The Heritage visit to this Sri Sattanathar Temple at Nagapattinam in Nagapattinam district was a part of “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organised by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05th and 6th March 2022. This temple is the 11th temple out of 12 Shiva Temples of Nagapattinam and about 750 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar Temple, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples. Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples.
The temple complex consists, Sattayappar Temple, a Mada temple and another Sri Adhi Kayarohaneswarar temple with Common parivara deities sannidhis.
SATTAYAPPAR TEMPLE
Moolavar : Sri Sattanathar
Consort : Sri Amirthavalli /Sri Ilamangai
Some of the salient features of this temple are..
This temple facing South with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and kodimaram / Dwajasthambam are under the Kodimara mandapam. 7 steps are provided on both sides to climb up the upper level. The central mandapam is protruding towards kodimaram. A balipeedam with simha vahanam is in this mandapam ( Whose vahana..? and during Brahmostsavam Simha flag is hoisted ). Bairavar as Moolavar in the sanctum is on a peethal plated peedam. Bairavar is with 10 hands. The front right hand is abhaya hastam and the other right hands are holding trishul, Sword, Angusam and damru. The left front hand resting on a thandam and other hands are holding a head, Shield / kedayam, pasam and snake. Ambal Amirthavalli is on left side of moolavar, in kadaka hastam and left hand is dola hastam. Ambal is a latter period addition.
At lower level vahana mandapam, vasantha mandapam, Ayyanar, Maha Ganapathi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniya, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, Navagrahas, Suryan, Thirugnanasambandar in dance posture and Bairavar.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple is a mada style of construction with an upper floor and an empty floor Lower level வெற்று தளம். The lower level – empty floor adhistanam was constructed with upanam padabandha adhistanam muppattai kumudam, pattigai, the bhitti starts with vedhigai, short brahma kantha pilasters with vettu tharanga pothyal, in prastram, kapotham and viyyalavari in bhoomi desam. The total height of this floor is 3.41 meters. There are 4 koshtas with makara thorana and all the koshtas are empty.
Mukha mandapam adhistanam is of kapothabandha style with tall pada & kandam is little protruding. Steps with shobhana mandapam is provided to access the upper level on both sides in the Kodimara mandapam. The pillars are with square with nagabandham supported by brahma kantha pilasters. The pothyals are with vettu tharanga pothyals.
The Pillars are of Vishnu kantha pillars is attached with a pilasters. The pillars has the sculptures of horse riders, warriors holding sword, shield, pathagai / posters, flag, Umbrella and servants with hookah. This sculptures are on the Yazhi pedestal.
The upper level main temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum Vimanam is on a padma upanam and adhistanam is of padabandha style. The Bhitti starts with vedhigai, supported by brahma kantha pilasters with vettu tharanga pothyal. The sanctum sanctorum measuring 4.76 meters square and has 5 deva Kostas with mahara thorana. A two tier stucco Vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Ambal Amirthavalli, Pichadanar and Lord Shiva’s various forms are on the Vimanam 1st level and greeva koshtam.
The kodimara mandapam ceiling has the paintings of Lotus medallion and the Mukha mandapam ceiling has the paintings of Oorthuva thandavar, Kali’s dance, Pichadanar, Shiva’s family procession with kallu kudam and various puranas.
In Urdhva tandava painting, Shiva is dancing with right leg up and keeping left leg on Muyalagan. Wearing tiger skin, uthara bandham, yagnopaveetha, mahara and padra kundala. Skull and Chandra are on the jada makudam. The lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and the other hands are holding Doopakalasam, snake coiled damru, and parasu. The front Left hand keeping on the thigh and other hands holds bell, flame, and antilope. The painting also has Vinayagar, Brahma, Naradar with veena, Brungi, Murugan with bow Maha Vihnu playing Kuda muzha and Thumburu Muni.
