Pancha Aranya sthalams, near Kumbakonam, are the five temples considered to be surrounded by forests and visited as a pilgrimage within one day in the order of
1. Thirukarugavur (Early Morning)
2. Avalinallur (Morning Pooja)
3. Haridwaramangalam (Midday)
4. Alangudi (Evening) &
5. Thirukollampudur (Arthajamam)
The total driving distance is about 36km and Thirugnanasambandhar, visited the 5 temples in a day (around 30 km) by foot.
Sambandhar started the day at Thirukkaruggavoor, had his darshan and proceeded to Avalivanalloor before ending the morning session at Haridwaramangalam by noon.
He started the evening by having his darshan first at Alangudi. From there when he proceed to Thirukollambudhur, the river got flooded. He split the river by singing a pathigam to pave way for him and reached the temple for his darshan of the Lord.
Mullaivananathar Temple, Thirukarugavur
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m
Phone : 04374 273423
Location : 26 kms from Thanjavur 49 kms from Thiruvarur
Nearest town : 20 Kms from Kumbakonam 10 kms from Papanasam
Important days : Prathosham Shivarathri
Important for : Safe child birth. All planets face Sun God. Swayambu made of Sand
Moolavar is Mullaivananathar and Ambal is Garbharakshambigai / Karukaathanayaki
Lord appeared as Swayambu murti in the jasmine forests and hence named Mullai-vana-nathar. Since the Lingam is made of hard sand, no abhishekam is done to the Lord; only punugu oil is applied. Since the Lord was found entwined in the mullai plants, one can see the marks of Mullai vines on him.
Nithruva lived with his pregnant wife Vedikai here and both were utterly devoted to Lord Shiva and Parvati. One day Sage Urdhavar came when Nithruva had gone out, Vedikai was sleeping and knocked at the door. Since there was delay in opening the door, due to her condition, the angered sage cursed that her pregnancy would not fructify. Both upset, Nithruva and Vedikai prayed to Goddess Parvathi, who took the cursed foetus in a pot and ensured the child’s safety and hence this place is Karu-kaa-voor (place where foetus was protected) and the Goddess is Garbarakshambikai (one who protected the foetus / womb). Hence devotees pray for safe bearing children and delivery, and as gratitude after childbirth.
Lord Vinayaka and Nandikeswarar are also swayambu murtis made of stone.
Uniquely, All the planets stand facing Suryan in this temple.
Satchinathar Temple, Avalivanallur
Temple Timings : 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m
Phone : 04374316911/ 275441
Location : 47 kms from Thiruvarur
Nearest town : 20 Kms from Kumbakonam 12 kms from Alangudi
Important days : Prathosham Shivarathri Thai Amavasya
Important for : Skin diseases. Poor eye sight
Moolavar is Satchinathar and Ambal is Soundaryanayaki
A temple priest left for Kasi for Lord Shiva’s darshan after marrying a good-looking girl who got affected by smallpox and lost her eyesight. She was nursed by her beautiful younger sister. The husband returned and he refused to accept the sick girl as his wife and insisted that the sister was his wife. When the sick wife prayed to the Lord Shiva, He appeared with Parvathi and made the husband realise that the sick girl was the real wife and the sister was not. As blessed by the Lord, wife took a dip in the temple tank on the Amavasya (new moon) day in the month of Thai (January-February and regained her beauty. As he stood witness for the wife, the Lord is called Satchinathar (Satchi / Sakshi means witness).
Lord Vishnu prayed here and was pardoned for digging the earth near the Lord’s feet at Haridwaramangalam
Vilvaranyeswarar Temple, Thirukollampudur
Temple Timings : 7.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. 6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m
Phone : 04374316911/ 275441
Location : 23 kms from Thiruvarur
Nearest town : 21 Kms from Kumbakonam 9 kms from Alangudi
Important days : Boat festival in AIpasi
Important for : Mental Illness
Moolavar is Vilvaranyeswarar and Ambal is Soundaryanayaki
When Sambandar reached this place,he found river vettaru in spate and the boatmen could not take him across the river. Hence he took the boat himself and reached the other bank and spent the night at the temple before proceeding further. This event is part of the boat festival.
