This is the 47th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 15th Shiva Sthalam of Nadu Naadu. The place was called during 7th Century as Thiruthuraiyur and now called as Tiruthalur by the local people.
Sekkizhar mentions in his Periya Puranam that after Thiruvennainallur Lord Shiva’s darshan return back to his native place Thirunavalur. He started his pilgrimage from Navalur and the first Temple was to Thiruthuraiyur. At Thiruthuraiyur Sundarar requests Lord Shiva to give him the way to lead the spiritual life / principles of Penance ( Thava Neri ).
புலன் ஒன்றும்படி தவத்தில் புரிந்தநெறி கொடுத்தருள அலர் கொண்ட நறுஞ்சோலைத் திருத்துறையூர் அமர்ந்து அருளும் நிலவும் தண்புனலும் ஒளிர் நீள்சடையோன் திருப்பாதம் மலர் கொண்டு போற்றி சைத்து வந்தித்தார் வன்தொண்டர்
திருத்துறையூர் தனைப் பணிந்து சிவபெருமான் அமர்ந்தருளும் பொருத்தமாம் இடம் பலவும்புக்கு இறைஞ்சிப் பொன்புலியூர் நிருத்தனார் திருக்கூத்துத் தொழுவதற்கு நினைவு உற்று வருத்தம்மிக காதலினால் வழிக்கொள்வான் மனம் கொண்டார்
Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. From Sundarar’s hymns, this place was on the north side of ThenPennai River. ( But now the place Thiruthuraiyur is on the south side of the ThenPennai River. The river might have changed it’s course due to flood. Now the old Pennai river flows like a channel called Malatar River ).
மலையார் அருவித் திரள்மா மணிஉந்திக் குலையாரக் கொணர்ந்தெற்றி யோர்பெண்ணை வடபால் கலையார் அல்குற்கன் னியராடும் துறையூர்த் தலைவா உனைவேண்டிக் கொள்வேன்தவ நெறியே...... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம் “மல்லார்ந்து மாசுந்துறையூர் மகிபன் முதல் மூவருஞ்சீர் பேசுந் துறையூர்ப் பிறை சூடீ..... திரு அருட்பா கவை கொள்வான் காற்பன்றி மின்னோர் கரிய வேடன் உருவமெய்தி அவை புரிந்தாய் தமியனேனுக்கு அருள்செயாமை அறமதாமோ குவைய பொன்னும் நெல்லும் நல்கிக் கோடி பாடல் கொண்ட நம்பா இவையமர்ந்த பங்குளானே திருத்துறையூர்ச் சிவபிரானே.... வண்ணச் சரபம் தண்டபாணிசுவாமிகள்Moolavar : Sri Shista Gurunathar, Sri Pasupatheeswarar.Consort : Sri Shivaloga Nayagi, Sri Poongothai Nayagi.
Some of the important features of this temple are....The temple is facing east with a Raja Gopuram base / Mottai Gopuram at the Main entrance. A Two tier Vesara Vimana is above the sanctum. At the entrance of the main shrine, on the top stucco image of Lord Shiva and Parvati with Sundarar as Shishta- Gurunathar keeping in the centro, on both sides are Vinayagar with his consorts Siddhi & Buddhi and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar. Lord Shiva is in the form of Shiva Linga in the sanctum with silver kavasam. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Near to Dakshinamurthy bas-relief of Lord Shiva with Parvati & Vinayagar and Sundarar
Kuthirai Chokkar ( Horse Chokkar – Lord Shiva with chattai ), is in the form of procession deity. Natarajar Sabha, Naalvar are in the mandapa one shifted a separate sannadhi in the outer prakara. A bas-relief of Sundarar crossing Then Pennai River is on one of the pillar of the mandapa.
In outer prakara Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Ramar and Bheema worshiped Shiva Lingas and Maha Vishnu.
Ambal is in separate temple like sannathi facing North is in standing posture. Rishabam, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are in front of the sannadhi. Bhadrakali temple out side is famous here.
There is a temple at “Kizhapakkam”, which is near Thiruthuraiyur from where Lord Shiva came as an old man – Thaduthu atkonda Nathar -to stop the marriage of Sundarar. Lord Shiva is called as Pasupatheeswarar and Ambal as Poongothai Nayaki.