Some of the expert’s of the opinion that, this temple do not qualify for a mada Koil considering the aspects of Moolavar as Shiva Linga in the Ground floor and sattainathar in the first floor / upper level similar to, Sirkazhi and Ambar Mahalam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is claimed that the original temple was constructed by the Chozha King Ko Chenkat Chozha. ( As per the Historians this temple is about 1.5 KM from the sea. Since Chozha’s capital Kavipoompattinam was destroyed due to Tsunami – azhiperalai-to save from the tsunami the temples along the sea shore was built as a mada Temple ). Latter received contributions from Pallavas, Chozhas and Vijayanagaras.
But as per purana this temple was built by a small king / குறுநில மன்னன் called Thirumalairayan in 15th Century on the south side of Melai Karonam as an inner / ( upa ) temple.
Ashta bandhana maha kumbabhishekam was conducted on 08th December 1929, 24th April 1994, 10th May 1988 and 21st October 2010.
LEGENDS
In one of the Legend, Lord Shiva as Sattainathar – Bhairavar-suppressed the arrogance of Maha Vishnu’s avathara as Thiruvikrama, who killed Mahabali Chakravarthy. Due to this Maha Vishnu was infected with a sin. Maha Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva to get relieved from the Sin. Lord Shiva took the skin of Maha Vishnu and wore it. By doing so, Maha Vishnu got relieved from the sin. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Sattainathar. On seeing Lord Shiva wearing Maha Vishnu’s skin, Maha Lakshmi mistook that Maha Vishnu was killed, is an another legend associated with Sattainathar temple of Sirkazhi.
As per purana, Ramadevar who was well versed in 4 vedas and a staunch devotee of Sattainathar reached Kasi to attain mukthi. Ramadevar gave Sattainathar Vigraha to Solingamudayar, one of disciples for worship. One Night Sattainathar came in the dream of Solingamudayar to come to Nagapattinam. With Sattainathar vigraha, Solingamudayar came to Nagapattinam and worshiped Nagai Karonam after taking bath in Muni theertham.
In the mean time the Thirumalai Rayan, the Local King’s daughter was caught by the Brahmaraksasha spirit. SolingaMudayar went to King’s palace and drove away the spirit. As a part of thanks giving, the King Thirumalarayan built this temple to Sattainathar.
The legend about Ramadevar.. He is celebrated as one of the 18 siddhars. With the siddha power he went to kashi to worship Lord Shiva. When he had a dip in the river, he obtained the Sattainathar Vigraham. After worshiping some period, he gave it to his disciple Solingamudayar and went Arab countries as Yakope, where he did a research on Kayakalp Herbals. Finally came back to Chathuragiri Hills and attained Jeeva samadhi on the Azhagar Koil Hill.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from Regular Poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days.
This temple is the 11th temple out of 12 Shiva Temples of Nagapattinam, where special worship is conducted on Maha Shivaratri day. ( The 12 Temples are… Velivai Shiva Temple, Kayarohaneswarar temple, Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Amara nadeeswarar Temple, Malaieswarar Temple, Kattiappar Temple, Naduvatheeswarar Temple, Azhanatha Swamy temple, Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Chokkanatha swamy Temple, Sattaiyappar Temple and Naganathar Temple.
Annual Brahmotsavam will be held in the month of Chithirai after flag hoisting in Panguni. The temple Chariot will be pulled in 4 mada streets. The Nagapattinam Railway staff will also participate in pulling the Chariot. One year due to misunderstanding they didn’t participate. A Tamil Teacher of Nagapattinam Desiya higher secondary School invited them with a poem and they participated. (Thanks to yaathirai.blogspot.com ). The poen reads as...
மட்டாருஞ் சோலை மலருந் திருநாகைச்
சட்டையப்பர் கோயில் தனித்தேரில் – கட்டும்
வடம் பிடிக்க வாருங்கள், வண்கயிலை தன்னில்
இடம் பிடிக்க வேண்டுமேல் ஈங்கு.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 hrs.
HOW TO REACH
This temple is about 750 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples.
This Sri Sattanathar temple is about 1.5 KM from Nagapattinam railway station, 20 KM from Karaikal, 20 KM from Thiruvarur, 53 KM from Mannargudi and 303 KM from Chennai.
Nearest railway station is Nagapattinam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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