Lord Brahma was rid of his Brahmahathi dosham here. Shiva gave a display of his Tandavam to Durvasa.
Praying at this temple and having a dip in the temple tank is said to be helpful in curing mental illness
The temple’s sthalam virksham vilvam or koovilam that gives the place its name – Koovilampudur – which became Kollampudur. It is believed that Amirtham drops manifested into its leaves.
Paathaleeswarar Temple, Haridwaramangalam
Temple Timings : 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 04374 264586/275441 / 9442175441
Location : 38 kms from Thiruvarur
Nearest town : 18 Kms from Kumbakonam Alangudi 9 kms
Important days : Mahashivarathiri, Vaikasi Visakam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai, Prathosham
Important for : Legend of Lord Shiva as Pillar of fire. Equivalent to worship at Hardwar. Solving Devotee’s debts
Moolavar is Paathaleeswarar and Ambal is Alankaravalli
When Vishnu and Brahma had an argument about superiority, They decided to locate the bottom-most and topmost points of the pillar of fire form of Shiva respectively. While Brahma travelled upwards in the form of a swan, Vishnu as a boar dug into the earth, but was unable to see the base of the pillar of fire even after reaching the patalam, and accepted his defeat. Since Hari dug into the earth at this place making a pit, this place was named Haridwaramangalam, and Lord Shiva came to be named Paathaleeswarar. There is a stone slab near Lord Shiva’s feet on the place where Lord Vishnu dug up the earth. It is believed that Lord Shiva had broken the horn of the Boar and is seen to be wearing it on his chest.
The day Lord Vishnu dug up the earth and finally accepted his defeat is the 14th day of the waning moon period and celebrated as Mahashivarathri. It is believed that the tunnel that is at the base of the Avudai of the Shiva Lingam, goes all the way to Haridwar.
Interestingly it is said that Shiva was reluctant to marry Parvati and hid in a hole in the ground which led to Haridwar. Lord Vishnu – Parvati’s brother in the form of a boar, chased Lord Shiva, and brought him back here and convinced him for the wedding.
Abatsahayeswarar temple, Alangudi
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m
Phone : 04374 269407
Location : 30 kms from Thiruvarur Thanjavur 37 kms
Nearest town : 17 Kms from Kumbakonam
Important days : Thursday. Chithirai Pournami Thai Poosam, Panguni Uthiram
Important for : Guru Pariharams. Relief from Influence of Snake planets. Obstacle in marriage, Academic excellence
Moolavar is Abatsahayeswarar and Ambal is Umayammai. Elavaar Kuzhali
Lord Shiva consumed the Halahala here when the Paarkadal was churned and hence he is Abatsahayeswarar (the Lord as protector or one who saves from danger) and the name became Aalan-kudi, where halahala was drunk.
When Sundarar wanted to pray to the Lord but was unable to cross the river due to heavy floods, Lord Shiva helped Sundarar cross the river, thereby taking the name Abatsahayeswarar. When the boat hit against a rock while crossing, Vinayaga ensured the safety and became Kalangamal Kaththa Vinayagar.
The Amman Sannidhi is followed by Lord’s and then that of Dakshinamoorthy to adhere to the traditional ranking of Mata, Pita, Guru.
This temple is the Guru sthalam among the Navagraha sthalam. Here Dakshinmaurthy is prominent even compared to the moolavar (Abatsahayeswarar) and Thursday worship is special.
Parvathi worshipped here for repentance of attending Dakhsa yagam and to marry Lord Shiva on rebirth. Daksha with the head of goat is outside the main temple.
The image of Sundarar is with chicken pox marks on the face. It appears that the King impressed with the beauty of Sundarar took it to Tiruvarur for installation. But the priest to save the idol, hid in a piece of cloth as if carrying a child and told the checking soldiers that the child was suffering from chicken pox to keep them away. Astonishingly the following morning, the idol had developed marks on the face to indicate chicken pox.
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