Thursday 4 February 2021

Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple / Thanthondriyappar Temple / ஸ்ரீ தான்தோன்றீஸ்வரர் கோயில். Akkur /ஆக்கூர், Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 163rd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 46th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place Akkur maintains the same name, since 6th to 7th Century.



In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that both  Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva Thirukadaiyur Mayanam.

சிறப்புடைத் திருப் பதிஅத னிடைச்சில நாள் அமர்ந்து அருளோடும்
விறல் பெருங்கரி உரித்தவர் கோயில்கள் விருப்பொடும் தொழச்செல்வார்
மறைப்பெருந் திருக்கலயரும் உடன்பட வணங்கிய மகிழ்வோடும்
அறப்பெ ரும்பயன் அனையஅத் தொண்டரோடு அணைந்தனர் திருஆக்கூர்
...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்
சார்ந்தார் தம் புகல் இடத்தைத் தான் தோன்றி மாடத்துக்
கூர்ந்து ஆர்வம் உறப்பணிந்து கோதுஇல் தமிழ்த் தொடைபுனைந்து
வார்ந்து ஆடும் சடையார்தம் பதிபலவும் வணங்கி உடன்
சேர்ந்தார்கள் தம் பெருமான்திருவீதி மிழலை யினை
...... திருநாவுக்கரசர் புராணம்
Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Both Sambandar and Appar mentions Lord Shiva as Akkur Thanthondriappar. 

அக்கிருந்த ஆரமும் ஆடரவும் ஆமையும்
தொக்கிருந்த மார்பினான் தோலுடையான் வெண்ணீற்றான்
புக்கிருந்த தொல்கோயில் பொய்யில்லா மெய்ந்நெறிக்கே
தக்கிருந்தார் ஆக்கூரின் தான்தோன்றி மாடமே
....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
முடித்தா மரையணிந்த மூர்த்தி போலும்
        மூவிலகுந் தாமாகி நின்றார் போலும்
கடித்தா மரைவேய்ந்த கண்ணார் போலும்
        கல்லலகு பாணி பயின்றார் போலும்
கொடித்தா மரைக்காடே நாடுந் தொண்டர்
        குற்றேவல் தாம்மகிழ்ந்த குழகர் போலும்
அடித்தா மரைமலர்மேல் வைத்தார் போலும்
        ஆக்கூரில் தான்தோன்றி யப்ப னாரே
....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்
-“பொங்குமிருட்
கூறுதிரு வாக்கூர் கொடுப்பன போற்சூழ்ந்து மதில்
வீறு திருவாக்கூர் விளக்கமே
........ திரு அருட்பா
Moolavar  : Sri Thanthondreeswarar, Sri Suyabu Nathar
Consort    : Sri Kadakanethri, Sri Vaalnedunganni

Some of the important features of this temple are as follows.
This is one of the mada koil built by Ko Chengat Chozhan. The temple is facing East with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front. Moolavar is of Swayambhu and there is crack on the top. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
 
In prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Murugan ( Sannidhi is like a chariot ), Saraswati, Sundarar with his wives Sangili Nachiyar and Paravai Nachiyar, Bana Lingam,  Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Nalvar,  Maha Lakshmi, Arunagirinathar, Gajalakshmi, Kailasanathar & Parvatha Vardhini, Vayu Lingam, Theyu Lingam, Appu Lingam, Navagrahas, Kala Bhairava, Bhairavar, Suriyan, Ko Chengat Chozha worshiping Lord Shiva and Chandikeswarar. A Separate Sannathi for “Aayirathil oruvar” with vimanam is also in the prakaram. The Urchavar was moved somewhere for safe custody.   

Ambal temple is facing west on the right side of moolavar and in standing posture.

The 15th Century Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this Temple and mentions Lord Shiva as Thanthondriappar.

