Sunday, February 4, 2018

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirupattur – The Temple

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirupattur – The Temple
The Temple has a five level Raja Gopuram facing east. On entering the temple, one can see a beautiful dwaja sthamba, going further Nandi resides in a Veda Mandapam which is covered with a Rudraksha Pandhal. Nada Mandapam is the next mandapam (Hall) following Veda Mandapam is also unique as it has seven pillars which can play the Saptha swaras. Crossing this Mandapam will take you to the main shrine of Lord Shiva. 



Presiding Deity is called as Lord Brahmapureeswarar in the form of Swayambu Lingam and Mother is known as Brahmanayaki / Brahma Sampath Gowri. The antiquity of the temple seems to be older than that of the Thanjavur temple. When devotees touch the Nandhi (the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva), a feeling of touching a real and live bull is experienced by them. On the Pradosha day (13th day either from New Moon or Full Moon days), the crowd is huge to have the Nandi touch and experience.




There are seven entrances to cross over to reach the Sannadhi of Brahmapureeswarar. He is called so since he changed the destiny of Brahma. Usually in temples, the devotees stand on both sides of the main deity and worship. In this temple, it is important that the devotee falls within the direct deeksha of Lord Brahma. Therefore, they are asked to stand directly in front of him so that their destiny can be changed for the better. A door way to the right on the first prakaram leads to the Amman temple and Nandavanam.




The second Praharam has the Samadhi of Patanjali, Brahma sannidhi is in front of the Adhishtanam. This praharam also has various sannidhis for Ganesha, Murugan, Saptha Kannikas, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas. The Shotasalinga (with 16 stripes) worshipped by Lord Brahmma is placed in a separate hall in the temple. The roof is made of wood. This is the place Lord Shiva relieved Brahmma of a curse.




People go around the temple on the ‘Guru Brahmma-Guru Vishnu’ mantra principle. This is a rare form in the temple. In the entrance hall, the statue of Sarabeswara quelling the fury of Narasimha is splendidly sculpted. The very stepping into the temple ensures all prosperity to the devotee. In one Mandapam, the entire Narasimha Avatar episodes are beautifully sculpted. The musical pillars in the temple represent the story of Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailash and begging Lord Shiva’s pardon with his Sama Gana singing skill.




Sthala Vriksham is Makizhamaram. Theertham associated with this temple are Brahma Theertham, Shanmuga Nadhi and Bahula Theertham. There is a similarity between this temple and Uthamarkovil – here also there are separate shrines for Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu (in the form of Narasimha). This temple is an important abode for Jupiter as Brahma is the authority for Jupiter. Hence those having bad positioning of Jupiter in their horoscopes, pray here to get relief.



Brahma Shrine:
For brief details, please refer below link;
12 Shiva Lingams:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Patanjali Jeeva Samadhi:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Vyagrapureeswarar Jeeva Samadhi:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Other Shrines:
The temple has shrines for Lord Vishnu in Narasimha form and Chandikeswarar. The Shrine of Lord Dakshinamurthy is adjacent to the Shrine of Lord Brahma in the southern praharam of the Temple. There is a separate Sannathi for Devi Gajalakshmi in the inner praharam of the Temple. Lord Kala Bhairava Shrine is situated in the inner praharam, as one turns right before entering Sri Brahmapureeswarar Shrine. The Navagraha Shrine is situated just before the entrance to the Nandavanam (Temple Gardens) in the first praharam of the Temple. 

Saptha Mathargal deities are near the Jeeva Samadhi of Maharishi Patanjali. Lord Shanmuganathar Shrine is located near Karpaga Vinayakar Shrine in the inner praharam of the Temple. Lord Surya Shrine is situated in the inner praharam of the Temple, as one turns right before entering Sri Brahmapureeswarar Shrine. There are seven Vinayakars in this temple which is also having seven entrances, either signifying seven days or Saptha mathas.

Brahma Sampath Gowri Shrine:
Mother is called as Brahma Sampath Gowri. Devi Parvathi gave back Lord Brahma all his sheen. And hence the Devi here is called Brahma Sampath Gowri. The Devi Shrine is situated adjacent to Brahmapureeswarar Shrine on the way to the Nandavanam (Temple garden). This is a separate temple situated next to main temple complex in the north side. The Mother idol is huge, beautiful, full of glow and luster and she is in standing posture. The temple is simple with a garba griha and various female Koshta vigrahas.


Sanctum Sanctorum:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Theerthams:
Brahma Theertham, Shanmuga Nadhi and Bahula Theertham are the major Theerthams associated with this Temple. Brahma Theertham is the pond from which Lord Brahma took water for performing puja to the Dwadasa Lingams. Brahma Theertham is a beautiful temple tank with steps on all 4 sides. Brahma Theertham is located in Nandavanam adjacent to the Ambal shrine. Bahula Theertham is located to north east of the Temple. The temple tank is the oldest rain water harvesting tank and the ingenuity in the construction is laudable. Shanmuga Nadhi is located to the east of the temple, flows from the north to south similar to Ganges. 








Sthala Vriksham:
The Sthala Vriksham is Magizha maram which is about 150 years old and is found in the complex outside the temple which houses 7 out of the 12 lingams. It is believed that Sage Pathanjali often left his physical body and stayed in the astral form for many days in this Magizha maram and performed penance. 



Vidhiyai Mattriamaikkum Varadharaja Perumal Temple:
There is another temple named Varadharaja Perumal temple, which is situated about 2 kms from Brahmapureeswarar temple, he is also called as “Vidhiyai Mattriamaikkum Varadharaja Perumal”.