Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Sitharkadu, Mayiladuthurai

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Sitharkadu, Mayiladuthurai

Brahmapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sitharkadu village near Mayiladuthurai Town in Mayiladuthurai Taluk in Mayiladuthurai District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar and Mother is called as Thirupurasundari. This Temple is famously called as Sambandar Temple. This temple is considered as one of the temples participating in Saptha Sthana festival of Mayiladuthurai. This temple is situated on the southern bank of the Cauvery River.


Legends

As per legend, Nayanmar Sambandar wanted to worship Lord Shiva of Moovalur Marga Sahayeswarar Temple. When he reached Siddhar Kadu, it appeared that the path leading to Moovalur was filled with Lingams to Sambandar. Hence, he worshipped Marga Sahayeswarar from this temple tank.


The Temple

This Temple is facing towards west with three tiered Rajagopuram. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram, facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.

An idol of Sambandar depicted with folded hands can be seen on the right side of the sanctum entrance. Also, he is depicted without his traditional cymbal. Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location.

Mother is called as Thirupurasundari. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in Maha Mandapam. There is a south facing Nataraja Sabha in the Maha Mandapam. There is shrine for Nalvar in the prakaram. Sambandar, Sundarar and Appar are in standing posture except Sekkizhar as he was in sitting posture showing Anjali Mudra.

Shrines and idols of Vinayagar, Murugan, Appar, Vishwanathar, Visalakshi, Ganesha, Nagas, Maha Lakshmi, Bhairavar and Bana Linga can be seen in the temple premises. There is a big temple tank called Sambandar Kulam, situated opposite to the temple.

Religious Significance

This temple is considered as one of the temples participating in Saptha Sthana festival of Mayiladuthurai. The Saptha Sthana Temples of Mayiladuthurai are;

1.    Aiyarappar Temple, Mayiladuthurai

2.    Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai

3.    Margasahayesvarar Temple, Moovalur

4.    Azhagiyanathar Temple, Sozhampettai

5.    Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Thula Kattam, Mayiladuthurai

6.    Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Sitharkadu

7.    Punugeeswarar Temple, Mayiladuthurai

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Mayiladuthurai Junction Railway Station, 4 Kms from Mayiladuthurai Old Bus Stand, 4 Kms from Mayiladuthurai New Bus Stand, 31 Kms from Kumbakonam, 115 Kms from Puducherry Airport and 124 Kms from Trichy Airport. This temple is situated to the west of Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai to Kumbakonam route. Mayiladuthurai is situated on Kumbakonam to Poompuhar route. Mayiladuthurai is connected by rail with most important towns and cities in South India. 

Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station is located on the main line connecting the state capital Chennai with Trichy. The Mysuru – Mayiladuthurai Express connects Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Trichy with Mysuru and Bengaluru. There are regular express trains that connect the city with major cities in the state like Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy. There are passenger trains that connects Mayiladuthurai with Thanjavur, Trichy, Thiruvarur, Chidambaram and Viluppuram.

Location