LORD OF FIVE RIVERS.
Sri Aiyarappar Temple – Tiruvaiyaru. Tamilnadu.
Jatadhari in the north and Jatamudi in the South of India,are also the names of Lord Shiva. Such is the reverence to his hair locks that, one cannot or should not step on it or tread on them. This is the main reason why you cannot circumambulate or go around this temple of the Great Lord, Shiva in the name of Aiyarappar (AI=Five, Aru=River and Appar = father/Lord) in Tiruvaiyaru. The Lord is in the form of a Swayambhu Lingam and is supposed to have Jata or Mudi at the back of the sanctum & hence circumbulation should be avoided.
The town in itself is named after five rivers, where the term Tiru refers to Shri & Aiaaru refers to five rivers. These Rivers are Arisillaru, Vennaru, Vettaru, Kudamuruttiyaru & Kaveriyaru. Between Tanjore and Tiruvaiyaru (14KMs), you have to cross all these five river via bridges. The town is also the native of Trimurthy (trinity)or three doyens of the Carnatic music namely Saint Tyagraja, Shyama Shastri & Muthuswamy Dikshithar. There is also a room next to the temple were Tyagaraj composed some of his great music. His Samadhi is on the Kaveri Banks, and the greatest music festival in India is held in this town annually.
The lord in the form of a Swayambhu lingam is called Aiyarappar or Panchanadiswarar, or lord of five rivers .The Goddess who has a separate precinct is called Aram Valartha Nayagi (Mother who upholds Dharma) or Dhramsamvardhini Ambal. The goddess is also a representation of Lord Mahavishnu. The lore is attached to the (doctrine of culture) being the primary responsibility of Mahavishnu the preserver and helping his sister Parvathi, who is revered as Prakirti. Hence there are no Vishnu temples in an around this place.
There are many legends attached to this temple, one such legend says that , Sage Siladha had a Child named Nandi, who prayed to Lord Shiva and did penance. Pleased with his devotion the lord made Nandi his Prime Gana ( Attendant) and also got him married to Suyasha the daughter of Marut(Vayu) in the town of Thirumazhapadi nearby. He also took Nandi and his consort to seven temples nearby as the ritual of Sapthapadi ( the Seven promises of marriage). These seven temples can be visited in 4 hours. The festival of marriage of Nandi is celebrated every year during Mar/Apr in the Tamil month of Panguni. Nandi is a very prominent part of this temple, as the temple in itself was built with the treasure safely kept under the hoof of the Nandi.
As per another legend Saint Thirunavukarasar from the 63 Nayanars, went to Kailasa to see the Lord, in order to make the journey back easier, the lord asked him to take a dip in Mansarovar in kailash and when the sage got up, he found himself in the Tiruvaiyaru Surya PushkarniTank. The lord is supposed to have given him a darshan at Kailasa from here itself & hence this Temple is known as Dakshina Kailasam.
Once the king got infuriated when he heard that the priest who is supposed to offer service daily had gone to Kasi without attending to the lord. Looking for the priest the King came into the temple and saw the priest offering prayers. The real priest came the next day from his pilgrimage. It is then that the truth dawned to everybody including the King that Lord Aiyarappar in the form of the priest had offered prayers to himself.
The Adi temple was built by Sage Neymasa and later consolidated by different Kings. Since there are inscriptions of Karikal Cholan(2nd Century CE.) The temple predates the 2nd century and is more than 2000 years old. Out of the many kings Karikal Cholan( Early Chola),Raja Raja Chola the Great,(Medieval Chola), Jatavarman Sundara Pandian(1250-1268) from the Pandia dynasty, Krishnadeva Raya(1509-1529) of the Vijayanagara Kingdom were patrons of this temple.
The temple is built in a rectangular compound of 60000 square meters, with a precinct for the Lord, a Mandapa precinct and the precinct dedicated to the Goddess. The layout itself is in such a style that the circumambulation becomes difficult. There are two separate monuments known as the Uttara Kailasam( Built by the Queen of Raja Raja Cholan 985 – 1014 AD) and the Dakshina Kailasam ( Built by the Queen of Rajendra Cholan(1014 – 1044 AD).
The entrance is through a seven tiered gopuram, which leads to a 5 precinct compound. The precincts have various gods and goddesses.
Things to See or Note ;
1. Shivayoga Dakshinamoorthy.-Genreally Muyalagan ( symbol of ignorance) is found under his feet. This is the only place where Lord Vishnu has prayed to Dakshinamoorthy. His foot rests on a Tortoise.
2. Aatkonda or Kaalasamharamoorthy.(Unique).- As Markandeya was saved from Yama, a young devotee was saved by the Lord who Killed Yama. Kalantaka ( End of Kaal)
3. Homakundam started by Shri Adi Shankara.
4. In the third Precinct is the effect of Nadabramham, Standing at the south western corner, if one calls out the name of the Lord, the word echoes many times.
Temple Timing : 6.00 AM to 11.00 AM & 4.00 to 8.30 PM.
Temple Contact Number :0436-2260332,9443008104.
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