Sri Chakravageswarar Temple / Chakravakeswarar Temple / Chakra Vaagheeswara Temple / சக்ரவாகேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் சக்கரப்பள்ளி, அய்யம்பேட்டை, Chakkarapalli, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 134^th  Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 17^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Chakkarapalli during 6^th to 7^th Century and now locally known as Ayyampettai and Chakkarapalli is a part. The temple is thickly surrounded by the Muslim residences.  This is one of the Sapta Sthalas keeping this as centre.

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar visited to this place after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thenkudi Thittai.

சக்கரப் பள்ளியார் தம் திருக்கோயிலுள்

புக்கு அருத்தியினுடன் புனைமலர்த் தாள்பணிந்து

அக்கரைப் பரமர்பால் அன்புறும் பரிவுகூர்

மிக்கசொல் தமிழினால் வேதமும் பாடினார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.   

படையினார் வெண்மழுப்பாய் புலிதோல் அரை

உடையினார் உமையொரு  கூறனார் ஊர்வதோர்

விடையினார் வெண்பொடிப் பூசியார் விரிபுனல்

சடையினார் உறைவிடம் சக்கரப் பள்ளியே

…….. திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                        -“கள்ளமிலஞ்

சக்கரப்பள்ளி தனிற்றாம் பயின்ற மைந்தர்கள்சூழ்

சக்கரப்பள்ளி தனிற்றண்ணளியே

…….. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Chakravageswarar

Consort    : Sri Deva Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…..

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. Stucco image of Vinayagar, Lord Shiva with Parvati and Murugan are on the top of the entrance. Again Stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the top of mukha mandapam.  Moolavar is of Swayambhu and tall. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In maha mandapam Suryan, Chandran, a beautiful Bhairavar and Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar and Manickavasagar. 

Ambal sannadhi is on the right side facing south, immediately after the entrance arch with sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam and mukha mandapam. .

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. A moat formation is around the sanctum sanctorum, may be due to the rise of outside ground level.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this Chakkarapalli Temple.  

தட்ட றச்சமை யத்தைவ ளர்ப்பவ

      ளத்தன் முற்புகழ் செப்பவ நுக்ரக

        சத்து வத்தைய ளித்திடு செய்ப்பதி           மயிலேறி

    சட்ப தத்திரள் மொய்த்தம ணப்பொழில்

        மிக்க ரத்நம திற்புடை சுற்றிய

        சக்கி ரப்பளி முக்கணர் பெற்றருள்            பெருமாளே

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiv of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7^th century. The same was reconstructed with stone during latter Chozha period.

As per the inscription this place was mentioned as Kulothunga Chozha valanattu Vilanattu Rajendra Chozha Chathurvedhi mangalam.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 12^th reign year inscription records the reforms made in the election of Grama sabha. The important points are 1. A person above 40 years of age  can contest. 2. The person who was a member of the sabha in the past 10 years cannot contest. 

LEGENDS

Maha Vishnu, Jayanthan son of Indra, Devas, Chakra Vaha bird and Saptamatrikas ( Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi ) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.  Suryan also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. On Panguni month Sankadahara Chathurthi day the Sun rays falls on moolavar.

The Brahma in the form of  Chakravaha bird told lie, that it had seen the top / mudi of Lord Shiva.  To get rid of the sin Chakravaha bird worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Chakravageeswarar. There is a bas relief depicting this legend is in this temple.

Maha Vishnu has got his  Chakra / disc after worshiping Ambal. The same was mentioned in the sthala purana as .. “வண்சக்கிரம் மால் உறைப்பால் அடிபோற்றக் கொடுத்த பள்ளி”

Ambal Vedanayagi in the form of small child blessed the couples Nathasharma and Anavithai, who are came from Kashi. Ambal’s legs are in walking position, which signifies that, She will be coming to help her devotees, when they are in distress.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Ezhur thiruvizha / SaptaSthana Vizha  will be conducted in the month Panguni ( March ). Lord Shiva Chakravageeswarar and Parvati will be carried through palanquin in procession to seven temples around Chakkarapalli and finally the procession will  return back after doing pooja at Kudamurutti River. 

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Annabishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiruvathirai in the month margazhi ( Dec – Jan ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The land line number +91 4374 311 018 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

The village Ayyampet is on Thanjavur to Kumbakonam main road and the temple is 1 KM off the main road, (south side ).

The temple is 12 KM from Papanasam, 17.6 KM from Thanjavur,  24 KM from Kumbakonam, and 301 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur and Local Railway station is Ayyampet.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---