A Wandering Heritager: Shivaloka Thyagar Temple / Achalpuram Shivalokathyagar Temple / அருள்மிகு சிவலோக தியாகராஜ சுவாமி திருக்கோயில், ஆச்சாள்புரம் , Achalpuram, Thiru Nallurpperumanam, Mayiladuthurai District ( Nagapattinam District ), Tamil Nadu.

This is the 59^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 5^th sthalam on the northern side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place Achalpuram, was called as Thirunallurperumanam (place was called as Nallur and the temple was called as Perumanam ) during 6^th to 7^th Century and puranam as Shivalokapuram, Mukthipuram, Thirumanavai etc,.

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar mentions that, this was the last temple, which Thirugnanasambandar visited after the marriage and sung hymns on Lord Shiva.

காதல் மெய்ப்பதிகம் கல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் எடுத்துக் கண்டோர்
தீதுறு பிறவிப் பாசம் தீர்த்தல் செம்பொருளாக் கொண்டு
நாதனே நல்லூர் மேவும் பெருமான் நம்பனே உன்
பாதமெய்ந் நீழல் சேரும் பருவம்ஈது என்று பாட

கோயில் உள்படமேல் ஓங்கும் கொள்கையால் பெருகும் சோதி
வாயிலை வகுத்துக்காட்ட மன்னுசீர்ப் புகலி மன்னர்
பாயின ஒளியால் நீடு பரஞ்சுடர் தொழுது போற்றி
மாஇருள் ஞானம் உய்ய வழியினை அருளிச் செய்வார்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In the first hymn Sambandar mentions that he don’t wants the marriage. ( As per Sthala purana his wife name was Sthothira Poornaambiga, but the inscriptions mentions as “Chokkiyar” ) He asks Lord Shiva whether he asked in any of the temples for a marriage....?. This is the Last temple where he has sung hymns on Lord Shiva. After the marriage Sambandar along with his wife and relative merged with the Shiva jyothi.

கல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் வேண்டா கழுமலம்
       பல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் பாட்டுமெய் யாய்த்தில
சொல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் சூடல ரேதொண்டர்
       நல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் மேயநம் பானே
காத லாகிக் கசிந்துகண் ணீர்மல்கி
       ஓது வார்தமை நன்னெறிக்கு உய்ப்பது
வேத நான்கினும் மெய்ப்பொரு ளாவது
       நாதன் நாமம் நமச்சி வாயவே

..........திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

-“ விழிப்பாலன்
கல்லூர் பெருமணத்தைக் கட்டுரைக் கச்சோதிதரு
நல்லூர்ப் பெருமணம் வாழ் நன்னிலையே

........ திரு அருட்பா

ஆரணியைப் பெருங்கருணை வடிவாளை, உலகங்கள் அனைத்தும் ஈன்ற
காரணியை சிற்பரையை வெற்பறையன் புதல்விதனைக் கடுக்கையென்னும்
தாரணியை யானனத்தர் சிவலோகத்தியாகர் இடந்தன்னில் வாழும்
பூரணியை எழில்தரு வெண்ணீற்றுமையை எப்போதும் போற்றி வாழ்வாம்

....... தலபுராணம் – கொட்டையூர் சிவக்கொழுந்து தேசிகர்

Moolavar : Sri Shivalokathyagar, Sri Perumanamudaya Mahadevar.
Consort : Sri Vennertru Umai Ammai or Nayagi, Sri Swetha Vibhuti Nayagi.

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam are in front of the Mukha mandapa. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is swayambhu looks cute. In Koshtam Sri Vinayagar, Sri Dakshinamurthy ( to see the beauty ), Sri Lingothbavar, Sri Brahma and Sri Durgai. Stucco image of Thirugnanasambandar with his wife merged with Shiva jyoti is above entrance of moolavar sannadhi.

In the prakaram Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Rinavimosanar, Mahalakshmi, Bhairavar, Sattainathar, Suryan and Chandran, and 63 var. Also procession deities of Thiripurasamharar, Chandrasekar, Sekkizhar, Pichadanar, Thiruneelakanda Yazhapanar, Madhanga soolamani, Neela Nakkar, Muruga Nayanar.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing east with stucco dwarapalakis at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Vibhuti is given in this shrine instead of Kungumam. The temple is with sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam and maha mandapam.

Thirugnanasambandar Kalyana mandapam ( 100 pillars mandapa) in which Thirugnanasambandar marriage festival will be conducted every year with the rituals of Upanayana, Marriage and procession, after this in the night in the “Shivajyoti Aikiya darshan” are conducted. There is a separate temple for Sri Thirugnanasambandar and his wife, Sri Sthothra Poornambigai in kalyana kolam is in front of Dwajasthambam.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. In addition to this there is a Nadana mandapa.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple might have been existed before 8^th century. Latter the temple was reconstructed and extended during Chozhas, Pandyas and Maratha Kings.