வாழ்ந்தான்ற கற்புடைமை வாய்ந்தாய்ந்த நற்றவர்கள் 
    வான்தோன்று மற்றவரு                                                    மடிபேண
மான் போன்ற பொற்றொடிகள் தந்தோய்ந்த நற்புயமும்
    வான் தீண்ட வுர்றமயில்                                                    மிசையேறித்
தாழ்ந்தாழ்ந்த மிக்ககடல் வீழ்ந்தீண்டு வெற்பசுரர்
    சாய்ந்தேங்க  வுற்றமர்செய்                                                 வடிவேலா
தான்தோன்றி யப்பர்குடி வாழ்ந்தீன்ற நற்புதல்வ
    தான்தோன்றி நிற்கவல                                                      பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE
Even-though the temple is claimed as a Mada Temple, actually the main sannidhi and mandapas are constructed on a raised upana called as veRRu thalam. The veRRu thalam is on a padabandha adhistanam, with Jagathy, Kumudam, Brahma kantha pilasters, and empty koshtams. 9 steps are provided to reach the upper level.

The sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam are on the upper level. The Vimanam is with sub upanam, Padabandha adhistanam, with jagathy, muppattai kumuda and Pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedigai. Brahma kantha pilasters and poo mottu pothyals. The prastram is with Valapi, kapotham and bhoomi desam. The Koshtas are protruding out side as Padra salas. Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Brahma are in the upper level koshtam. The Vimanam is measuring 4.95 meters square. The super structure above the prastram was built with bricks. The Vimanam is of vesara style. The tala koshtas and greeva koshtas are with images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma. The sigaram is of vesara style with 4 maha nisis and 4 alpha nasis. Mandapas are of Vavvalnethi style / Vandikoodu style, built during Marathas period.








HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple, this original temple built by Ko Chengat Chozhan might have existed during 7th century and latter re-constructed by Chozhas and further extended by Pallavas and Vijyanagaras.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Rajathirajan, Koperunchingan and Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya. As per the inscriptions, this place was in Rajendra Chozha Chaturvedi mangalathu Akkur and Lord Shiva was called as Thanthondri madamudayar and the same was mentioned in Thevara hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar.
Thiribhuvana Chakravarti Rajaraja-III’s 18th reign year inscription records that the temple affairs are taken care of Perungudi Makkal also called as Koota perumakkal. 

Koperunchingan-I, Azhakiya Pallavar Araiyar  also called as Veeraprathabar, jailed Hoysalas, received royalty from Pandya Kings, intruded in to Chozha territory worshiped Shiva Temples on the south side of river Kaveri, gifted to that temples and renovated dilapidated temples.  When he was camping at Jayangonda Chozhavalanattu Akkur, he found that many lands are not cultivated due to higher taxes and people also started leaving the Village. Sympathising with their position, the King himself remitted the tax dues from them, called them back, restored their original holdings and asked them to cultivate the lands. ( AR 229 of 1925 )  

An inscription of 17th reign year without King;’s name, records that Adal Amarnthan Suriyan Thillaimoovaayiran was suffering from a decease and getting relieved slowly gifted some land for worship and  Padayal / Naivedyam.

Rajarajan-III’s 6th reign year inscription records that mentions this place as Akkur alias Rajendra Simha Chathurvedimangalam and Lord Shiva as Thanthondri Madamudayar . Further the inscription records the gift of land for burning perpetual lamps and provision was made for irrigation of those lands.

Rajarajan-III’s 18th reign year inscription records that gift of lands by many people for laying a road for taking Utsavars to river Kaveri for sacred bath / Theerthavari. The authorities of the Village who takes care of the Village affairs ordered the land gifted to this purpose was exempted from Irayili. The Rajarajan-III’s 14th reign year inscription of Sri Vaikundaraya Perumal Temple of the same Village records that permission was not given for the sacred bath of Utsavar in Thanthondri Madamudayar Temple Tank. So the temple authorities laid a new road to take utsavar to Kaveri river for theerthavari. These 13th Century inscriptions shows that the conflicts existed between Shaivites and Vaishnavites .

