Thirumanancheri Pancha Krosham
The temples in Thirumanacheri Pancha Krosham are Thirumanancheri, Edhirkolpadi, Thiruvelvikudi, villanallur and Kuttalam.
Sri Udhvaganathar temple, Thirumanancheri
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 04364-235002
Location : Tiruvarur 46 km Nagappattinam 46 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 8 kms Myladuthurai 32 kms
Important days : Chithirai Wedding festival, Prathosham, Aadi Pooram, Thiruvathirai, Thirukarthigai,
Important for : Wedding boons
This is considered the place where Siva and Parvati were married and where Parvati met the Lord prior to their wedding.
Apart from moolavar Lingam, there is a separate shrine for Siva as Kalyana Sundareswarar, with His bride Kokilambika, in Nitya kalyana kolam and dressed in a wedding attire. Both are depicted holding hands and Parvati is depicted with her head bent, like a shy bride! For this reason, like many other temples associated with the Siva-Parvati wedding, this temple of Kalyana Sundareswarar is a prarthana sthalam for those wanting to get married.
There is another story of two women who promised to get their two children married. While one had a beautiful girl, the other’s boy was born with the head of a tortoise. When the girl’s mother refused to keep her promise, the boy’s mother worshipped Lord Siva hereby whose grace, the boy’s head became human. Then the marriage took place as the two women had agreed.
Kama (Manmadhan) was burnt to ashes by Siva at Korukkai, for disturbing his tapas and get Him interested in Parvati. When Rati prayed to Shiva and got his Pardon, Kama came to this temple to worship the Lord who blessed Kama that he would regain his status in the celestial world.
The temple tank is called the Sapta Sagara Teertham, as it represents the seven seas of the world that attended came to witness the celestial wedding. This is a highly auspicious place as the Siva-Parvati wedding happened here and hence there is no Navagraham shrine here. Interestingly, this place has Vanni and Kondrai as Sthala Vriskshams apart from Karu Oomathai is considered the main sthala vriksham of this temple.
Sri Airavarteswarar temple, Mela Thirumanancheri
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : 04364 235487 Senthil Kumar Gurukkal: 80121 60621
Location : Tiruvarur 46 km Nagappattinam 61 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 32 kms Myladuthurai 9 kms
Important days : Karthigai Mondays. Margazhi thiruvathirai
Important for : Wedding boons
The Lord is Airavateswarar and the Ambal is Kunthalambigai
Indra, for having defeated the asuras, was given a Garland by Sage Durvasa which had been used for Siva puja. Indra received with little respect and put it on his elephant, Airavata who shook it off and trampled it. Angry Durvasar cursed both Indra and Airavata. Indira was to have his head sliced by the sword of a king; which was modified on Indira expressing remorse to his crown would fall down and save his neck. Airvatam sought refuge under Lord and worshipped here, where he got redemption. The name of the moolavar is due to Airavata worshipping here.
This is the temple in the vicinity that is connected to the story of Siva’s marriage to Parvati.
This is the place where Vishnu, as Parvati’s brother, welcomed all the wedding guests, for the celebrations. Hence Even today, for the annual Tirukalyanam festival at Tirumananjeri, the seeru from Parvati’s family side goes from Ethirkolpadi to Tirumananjeri.
The ancient name of this place – Ethirkolpadi – is derived from: Ethir=opposite (face-to-face), kol=see, and padi=place.
Also Sage Bharatha was the head priest who conducted the wedding of Lord and Mother at Tiruvelvikudi. He invited them to his place Tirumananjeri and arranged a grand reception to the divine couple and welcomed (Ethir Kollal in Tamil) the divine couple with due honours. Hence, the place is named as Ethirkol Padi. It is also known as Melakoil.
Hence in harmony with the sthala puranam, the garbhagriham here is large enough for an elephant to circumambulate the Lingam which is housed on a square avudai.
The core structural temple here is built by Kulothunga Chola.
Sri Kalyanasundareswarar temple, Velvikudi, Nagappattinam
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone : Vaidyanatha Gurukkal: 04364 235462
Location : Tiruvarur 44 km Nagappattinam 59 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 31 kms Myladuthurai 8 kms
Important days : Maha Sivarathri Panguni Uthiram
Important for : Wedding boons
Velvi refers to sacrificial yajnas. This is the location where the pre-wedding yajnas were conducted before the wedding at Tirumanancheri. Siva performed the gangadharanam to Parvati, Brahma was the chief priest and Vinayakar performed self-sankalpam (and hence known as Sankalpa Vinayakar). There is also a belief that Velvikudi is the wedding location and not Tirumananjeri.
