THYAGARAJA TEMPLE – TIRUVARUR

 THYAGARAJA TEMPLE – TIRUVARUR - TAMILNADU.

The Thyagaraja temple in Tiruvarur is a huge complex of about 34 acres with 50% of the area covered by the temple tank and could be defined as a temple complex full of Temples and shrines. It houses 9 temple towers or Gopurams with the tallest eastern Gopuram with 7 tiers at 118 feet.

HISTORY

The Temple has gone through many a kingdom including the Pallavas, Cholas, Sangamas, Nayakas, Marathas and hence shrines have been added by various Kings and queens. The Temple structure was initiated by the Pallava’s during the 7th Century and went through a lot of transformation by way of addition, till as late as the 18th century. The first granite structure was laid during the period of Adithya Chola1 (870-907 CE) in the 9th century CE. Rajaraja Chola 1(985-1014 CE) expanded on the stone structure. Rajendra Chola 1 (1012-1044 CE) is credited with the construction of the stone hall shrine for Thyagaraja.

SHRINES & TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The Temple has 9 Gopuram’s, 80 Vimana’s on shrines, 12 temple walls, 13 Mandapam’s or Halls,15 water bodies(teertha’s), 7 large precinct & 3 gardens, 365 Shiva Lingam’s, 86 Vinayaka’s and about 24 temples within the temple. This is the temple with maximum shrines in India.

The oldest sculpture present in the precinct of this temple is the Sapthamatrika Panel, which is of Pallava origin denoting the prevalence of devi or Shakthi cult which got transformed to the Shaivaite Thyagaraja cult with the patronage of the Chola Kings who took it to a zenith and presented it as a state cult.

The main deity is Lord Shiva as Valmikanathar in the form of a Lingam, presumably coming out of an anthill, this shrine is older than the Shrine for Thyagaraja; hence no abhishekam is done to this lingam.

His consort is Kamalambigai who has a separate temple inside this huge temple compound.Goddess Kamalambal sits with her legs crossed in a yogic posture in the form of a yogini facing north towards Kailasa representing mukthi from the cycle of birth & death. She holds a lotus in her right hand and her left hand rests on her hip in a Rajas mudra. The Devi represents the Tantric practices of Virginal purity as per the Sri-Vidya traitions.

However the temple is famous as the “Thyagaraja temple” based upon the name of Lord Shiva in the form of Somaskanda (Uma Sahita Skanda) known as Thyagaraja. The idol of Thyagaraja is an utsavabera (Chalachal) or Utsavamurthy made out of metal. His consort is Nilotpalambal. Thyagaraja is known as Veedhi-Vitanka (one who dazzles the streets with his beauty).

The Nandi (which is again a metal one) instead of the stone one sitting and facing the Lingam is in a standing position for all Thyagaraja Temples.

Consort of Thyagaraja, Nilotpalambal is in a separate shrine, in a unique posture of touching the head of her son Murugan, who is being held by a maid.

THYAGARAJA – THE ICON

The visible icon of Thyagaraja has a “Halo” of four apsidal patterns and the outer pattern is in line with Chakra – Discus & Agni – Flame showing a Shiva –Vishnu combination. The crown of Shiva and Parvati is topped by a bulbous Chignon (Kondai/Jooda). Two crescent moons, on the two sides of the Kondai and two big round studs below them. Face with a benevolent smile. The balance image of Siva and Devi is totally bedecked with flowers and cloths and are not visible. In this entire frame Skanda is totally hidden from view being one eighth size of Thyagaraja.

Both the Idols of Shiva & Parvathi resemble each other and except for the face, no other attribute is visible. On the right of the lord, covered with a silk cloth ( Thyaga – Pattu) with a lingam embossed on it and on top is placed two round stones is a mound which is part of the Thyagaraja Paraphernalia, believed to be the three dimensional Yantra SriChakra. Two long swords adorn the side of the panel from the pedestal an almost up to the shoulders of Shiva. The throne on which the deities sit is decorated with inverted lotus and in the center two Vrushabham’s - bulls face each other, with what looks like a lamp or Agni flames. On the corner of the thrones are the great Sages Patanjali & Vyagharapadar, who are also linked with the dancing lord Nataraja at Chidambaram.

