Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirupattur – 12 Shiva Lingams

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirupattur – 12 Shiva Lingams

There are 12 Shiva Lingams in the Temple complex. These Shiva Lingams were installed and worshipped by Lord Brahma. Most of these Shiva Lingams are housed in separate shrines, which are situated around the Brahma Theertham. Out of these 12 Lingams, 5 of the Shiva Lingas are inside the temple, the rest 7 are near Goddess Brahma Sampath Gowri's shrine which is a separate temple outside the main temple complex. Brahma Theertham is the pond from which Lord Brahma took water for performing puja to Lord Shiva. Brahma Theertham is located in the Nandavanam (temple garden).

Lord Brahma worshiped Lord Shiva by installing 12 Shiva Lingas at this place. Pleased by his devotion Lord Shiva, on recommendation by Goddess Parvathi, absolved Brahma's curse and restored his power of creation as well as restored Lord Brahma's lost charm (Tejas). Lord Brahma was allowed to have a separate shrine at this place and was bestowed with the power of changing the destiny of the people for good. "விதி இருப்பின் விதியை மாற்றும் பிரம்மா". Meaning, "this is for people who are destined to visit the temple and get the destiny rewritten for better".

There are Pancha Bhootha Sthalangal in Tamilnadu namely - Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kalahasti, Thiruvanaikaval and Chidambaram. But this temple has all lingams of all five elements and Saptharishis in one place. Lord Brahma has installed them all at one place so that the devotees who come here get the benefit of having worshipped the pancha boothas and the Saptharishis when they worship at this temple. Each one of the shrines are different in architecture and size and the Avudaiyar are also different some have the komukham on the left and others on the right.

All the 12 Lingas worshipped by Brahmma are in the temple giving the devotee the benefit of worshipping the Jyothirlingas in a single place. These 12 Shiva Lingas which comprise the Brahmapureeswarar Temple complex are:

1. Brahmapureeswarar:

Brahmapureeswarar is the Presiding Deity of this Temple. This Lingam is located in the Sanctum of the Temple. It is believed to be a Swayambu Lingam.

2. Pazhamalai Nathar:

Pazhamalai Nathar Shrine is located opposite to Yogi Pathanjali shrine.

3. Pathala Eswarar:

Pathala Eswarar is located opposite to Chandikeswarar Shrine. There are separate steps leads to the basement where the Shiva Linga is installed. Every temple having a Jeeva samadhi would have such a Paathala Linga.

4. Thayumanavar:

Thayumanavar, (Lord Shiva, who is also a Mother) is located in the entrance of Goddess's shrine. Representing the Thayumanavar temple at Trichy, Uchi Pillayar Temple.

5. Manduga Nathar:

Manduga Nathar is located in the northern side of the Temple complex and located besides Goddess's shrine. It is located in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine. Mandooganathar Lingam is having a hole in memory of the frog that has worshipped him.

6. Ekambareswarar:

The Temple houses Pancha Bootha Lingams (Lingams representing five elements – Earth, Fire, Space, Water, Air). There are separate Shiva temples representing the five elements in five different places. However, this temple hosts all of them in one single place, i.e North side complex, besides Goddess's shrine. The five Lingas are Ekambareswarar representing Kanchipuram Temple (Earth element), Arunachaleswarar representing Tiruvannamalai Temple (Fire element), Kailasanathar representing Chidambaram Temple (Space element), Jambukeswarar representing Tiruvanaikaval, Trichy Temple (Water element) and Kalathinathar representing Kalahasti, Tirupathi Temple (Air element). Ekambareswarar is located in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine.

7. Arunachaleswarar:

The Temple houses Pancha Bootha Lingams (Lingams representing five elements – Earth, Fire, Space, Water, Air). There are separate Shiva temples representing the five elements in five different places. However, this temple hosts all of them in one single place, i.e North side complex, besides Goddess's shrine. The five Lingas are Ekambareswarar representing Kanchipuram Temple (Earth element), Arunachaleswarar representing Tiruvannamalai Temple (Fire element), Kailasanathar representing Chidambaram Temple (Space element), Jambukeswarar representing Tiruvanaikaval, Trichy Temple (Water element) and Kalathinathar representing Kalahasti, Tirupathi Temple (Air element). Arunachaleswarar is located in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine.

8. Kailasa Nathar:

The Temple houses Pancha Bootha Lingams (Lingams representing five elements – Earth, Fire, Space, Water, Air). There are separate Shiva temples representing the five elements in five different places. However, this temple hosts all of them in one single place, i.e North side complex, besides Goddess's shrine. The five Lingas are Ekambareswarar representing Kanchipuram Temple (Earth element), Arunachaleswarar representing Tiruvannamalai Temple (Fire element), Kailasanathar representing Chidambaram Temple (Space element), Jambukeswarar representing Tiruvanaikaval, Trichy Temple (Water element) and Kalathinathar representing Kalahasti, Tirupathi Temple (Air element).

Kailasa Nathar is located in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine. The Kailasanathar shrine has a 16-pillared hall and a huge Nandi before it. The Kailasanathar shrine constructed by the Pallavas on the lines of the Kailasanathar temple, Kancheepuram is a monument to be preserved for its heritage value. The big stone bull and the Sudhai sculptures here are worth visiting.

9. Jambukeswarar:

The Temple houses Pancha Bootha Lingams (Lingams representing five elements – Earth, Fire, Space, Water, Air). There are separate Shiva temples representing the five elements in five different places. However, this temple hosts all of them in one single place, i.e North side complex, besides Goddess's shrine. The five Lingas are Ekambareswarar representing Kanchipuram Temple (Earth element), Arunachaleswarar representing Tiruvannamalai Temple (Fire element), Kailasanathar representing Chidambaram Temple (Space element), Jambukeswarar representing Tiruvanaikaval, Trichy Temple (Water element) and Kalathinathar representing Kalahasti, Tirupathi Temple (Air element). Jambukeswarar is located in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine.

10. Kalathi Nathar:

The Temple houses Pancha Bootha Lingams (Lingams representing five elements – Earth, Fire, Space, Water, Air). There are separate Shiva temples representing the five elements in five different places. However, this temple hosts all of them in one single place, i.e North side complex, besides Goddess's shrine. The five Lingas are Ekambareswarar representing Kanchipuram Temple (Earth element), Arunachaleswarar representing Tiruvannamalai Temple (Fire element), Kailasanathar representing Chidambaram Temple (Space element), Jambukeswarar representing Tiruvanaikaval, Trichy Temple (Water element) and Kalathinathar representing Kalahasti, Tirupathi Temple (Air element). Kalathi Nathar is located in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine.

11. Sapthageeriswarar / Saptharisheeswarar:

Sapthageeriswarar / Saptharisheeswarar is the Shiva Lingam representing the seven rishis, who worshipped Lord Shiva in this Temple. Sapthageeriswarar is located in the northern side of the Temple complex and located besides Goddess's shrine. It is in the garden adjacent to Mother Shrine.

12. Sudharaneswarar:

Sudharaneswarar is located near Navagraha Shrine in the Temple complex.