Thiyagaraswamy Temple

Deities

Timings

Address & Contact

Historical Information

Temple Specialty

• Historical

  Theppam The Temple Tank or pond is known as Kamalalayam. This pond itself is considered as another Temple. A holy - dip in this deertham (Water body) is equalent to 12 Mahamaha holy-dips. Kings like Nalamaharaja and numberless rishis and saints had their holy dips and got purified this Kamalalayam.As per oral history, even lord Indra himself had a hoy dip in this massive lake-like Kamalalayam. It has 64 holy water springs (Dheerthakattam). The size of this Kamalalayam is equal to that of the Temple. The Theppam festival (Floating structure built out of bamboos and air-filled empty barrels) is celebrated in Kamalalayam) during the night time. It is celebrated in the month of Vaikasi. 1.The theppam is built using two layers of 216 barrels in each layer 2.The height of the Theppam of 7 feet and the total space meant for Theppam is 50 X 50 = 2500 Sq.Ft 3.It is celebrated for three consecutive nights. On each night the Theppam will move around the Kamalayam three times. 4. The total occupancy including the music party is 600 persons

• Historical

  The Nandhi (Lord Rishaba Dever) in the standing posture: In all shiva temples, it is customery that the Nandhi, the carrier of Lord shiva, is always seen in a sitting position looking towards Lord shiva of the Linga. But the Nandhi in front of Lord Thiyagaraja is in the standing position as if he is ready to act. It is told that once Lord Thiyagaraja started walking by foot to go as an ambassador to help divine saint Sundarar. Then the Nandhi took a decision to stand for ever to be ready to act for Lord Thiyagaraja. Sundara Moorthi Swamigal sang the &ampldquoThiruthondathogai&ampldquo ( the details of the great 63 divine servants ( 63 Saivaite Nayanmars) of Lord Shiva and he enumerated them for the first time ) in the Thevasiriya Mandapam of this temple. The temples history leads us to puranic period. The Temple eludes to any history orperiod calculation. This is considered as the oldest of the old temples.Renowned saiva-saint Thirunavukarasar (lived in 14th century) wondered about the age and origin of this temple. He asks whether this temple came into existence before or after Lord Shiva took the shape of this popular of Shiva with all Shiva identities. This famous song clearly depicts this legendary ancient temple which has literarly no history or the information like who built the temple First or when this temple came into existence.

• Historical

  The Aazhi ther - The grand temple Chariot. Thiruvarur is very special among the acient towns of chola Kingdom. This temple is one of the most ancient temples. The saiva -saint Appar sings as this temples no history which means the temple is as old as Lord shiva himself. And this temple has a unique characteristic that the temple is sung with 34 Devara songs of the three saiva- saints and Manivasagap perumans verses. This temple has the credit of sung by Seraman perumans Mummanikkovai Kumarakurubarar Nanmani Malai and 40 sanskrit Literatures. This temple has been sung in many Telugu and Marathi literatures. The world renowned Temple grand chariot was sung by Appar swami as The hero of this massive sea-like chariot looks as though it is made of the very dooms-fire and this chariot resonates with warlike noise and sound. I have the opportunity of seeing all these only in Thiruvarur grand Chariot festival. The unique and glorious chariot is one of the special possessions of this temple. This temple chariot is the only chariot which had been mentioned in the Devara songs. The specifications of this chariot. 1. This chariot is rested on 24.5 ft length and 1.5 ft width iron chassis . It has four wheels with a 9 ft radius and 1.5 ft width. The words are insufficient to explain the beauty of this divine chariot. 2. The Chariot is in the octagonal shape and in cross-section, it is seen as 20 slides of rectangular shape. 3. The height of this un-built, undecorated bottom measures up to 30 ft and the height of this built and decorated chariot is 96 feet. The total weight of the totally built and decorated chariot is 300 Tons. 4. In the front side of the chariot decorated with gigantic 267 ft height and 11 ft height horses. The four horses represent the four Vedas. 5. This ancient -style temple chariot was modernized with hydraulic braking system by the BHEL, trichy. 6. The giant rope that is used to pull the chariot measures 425 Feet length and the 21 inches circumference. They resemble huge anacondas of Africa. The total weight of the ropes is 4 Tons. The devotees and the general public await to witness this massive divine ecstatic sri Thiyagaraja swami&amprsquos once-in-a-year arrival on the streets of Thiruvarur. As per the history and temple records , this temple chariot festival was once headed by the saiva-saints Sri Gnana Sammandha Peruman and Sri Thirunaavukkarasar.

• Thala Virutcham

  Special Description - This Red Padhuri tree is located in the south-west corner of the second Prahara Site Type Description This famous temple in Tiruvarur district is known as the site where the red priest tree is located.

• Structure

  Even in 6th century BC, this temple was well established and reputed one with brick& mortar structure. Later during the 9 10th centuries, this temple structure was converted into stone- built structures. The main Sanctum Santorum was rebuilt with stone structure by Aditha Chola – I. The Front Peetam , inter-peetam and the surrounding structures show the architectural motifs of Aditha chola - I. The later Chola kings should have renovated thethe temple or restructured the front Mandapam. Along with other great Mandapas,the temple slowly got extended during later periods. The Asaleswarar temple was also deemed to be a brick & mortar structure and it was later converted into a stone structure by legendary Chola queen Sembiyan Maadevi. This information was available in the stone inscriptions of King Rajaraja chola. Even in this structure, the front Maha mandapam was built during the later Chola kings. This is evident by the structural motifs and indications of that period. Both the sanctum Santorum of the main temple and the sanctum sanctorum of Asaleswarar temple seem to be the oldest part of this temple.

• Holly Tank

  Kamalalayam - The temple Pond or temple tank . This pond itself is considered as a temple in Thiruvarur. One of the four saiva saints Sundarar ped all the Jewels in the river Manimutharu and he recollected all those golden ornaments from this temple pond kamalalayam in Thiruvarur. This divine incident is reported in the Tamil spiritual epic Periyapuranam. This temple pond is located with 64 deerthakattams(divine water springs within the limits of the pond) In the centre of the pond, Naganatha Swami temple is located.

Services

• Donation

  General Donation, Chariot Donation

• Temple Services

  Milk Abishagam is only one day on (Ammavasai)

• Annadhanam

  100 people are given Annadhanam daily at 12.30 pm in the Annadhana Koodam in the second prakaram of the temple.Any devotee can pay Rs.3500/- for which traditional south Indian meals will be provided for 100 devotees. If a devotee invests Rs.50000/- into a Free-lunch Trust account as a Fixed deposit, the temple authorities will offer free lunch on the special occasions of the donor like wedding anniversary, Birth anniversary dates etc. For this deposit , they can avail tax rebate under sec AAETA1065H/05/15-16/T-0077/80G of Income Tax. Annadhanam Bank Account No.448980513 Bank Branch - Indian Bank, Thiruvarur

Facilities

• Toilet Facility

  These facilities available in the south-west corner of III prakara. The facility is 6 available for both male and female.

• Wheel Chair

  For the benefit of physically challenged devotees the wheel-chair facility will be available in front of the office in the third prakara

• Free Footwear Stand

  Sufficient facilities have been made for the attendants to visit the temple.

Tank Information

Kamalalayam Thirukkulam: Kamalalaya Thirukkulam is the Kulama temple. The miracle that Sundarar took at the golden Itamakalamalai (Thiruvarur) in the bell is seen in the Periyapurana.

Sculpture Details

Sculptures are special

Sacred Verses