi rather than by the main deity’s name in recent
times.
It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the
early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 175th Devaram
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 58th Sthalam on south
side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place is also called as Thiruthilathaipathi
/ Sethalapathy / Thilatharpanpuri / Mukthi Sthalam.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
This temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 12.00 PM in the
morning and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM in the evenings.
Festivals
The Aadhi Vinayagar temple is famous for monthly Sangada
Hara Chaturthi festival. Maha Shivaratri, Masi Makam, Thiru Karthikai, Panguni
Uthiram, Aippasi Annabishekam and Arudra Dharisanam are the other festivals
celebrated here with much fanfare.
Literary
Mention
Tirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord
Shiva of this temple. This is the 175th Devaram
Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 58th Sthalam on south
side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Saint Arunagirinathar sung praising the
glories of Lord Subramanya in this temple.
Tirugnanasambandar the feature of the deity as:
புரவியேழும் மணிபூண் டியங்குங்கொடித் தேரினான்
பரவிநின்று வழிபாடு செய்யும்பர மேட்டியூர்
விரவிஞாழல் விரிகோங்கு வேங்கைசுர புன்னைகள்
மரவமவ்வல் மலருந் திலதைம் மதிமுத்தமே.
பரவிநின்று வழிபாடு செய்யும்பர மேட்டியூர்
விரவிஞாழல் விரிகோங்கு வேங்கைசுர புன்னைகள்
மரவமவ்வல் மலருந் திலதைம் மதிமுத்தமே.
Contact
Muktheeswarar Temple,
Sethalapathy, Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4366 – 238
818 / 239 700
Mobile: +91 – 94427 14055
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Koothanur, 7
Kms from Thirumeyachur, 11 Kms from Thiruveezhimizhalai, 12 Kms from Thirupampuram,
3 Kms from Poonthottam, 7 Kms from Peralam, 17 Kms from Thirukkannapuram, 23
Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 23 Kms from Thiruvarur and 130 Kms from Trichy. One
should take the Mayiladuthurai - Thiruvarur bus route and get down at
Poonthottam village. From here one has to take Eravancheri bus route for 3 Kms
where this temple is situated at west or get down at Koothanur Saraswathy
Temple, from there the temple is located at about 3 Kms. Autos are available
from Koothanur and Poonthottam. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Poonthottam and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.