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.