the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

Brihaspathi, (Viyazhan in Tamil - Jupitar) the Guru of the Devas, worshiped Lord Shiva here and got his title Guru. Hence, the lord here is praised as Sri Devagurunathar. Kuberan worshiped the lord here and it is believed that he was blessed to get back his wealth pots - Sanga Nidhi and Paduma Nidhi which he lost to Ravana. Lord Shiva also honoured him with the title Kuberan here. Lord Indra worshiped the lord here to seek relief of his sins that accrued due to killing of demon Viruthasuran and to regain his position Indra. It is believed that Sage Gautama and his wife Akaligai visited this place, installed lingams and worshiped. He prayed to the lord here for wealth in order to feed the people from starvation during a 12-year famine period. The lingams worshiped by Sage Gautama and Akaligai can be seen in the corridor. It is believed that King Viradan who helped the Pandavas during their exile, visited this place along with his son Uthiran and worshiped the lord. It is believed that Mahavishnu, Indra, Kuberan, Suryan, Hanuman, Sage Gowtama and Sage Thirugnanasambanthar have worshiped Lord Shiva here.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 85th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This temple is counted as one of the Maada Koils built by King Kochengat Cholan,one of the 63 Nayanmars. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers. There are two stone inscriptions in this temple – one relates to the Sundara Pandiya Devan and the other Devaraya Maharayar of the Vijayanagara kingdom. The lord’s name is mentioned in the inscription as Sri Adhithecharamudiyar. As devas worshiped the lord here, this place gets the name Thevur. The historical names of this place are Kathalivanam, Viradapuram, Arasangadu and Thevanur.This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). Lord Dakshinamurthy is seen here without Muyalagan under his feet as Deva Guru Jupitar worshiped the lord here. Hence, he is praised here as Sri Anugraha Dakshinamurthy. Lord Dakshinamurthy is the authority deity for planet Jupiter.In this temple, Goddess Durgai is holding a conch representing Lord Mahavishnu and a deer representing Lord Shiva, thus she is praised as Shiva-Vishnu Durgai. Both sides at the entrance of the sanctum Santorum, idols of Sanga Nidhi and Baduma Nidhi can be seen instead of the regular dwarapalakas. In this temple, the Sthala Viruksham, Velvazhai tree (Plantain) is growing on stone platform for years without water. This is considered to be one of the “Karpaga Virukshams”. It is believed that when devas came to worship Lord Shiva here from the celestial world, this plantain tree also came along with them. Devas offered this tree’s fruits to the lord at the time of their worships. This type of plantain tree is unique to see. It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year on the first Sunday around 7.30 a.m. in the Tamil month of Karthigai (Nov-Dec). Saint Arunagirinadhar has sung songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh. It is believed that King Kochengat Chola built about 70 Madakkoils. The distinguishing feature of a Madakkoil is that it is not easily approachable by an elephant. He built these temples at an elevation and there are a few steps that need to be climbed before seeing the lord. Also, the sanctum sanctorum’s (Karpagragam) entrance is narrow such that no elephant can enter it. Devotees believe that worshiping the lord here, they can get relief from the doshas related to Guru like ‘Ashtama guru’, ‘Viraya guru’, ‘Jenma guru’ etc. Devotees worship Lord Shiva of this temple for prosperity and wisdom and to get back his lost wealth. Devotees also worship Lord Shiva of this temple to get a job or to regain his lost position.

The annual festival, Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June). Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are – 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 and Somavaram in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan), Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar), and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham is also observed regularly.