This is the 132nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 15th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place is in between Vennaru and Vettaru. This place was called as Thenkudi Thittai during 6th to 7th Century and now called as Thittai. Since this place is on a raised place – thittu – திட்டு- மேடு, so this place is called as Thittai. During puranic period this place was called as Therur or Rathapuri ( since King Sumali’s Rath has got struck up in this place ), Vilvaranyam, Vasishtaramam, Dhenupuri ( since Kamadhenu worshiped ) and Kudithveepam ( in Sanskrit ).
In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvenni. He didn’t mentioned this temple in particular, but as other Shiva Temples on the way.
பாடி நின்று பரவிப் பணிந்து போய்
Thirugnanasambandar, Vallalar and Umapathi Sivam has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
முன்னைநான் மறையவை மறைமுறை குறையொடும்தன்னதாள் தொழுதெழ நின்றவன் தன்னிடம்மன்னுமா காவிரி வந்தடி வருடநல்செந்நெலார் வளவயல் தென்குடித் திட்டையே……. திருஞானசம்பந்தர் -“கோதியலும்வன்குடித்திட்டை மருவார் மருவு திருத்தென்குடித் திட்டைச் சிவபதமே…….. திரு அருட்பாதென்குலத் திட்டையினில் பேருல நாயகிக்குப்பங்கு கொடுத்த பசுபதியே…….. உமாபதி சிவம்Moolavar : Sri VasishteswararConsort : Sri Ulaga Nayagi Ammai.
Some of the important features of this temple are…The temple is facing east with a temple tank in front. Stone Kodimaram, balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi. There are 4 Lingas installed on four corners of this temple keeping the moola Lingam at centre and hence this temple is called a Pancha Bootha sthalam. Moolavar is of Dhara Linga with 4 flat surfaces with number of scratches ( varikal ) on a square avudayar. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. In prakaram, Siddhi Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, 4 Shiva Lingas ( all four corner of the temple ), Gajalakshmi, Mahalingam, with Ambal, Navagrahas, Bhairavar and Chandikeswarar. Sculptures of Rishabaroodar, Nalvar and C Ramasamy Chettiar and his wife who had done the thirupani. The front mandapa is of Nattukottai Nagarathar’s construction / Thirupani.
Guru Bhagavan is in a separate sannadhi between main sanctum sanctorum and Ambal sannadhi.
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam, The vimanam is built with complete stone. 12 Rasi’s / Zodiac's bas relief are on the ceiling of the Ambal Sannathi’s front mandapam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed during 7th Century and the same was re-constructed with stone during Kulothunga Chozha period. Again in 1926 the complete temple was reconstructed by C Ramasamy Chettiar of Palavan Kudi Village, Nattukottai Nagarathar family.
The Inscriptions belongs to Chozha Kings Kulothunga Chozha, Pandya King Maravarman Sundara Pandyan, Kulasekara Pandyan and Chalukya king Narasimha Marayan. The Mandapa opposite to Sanctum sanctorum was built by a servant of Perungolur Kulothunga Chozheeswaramudaya nayanar temple.
Kulothunga Chozha’s 14th reign year inscription records the Royal order of the King for conducting a function on Uthratadhi nakshatra day in the month Aani ( Natal star of the King ) and also for the service in his name Avanivendaraman Sandhi ( one of name of the pooja or Kattalai ).
Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 13th reign inscription records the gift of the income of Padikaval from the devathana land to this temple by Uravan of Perungolur for attending repair works.
Rajaraja Devar alias Kulothunga Chozha’s 18th reign year inscription records the grant of 2 veli land to meet the expenses of taking Lord Shiva in a procession during festival on a Rishaba vahana. The gift was given on a Poosa nakshatra day.
LEGENDSIt is believed that, Brahma, Vishnu, Murugan, 4 Vedas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Shaniswarar, Yama, Parasuramar, Indra, Adhiseshan, Kamadhenu, sage Vasishta, Sage Gautama and Sage Jamadagni worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
In sanctum, a drop of water is falling on moolavar for every 25 minutes. This is due to the Suryakantha kal and Chandrakantha kal which transforms the atmospheric moisture in to water.
It is believed that sage Vasishtar had an ashram in this place and installed a Shiva Linga. Vasishta Maharishi did a penance on Lord Shiva of this temple and worshiped moolavar as Rajaguru. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Vasishteswarar. Guru stood up and received the teachings of sage Vasishta. It is also believed that Lord Shiva raised Guru as one of the Navagrahas.
Thittai in Tamil is “medu - மேடு ”. Lord Shiva liked 28 temples where he wants to stay, of which 26 were submerged during uzhikalam / piralayam. The remaining are Sirkazhi and this temple Thenkudi Thittai.Sun ie Suryan worships Lord Shiva of this temple 6 days in a year, 3 days in uttarayana and 3 days in dakshinayana. Avani and Panguni.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
The Annual Brahmotsavam and the festival signifies the Vasishtar’s marriage with Arundhathi is celebrated in the Tamil month Vaikasi ( May- June ), Guru Transition day / Guru peyarchi day and monthly pradosham.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:Land line number +91 4362 252 858 and mobile number +91 94435 86453 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH :Town bus is available from Thanjavur. But frequency is limited Planning to be done suitably. Alternatively Auto can be hired.The Temple is 10 KM from Thanjavur. 12 Km from Thiruvaiyaru, 34 KM from Kumbakonam and 340 KM from Chennai.The nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
பாடி நின்று பரவிப் பணிந்து போய்
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
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