| Thyagaraja Temple | |
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Thyagaraja Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
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| Location | |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Tamil Nadu |
| District: | Tiruvarur |
| Location: | Tiruvarur |
| Temple Details | |
| Primary Deity: | Valmiki Nathar(Shiva) Thyagarajaswamy(Shiva) |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Architectural styles: | Dravidian architecture |
Sri Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram hymns of Saiva nayanars, 7th century Tamil saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
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The temples complex occupies an area of around 20 acres with the Kamalalayam tank to its west. There are numerous shrines and mandapas(halls) in the three spacious enclosures(prakaram). The two main shrines of the temple are for Valmikinathar(Lord Siva) and Thyagarajar. Of the two, the former is the most ancient, and derives its name from tha anthill(putru), which takes the place of linga in the main shrine. Appar, the 7th century poet saint, refers to the main deity in his hymn as puttritrukondan(one who resides in the ant hill). The Stala vriksham(temple tree) is patiri(trumpet flower tree). The principles and practises of tree-worship and ophilotary are ancient bases wherupon a later date linga worship seems to have been established.[1]
The temple dates back to the time of the Medieval Cholas though the existing temple complex as it exists today has been constructed only in the 14th century AD. There are plenty of inscriptions and paintings on the walls of the temple. The inscriptions either refer to the Medieval and Later Cholas or to the Thanjavur Marathas. The temple complex seems to have acted as the cultural model for the big Brahadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur of Rajaraja Chola I, wherein he enshrined a vitankar which shared with the Atavallan of Chidambaram the status of state cult. The last Chola monarch to play an important role in the affairs of the temple was Kulothunga Chola III in the early part of the 13th century A.D. It attracted saivas of all schools and was important centre of Golaki matha in the 13th and 14th century. It was also an important Jaina dwelling place, which was attacked by saivas, as is evident from Periya Puranam, account of life of tantiyadigal.[2]
The temple hosts the annual car festival in March for ten days. Animated crowd push and pull the largest temple car of Tamil Nadu and its smaller cars on the laborious path around the surrounding streets.[3]
The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa thanam(dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) 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 at Tiruvarur. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu.[4] All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession(it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam(seven dance moves)[5] and the related temples are as under[6]:
| Temple | Vidangar Temple | Dance pose | Meaning |
| Tiruvarur Thyagarajar Temple | Vidhividangar | Ajabathaanam | Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest |
| Dharbaranyeswarar Temple | Nagaradangar | Unmathanathaanam | Dance of an intoxicated person |
| Kayarohanaswamy Temple | Sundaravidangar | Vilathithaanam | Dancing like waves of sea |
| Kannayariamudayar Temple | Adhividangar | Kukunathaanam | Dancing like a cock |
| Brahmapureeswarar Temple | Avanividangar | Brunganathaanam | Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower |
| Vaimoornaathar Temple | Nallavidangar | Kamalanaanathaanam | Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze |
| Vedaranyeswarar Temple | Bhuvanivividangar | Hamsapthanathaanam | Dancing with the gait of a swan |
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