Friday, June 9, 2017

Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil, Thiruvarur

Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil, Thiruvarur
Kannayariamudayar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkarayil in Thiruvarur district of Tamilnadu. The temple is revered in the Devaram hymns sung by 7th century Tamil Saivite poet, Sambandar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. This Shivastalam (Tirukkaaraivaasal) is regarded as of the 7 Sapta Vitanka temples, housing shrines to Thyagaraja - Somaskandar associated with the Muchukunda Chola legend. Thirukkarayil is located 13 Kms south of Tiruvarur. This shrine is regarded as the 119th in the series of Thevara Sthalams in the Chola Region south of the river Cauvery.



Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthy in the temple and is called as Kannayira Nathar. Mother is called as Kailasa Nayaki. The east facing temple has no Rajagopuram. The office of the temple is on the right side. The flag post-Kodimaram and Bali Peeta are covered with metal. Nandhi is at a higher level. There is a three tier inner tower. At the right side of the entrance are epigraphic details on the Sthala Purana. There are also shrines for Lords Maha Vishnu, Muruga with six faces, Bhairava and Mothers Saraswathi and Gajalakshmi and Shivalingas.



Thyagarajar here is known as Aadi Vitankar and is associated with the Kukkuta Natanam dance. The temple covers an area of about an acre. The Indra Theertham is located to the North of the temple. There are two sacred springs – Brahmma Theertham and Sesha Theerthams created by Lord Brahmma and Divine Serpent Adi Sesha. Brahmma created the spring for his Shiva worship for relief from a curse. Adisesha passed through a well in the temple to the sanctum to worship the Lord and thus Sesha Theertham came into being. 


Those suffering from vision problems bathe in the former with an herbal mixture offered in the temple and consume also the fig-honey Prasad for cure while those with skin defects consume the Sesha Theertham Prasad offered on full moon days. Sthala Vriksham is Jack Tree. Lord Vinayaka is worshipped as Pramodha Vinayaka. The word means excited joy. It is believed that worshipping Pramodha Vinayaka would keep the devotee ever happy. Lord Dakshinamurthy is praised as Gnana Dakshinamurthy. Devotees believe that Lord Swarnakarshana Bhairava will help them recover the losses they had incurred. 



There is also Kadukkai Vinayaka in the temple. Kadukkai is a nut with medicinal value and is used to be powdered and put in muddy water to make it crystal clear. This is also used as a medicine for cleaning stuffed belly. A trader stayed in this place with bags of Jadhikai also a medicinal nut that attracted higher tax. Vinayaka in the guise of a boy came to the trader and asked him about the contents in the bag. To avoid higher tax, the trader said that the bags contained Kadukkai. All the contents were found to be Kadukkai. Realizing that the boy was Vinayaka, the trader begged his pardon. They became Jadhikkai again. Since that day, the boy Vinayaka came to be known as Kadukkai Vinayaka.


Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Processional Dance
The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the Ajapa Thanam (dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur.
The other six images were installed in Thiruvaimur, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili (Thirukkuvalai), Thirunallaru and Tirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam (seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
Temple
Vidangar Temple
Dance pose
Meaning
Thyagarajar Temple
Vidhividangar
Ajabathaanam
Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple
Nagaradangar
Unmathanathaanam
Dance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohanaswamy Temple
Sundaravidangar
Vilathithaanam
Dancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple
Adhividangar
Kukunathaanam
Dancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple
Avanividangar
Brunganathaanam
Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornaathar Temple
Nallavidangar
Kamalanaanathaanam
Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple
Bhuvanivividangar
Hamsapthanathaanam
Dancing with the gait of a swan
Festivals
Six worship services are offered here each day. The temple celebrates Brahmmotsavam on Vaikasi Visakam day in May-June. The temple celebrates special pujas on Tamil New Year day falling almost on April 14, abisheks to Lords Thyagaraja and Nataraja, Pradosham days-13th day of new or full moon fortnights, Sankatahara Chaturthi-the 4th day of new moon fortnight, Jupiter worship on Thursdays, Lord Muruga pujas in Karthikai-November-December, Kalashtami Bhairava Puja, New Moon and Full Moon days.
Singers
The temple is praised by Saints Tirunavukkarasar and Tirugnana Sambandar in their Thevaram hymns.  This is the 119th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Prayers
It is the faith of the devotees that a bath in the Sesha Theertha and worship of Lord Shiva would relieve them from sins and curses. Those suffering from vision problems use to apply the herbal mixture offered in the temple and bathe in the Theertham. They also consume the fig Prasad dipped in honey for cure. Those facing skin problems consume Sesha Theertha Prasad offered on Poornima-full moon days. Devotees can Perform Abishekam, Archanas and offer Vastras for Lord.
Contact
Sri Kailasa Nayaki – Kannayira Nathar Temple,
Tirukaravasal (Tirukarayil) - 610 202,
Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4366 – 247 824
Mobile: +91 – 94424 03391
Connectivity
Tirukaravasal is located at about 14 Kms from Tiruvarur on the Thiruthuraipoondi Road, 18 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 30 Kms from Mannargudi, 75 Kms from Thanjavur and 130 Kms from Trichy. Nearest Railway Station is Tirunelikkaval Railway Station located at about 7 Kms from Tirukaravasal. Nearest Major Railway Station is located at Thiruvarur. Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.