the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

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Abodes of Shiva

75. Arulmigu Mangalambigai sameda Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar Temple, Thiru Penu Perunthurai (Thiruppanthurai)

 

Mulavar   Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar, Adhi Vilvavana Nathar
Ambal   Mangalambigai
Kshethram    
Direction   Facing West
Theertham   Brahma Theertham, Nandhi Theertham, Daksha Theertham, river Kudamurutti
Sthala Vruksham   Vilva vruksham
Paadiyavar   Gyanasambandar,Appar
Travel Base   Thanjavur
Nearest Railway Station   Thanjavur
Continent   Chola - South Cauvery
Circle   Thiruvaiyaru
District   Thanjavur
State   Tamil Nadu

Location

Thiru Kandiyur is situated at a distance of about 3 kms from Thiruvaiyaru on the Thiruvaiyaru to Tanjore route. From Tanjore, this place is about 10 kms away. Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are – Thiruvaiyaru, Thiru Neithanam, Thiruppazhanam, Thiru Chotruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi, Thiruppunthuruthi and Thiru Alampozhil.

History

According to legend, Lord Brahma was once very arrogant and vain. He considered himself to be the greatest among all the gods. He also caused a lot of miseries to the other celestial gods (Devas). The celestial gods approached Lord Shiva for help. Upon their request, Lord Shiva took the form of a hunter (Vaduga) and removed Lord Brahma’s fifth head using his trident. Lord Brahma then realized his mistake and pleaded to Lord Shiva for forgiveness. The lord pardoned him and blessed him by saying that he would retain his beauty even after loosing one of his heads. He now became chathur mugam (lord with four heads). Hence Lord Shiva is praised here as Sri Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar and Sri Veerattaneswarar. This place gets the name Kandana Puram (Kandanam means to pluck in Tamil). This was later changed to Kandiyur. Goddess Saraswathi prayed to Lord Shiva here to bless her with Mangalya Pakyam (long life for her husband) which the lord is believed to have granted. Another legend associated with this temple is that of Sage Sathathaba. The sage used to visit Kalahasthi on all Pradosham days without fail. However, when he had reached this place he realised that he would not be able to reach Kalahasthi in time for darshan.He prayed to Lord Shiva here who in turn gave him the same dharshan that he would have received in Kalahasthi. It is believed that Lord Shiva brought a vilva tree from Mount Kailash for Sage Sathathaba. Hence this place also gets the name Aadhi Vilvaaranyam. Another legend is that Guru Dronacharya worshiped the lord here to seek child boon. It is believed that Lord Shiva blessed him with a child. It is believed that Lord Brahma, Goddess Saraswathi, Suryan, Sage Sadadhaba, Guru Dronacharya, king Dakshan, king Bhagiratha, Saints Thirugnanasambanthar and Thirunavukkarasar have worshiped the lord here.