Sundarar (the Nayanar) who was afflicted with a disease was cured after taking a bath in the temple pond.
An unconfirmed story of a wedding between prince and princess, was cancelled due to death of princess suddenly before wedding. On the prayer by the Prince, Lord Siva instructed to revive the princess and get her ready for the wedding.
Worshipping at this temple gives marriage boon.
There is a mural depicting the wedding procession of Siva and Parvati. The Ardhanareeswarar murti here shows Parvati to Siva’s right (normally the left is where the bride is positioned). It is believed that Siva granted half his body to Parvati in this place and therefore the concept of Ardhanareeswarar originated here.
In view of the celestial wedding, This is a mangala sthalam and hence the Navagrahas are absent. Another interesting version is that the Navagrahas went to Tirumananjeri for the wedding. Also, Since Lord Siva Himself is in the isana moolai (northeast corner) of the temple, He is the adipathi for all the Navagrahams in any case. (appears as an after thought explanation).
Sri Uktavedeeswarar temple, Kuttalam
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 noon 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone :
Location : Tiruvarur 43 km Nagappattinam 58 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 29 kms Myladuthurai 9 kms
Important days : Maha Sivarathri, Panguni Uthiram
Important for : wedding boon
Uthrasanman wanted to go to Kasi to worship Lord Siva. Siva wanted to impress on him that this place was no less than Kasi and deputed one of his ganas to scare the devotee in the form of a serpent. But Uthrasanman invoked the Garuda Mantram and humbled the Gana, Then Lord Siva as a snake charmer provided relief to the snake.
Realizing that power of Siva in nullifying the effect of Garuda Mantram, Uthrasanman prayed to Him here as he would at Kasi. This incident is depicted in this temple to the right of Dakshinamurti.
This is one of the temples in the vicinity that is connected to the story of Siva’s marriage to Parvati.
When prior to the wedding, it was hot and not wanting to be affected by heat, wore footwear and brought the Uddala tree for shade, with Him from Indra’s abode. After the wedding his footwear and the Uddala tree remained here. Once can see an image of footwear by the tree, the temple’s sthala vriksham, believed to be those worn by Siva.
Since Lord Siva kept His word that He would marry Parvati on earth, so he goes by the name Sonnavaaru Arivaar (the one who keeps his promise).
The ancient name of this place is Tiruturutti. Turutti denotes a mound or an island and the place is located between the Kaveri river and the Manjalaru river. The name of the place today – Kuttalam – derives from the Uddala tree.
Agni worshipped Siva here and was blessed to have become a useful form of energy. Vikrama Chola‘s wife – Komala was cured of small pox after worshipping at this temple. Parvati came to be born here accompanied by Vinayaga and hence known as Thunai Vanda Vinayakar.
Sundaramurti Nayanar regained his complete eyesight which he had lost after Sangili Nachiyar‘s cursed him.
Sri Kaleeswarar temple, Villiyanallur
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 noon 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone :
Location : Tiruvarur 55 km Nagappattinam 65 kms
Nearest town : Kumbakonam 44 kms Myladuthurai 13 kms
Important days : Prathosham Mahasivarathri
Important for : Clear Marriage obstacles. Wedding & Child boons. Health. To make ancestors happy
The Lord is Kaleeswarar Or Brahmpureeswarar. The Amman is Sivakami. The temple is also known as Brahmpureeswarar temple
It is believed that before the Wedding, Lord Siva performed a homam in the banks of the temple pond conducted by Ganesha. Therefore the Pond came to be known as homakulam. The Pond has an Irattai Vinayagar.
The usual deities and arrangement in Siva temples and prevalent here.
Uniquely the Chandikeswarar is near Nandi. There is a theertham opposite to the east-facing temple which has no gopuram. Last kumbabhishekam was done in July 2014.
The temple has a welcome arch over the gate, with a stucco of Siva and Parvati with a bali peetham followed by the mandapam.
Nandi faces Siva. There is a Nandi on the left, facing Abhirami Amman. In the Sanctum the Lingam is tilted slightly to the left. The Vinayakar on the left at the entrance to the garbhagriham is divine
There are shrines for Dakshinamurti and Durga. In the prakaram, there is a shrine for Murugan and consorts Valli and Deivanai. Chandikeswarar is present in his shrine. No Navagrahams but an image of Suryan is found.
The temple is generally beautiful and well maintained
The temple is open with no specific closure times and the locals nearby will be able to help locate the keys to open the gates even if locked.
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