Tiruttalinathar Temple

Tiruttalinathar Temple
Tiruttalinathar Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates 10°08′N 78°37′E / 10.133°N 78.617°E / 10.133; 78.617Coordinates: 10°08′N 78°37′E / 10.133°N 78.617°E / 10.133; 78.617
Country India
State/province Tamil Nadu
District Sivaganga
Locale Tirupathur, Tamil Nadu, India
Culture
Primary deity Tiruttalinathar (Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles Dravidian architecture

This Siva temple is located in a small town, Thiruputhur near Karaikkudi. This temple is regarded as the 6th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya kingdom of Tamil Nadu. The temples Rameswaram and Tiruvadanai are the other Shivastalams nearby.

Mythology

According to the legend, the prominent snakes Vasuki and Kaarkotakan worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the separate shrine for Tirunageswarar in the outer 3rd prakaram(outer courtyard). The concept of Pranavam is said to have realized that Shiva & Pranavam were one and the same here, & is said to have manifested itself as the Konrai Maram. The legend has it that, Goddess Mahalaskhmi once wished to have a darshan of Lord Shiva's dance. Lord Shiva conceded to her request and told her that she can have a vision of his dance at this sthalam. Accordingly, Shiva is said to have revealed a vision of his Cosmic Dance known as Gowri Thandavam to Goddess Mahalakshmi here. Agasthyar, Valmiki, Jayanthan the son of Devendran are said to have worshipped here. This temple has got the royal patranage from the early Chola, Pandiya and Chera kings, and by the later period Pallavas, Sethupathy Raja, Maruthu Pandiyar etc.

Temple structure

Although Thiruputhur is a small town, the shiva temple here is big and as we go inside the temple, it is really huge and causes fascination to the visitor. This 15-acre (61,000 m2) temple has a main vimanam with several stucco images on the east side and has 3 prakarams(outer courtyard). The outer 3rd prakaram(outer courtyard) is a wide courtyard on all the 4 sides. In the 2nd middle prakaram(outer courtyard) there are shrines for Lord Subramanya along with His 2 consorts Valli and Deivaanai . The presiding deity lord shiva is called as Tiruttalinathar, Sreetalinathar and the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Sivakami, Soundarya Nayaki. The shrine for Tiruttalinathar is situated at an elevated portion and is facing east. The shrine for Sivagami is situated parallel to the north of the main sanctum sanctorum and is also facing east. The mandapam in front of the sanctum sanctorum has pillars with beautiful sculptured images of Rishabavaaganar, Narthana Ganapathy, Venugpolan, Narasimhar etc. Interesting metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are also seen here. Stone images of Nataraja and Sivakami are seen in this temple. The Yoga Bhairavar shrine (facing West) is of significance here. Interesting metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are also seen here. The Navagrahams are in a seated posture. Entering the 3rd inner prakaram(outer courtyard) from the east side, one can see the small shrines for Sun God Sooriyan, Mahalakshmi, Mahaganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Varunalingam, Visalakshmi Amman, Agasthiyalingam, Sandeswarar and Durgai on the 4 pathways of the prakaram(outer courtyard). The sthala vriksham is Konrai tree and the Theertham is called as Garuda Theertham

Poems on this temple

Sambandar and Appar composed the thevara Pathigam here.

Festivals

The Jayantan Festival is celebrated on the 1st Friday in the Tamil month of Chittirai . In addition to this Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri, Kartikai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam and Vaikasi Visaakam are celebrated here .

Location

This temple is located in between Madurai and Karaikudi and can be reached by road from both the places. It is located about 65 km from Madurai, 20 km from Karaikudi and about 35 km from Sivagangai.

References

External links

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