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Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur

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Thyagaraja Temple is a Shiva temple, located in the town of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu state, India. Shiva is worshiped in the form of a lingam as Thyagarajaswami, also known as Putridankondar. His consort Parvati is worshipped as Goddess Neelotpalambika. She is also worshipped as Goddess Kamalambika, whose separate shrine is an important center for Shaktism and Tantra, and is also regarded to be one of the Shakti Peethas. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Shaiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written in Tamil by saint poets known as the Nayanars and the shrine is classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Thyagaraja Temple
View of the gopuram
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictTiruvarur
DeityThyagarajaswami (Shiva)
Neelotpalambika (Parvati)
Location
LocationTiruvarur
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur is located in Tamil Nadu
Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates10°46′34″N 79°38′01″E / 10.7761°N 79.6335°E / 10.7761; 79.6335
Architecture
TypeTamil architecture
CreatorChola Dynasty
Elevation36.03 m (118 ft)

The temple complex covers 8.1 hectares (20 acres) and is one of the largest temples in India. It houses nine entrance towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with four stories and a height of 30 metres (98 ft). The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Thyagarajaswami, Neelotpalambika, and Kamalambika being the most prominent.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 05:30 to 22:00, and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple has the largest processional chariot in Asia and the annual Chariot festival is celebrated during the month of March.

The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[1]

Etymology

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Shrines of the temple

The historic name of Thiruvarur was Arur and it finds mention in the 7th-century Shaiva canonical work, Tevaram.[2] The term Thiru, meaning holy, is added to all temple cities that are mostly revered by the verses of Tevaram, which is the case of Arur becoming Thiruvarur. Another name of Thiruvarur is Kamalalayaksetra, meaning the "holy place that is an abode of lotuses", hence the goddess' name Kamalambika and the Kamalalayam tank;[3] During the British Raj, the town was termed Tiruvalur,[4] Tiruvaloor,[5] and Thiruvalur.[6] As per the district and municipality websites, the district has the spelling "Tiruvarur", while the town has it as "Thiruvarur".[7][8] As per Hindu legend, the temple is the place where Parvati as Kamalambika, wished to marry Shiva as Thyagarajaswami, but her wish remained unfulfilled.[9]

History

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Sundial to view stars

According to legend, a Chola king named Muchukunda obtained a boon from Indra and wished to receive a lingam icon of Shiva, depicting the latter dancing on the chest of Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image and consecrated it in Tiruvarur.[10] The Muchukunda Sahasranamam specifically refers to the deity as Anapaayamahipaala, and as Rajaveshadari (one who played the role of a king).[11]

The temple is believed to have been initiated with a large complex by the Pallavas during the 7th century.[12] Contemporary history of the temple dates back to the time of the Medieval Cholas. An inscription dated in the 20th regnal year of Rajendra I (1012–1044) beginning with the introduction "Tirumanni valara" is found on the north and west walls of the Thyagaraja shrine. It gives a list of gifts including a number of jewels and lamps to the deity. It records that the temple was built in stone in the regnal years of the king by Anukkiyar Paravai Nangaiyar. Besides the same lady liberally endowed gold for plating and gilding parts of the vimana, the entrance, and the four sides of the shrine. Copper was also donated for plating the doors, and corbels of the pillars of the mandapa in front of the shrine. This inscription meticulously records the weight of the endowed gold and copper, besides listing the various ornaments gifted to the temple with a description each of them.[13]

The temple complex seems to have acted as the cultural model for the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, built by Raja Raja Chola, wherein he enshrined an icon which shared with the icon of the Chidambaram Temple. The last Chola monarch to play an important role in the affairs of the temple was Kulothunga Chola III in the early part of the 13th century A.D. It attracted devotees of all schools and the Golaki Monastery was established in the 13th and 14th centuries. The temple also attracted Jains, which were attacked by Hindus, as is evident from the text Periya Puranam.[14]

 
Image of shrines inside the temple

Architecture

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Bird's eye view of the temple complex
 
View of the temple tower from the temple tank

The temple complex occupies an area of around 17 acres (6.9 ha) with the Kamalalayam tank to its west, which occupies the same area. The temple has nine gopurams, 80 vimanas, twelve temple walls, 13 halls, fifteen large temple water bodies, three gardens, and three large precincts. The major gopuram of the temple is seven-tiered and raises to a height of 36 m (118 ft).[15] The two main shrines of the temple are for Vanmikinathar (Shiva) and Thyagarajar. Of the two, the former is the most ancient and derives its name from tha anthill (putru), which takes the place of linga in the main shrine. Appar, the 7th-century poet-saint, refers to the main deity in his hymn as Putritrukondan (one who resides in the ant hill). The Stala vriksham (temple tree) is red patiri (trumpet flower tree). The principles and practices of tree-worship and philopatry are ancient bases whereupon a later date linga worship seems to have been established.[16]

