Sri Thiagarajar temple, Thiruvarur
Star : Chithirai
Temple timings : 5.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m
Phone : 91- 4366 - 242 343, +91- 94433 54302
Location : Mannargudi 29 kms
Nearest town : Engan 15 kms
Important days : Purattasi for Mother.
Aadi Pooram festival in July – August.
Nitya Pradosham 4.30 to 6.00 p.m. everyday
Other temple/s : Chittirairatha Vallabha Perumal Koil, Kuruvithurai
Devotees pray to
- Rahukala Durga for promotion and favourable transfers.
- Lord Shanmuga for protection from enemies.
- Lord Runa Vimochana Perumal for relief from from debt burdens and ailments.
- Lord Thiagaraja for marriage, children, progress in education, job opportunities, improvement in trade.
- Lord Vanmeekanatha purifies the devotee of his/her sins, eliminates bad traits in him/her as arrogance etc. and grants many boons including prosperity. Students pray at the Akshara Peeta-a small mount with letters-for gaining excellence in education.
- Lord Brahmma Nandhi behind Lord Veedi Vidanga Vinayaka and fill the tub with water seeking rain. They offer Arugu-grass to Him and feed their cows for milk yield.
- Mother Kamalambal to grant wisdom to devotees.
- The Lord and for total success in life, perform Mukundarchana to Lord Thiagarajar which was performed by Lord Vishnu. Emperor Mushukunda also did this for success.
When the planets fearing the demon Satya Gupta appealed to Shiva for protection, He did on the condition that they should ever be soft on His devotees which Lord Ganesha monitors. Hence, the planets are on straight line facing the Lord.
Devotees who visit Tirunallar for Saturn reliefs, should also visit Tiruvarur for total relief.
There are 84 Vinayakas in the temple out of which four are them are highly praised
Presiding Lord Vanmeeka Nathar has the crescent moon on His head and so is the Mother, who represents Mothers Saraswathi, Parvathi and Mahalakshmi holding a flower in the right hand, keeping the left on the hip and legs on a Yoga posture as an Empress.
In Shiva Temples the Thevaram hymn chanting ends with the word Tiru Chittrambalam as followed in Chidambaram temple, considered to be first among all Shiva temples in the state. But Since Tiruvarur temple is more ancient, it is not done here.
The Car (Rath) of Tiruvarur is biggest in size and beautiful in the make.
Lord Dakshinamurthi graces with six disciples, though generally only four are found with Him. Mother Neelotpalambal graces from a separate shrine with a maid holding Lord Muruga and is found as if She is touching the head of Her son Muruga.
Saraswathi is found without Veena but graces in a penance posture. Lord Hayagriva, praised as Hayagriswarar is seen performing Shiva Puja. Students pray to Mother Saraswathi and Lord Hayagriswarar to shine in their academic pursuits.
The story of Manu Needhi Chola is depicted in a stone rath sculpture placed in the northeast corner of the temple.
Generally, Nandhi is seen in a sitting position in Shiva temples except in Saptha Vidanga sthalams.
Away from normal practive, In Tiruvarur, the procession begins from the northeast entrance called Vittavasal. Emperor Mushukunda installed the Linga in the temple which he got from Indira who wanted to get it back and is believed to be waiting at the east entrance. Hence, the devotees are taking Lord in procession through the northeast entrance, so that he may not enter the temple to steal the Linga. Nowadays majority of the devotees use this gate to enter the temple avoiding the east.
Tiruvarur is the only temple that has more number of Thevaram hymns-353, Ganasambandar 55, Tirunavukkarasar 208 and Sundarar 87 and Manickavasagar 3.
It is noteworthy that Mother Kamalambikai is greatly revered as a total personification of the devotional hymn Lalitha Sahasra Nama. Hence, the Theertha is praised as Kamalalayam. Bathing in this Theertha on the Panguni Uthiram day in March-April is considered equal to 12 Mahamagam bath in Kumbakonam. It should be noted that Mahamagam occurs only once in 12 years.
Thiruvarur is a saptha vidanga sthalam. Indira was helped by Emperor Mushukunda in his battle with demons.. when offered a gift, Mushukunda asked for the Shivalinga in Indira’s possession which was worshipped by Lord Vishnu keeping it on His chest. Not wanting to part, with the help of divine sculptor Mayan made six such Lingas and asked the emperor to chose the right one. Mushukunda prayed to the Lord who blessed saying that whichever he chooses will be original. Lossing face, Indira offered the Original Shivalinga along with the six new ones too making the total to 7 and installed by the emperor in the Saptha vidhanga sthalams with Original at Thiruvarur.
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