Bhuminathaswamy Temple / Sri Thirumeninathar Temple / அருள்மிகு திருமேனிநாதர் திருக்கோயில், திருச்சுழி / Tiruchuli, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu.

வாழ்த்து

திங்கள் மும்மாரி பெய்க புரவலர் செங்கோல் ஓங்க

மங்கையர் கற்புநீட மாநிலஞ் செழித்து வாழ்க

புங்கவர் கருணைகூர்க பூசுரர் சுருதி பொங்க

சங்கரன் திருவெண்ணீறும் சைவமும் தழைக்கமாதோ

This is the 256^th  Thevaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 12^th sthalam of Pandya Naadu near Aruppukottai. This place was called as Thiruchuzhiyal during 6^th to 7^th Century, now called as Tiruchuli. Tiruchuli is on the banks of river Gundar ( Bagavari River ). This is also the birth place of Ramana Maharishi.

As per Sekkizhar, Sundarar and Cheraman Perumal came to this temple after worshiping Sri Ramanathaswamy of Rameswaram.

திருஇராமேச்சரத்துச் செழும்பவளச் சுடர்க்கொழுந்தைப்

பரிவினால் தொழுது அகன்று பரமர்பதி பிறபணிந்து

பெரு விமானத்து இமையோர வணங்கு பெருந்திருச்சுழியல்

மருவினார் வன்தொண்டர் மலைவேந்தருடன் கூட

திருச்சுழியல் இடம்கொண்ட செம்பொன் மலைச்சிலையாரைக்

கருச்சுழியில் வீழாமைக் காப்பாரைக் கடல்விடத்தின்

இருள்சுழியும் மிடற்றாரை இறைஞ்சி எதிர் இதழி மலர்ப்

பருச்சுழியத்துடன் ஊனாய் உயிர் எனும் பாமலர் புனைந்தார்

Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In addition to this Lord Shiva was praised in Tiruchuli Puranam, Tiruchuli Venba, Andhathi, Thiruchuliyal kombila Venba, Thirusulapura Mahathmiyam, Thunaimalaiyammai, Pillai Tamil and Thiruchuliya KayiRRuppinnal.

ஊனாய் உயர்புகலாய் அகலிடமாய் முகில் பொழியும்

வானாய் வருமதியாய் வீதி வருவானிடம் பொழிலின்

தேனா தரித்திசை வண்டின மிழற்றுந் திருச் சுழியல்

நானா விதநினைவார்தமை நலியார் நமன் தமரே

கவ்வைக்கடல் கதறிக் கொணர் முத்தங் கரைக் கேற்றக்

கொவ்வைத்துவர் வாயார் குடைந்தாடுந் திருச்சுழியல்

தெய்வத்தினை வழிபாடு செய்தெழுவார் அடி தொழுவார்

அவ்வைத் திசைக்கு அரசாகுவர் அலரான் பிரியாளே

........ சுந்தரர்

                                                            -“தீவணத்தில்

கண்சுழியல் என்று கருணையளித்து என்னுளஞ்சேர்

தண்சுழியல் வாழ்சீவ சாக்ஷியே”

........ வள்ளலார் . திருஅருட்பா

அன்புடை நெஞ்சத்திவள்பேதுற அம்பலத்தடியார்

என்பிடை வந்தமிழ்தூற நின்றாடியிருஞ் சுழியல்

தன்பெடை நையத்தக வழிந்தன்னஞ் சலஞ் சலத்தின்

வன்பெடை மேல்துயிலும் வயலூரன் வரம் பிலனே

...... திருக்கோவை. உழையரிற்பழித்தல் – துறை

திருமேனிநாதர் துதி

வருமேனிப் பிறப்பொழித்து மருவிய சாயுச்சியமே

தருமேனிக் கவலையினித் தளர்வொழி நீமடநெஞ்சே

திருமேனிப் பரந்தாமற் கொரு பாகங்கலந்தளித்த

திருமேனிப் பெருமானைப் பணி கமலச் சேவடியே

......... தலபுராணம்

துணைமாலையோடும் சுழியல் நகர் மேவும்

இணையார் திருமேனி ஈசா

......... உமாபதி சிவம்- சிவஷேத்ரசிவ நாமக்கலிவெண்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Thirumeninathar, Sri Chuzhikesar,

                 Sri Piralayavidangar, Sri Bhuminathaswamy,

                 Sri Manakola Nathar

Consort    : Sri Thunai Malaiammai, Sri Shahayavalli,

                 Sri Muthumalaiyumayal.