The inscriptions belongs to Chozha Kings Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga-III, Rajathirajan-II, Rajarajan-III and Pandya kings Maravarman Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Parakrama Pandyan. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Sri Kailasamudayar, “Thirupperumana mudaya Mahadevar”. Thiruperumanamudaya Nayanar and Kailasamudayar. Ambal was called as Thirukamakottamudaya Nachiyar. Natarajar was called as “Panpathaikka Aadu Nayanar”. This place was under Vadakarai Rajathiraja Valanattu Vennai Oornattu Panchavan mahadevi Kulothunga Chozha Chathurvedi Mangalam. The inscriptions also mentions the places Manickavasaganallur, Aalalasundaranallur, Sivasaravana nallur, which are close to this place.

Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 32^nd year and 327days reign inscription records the construction of Thirukamakottamudaya Nachiyar and donation of 5 veli Land at Virutharaja bayangara valanattu Vilathur Nattu Chembian Nerkundram ( May be near Virudhachalam ), by Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Kottam Kulothunga Chozhavala nattu Nerkundram ( This place is a part of Chennai ). Since this land had some problem, in lieu of this Two lands donated at Rajathiraja valanattu Thiruvinthalur Nattu Chembangudi and Chembangudi Chetrur.

An inscription records that a land measuring “moonrumaakkani araikkani” at Saththamangala alias Sivasaranasekara Nallur, was donated for nandhavanam by Thiruvathavurpillai, after buying.

The Rajaraja-III’s 2^nd year and 45^th day reign inscription records the details of a Pooja / santhi called Aayirathu Ennutruvar Santhi. The idols of Thirugnanasambandar ( Aludai Pillayar) and his wife Chokkiyar was installed at Thiruvenkadu, Thirunanipalli, ThiruAkkur ( Akkur ) and Perum PaRRapuliyur ( Chidambaram ). Before installation the idols were taken in procession through this Kailasamudayar Temple and Pooja will be done with Naivedyam. This pooja / sandhi was called as Ayiraththu Ennootruvar sandhi ( 1800 var – may be a merchant group )”. For this endowment donations were made to this temple on their name.

Vikrama Chozha’s 3^rd year reign inscription records that Thirugnanasambandar was also called as ParasamayaKolariyar. There was a madam existed in that name. The inscription mentions the marriage of Sambandar and reads as... இக்கோயில் உடைய பிள்ளையார் திருக்கல்யாணம் பண்ணிய திருமாளிகையும், திருவீதியும், திருநந்தவனமும், திருமடைவிளாகமும் நிலம் ஆறு மாவும்”.. This land was donated for annadhanam to the devotees, who comes for the Darshan of Perumanamudayar Temple Maheswarar.

This is one of the 27 temples, administered by Dharmapura adheenam. During the temple’s permanent trustee and 25^th Guru Mahasannidhanam Sri-la-Sri Kayilai Subramaniya Desika Gnanasambanda Paramacharya Swamigal period, Rajagopuram was renovated, stucco images of Dwarapalakas, Dwara Sakthi and Sthala Purana ( are added in the Rajagopuram), inner & outer compound wall plastered Maha mandapam granite flooring, Construction of Sthothira Poornambigai sannadhi are done in Kurothi year Chithirai month ie 1964CE. Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted.

In 2010, during 26^th Guru Maha sannidhanam period, Dwajasthampa mandapam, prakara mandapam, Thirugnanasambandar Kalyana mandapam, Chokkanathar Pooja madam, Commercial complex and servant's quarters are constructed and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted at a cost of 1.22 crores.

LEGENDS

Brahma, Murugan, Bhrighu, Vaister, Athri, Vyasar, Mirugandu, Agasthiyar and Jamathkini, Thiruneelakanda Yazhpanar, Muruga Nayanar and Thiruneelakanda Nayanar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Kakabhujanda Maharishi attained Mukti in this temple.

After the marriage of Thirugnanasambandar with Sthothra Poornambigai merged with Shivajyoti along with his relatives at this temple. Achal means - Mother, ma Parvati attended the wedding and distributed the Vibhuti Prasad, Hence called as “Sri Venneertru Umai Ammai”. Brahma as Creation and Mahavishnu was granted the power of destroying wicked and demons by Lord Shiva from this temple. Chandran worshiped Lord Shiva and got relieved from the curse.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, and annual festival of Thirugnanasambandar’s wedding ceremony on moolam star day in Vaikasi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The land line numbers of Gurukkal Balaji, +91 4364 278272 and 277 800 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Town buses from Chidambaram & Sirkazhi to Mahendrapalli passes through this Village and 8 KM from Kollidam on the left side.

The temple is 5 KM from Kollidam, 13 Km from Chidambaram, 16 KM from Sirkazhi, 36 KM from Mayiladuthurai and 232 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Kollidam ( Chidambaram ).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE