Thagam Theerthapureeswarar
Temple, Eraiyur, Cuddalore
Thagam Theerthapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Eraiyur Village in Thitagudi Taluk in Cuddalore
District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Thagam Theerthapureeswarar and Mother is
called as Annapoorani. The Temple is
considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this
Temple. Eraiyur was called as Thirumaranpadi in ancient times. This
Temple is situated very close to Thiruvattathurai (Thirunelvayil Arathurai) Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
Though this temple in Eraiyur (or
Thirumaranpadi) was not sung by Moovar, one of the very young and important Shaivite
Nayanmar Thirugnana Sambandar has stayed in this temple overnight. Thirumaranpadi
is cited at least in 4 places in Periya Puranam when Saint Poet Sekkizhar was
trying to narrate the stories of Nayanmar.
The Temple
This Temple is a small east
facing ancient Temple. The Temple has only one prakaram enclosing all the
shrines and sanctum. There is an entrance arch with a stucco image of
Rishabaroodar flanked by Lord Vinayaga and Lord Murugan. Nandi housed in a
small Mandapam and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum. There is no
Dhwaja Sthambam in this Temple. Presiding
Deity is called as Thagam
Theerthapureeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form
of Lingam.
Narthana Ganapathi,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta Idols located
around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar can be found in his usual location. Mother is called as Annapoorani. She is housed in a
separate south facing shrine. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing her
shrine. There is a separate shrine for Arathurai Nathar and Sambandar in the Temple premises.
There are shrines for Vinayaga,
Gaja Lakshmi, Naalvar (Sundarar, Appar, Sambandar & Manickavasagar),
Navagrahas, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar,
Chandran, Surya, Srinivasa Perumal and Varadaraja Perumal in the Temple
premises. The Temple pond is situated opposite to the entrance. Sthala Vriksham
is Vilwam (Aegle marmelos).
Temple Opening Time
The Temple remains open from
06.30 AM to 11.00 AM and 05.30 PM to 08.30 PM.
Festivals
Masi Maha Shivaratri, Panguni Uthiram,
Kanda Sashti, Navaratri and Margazhi Month Pooja are the festivals celebrated
here with much fanfare.
Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Sambandar had a mention about
this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 2nd Thirumurai in 39th
Patikam in 3rd Song.
அட்டானமென் றோதிய நாலிரண்டும்
அழகன்னுறை காவனைத் துந்துறைகள்
எட்டாந் திருமூர்த்தியின் காடொன்பதுங்
குளமூன்றுங் களமஞ்சும் பாடிநான்கும்
மட்டார்குழ லாள்மலை மங்கை பங்கன்
மதிக்கும் மிடமாகிய பாழி மூன்றும்
சிட்டா னவன் பாசூரென் றேவிரும்பாய்
அரும்பா வங்களா யினதேய்ந் தறவே
Contact
Thagam Theerthapureeswarar Temple,
Eraiyur – 606 111
Cuddalore District
Mobile: +91 94439 13912
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1
Km from Eraiyur Sugar Mill Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Pennadam Railway Station, 3 Kms
from Thiruvattathurai, 4 Kms from Pennadam, 11 Kms from Thitagudi, 22 Kms from Virudhachalam,
82 Kms from Cuddalore, 103 Kms from Puducherry, 106 Kms from Puducherry
Airport, 110 Kms from Trichy Airport, 236 Kms from Chennai Airport and 255 Kms
from Chennai. The Temple is situated towards southwest of Virudhachalam on the Thittakudi
road.