Some of the important features of this temple are....

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram  with a mandapam. The Temple tank are in front. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in Kambathadi mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are on both side of the mandapam.  Moolavar is swayambu on a square Aavudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In prakaram Sthala Vinayagars ( Thavara Vinayagar, Bodhi Vinayagar, Arasu Vinayagar, Veladi Vinayagar, and Tharumathavara Pillayar ), Natarajar Sabha ( Natarajar, Sivakami, Pathanjali, Viyakrapathar ). Usha, Prakthiusha, Suryan, 63var, Santhanachariyar, Saptamatrikas, Gowthamar, Akaligai. Somaskandar, Kasi Viswanathar, Chuzhikai Govindar with Boomineela Devi and Chandikeswarar.

Pralaya Vidangar in a separate Temple built by the Devakottai Nagarathar. Nandhavanam and Palani Andavar shrine  are opposite to this shrine.  

Ambal is in a separate Temple like sannadhi facing east, in thiripanka posture. Srichakaram is chiseled on the stone ceiling of the Ambal sannathi.  12 Rasis are also chiseled on the stone ceiling  of the front mandapa. 

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and Arthamandapam. Sanctum is in the form of Moat /Ahazhi. It is a big temple. The corridor is long with unique features similar to Pandya Naadu Temples.  Viyakrapathar statue is in the Sabha mandapam. The spout of the outlet water from the roof top  looks with crocodile head. The sanctum sanctorum roof water is channeled through a stone pipe (big) on either side  of the Sanctum is an unique feature of this temple. As per the architects this temple was constructed ( may be smaller ) similar to Madurai and Rameswaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS.

Since This temple was praised by Sundarar, this temple might have been existed before 7^th Century and reconstructed / expanded during Pandyas, Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Thiruchuzhiyal  and Lord Shiva was called as Pralyamkatha Vidangar.

Parakrama Pandyan’s period inscription records that, this temple’s Sanctum Sanctorum was built by him. From Sundarar’s thevaram the Sanctum Sanctorum had the tall vimana. After Vijayanagars, this temple was reconstructed / renovated by  Nattukottai Nagarathars.

There are 3 inscriptions recorded from this temple.  Rajaraja –I period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp  and another starts with his meikeerthi ie his Title.

Saka 1152 ie 1230 CE inscription is incomplete,  records the defeat of Jananathan ... (?)

LEGENDS

Maha Vishnu, Indran, Brahma, Suryan, Bhoodevi, Gowthamar, Ahalya, Kanva Munivar, Arjuna, Chithrangathai and Cheraman Perumal, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

It is believed that Lord Shiva, during pralayam, sent all water in form of bubbles to this Kavvaikadal Theertham. This place was praised as Vayalur, Mukthipuram, Avarthapuram, Shulapuram, Arasavanam, Chuzhigai and Chuzhikapuri. 

When Sundarar was in this place, Lord Shiva came in his dream and asked him to come to Thirukanaper ( Kalayarkoil ) in the form of Kalai ( Young man ) with a chentu in one  hand and Chuzhi in the forehead. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Navaratri in Puratasi ( October – November ),  Avani Moolam in Avani ( August – September ), Chithirai Vishu ie Tamil New Year day April 14, Mondays / Somavaram  of Karthigai month ( November – December ), Adi Thabasu ( July – August ), Thaipoosam in Thai ( January- February ), 10 days festival / Brahmotsavam with Car & Thirukalyanam  in Panguni ( March – April ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs  and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Archakar may be contacted through  his mobile number + 91 4566 282644 for further details

HOW TO REACH :

Frequent buses are available from Aruppukottai. Buses from Madurai to Manamadurai  passes through this place Tiruchuli.

The temple is 15 KM Aruppukkottai, 43 KM from Manamadurai,  55 KM from Madurai, 66 KM from Sivaganga and 510 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruchuli

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Stone pipes - to drain rain water on the sanctum sanctorum

Donars- Nattukkottai nagarathar

12 rasis and 27 Nakshathras

Chariot/ car festival 

Rain water spout

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---