Krishna Devaraya’s 1517 CE inscription records the exemption of taxes like Chodivari, Soolavari, Arasuperu for the Temple lands.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovations on 15th September 1960, 06th April 2001 and 10th May 2010. 

LEGENDS
As per the legend ma Parvati separated from Lord Shiva and came earth. She was born to Athiri Maharishi and brought up as Valnedunganni. Lord Shiva went dhyana. Agasthiyar came and asked for Shiva and Parvati’s darshan. Lord Shiva totd that ma Parvati to Chant Swayamvara mantra and then Lord Shiva will marry her. As per Lord’s instruction ma Parvati did the penance on Lord Shiva chanting swayamvara mantra. Satisfied her devotion Lord Shiva married ma Parvati on a Panguni month vasantha navarathri day. Hence this day is celebrated in a grand manner at this temple. Devotees worships Lord Shiva and Parvati for marriage boon, to remove the obstacles of marriage and renunion of separated couples.

Sirappuli Nayanar was born in this place. He used to serve food to all the devotees who visited this place, without saying no. It is believed that, he attained mukti at this place.

There is crack on the top of the moolavar and it is believed that Lord Shiva came out of this Shiva Linga and went to Thirukadaiyur to kick the Yama / Kaalan with his leg for Markandeya.

A Separate Sannathi for ”Aayirathil oruvar” special moorthy with vimanam. As per the legend during construction of this temple the Chozha Ko Chengat Chozha was suffering from an ailment. He prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve from the ailment. The King heard a divine voice saying that he will be relieved from the ailment if he feeds / annadhanam to 1000 people for 48 days. On 48th day, found that the count was short by one for 1000, so he prayed Lord Shiva. To satisfy the King, Lord Shiva came in the form of an old man to tally the count to 1000.  Hence Lord Shiva is called as “Ayirathil oruvar”. This function is celebrated on Pooradam nakshatra day in Karthigai month. Hence this function and annadhanam will be served on that day every year. In addition to this Thiruvathirai and Natarajar Utsavam in margazhi month every year will be celebrated in a grand manner. 

As per the legend, during excavation of an ant hill, a Shiva Linga was found. The excavation tool hit mark is on the Shiva Linga which was formed during the process of excavation. Depicting this legend, a bas-relief is sculptured in the temple.

It is believed that Lord Shiva and Parvati gave the kalyanakola  darshan / wedding kolam to the sage Agathiyar. To prove the same Ma Parvati’s sannithi is on the right side of Moolavar sannadhi.     


Sundarar- Thirugnanasambandar- Appar

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Thiru Karthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar Sankranti, 108 Conch abhishekams on somavaram / Mondays and Sirappuli Nayanar Guru pooja  in the month Thai ( Jan- Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Full moon days and monthly pradoshams.

In addition to the above Thirukalyanam of Lord Shiva with parvati in Panguni month Vasantha navaratri day, Thiruvathirai and Natarajar Utsavam in margazhi month every year are celebrated in a grand manner.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The Temple mobile numbers +91 9865809768 and +91 9787709742 and Nagaraja Gurukkal’s mobile number +91 75022 22850 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH  
This place Akkur is on the way from Mayiladuthurai to Porayar. Town buses from Mayiladuthurai to Sirkazhi, passes through this place Akkur.
Akkur is about 12 KM from Porayar, 16 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 20 KM from Sirkazhi, 41 KM from Chidambaram, 50 KM from Kumbakonam and 258 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE










Ko Chengat Chozha
A Chozha King 
Varahi
Chandikeswarar
No.. It is a King 

Dwarapalakas


--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

The  Heritage visit to this Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple at Akkur 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.   Thanks to V Ramachandran, Thasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples. This is the second Visit to this temple. 

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