Thiru Chopuram, Thiru Chopura Nadhar / Mangala pureeswarar Temple. Cuddlore

Thiru Chopuram:  Thiru Chopura Nadhar / Mangala pureeswarar Temple.

The place is about 20 kms from Cuddlore. The place is also known as Thyagavalli. The temple is on the shore of Bay of Bengal. This is one the Devara Sthalams of Nadu Naadu.

A Temple that was burried and recoverd from sand. 

Some thousands of years back the temple was buried into sand due to fury of the sea.

In the later years of 19^th century the sand was cleared and temple was constructed once again.

Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam Arulmigu Thiru Chopura Nadhar/ Mangala pureeswarar and his consort Chopura Nayaki Amman / Sathyadakshi Amman...

Here Sivalingam is on square peetam as Avudai and the Lingam portion is made of Sand. Palm print of Agasthya muni is visible on the Lingam portion. There is a small ball like bulb which is considered as Ganga. Lord Vishnu and Brahma are seen worshipping at the back of sanctorum.

 

Something unique in this temple is Turmeric and Kumkum is used for worship of Lord Siva here. Hence the Lord is known as Mangala pureeswarar.

Unique factors

One can here sound of Saptha Swaram from Dakshina Murthy idol when it is tapped.

Here White Vastram is used for Dakshina Murthy instead of Yellow which is normal. Dakshina Murthy is seen with Nagam to left hand and Agni to right hand which is in reverse order.

Teertham is known as Chopura Teertham and Bay of Bengal.

Sthala Vruksham is Kondrai Tree.

Inside the inner prakaram we see Vinayakar, Lakshmi, Murugan, Verrateswarare, Kannappar, Navagraham, Lingothbavar, Dakshina Murthy, Bairavar, and Natarajar sanctums.

Sthala purana says once when a devotee came here to worship Lord Siva he did not see the temple but a little portion of Kalasa was visible from within the sand. The residence of the village helped in removing the sand and the temple was visble. 

During the marriage of Lord Siva and Parvthy the land tilted to one side, due to the weight of complete Mankind and Devas who gathered to see the function. So Lord Siva asked Agyasthya Muni to travel towards south to balance.

As the sage was traveling he installed Siva Lingam in many places for his worship. Once when he came to this place he had severe stomach ache and he prayed to Lord Siva. He tried to make a Lingam of sand which was available there. He was not able to do the Lingam.  He realised Lord was testing him. He finally used some herbs found near by and extracted juice from it and mixed them to sand and made a Lingam out of it. The Lingam has palm print of sage Agasthya when he installed it. He was relieved from stomach ache.

 Agasthiyar and Thyagavalli worshipped Lord Siva of this place.

Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Siva of this temple.  

Mel Kadambur / Kadambar, Arulmigu Amirtha kadeswarar temple. Kattumannar Koil, Cuddlore District.

Mel Kadambur / Kadambar:  Arulmigu Amirtha kadeswarar temple.

This temple is one of the Nadu Naadu Devara Sthalams. The temple is about 5 kms distance to SW from Kattumannaar Koil on the bank of River Kollidam.

The main Raja Gopuram is of three tiers.

Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arulmigu Amirtha kadeswarar facing east and his consort Vidhyujyothi Nayaki Amman in different sanctum. Sun rays falls on Siva Lingam on 3, 4, and 5, of Panguni Month (March and April). Moon rays falls on Siva Lingam in the Month of Iyppasi full- moon day.

The temple is constructed with stones. It is like a Chariot. We can see horses also to the chariot in the front sides.

Vinayakar in this temple is known as Aravara Vinayakar in separate sanctum. He looks serious leaning his head slightly to left.

Athithi, mother of Devas worshipped Lord Siva in this place which was not liked by Devendran. So Indra wanted to take away the Lord Amirthakadeswar to his place. He turned the temple as Chariot and pulled it. Vinayakar wanted to teach him a lesson by pressing the Chariot. So the left wheel is struck to earth.

Sthala Vruksham is Kadamba Vruksham

Teertham is Sakthi teertham

As we go around the prakaram, we see Kanni Vinayakar, Murugan, Ardhanareeswarar, Uma Maheswarar, Agyasthyar, Nalwar, Meenakshi, Lakshmi, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Chandekeswarar, Durgai, Navagraham and Chandikeswarar.

To the outer wall of the main sanctum we see beautiful sculptures.

Here we see Kanni Vinayakar, Agasthyar, Devandran and Ardhanareeswarar.

Durga Matha.

Alingana moorthy.

   

 Gangadharar.

Lord Brahma, Parvatha Rajan and Chitraguptan to left of Brahma. Pathanjali muni and Gangadharar are seen to right of Lord Brahma.

Lord Dakshina Moorthy.

Here on top of Dakshina Moorthy we see a sculpture of Dakshina Moorthy with Veena in his hand and above that we see another Sculpture of Dakshina moorthy with flute in his hand.

Ardhanareeswarar.

Kala Bairavar.

Saneeswarar

Veerabadrar.

Lord Murugan received his Bow to destroy Sooran, by worshipping Lord Siva in this temple. Sani Baghwan in the temple is seen with Eagle as his vahana. Purana says King Dasaradha gave crow to Sani Bhagawan who replaced it for eagle. The Moorthy is older to Ramayana period.

When Devas churned the Ocean, pot of nectar was given to Lord Indra. They tried to consume the Amirtam without worshipping Lord. Vinayakar angrily took away the nectar pot to teach them a lesson. When Vinayaka was passing through this place a drop of nectar fell down and this formed as Siva Lingam. Hence the Lord is known as Amirtakadeswarar.

The place was full of Kadamba Vruksham; hence the place is known also known as Kadambar

Sthala Purana says Devas and Indra, realized their mistake and worshipped Lord Siva in this place and received the nectar from Him. Lord Siva stayed back in this place as Amirthakadeswarar. When Indra was not able to lift the chariot temple from this place he worshipped Lord Vinayaka to help him. Lord Vinayaka agreed and asked Indra to install one Crore Lingam and he accepted the challenge. Due to his pride he failed in his attempt. Indra worshipped Lord Siva who asked him to make a Siva Lingam chanting his name thousand times. Indra made Rudrakoteeswara and worshipped him.

Lord Amirthakadeswarar appeared before him and he said he wished to stay back in this place. It is believed that Indra worships Lord Siva of this temple daily.

Importance of the temple is there is Urchava idol of Rishba Thandava Moorthy with 10 hands. Special Pooja is performed on pradosha days of New, Full Moon. Here we see Goddess Parvathy, Lord Vishnu, Lord Vinayaka, Bairava, and Veerabadrar, Maharishis like Narada, Brungi, Mruganda, Nandi Devar, Gandrava and Boodha Ganas watching the Thandavam.   

Goddess Vidhyujyothi Nayaki Amman is considered to posses the Sakthi of Goddess Saraswathy, Goddess Maha Lakshmi and Goddess Durga matha. In the morning she graces as Goddess Saraswathy with Veena, in the midday with Elephant as Goddess Maha Lakshmi, and in the evening as Goddess Durga Matha with Tridend. Hence the name Vidyajyothi Nayaki

Navagraha worship Lord Siva here. So Lord Siva is dreesed with cloth of respective colors. The temple is regarded as Navagraha Parihara Sthalam

Thiru Navukkarasar, Thiru Gyana Sambandhar, Mannikkavachakar and Sundarar have worshiped and sang Hymns praising the Lord Siva. Arunagiri Nadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan.

Thilatharpana Puri temple. Peralam.

1. Thilatharpana puri:
   
   
   
   This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam.
   
   
   
   The place is known as Thiladaipathy. The temple is about 5 kms from Peralam on the bank of River Arasalaru.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Mutheeswarar / Mandhara vaneswarar and his consort known as Porkodi Nayaki.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a separate sanctum with mandapam for Adhi Vinayakar in front of the temple. Here Vinayakar is seen with human face.
   
   
   
   
   Teertham is known as Chandra teertham. Sthala vruksham is Mandarai.
   
   
   
   
   Purana says Sri Rama and Lakshamana performed ceremony for King Dasaratha and Jatayu, here and hence, the name Thilatharpana puri for this place.
   
   
   
   Brahma, Lakshmi, and Dakshan worshipped Lord Siva here.
   
   
   
   Gyana Sambandhar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place.
   
   
   
   [Arasalaru][LordSiva]