Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai – Religious Significance

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai – Religious Significance

Saptha Vidanga Sthalams:

As per legend, a Chola king named Muchukunda obtained a boon from Indra and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy (Somaskanda) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image. Indra was delighted to see his unwavering devotion on Lord Shiva, he gifted all the seven images to Muchukunda.

Muchukunda Chola brought all the seven images of Thyagaraja Swamy with him to the Chola kingdom and had them installed at seven different places (in and) around  Thiruvarur. He installed the original idol in Thiruvarur and the other six idols at Thirukolili, Thirukkarayil, Thirumaraikkadu, Thiruvaimur, Thirunallar and Thirunagai. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance).

These seven places are collectively called as Saptha Vidanga Sthalams. The Saptha Vidanga Sthalams are listed below;

Temple	Name of Thyagaraja	Dance pose	Meaning
Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur	Veedhi Vidangar	Ajaba Nadanam	Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, Thirunallar	Naga Vidangar	Unmatha Nadanam	Dance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohana Swamy Temple, Nagapattinam	Sundara Vidangar	Paaravaara Nadanam	Dancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple, Kurumanakkudi	Aadhi Vidangar	Kozhi Nadanam	Dancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai	Avani Vidangar	Vandu or Brahma Nadanam	Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornathar Temple, Thiruvaimur	Neela Vidangar	Kamala Nadanam	Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam	Bhuvani Vidangar	Hamsavagha Nadanam	Dancing with the gait of a swan

Paadal Petra Sthalams:

This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This Temple is the 240^th Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 123^rd sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This Temple is considered as one of the 44 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the Moovar (Thirugnana Sambanthar, Appar and Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams.