Moolavar Urchavar Amman / Thayar Thala Virutcham Theertham Agamam / Pooja Old year Historical Name City District

State
Singers:

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Thiagarajar Kamalambal Pathiri tree Kamalalayam 1000-2000 years old Tiruvarur Tiruvarur Tamil Nadu

: Tiruvarur

Thirunavuekarasar

Festival:

Every festival in the temple has a significance. In Margazhi (December-January) Thirvadhirai, Thiagesas feet is offered for Darshan to Patanjali. Panguni (MarchApril) Uthiram begins in Masi (February-March) Aslesha star day with flag hoisting and goes for 10days with car festival. The greatest festival of the temple. 10 day Aadi Pooram (July-August); Masi Magam representing the episode of the Lords Boodhaganas (security guards of Lord Shiva) carrying paddy to Sundarars house, is a celebration of great festivity. Monthly Pradosham is very devotionally followed in the temple. Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil and English New Year days are very splendidly celebrated.

Temple's Speciality:

Generally Pradosha puja (on the 13th day from new moon or full moon day) is performed during the twilight time 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. in all Shiva temples. In Tiruvarur Thiagesa temple this puja is performed only after the usual evening pujas. It is believed that all the Devas (communities belonging to the upper world) would be worshipping Lord Shiva in all Shiva temples during this time. The form of Thiagaraja is one to emphasize that one can attain bliss even while being a family man with wife enjoying marital pleasures in a righteous way. The body of Thiagesa is united with an energy called Kondi which is not separable from the Lord. Excepting the face, all parts of the idol are hidden with flowers. The darshan of the feet of Lord would be available to devotees only twice in a year, the left feet on the Aadhirai day in Margazhi (December-January) worshipped by sage Patanjali and the right on Panguni Uthiram (March-April) worshipped by Vyakrapada the tiger legged sage. Thiagaraja would come out only during the car festival day.

Opening Time:

The temple is opened from 5.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Address:

Sri Thiagarajar Temple, Tiruvarur - 610 001, Tiruvarur Dist.

Phone:

+91- 4366 - 242 343, +91- 94433 54302.

General Information:

The form of Thiagaraja is one to emphasize that one can attain bliss even while being a family man with wife enjoying marital pleasures in a righteous way. The body of Thiagesa is united with an energy called Kondi which is not separable from the Lord. Excepting the face, all parts of the idol are hidden with flowers. The darshan of the feet of Lord would be available to devotees only twice in a year, the left feet on the Aadhirai day in Margazhi (December-January) worshipped by sage Patanjali and the right on Panguni Uthiram (March-April) worshipped by Vyakrapada the tiger legged sage. Thiagaraja would come out only during the car festival day.

Prayers

People worship Sri Durga in the temple during the Rahukalam time (one and a half hours each day) for promotion in jobs, transfers etc. As Lord Yama the God of Death also is in charge of Chandikeswara in this temple, people are not afraid of death. Lord Shanmuga in the temple protects devotees from enemies. Devotees offer milk as nivedhana to Mother Kamalambal during the night puja (Arthajama puja) and drink it to get children. Devotees pray to God Runavimochana (Runam-debt, Vimochana-relief) to be free from debt burdens. The dominant deity of the temple Thiagesa ensures his devotees boons of marriage, children, job opportunity, business development, job promotion etc. Worshipping the presiding deity Vanmeekanathar brings heaps of prosperity and freedom from sins committed

knowingly or unknowingly.
Thanks giving:

Devotees pray to Brahmma Nandi behind the Veedividanga Vinayaka pouring large quantity of water on him to get good rain. If the cows become dry, they offer grass to Nandhi and then feed their cattle with this grass to get flow of milk. Worshipping Kamalambal ensure wisdom to the devotee who can become a teacher even to Jupiter. Devotees offer Milk pudding to the Goddes on Purattasi Navami ( 9th Day from New Moon or Full Moon day in the month of September-October) for total salvation. God Juradeva is worshipped with rice and pepper water for cure from fever. Devotees perform abishek to Thiagesa with honey, milk, curd, turmeric and cosmetic powders, Panchamirtham (fruit jam made with five fruits mixed with ghee and honey), tender coconut, sandal paste, rose water etc. They also offer nivedhanas and distribute it among the visiting devotees. Feed the poor. Offer liberal donations for the maintenance and renovation of the temple besides performing usual pujas.

Greatness Of Temple:

Mahalaksmi born to Varuna the God of Rain, destroyed the demons Madhu and Kaidaba and performed penance to have Shiva as her Lord. As She wished, the place is called Tiruvarur (Thiru Mahalakshmi) and Kamalalayam. Many Chola Kings had their coronation in Tiruvarur and this is the place where the history of Manuneedhi Chola took place. Tiruvarur is one of the five capitals of the chola kings. The Chola king Abayakulasekaran who got the Thevaram and Thiruvasagam and other hymns known as Panniruthirumuraigal in copper plates ruled this place. Also Mushukunda Chakravarthi, Chola King Sankarasevakan ruled this place and appealed to Thiagesa that He rule this place. Those born in Tiruvarur are assured of salvation.Tiruvarur is the body of the Virat Purusha, a form of Vishnu.Mahalakshmi performed penance here. Of the five substances making this world (Panchabhudas), Tiruvarur belongs to Prithvi the Earth. Of the 64 Shakti Peetas, Tiruvarur is the base. Paravai Nachiar, wife of Sundaramurthy Nayanar and author of the 7th Tirumurai of Thevaram hyms was born here. Sage Manickavasagar gained enlightenment here. Tiruvarur is the place where Sundarar sung the Thiruthondathogai, the basic scripture for the elaborate epic of Periapuranam authored by Arulmozhi Thevar, known as Sekkizhar the Minister of Chola King.

Thiruvarur also has the reputation of having the largest number of Thevaram hyms 34 Pathigams - sung by all the three great saivite saints Gnansambadar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. (Sambandar 5 pathigams with 55 songs; Thirunavukkarasar 21 with 208 and Sundarar 8 with 87 songs and Manickavasagars Thiruvasagam 3). Following the plan of this temple only, the Pragadeeswarar temple was built by Rajaraja Chola, it is said. Navagrahas (9 planets): Though the transits and aspects of planets have their own impact on individuals, they are graceful to the devotees under the control of the Lord. Lighting ghee lamps to planets help reducing any adverse effects. Evils disappear leaving way to benefits. King Nala and Planet Saturn worshipped the Lord here. Lalithambiga: Goddess Lalithambika set out to destroy demon Pandasura, holding rope (Pasam) in one hand, Rudraksha in the other and Lotus in the third representing her performing the five activitity (Panchakrutya), wisdom, and her status as the consort of the Lord. Rudraksha represents her penance on the Lord. The change of legs during the Mahathandavam (the great dance) of Lord Shiva represents the Pranayama principle of inhaling and exhaling the breath to bring out the Kundalini shakthi. This is represented in her sitting form. Thiagesa Peruman: Thiagesaperuman is seen sitting on a throne of precious stone under a pearl roof. A new moon and Ganga adore His head on both sides. He is wearing the best clothes. Kondiammai, his consort is on the left with Lord Muruga sitting between them. This form is known as Somaskandamurtham. A cosmetic paste called Krishnagandham prepared with 18 herbals and sandal is also used in his dressing and His Tilak is made of saffron and ghee. A chain of lamps hang by the side of the throne representing the nine planets. There is a Shivalinga made of Emerald by his side. Abishek is performed thrice a day. This abishek Prasad is considered an effective medicine to cure prolonged diseases.
Temple History:

Lord Vishnu was holding Lord Thiagesa in his chest and was worshipping him. He then passed Thiagesa to Indira. Indira approached Emperor Mushukunda to destroy the demon named Valan. The emperor killed the demon and restored Indira to his position. Indira gave many gifts to the emperor and asked him what else he wanted. Muhukunda asked for Thiagesar, which Indira was hesitant to part with as it was gifted to him by Lord Vishnu. He said that he cannot give it without the consent of Lord Vishnu. Mushukunda went to the Ocean of Milk, met Lord Vishnu

and obtained his consent. Yet, as Indira was not willing to part with Thiagesa, he called Viswakarma the divine sculptor and asked him to make six such Thiagesa and gave Mushukunda one by one. Mushukunda returned them as his conscience did not accept them as true and original. Indira finally gave the real Thiagesa to the Emperor which he accepted along with the other six also. Emperor Mushukunda called the divine sculptor Viswakarma and asked him to choose the right place to install Original Thiagesar on Earth. Vishwakarma placed Tiruvarur on one side and other places together on the side of a scale and found Tiruvarur heavier than the total of all other places and informed Mushukumda. Thus Lord Thiagesa was installed in Tiruvarur by emperor Mushukunda.` The other six idols of Thiagesa were installed in Nagapattinam, Tirunallaru, Tirukaravasal, Tirukuvalai, Tiruvaimur and Vedaranyam. All these places where Thiagesa is installed are known as Sapthvidasthalas. Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur, 40 km. east of Thanjavur, is famous for its temple of Sri Thyagaraja. Great saints and savants like Appar. Samgamdar, Sundarar temple and have sung hundreds of songs in praise of the deities here. Tiruvarur is noted as the birth place of the misical trinity, Sri Thyagaraja, Sri Shyama Sastri and Sri Muthuswamy Dikshidar. The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Thyagaraja. There are a number of other deities here. The principal deity is called Sri Vanmikanathar. His consort is Somakalambigai and she is in a separate sanctum. She is never taken out of the temple and hence also known as Padithandal. The impressive idols of Sri Thyagaraja, the chief deity, and his consort Kondi are on an is the standing posture of the Nandi in the sanctum. In the south-western corner of the innermost prakaram is the sthala Vinayakar, popularly known as Vathapi Ganapathy. The song Vathapi Ganapathim composed by Sti Muthuswamy Dikshidar is in praise of this vinayakar. In a separate shrine Devi Neelothpalambikai is blessing the child Murga. Vidangar is the name of the spadigalingam for which abishekams are made. In another shrine is Devi Kamalabigai performing penance in the Yogasana posture. The navagrahas here are in a row. The Rudra Durgai shrine is in the second prakaram. Here poojas are performed during Rahukalam. The stricture of the temple is of great architectural interest. The dwarapalakas in the eastern gopuram, Arumurgar in Kamalambai shrine, the Nandi in the vanmikanathar shrine are fine works of art. The story of Manuneethi cholas sentence of death on his only son for driving his chariot over a calf is depicted in a sculpture near the temple. There are some interesting old painting on the inner walls of the ceiling. On the western side of the temple there is the famous tank known as Kamalalayam, with the temple of Sri Naganathaswamy in the middle. The important festival here is the Panguni Brahmotsavam during which Sri Thyagaraja is taken round the streets in a huge car known as Azhi Ther. It is said that if need nearly 8000 persons to draw the car