As per folk legend, Thiruvarur is mentioned as the capital town of a legendary Chola king, Manu Needhi Cholan, who killed his wicked son to provide justice to a cow.[17] The temple has a sculptural representation of a stone chariot, the king, the cow and his son under the chariot on the northeastern wall.[15]

Here all the nine Navagrahas (planetary deities) are located towards the south in a straight line also located in the northwest corner of 1st (prakaram). It is believed that all the planetary deities were relieved of their curse and hence worshipped Thyagaraja. This temple holds the record of having a maximum number of shrines in India. The feet of Thyagaraja are shown twice a year and on other occasions, it is covered with flowers. The right leg of Thyagarajaswami and the left leg of Nilotpalambika are displayed during the Panguni Uthiram festival and the Thiruvathirai festival (the left leg of the idol is never shown). Some of the major shrines in the temple are Aananthiswarar, Nilotpalambika, Asaleswarar, Adageswarar, Varuneswarar, Annamalieswarar and Kamalambika. The unique feature of the temple is the standing Nandi facing the presiding deity.[12]

The temple has a lot of halls, with six of them being the most prominent. Bhaktha Katchi hall is located to the left of the image of Moosukuntha Nandi. The festival image of Thyagaraja arrives at this hall after the Panguni Uthiram festival. Oonjal hall is located opposite to the baktha Katchi hall. The festival images of Chandrasekarar and darunendhu Sekari Amman arrive at this hall during the Thiruvadhirai festival. Rajanarayana hall is a public hall for localities of Thiruvaru. Panguni uthira hall is located in the western part of the temple, which is also known as sababathi hall, houses the museum of the temple.[18] Similar architecture of halls (Mandapas) simulating a chariot drawn by elephant or horses is found in Sarangapani temple at Kumbakonam, Mela Kadambur Amirthakadeswarar Temple, Sikharagiriswara Temple, Kudumiyamalai, Nageswaraswamy Temple, Kumbakonam and Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vriddhachalam.[19]

 
Image of shrines inside the temple

Chariot festival

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The Thiruvarur chariot festival

Kulothunga Chola II (1133–50 CE) enlarged the temple ritual to have fifty six festivals, some of which are followed in modern times.[20][21] The annual chariot festival of the Thygarajaswamy temple is celebrated during April – May, corresponding to the Tamil month of Chitrai. The chariot is the largest of its kind in Asia and India weighing 300 tonne with a height of 29 m (96 ft). The chariot comes around the four main streets surrounding the temple during the festival. The event is attended by lakhs of people from all over Tamil Nadu. The chariot festival is followed by the "Theppam", meaning float festival.[22] The memorial for Thiruvalluvar, Valluvar Kottam, is inspired from the design of the Thiruvarur chariot.[23]

Processional Dance

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The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa natanam (dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy. reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur.[10] The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu.[24][25] All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam (seven dance moves)[26] and the related temples are as under:[27]

Temple Vidangar Temple Dance pose Meaning
Tiruvarur Thyagarajar Temple Vidhividangar Ajabathaanam Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple Nagaradangar Unmathanathaanam Dance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohanaswamy Temple Sundaravidangar Vilathithaanam Dancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple Adhividangar Kukunathaanam Dancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple Avanividangar Brunganathaanam Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornaathar Temple Nallavidangar Kamalanaanathaanam Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple Bhuvanivividangar Hamsapthanathaanam Dancing with the gait of a swan


 

Worship and religious practises

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Gopurams of the temple

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. It is believed that during Sayarakshai all the 33 crore devas (celestial beings) are present to worship Lord Thiyagarajar. Further attending the Sayarakshai at Thiruvarur and then attending the Ardha Jamam pooja at Chidambaram is considered to be highly auspicious and beneficial. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi.[28]

The idol of Thiyagarajar is covered with clothes and flowers, so that only his and ammbal's face are visible. His right foot and Parvathy's left foot are revealed on Aarudhra Dharshan in the month of Margazhi, and on Panguni Uthiram in the month of Panguni