NAVAGRAHAS IN A LINE

Satya Gupta a demon used to threaten the Devas. He came under the influence of Shani Devata as a result of which his powers were restrained. He started to fight with the planets. The planets took refuge in Lord Shiva an asked him to protect them. Mahadev protected the planets from the Asura and asked them to be mild in their influence on the bhaktha’s. Hence uniquely the Navagrahas in this temple are in a straight line to have a mild influence in the Shivabhakth’s.

TYAGARAJA THE LEGEND

Mahavishnu prayed to Mahadev for a Progeny at Tiruvarur. Pleased with him Shiva blessed him with a male child Kaama(Manmatha). For ignoring her in his prayers, Parvathi cursed Mahavishnu that his child Kaama would be burnt to death by Shiva.

Aggrieved by this, Mahavishnu built an Idol consisting of Shiva, Uma & Kumara and worshipped it. Pleased Parvathi revoked her curse to bring back Kaama & manifested in him the powers of creating the forces of attraction, required for the unison of males and females in order to bear progeny for the sustenance of the Human race. Somaskanda is thus a manifestation of Shiva in the form of unison of Shiva, Shakthi and their child Skanda coming out of the heart of Mahavishnu.

Mahavishnu who had created the Idol of Somaskanda gave it to Indra, who held and worshipped the idol in great reverence.

MUCHUKUNDA CHOLA was a valorous king, who ruled the earth. Indra had to seek his help to defeat the Asura Valasuran. Indra wanted to reward the king for his valourous help, asked him to select a boon. Mucukunda Chola wanted the Somaskanda Idol which Mahavishnu & Indra had prayed to, as the boon.

Indra was in a dilemma to part with the image and at the same time not to renege on his promise. He created six more identical images and asked the king to select the original one. Through the grace of Shiva, Muchukunda Chola picked the right image. Pleased with this Indra gave all the seven Idols to the king, who brought them to the earth and established them in seven temples in an around Tiruvarur.

The one worshipped in Tiruvarur is the one which Mahavishnu & Indra had worshipped, and is known as Veedhi Vitankan. These Seven Thyagaraja Idols together are known as the SAPTHA VITANKA.

TIRUVARUR – TOWN OF TAMIL SIVA BHAKTHI

Tiruvarur also known as Aarur in the past is the land of the fragrance of the Blue lotus, also known as “NILOTPAL”. It was also known as Kamlalayakshetra(abode of lotuses) because of the presence of the Kamalalayam tank ( 17 acres) and the prime deity Kamalabigai. Aarur was one of the earliest capitals of the Early Cholas and many of their Kings have been coronated in this town. This ancient town was the birth place of the Tamil Siva Bhakthi movement. In this town, the great Poet Saint Sundarar eulogized the 62 Saints preceding him in a hymn called “THIRU THONDA THOGAI” (List of holy saints devoted in the service to Lord Shiva). These saints, total 63 in numbers, came to be known as Naayanaars or Naayanmaars, who by their devotion & service, contributed to the Tamil Saiva Movement. Their hymns and poetry in the praise of lord Shiva became part of a canonical literature called “TIRUMURAI” which consists of 12 volumes, dated between the 6th Century CE and the 12 th Century CE. Out of these the 1st seven volumes, are a compilation of the hymns of Sambandar, Appar, & Sundarar known as the “ TEVARAM” compile by the 7th Century CE.

FOR MORE PHOTOS

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ovscmLEh8NKrw7xp9

7Venkataraman Muthuswamy, Thyagarajan Venkatarama Subramanian and 5 others

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