the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

Thittai is located at a distance of about 10 kilometres from Tanjavur on the Tanjavur-Melattur-Kumbakonam route. This place is in between Vennaru and Vettaru, tributaries of River Cauvery.

This is the 132nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 15th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is facing east with a temple tank in front. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi. There are 4 Lingas installed on four corners of this temple keeping the moola Lingam at centre and hence this temple is called a Pancha Bootha sthalam. Moolavar is of Dhara Linga with 4 flat surfaces with number of scratches ( varikal ) on a square avudayar. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Guru Bhagavan is in a separate sannadhi between main sanctum sanctorum and Ambal sannadhi. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam, The vimanam is built with complete stone. 12 Rasi’s / Zodiac's bas relief are on the ceiling of the Ambal Sannadhi’s front mandapam.

It is believed that, Brahma, Vishnu, Murugan, 4 Vedas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Saneeswarar, Yama, Parasuramar, Indra, Adhiseshan, Kamadhenu, sage Vasishta, Sage Gautama and Sage Jamadagni worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Since Vasishtar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, Lord Shiva is called as Vasishteswarar. In sanctum, a drop of water is falling on moolavar for every 25 minutes. This is due to the Suryakantha kal and Chandrakantha kal which transforms the atmospheric moisture in to water.Thittai in Tamil is medu. Lord Shiva came as swayambhu during pralayam. Hence this place is called as Kudi Thittai. It is believed that this is one of the place which was not affected during pralaya. The remaining are Sirkazhi and this temple Thenkudi Thittai. Lord Suryan (Sun God) is believed to offer his prayers to Lord Shiva by directing his rays on the Lingam twice in a year – 15th,16th & 17th of the Tamil month of Avani (August-September) and on 25th,26th &27th of the Tamil month Panguni (March-April).