Theerthapureeswarar Temple, Thirunelvayil Arathurai – The
Temple
The Temple is a large east facing temple with a 5 tier
Rajagopuram at the entrance. The temple is situated on the northern banks of
the Vellar River. This temple has two corridors. The Nandhi’s head is up and
turned to right to stop flood in the river Neeva as per legend. Presiding Deity
is called as Theerthapureeswarar / Anandeeswarar / Arathurai Nathar and is facing
east. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy.
There is an entrance left of the sanctum sanctorum known
as Magam Vasal. Women who had lost their husbands, after one year of the
occurrence, bathe in the river nearby, enter the temple through this gate,
worship the Lord and return the same way. Mother is called as Thiripura Sundari
/ Anandha Nayagi / Arathurai Nayagi and is facing south.
Shrines and idols of Lords Valanchuzhi Vinayakar,
Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Dakshinamurthy, Veerapathirar, Suryan,
Chandran, Natarajar, Saint Valmiki, Nalvar, Sapthamaadakkal, Jyothi Lingam,
Bootha lingam, Pavishya Lingam, Varthamana lingam, Goddess Shakti, Adhiseshan,
Gajalakshmi, Annamalaiyar with Brahma and Vishnu, Durgai, Saneeswaran in a
separate shrine, Navagraham and Selva Vinayakar can be seen in the corridors.
Chera, Chola and Pandiya lingams along with idols of
Goddess Parvathi, Vishwanathar and Visalakshi, Agama Lingam, Ashtothra Lingam can
also be seen in the corridors. Also, this temple has some beautiful and
intricately carved reliefs of Lords Natarajar and Sivakami, Bitchadanar,
Ardhanareeswarar standing in front of his bull, Durgai standing on a buffalo’s
head, Shiva and Parvathi, Goddess Sarasvati and Veera Bathra.
There is a separate shrine in the corridor where the
idols of Santhana Kuravarkal – Meikandar, Arunandhi Sivam, Marai Gnana Sambandhar
and Umapathy Sivam, can be seen. The Story of Gnana Sambandhar is depicted
in the Rajagopuram, second tala of main shrine and in the central medallion of
one of the makara-toranas. Theertham associated with this Temple are Neelamalar
Poikai, Annamalar Poikai and Vada Vellaru river. Sthala Vriksham is Banyan tree.