Architecture

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 12th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This is the first among the eight Veerattana sthalams. This is one of the Sapthasthanam temple of Thiruvaiyaru. This west facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. This ancient temple is located on the banks of the river Kudamurutti. In the stone inscriptions, the lord is referred to as Thiru Veerattanattu Mahadevar and Thirukkandiyur Udaiya Mahadevar. The historical names of this place are Aadhi Vilvaaranyam and Tri Moorthy Sthalam. There are certain stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Pallava king Nirupathunga Varman, Chola kings Koppara Kesari Varman, Uthama Cholan and Rajendra Cholan-I. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). In Hindu mythology, there are eight special places where it is believed that Lord Shiva vanquished various demons and exhibited acts of bravery. These places are Veeratta Sthalams. In Tamil, this is referred to as Atta Veerattanam (Atta means eight and Veeram means bravery). Thirukkandiyur (this place) is the first Veeratta Sthalam where one of Lord Brahma’s five heads was plucked by Lord Shiva. The other seven Veeratta Sthalams are –Thirukkovilur where the demon Andhakasuran was vanquished; Thiruvathigai where the lord is believed to have done the Thiripura Samharam. Keezha Parasalur where Dakshan’s yagna was stopped and he was killed; Thiruvirkudi where the demon Jalandharasuran was killed; Thiru Vazhuvur where the elephant Gajasuran was vanquished; Thiru Korukkai where Manmathan was burnt and later blessed. Thirukkadaiyur where Lord Yama was kicked and punished to save Markandeya. A small idol of Sri Vadugar can be seen near the entrance door of Lord Brahma’s shrine. Goddess Parvathy and Lord Dandapani’s shrines are in the outer corridor. There is a separate shrine for Goddess Kaali. The idol of Raja Ganapathy is seen under the Vilva tree (this temple’s Sthala Viruksham). A big sized idol of Lord Brahma seated along with Goddess Saraswathi is in a separate shrine. This shrine is next to Lord Shiva’s sanctum. Lord Brahma is seen in a worshiping posture. He holds a japamalai and lotus flowers in his hands. At the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, idols of Lord Murugan can be seen on either side. This is quite unique. One Murugan is holding a japamalai in his right and the other one is holding a lotus flower. They are praised here as Sri Gnanaskandar and Sri Veeraskandar. The idol of Ardhanareeswarar looks very beautiful and it is quite unique. Normally, in other temples, Lord Ardhanareeswarar is seen in a standing posture but here he is in a seated posture. In the Navagram, all other planets are facing Suryan. The idol of Lord Suryan is seen with his two wives. It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year from 13th to 15th (between 5:45 PM and 6:10 PM) in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar). Saint Arunagirinadhar has sang songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh. The front hall (Mandapam) of this temple, where Lord Dandapani is housed, is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (Vovval Nethi Mandapam). This looks very beautiful. On the top of the second entrance, there are beautiful sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy seated in Mount Kailash. Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswathi can be seen worshiping them. Lord Panchanatheeswarar (Sri Iyyarappar) of Thiruvaiyaru decided to conduct the marriage of Nandhi and Suyasambigai at Thirumazhappadi (a nearby place) on the Punarpoosam day of the Tamil month of Panguni. He selected the following places to arrange things required for the marriage.Thiruvedhikkudi to get the Vedic Brahmins,Thiruppazhanam to get fruits, Thiruchotruthurai to arrange food, Thirukkandiyur for Kandi (ornaments), Thiruppoonthuruthi for fruits and garlands, and Thiruneithanam (Thillai sthanam) to get ghee for yagnas. After the marriage, as a gesture of thanks, it is believed that Lord Panchanatheeswarar and Goddess Dharmasamvardhani visited each of these places in a palanquin. This event is celebrated as Sapthasthanam. Sapthasthanam (seven places) festival is celebrated in Thiruvaiyaru on the Visakam day (the day after the full moon) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) every year. First palanquin (bedecked with mirrors) carrying the principal deities of Thiruvaiyaru go to the second temple in procession. Idols of Nandhi along with his wife Suyasambigai also join this procession. The deities of the second temple receive them at the border of the village. After reaching the second temple and performing certain poojas, they join the second temple’s palanquin to the third temple. Like this, the palanquins from six places are joined together and they finally assemble in Thiru Neithanam temple. Thereafter, all the seven palanquins take part in a procession back to Thiruvaiyaryu. Thousands of people come from all over the country to witness this marvellous festival. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand (Ther-adi). Devotees also take part in the Poochorithal (flower festival) in which an idol offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins leave for their respective temples. The seven temples that are part of this Sapthasthanam festival are - Aiyarappar temple, Thiruvaiyaru, Apathsahayeswar Temple, Thirupazhanam, Odhanavaneswarar Temple, Thiruchotruthurai, Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvedhikudi, Kandeeswarar Temple, Thirukkandiyur (this temple), Pushpavananathar Temple, Thirupanthuruthi and Neyyadiappar Temple, Thiru Neithanam. This temple is a famous parihara sthalam for those afflicted with Brahmahathi Dosham, Kalathira Dosham, and Puthira Dosham. Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed.

Festival

Sapthasthanam festival in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) and Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi (May-June) are celebrated in a grand manner. Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July), Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham and Sankatahara Chaturthi are also observed regularly.

Sri Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar Temple, Thiru Kandiyur Post, Thiruvaiyaru Taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu – 613202. Tele: +91 - 4362-261100, 262222, 90476 88305.

Timings: 7.00 am to 12.00 pm, 4.00 pm to 8.30 pm