Thenkurangaduthurai Temple /Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple / Sri Apath Sahayeswarar Temple, ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் கோயில், தென்குரங்காடுதுறை /ஆடுதுறை / Aduthurai / Thenkurangaduthurai, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 148^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 31^st  sthalam on south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place is called as Thenkurangaduthurai (Then – தென் – தெற்கு ), since there are two places with Paadal Petra Temples as Kurangaduthurai, to differentiate, this place is called as Thenkurangaduthurai ( South) and the other one is called as Vadakurangaduthurai also called as Aduthurai perumal Koil the 49^th Paadal Petra sthalam of Chozha Nadu on the south side of river Kaveri. 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvidaimaruthur. Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvaduthurai. But Sekkizhar didn’t mentioned this temple Thenkurangaduthurai separately.

மருங்கு உளநல் பதிகள்பல பணிந்து மாநிதிக் கரைபோய்க்

குரங்காடுதுறை அணைந்து குழகனார் குரைகழல்கள்

பெரும்காதலின் பணிந்து பேணிய இன்இசை பெருக

அரும் கலைநூல் திருப்பதிகம் அருள்செய்து பரவினார்

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

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

பரவக்கெடும் வல்வினை பாரிடம் சூழ

இரவிற் புறங் காட்டிடை நின் நெறி யாடி

அரவச் சடை அந்தணன் மேய அழகார்

குரவப் பொழில் சூழ்குரங் காடுதுறையே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

இரங்கா வன்மனத் தார்க் ளியங்குமுப்

புரங்கா வல்அழி யப்பொடி யாக்கினான்

தரங்கா டுந்தட நீர்ப்பொன்னித் தென்கரைக்

குரங்காடு துறைக் கோலக்க பாலியே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                        -“நீக்கமிலா

நன்குரங்காணு நடையோரடைகின்ற

தென்குரங் காடுதுறைச் செம்மலே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Apath Sahayeswarar

Consort    : Sri Pavazhakodiammai.

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

The temple is facing east with a three tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. There is no Dwajasthambam ( Place is there, but might have been removed ). In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar ( Brahma and Vishnu on both sides ), Brahma, Durgai. In Dakshinamurthy’s place Agathiyar, Natarajar. Ganga Vicheschanar / Gangadharar, Pichadanar on both side of Sri Durga. 

In prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Nalvar, Shiva Lingam, Ambal, Sugrivan worshiped Shiva Linga, Viswanathar, Murugan as Mayil Vahanar, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar, Shaniswarar, Suriyan, Chandran and Navagrahas.  In Navagrahas all the 8 grahas are facing Suriyan. Stucco image of Sugrivan worshiping Lord Shiva is above the entrance of Mukha mandapam. Bas-reliefs of Chembiyam Mahadevi and Karaikal Ammaiyar and Sugrivan worshiping Lord Shiva are there on the sanctum wall.

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

செறிந்தமந் தாரை மகிழ்புனை

        மிகுத்ததண் சோலை வகைவகை

        தியக்கியம் பேறு நதியது         பலவாறுந்

    திரைக்கரங் கோலி நவமணி

        கொழித்திடுஞ் சாரல் வயலணி

        திருக்குரங் காடு துறையுறை     பெருமாளே

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. A moat formation is around the sanctum sanctorum, may be due to rise of Ground Level. A 2 tier Vesara Vimana is on the top of Sanctum. Stucco image of Vali and Sugreeva worshiping Lord Shiva are in the Vimana.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7^th Century. It is believed that this temple was reconstructed with stone by Queen of Gandaraditya, Sembiyan Mahadevi and latter extended by Chozhas and Vijayanagaras.

As per the inscriptions this place Kurangaduthurai was in “Thenkarai Thiraimurnattu thirukurangaduthurai”, Poobalakulavalli Valanattu Thiraimurnattu Thirukurangaduthurai, Uppakondavalanattu Thiraimur Nattu Thirukurangaduthurai and Lord Shiva was called as Thiru kurangaduthurai Mahadevar.

Most of the Chozha period inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, maintenance, Poojas and Service, Naivedyam for which lands, Gold and money was gifted to this temple. Sembiyan Mahadevi, Uttama Chozha’s mother and Gandaradita Chozha’s wife, was directly involved in thirupani of this temple.

The Pandya King Ko Maranjadaiyan’s 6^th ( 4+1+1) reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp with supply of one Uri oil daily by the Sabhai / Village assembly, to this temple Mahadevar of Thirukurangaduthurai in Thiraimur Nadu.

Another Pandya King Ko Maranjadaiyan’s 8^th reign year ( 4+1+1+1+1 ) inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp and a provision of supply of oil was made by the Sabhai / Village assembly of Maruttuvakkudi in Thiraimur Nadu.

Rajaraja-I’s 9^th reign year inscription records the gift of 10 Sei ( ma.?) land purchased from the temple Sabhai towards burning of one perpetual lamp and 9 ordinary lamps by Sattan Aruvattaran od Pirantaka Therinja Kaikolar, a regiment of the King. 

Kulothunga Chozha-II’s 10^th reign year inscription records the endowment of supplying 6 pots of river water for thirumanjanam / sacred path and bring flower for garland from nandhavanam by Muppiral Dakshinamurti Bhattar. For the same Paddy of 10 kalam and Nandavanam measuring 30 kuzhi was gifted. At the end of the inscription it records that some Siva brahmins agreed to burn 4 lamps during the service and for the same a gift was received from Pichchadeva Bhatta a resident of the place. The Owner of the land purchased by the donor is said to have been a resident of Vikramachozha Chathurvedi mangalam, which is called a Thiruppallipadai – the last resting place of – obviously Vikrama Chozha.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 28^th April 1955 and 21^st April 2000. 

LEGENDS

This place is called as Then Kurangaduthurai, since it is located on the south side of river Kaveri. It is believed that Sugriva worshiped Lord Shiva of this Then Kurangaduthurai and Vali worshiped Lord Shiva of Vada Kurangaduthurai temple.

A pregnant lady from Thirumangalakudi, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva used to Visit this temple and worship Lord Shiva daily. Lord Shiva, in the form of a midwife helped her for a safe delivery.

It is believed that Lord Shiva gave the cosmic dance to sage Agathiyar and the rishis. Hence this place is called as Natarajapuram. Agasthiyar also installed and worshiped Lord Shiva as “Swarna/ Sorna Bhairavar”.

It is also believed that Hanuman got relieved from the Naradar’s curse and regained the singing Power.

It is believed that Suriyan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Sun Rays falls on moolavar on 3 days ie 5^th to 7^th of Tamil month Chithirai ( April ).           

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct- November ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Nov – Dec ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and every month pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :  

Mobile numbers +91 94434 63119 & + 91 94424 25809 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

The temple is in Aduthurai on the bus route Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai. Town buses are available from Kumbakonam.

The temple is at the beginning of Aduthurai from Kumbakonam before Bus stand.  There is Small Murugan temple – right turn – walk about 200 meters - Opposite to Kumaraguru Dasa Melnilaipalli.( School ).

The Place Aduthurai is 4 KM from Thiruvidaimaruthur, 13 KM from Kumbakonam, 22 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 56 KM from Thanjavur and 300 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Junction is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---