Thiruvaalam pozhil, Athmanaadeswarar Temple, Tanjavoore Dt.

Thiruvaalam pozhil, Athmanaadeswarar Temple:



He place Thiruvaalam pozhil is about 17 kms from Tanjvoore. The place is on the way to Kandiyoore and Thirukattupalli. This is one of the Siva Devara Sthalam of Tanjavoore district. This is one of the Saptha Sthana Sthalams.









The Main Raja gopuram is of five storeys.







As we enter in, we see Dwajasthambam and Nandi.








Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam and Teertham is Cauveri.










Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arulmigu Athmanaadeswarar facing west, and his consort known as Gyanambikai Amman seen in separate sanctum.
















Other deities seen in the temple as we go around the prakaram are Vinayakar, Meda Dakshina Moorthy, Kasi Viswanadhar, Lord Murugan with Valli and Devanai, Chandikeswarar, Navagraham, Pancha Lingam Nalwar and Natarajar.




Ashtavasukal worshiped Lord Siva here and were blessed. Thirunavukkarasar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this temple.




Lord Siva is mentioned as Parambaikudi Thiruvaalam pozhil Mahadevar in the stone inscriptions of the temple.

Thiru kattupalli: Agneswarar temple. Tanjavoore Dt.

Thiru kattupalli: Agneswarar temple.



The place Melai Thirukattupalli is about 15 kms west of Thiruvayaaru to Kallanai route, on the south bank of River Kudamurutti. This is one of the Siva Devara Sthalams.








The Main Raja Gopuram of the temple is of seven tiers and three prakarams.










As we enter inside we see Dwajasthambam. As we go around the prakaram we see Vinayakar santum.








Sthala Vruksham is Vanni and Vilvam.









Teertham are Soorya teertham, Agni teertham in the form of well, River Cauveri and River Kudamurutti.




Main Deity here is Swayambu Lingam known as Agneeswarar and his consort here known as Soundara Nayaki / Azhagamar Mangai.










Ambaal sanctum is seen facing south and here Goddess is seen in standing posture. We get to see dwarabalaki to either sides of the entrance.




In the inner prakaram other deities, we see are Vinayakar, Lingothbavar next to Vinayakar is seen in sanctum. Usually he is seen as Koshta Moorthy but here it is unusual. Ardhanareeswarar is seen beside Lingothbavar. We get to see Arumugan with his consort Valli and Devanai. Kasi Viswanadhar, Visalakshi, Gaja Lakshmi, and Durga sanctum are there. Here in mandapam of the temple we see Bairavar and Nalwar. All Grahas are seen facing Sooryan, in the Navagraha sanctum of the temple.





Thirumaal, Brahman, Sooryan, Agni, Bageeradhan and queen of Urayoor worshiped Lord Siva here and were blessed by Him.





Sthala Purana says the King gave the flowers to his two Queens which was brought from Urayoor Garden by his servants. The elder one of the two Queens used to worship Lord Siva with the flowers given to her. The younger one used to use the flower for herself. At the time when Urayoor was completely destroyed by the natural calamity of sand storm, this place Thirukattupalli where elder Queen resided was safe.




Thiru Gyana Sambandhar and Thiru Navukkarasar sung Hymns on Lord Siva of this temple.





Stone inscriptions of Sundara Pandyan and Konerinmai Kondan period are seen in the temple. Inscriptions refer Ambaal as Azhagar Mangai. The temple was renovated by King First Aditya Cholan

Thiru Vedikudi, Vedapureeswarar Temple, Tanjavoore

Thiru Vedikudi Temple: Lord Vedapureeswarar..



The place Thiru Vedikudi is about 7kms North to Tanjore on the banks of River Vettaru. This temple is one of the Devara sthalam. This temple is one of the Ezhoor temples visited by Lord Iyarappar of Thiruvaiaru, in the Tamil month of Chiittarai (April/ May).







The temple has Raja gopuram of three storey, and single prakaram.









Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam and Teertham is Veida teertham.




Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arulmigu Vedapureeswarar and his consort known as Mangayarkarasi Amman. Sun rays falls on 13,14 and 15 of tamil month Panguni (March/ April).















As we go round the prakaram deities seen in the temple are Sevi Saaitha Vinayakar, 108 Siva Lingam, Dakshina Moorthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Durgai, Murugan, Mahalakshmi, Natarajar, Lakshmi Narayanar and Hanuman is seen at the feet of Him, Saptha Sthana Lingams.




Lord Brahma worshiped Lord Siva here hence the name Vedikudi for the place. Vedas worshiped Lord Siva here and were blessed. Vinayakar enjoys listening to chanting of Vedas; hence he is known as Sevi Saaitha Vinayakar / Veda Vinayakar. The temple Vimanama construction is of stones. Nandi is seen to four sides of Temple Vimanam, represting four Vedas. Ardhanareeswarar form here is unusual in this temple. Here Ambal is seen to the right side of Ardhanareeswarar who is seen as Koshta Deivam at the back of main sanctum.




Sthala purana says once Vedas were taken away from Brahma by the Asuras and it was hidden under the ocean. The Vedas were brought back by Lord Narayanar. Vedas worshiped Lord Siva to get rid of their Dosha of being with Asura. The Vedas were blessed by Lord Siva. On request of Vedas Lord Siva stayed back in this place as Vedapureeswarar.




Thiru Navukkarasar and Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Siva here. Arunagirinadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan of this temple.



Stone inscriptions of Rajakesri Varman and Koparakesari Varman period are seen in the temple they say the Lord is known as Thiru Vedikudi Mahadevar and Para kesari Chaturvedi mangala Mahadevar.

Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavneswarar Temple, Thiru Chotru thurai, Tanjoore Dt.

Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavneswarar Temple:




The place is about 15 kms from Tanjavoore and 4 kms from Kandiyoor.
This temple of Chotuthurai is one of the Devara Sthalam, on the south bank of River Cauvery. This is third temple of the Ezhur (Seven) sthalams, where Lord fed is devotees.









Main Raja Gopuram is of three tiers




The temple has single prakaram only. As we go around the prakaram, Sanctum of Annapoorani Amman is in the south east, Lord Arumugan facing east is seen in a shrine facing south.








Lord Maha Vishnu sanctum is seen facing east. We get to see Gautama Muni worshiping Lord Vishnu here.









Lord Vinayakar and Lord Murugan are seen near the temple entrance to either side.









We see a mandapam and Adigara Nandi is seen in front of the mandapam. We see Natarajar in the mandapam which leads to the Artha mandapam and main sanctum of Lord Oudhavaneswarar.




Sthala Vruksham is Vilvam. Teertham is River Cauvery and Soorya teertham.










Main deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Thiru Chotru thurai Nadhar / Oudhavaneswarar with his consort known as Annpoorani Amman facing east. She is seen in a separate sanctum in SE while go around the prakaram.










Brahma, Vishnu, Sooryan, Indran and Sage Gautama worshiped Lord Siva in this place. Sage Gautama attained Mukthi in this place.










Sthala Purana: Once due to severe famine people were starving. The temple was not taken care off at that time. A devotee of Lord Siva named Arulalan worshiped Lord Siva to overcome the severe famine. He banged his heads to the steps and cried out for help from Lord Siva. There was heavy down pour and the place was flooded. There was a bowl floating in the water which was picked by Arulalan. He heard a voice announcing, the bowl is Akshya Patra which gives food always without any bounds. It will never go dry and it can help in feeding the people to get rid of their hunger.




Since the Lord here has helped to get rid of famine and gave Akshya Patra which gave food, Lord is praised and named as Thiru Chotru Thurai Nadhar. (Chotru means food).





Saints Sundarar, Thiru Navakkuarasar and Thiru Gyana Sambandhar sang Hymns on Lord Siva of this temple. Arunagirinadhar sang Thirupugazh on Lord Murugan here. Thiru Ramalinga Vallalaar has praised and worshiped Lord here.