The 15th Century Arunagirinathar has also sung hymns of Murugan of this temple. ஆரத்தன பாரத்துகில் மூடிப்பலர் காணக்கையில் யாழ்வைத்திசை கூரக்குழ லுடைசோர ஆகப்பனி நீரப்புழு கோடக்குழை யாடப்பிரை யாசப்படு வார் பொட்டணி சசிநேர்வாள் கூரக்கணை வேல்கட்கயல் போலச்சுழல் வார்சர்க்கரை கோவைக்கனி வாய்பற்கதி ரொளிசேருங் கோலக்குயி லார்பட்டுடை நூலொத்திடை யார்சித்திர கோபச்செய லார்பித்தர்க் ளுறவாமோ பூரித்தன பாரச்சடை வேதக்குழ லாள்பத்தர்கள் பூசைக்கியல் வாள்பத்தினி சிவகாமி பூமிக்கடல் மூவர்க்குமு நாள்பத்திர காளிப்புணர் போகர்க்குப தேசித்தருள் குருநாதா சூரக்குவ டாழித்தவி டாய்முட்டசுராருக்கிட சோர்விற்கதிர் வேல்விட்டருள் விறல்வீரா தோகைச் செயலாள் பொற்பிர காசக்குற மான்முத்தொடு சோதிதுறை யூர்நத்திய பெருமாளே
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONDuring Sundarar’s visit the ThenPennai River was flowing on the South side of the temple. The original temple was existed since 6th to 7th Century, may be constructed during Pallava Period. Latter reconstructed during Chozha Period and maintained by Pandayas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions this place was in Rajaraja Valanattu Thirumunaipadi Thiruthuraiyur, Kayapakkai Nattu Thiruthuraiyur and Vijayanagara period as Rajathirajavala nattu Thirumunaipadi kayappakka Nattu Thiruvathiseemai Thiruthuraiyur. Lord Shiva was called as “Thavanery Aludayar – தேவநெறி ஆளுடையார்”.
The recorded inscriptions belongs to Chozha Kings Kulothunga Chozha, Parakesarivarman, Rajaraja, Vijayanagara Kings Achutha Devaraya, Mallikarjuna Devar, Krishnadeva Maharayar, Veera Narasingadeva Maharayar, Sambuvarayars Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya.
During Achuthadeva Maharayar period on behalf of the King Rama Bhattar Ayyan gifted the Village Kurathi to this temple towards worship and maintenance.
Dwarapalakas are installed by Gangaiya Manickam and for the worship 500 kuzhi of land was gifted to this temple.
During Narasingadeva Rayar 1471 ( AR 26 of 1925) period through Annamarasar, arranged for special pooja on monthly Maham nakshtra day and renovation of dilapidated portions of the temples Thiruthuraiyur Thava Neri Aludaya Nayanar, Veemecharam Udayar, Raachur Udayar and some of the connected temples.
Anther inscription records the endowment of Sandhi Lamp by a Siva Brahmanan from Venkotra Kottathu Thellatru Nattu Thellaru Village.
LEGENDS:As per sthala purana, during the Visit to this temple Sundarar couldn’t cross the river due to flood. Sundarar prayed to Lord Shiva to help him. Lord Shiva and Parvati came in the form of old boat man and woman and helped to cross the river. The bas-relief can be seen in the mandapa pillar. After crossing the river the old couples disappeared and heard the divine voice from the temple vimana. Hence this place was called as “Kilapakkam”.
In this temple Sundarar obtained the spiritual power or the Principles of Penance from Lord Shiva along with Ambal as Rishabanthikar, witnessed by Sri Vinayagar. Since Lord Shiva taught the way to lead the spiritual life / principles of Penance to Sundarar as guru, Sundarar and Lord Shiva are called as Shista-Gurunathar.
Naradhar, Vashister, Agasthiyar, Veeman, Suryan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
In this temple Lord Shiva is facing west, Ambal is facing North, Vinayagar is facing east and Murugan is facing South. Since all the four are facing four direction, it is considered as unique and auspicious. Since Guru is occupying in an important position special poojas are conducted on Thursdays. Devotees believes that worshiping him, will excel in education. Devotees also throng this temple for Child boon.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from daily poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Thursdays, Guru Peyarchi day, Maha Shivaratri, 10 days Brahmotsavam on Vaikasi Visakam, Kandar Sashti and Annabhishekam in Masi.
TEMPLE TIMINGS The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:Landline and mobile numbers are +91 4142 - 248 498 and Murali Gurukkal on mobile +91 94448 07393, may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH: The temple is 4.5 KM from Kandarakottai near Panruti on the Villupuram to Panruti route, 8 KM from Panruti, 21 KM from Villupuram, 35 KM from Cuddalore and 179 KM from Chennai.Town bus route No 19, from Panruti Akkadavalli through this Village Thiruthuraiyur.Town bus route No 25 is plying to Korathi from Panruti through Thiruthuraiyur.Nearest Railway station is Thiruthuraiyur and Junction is Villupuram
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
“Sivagnanasiddhiyar”, a sashthra book was composed by Arunandhi Sivachariyar ( Sakalaakama Pandithar ) was born and lived here. His jeeva Samadhi is about 300 meters from the Temple. This temple is under the control of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. Guru pooja will be celebrated on Puratasi Pooram day every year and regular poojas are conducted by his descendants.
As per the Legend Lord Shiva blessed Sundarar in the form of Rishabaroodar from the temple Vimana.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
அலர் கொண்ட நறுஞ்சோலைத் திருத்துறையூர் அமர்ந்து அருளும்
குலையாரக் கொணர்ந்தெற்றி யோர்பெண்ணை வடபால்
ஆரத்தன பாரத்துகில் மூடிப்பலர் காணக்கையில்
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