Music, dance and literature

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Image of Kamalambal shrine

Historically, Thiruvarur has been a centre of eminent people in religion, arts and science. Sundarar, an 8th-century Saivite saint, mentions "I am the slave of all those born in Thiruvarur" in his works in Tevaram.[29] Two of the 63 nayanmars of Saivite tradition namely, Kalarsinga Nayanar and Tandiyadigal Nayanar were born in Thiruvarur.[21] The Periyapuranam, a 12th-century Saiva canonical by Sekkizhar, dedicates a chapter to those born in Thiruvarur, including these two saints. The town was a traditional centre of music and dance – the inscriptions from Rajaraja Chola associate a large body of dancers associated with the temple.[29] Thiruvarur is home to Trinity of Carnatic music, namely Thyagaraja (1767–1847 CE), Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835 CE) and Shyama Shastri (1762–1827 CE).[30] Muthuswami Dikshitar has sung eulogies of the temple deities of the Thyagarajaswami temple.[29] Thyagaraja was named after the deity of this temple. There was large influx of the acumen of South Indian culture to the town during the 17th century CE due to the political unrest in Thanjavur and increased patronage of the Maratha kings to Thiruvarur, resulting in developments in music and dance.[31][32] A unique musical instrument called panchamuga vadyam with each of its five ends ornamented differently is used in the temple. A type of nadaswaram (pipe instrument) called Barinayanam is also a unique instrument found only in Thiruvarur.[32] Thyagaraja Leelaikal is a work on the playful nature of the deity Thyagaraja of Thiruvarur. It is similar to the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam in that it identifies Thyagaraja with the Cholas in the same way that the former identifies Meenakshi with the Pandyas. It is dated to the twelfth century CE.[33]

Mahasamprokshanam

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The Mahasamprokshanam also known as Kumbhabhishekam of the temple was held on 8 November 2015. The heavy rains blow in Tiruvarur at the time of mahasamprokshanam, the people came in lot.[34]

Notes

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  1. ^ Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
  2. ^ "Muthalam Thirumurai Translation". Thevaaram.org. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  3. ^ Dhere, Ramchandra Chintaman (2011). Rise of a Folk God:Vitthal of Pandharpur: Vitthal of Pandharpur. Oxford University Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-19-977759-4.
  4. ^ Hunter, Sir William Wilson (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India Vol. XXII Singbhum to Trashi-Chod-Zong. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 225–229.
  5. ^ Dodwell, Henry (1920). Dupleix and Clive. Forgotten Books. p. 48. ISBN 9781451011074.
  6. ^ Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1833), Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1, London: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, p. 148
  7. ^ MSME Development Institute (2012). Brief Industrial profile of Tiruvarur district (PDF) (Report). MSME Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India. p. 1. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  8. ^ "About the town". Thiruvarur Municipality, Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Magic on the waters". Business Line. Chennai: Asia Intelligence Wire from FT Information. 2004. ProQuest 221874637.
  10. ^ a b V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 34.
  11. ^ Rajeshwari Ghose (1996). The Tyagaraja Cult in Tamilnadu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. p. 331.
  12. ^ a b Anantharaman, Ambujam (2006). Temples of South India. East West Books (Madras). p. 59. ISBN 978-81-88661-42-8.
  13. ^ S., Ponnusamy (1972). Sri Thyagaraja Temple Thiruvarur. State Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 32.
  14. ^ Ghose 1996, p. 58
  15. ^ a b R., Ponnammal. 108 Thennaga Shivasthalangal (in Tamil). Giri Trading Agency Private Limited. pp. 40–51. ISBN 978-81-7950-707-0.
  16. ^ Vasudevan, Geetha (2003). The royal temple of Rajaraja: an instrument of imperial Cola power. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 136. ISBN 81-7017-383-3.
  17. ^ "Tiruvarur in religious history of Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  18. ^ "Halls inside the temple". Sri Thiyagaraja Temple Administration. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  19. ^ H., Sarkar (1974). The Kampahesvara temple at Thirubuvanam (PDF). Madras: Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 9.
  20. ^ Ghose 1996, p. 331
  21. ^ a b Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1991), South Indian shrines: illustrated, New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, p. 375, ISBN 81-206-0151-3
  22. ^ "Tiruvarur in religious history of Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  23. ^ V., Shanmuganathan (2014). A Remarkable Political Journey. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 121. ISBN 9788184302578.
  24. ^ Sundararajan, Saroja (1985). Glimpses of the history of Karaikkal. Lalitha Publications. p. 54.
  25. ^ Pillai, J.M. Somanasundaram (1994). The great temple at Tanjore. Tamil University, Thanjavur. p. 9.
  26. ^ "The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras". 71. Madras: Music Academy. 2000: 35. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ Kersenboom-Story, Saskia C. (1987). Nityasumangali. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 146. ISBN 9788120803305.
  28. ^ "Sri Thiagarajar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  29. ^ a b c Ghose 1996, pp. 59-60
  30. ^ Kumar, Raj (2003). Essays on Indian Music. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 81-7141-719-1.
  31. ^ Kersenboom-Story, Saskia C. (1998). Nityasumaṅgalī: Devadasi Tradition in South India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. p. 41. ISBN 81-208-1527-0.
  32. ^ a b "Arts inside the temple". Sri Thiyagaraja Temple Administration. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  33. ^ Rajeshwari Ghose (1996). The Tyagaraja Cult in Tamilnadu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. pp. 338–339.
  34. ^ "Kumbabhishekam performed". The Hindu. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.

References

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Bibliography

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  • Shanmugasundaram Ponnusamy (1972). Sri Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur. State Dept. of Archaeology, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.
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