Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur
Encyclopedia
Sri Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple
dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur
in Tamil Nadu
, India
. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram
hymns of Saiva nayanars
, 7th century Tamil
saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
s(halls) in the three spacious enclosures(prakaram
). The two main shrines of the temple are for Valmikinathar(Lord Siva) and Thyagarajar. Of the two, the former is the most ancient, and derives its name from tha anthill(putru), which takes the place of linga in the main shrine. Appar, the 7th century poet saint, refers to the main deity in his hymn as puttritrukondan(one who resides in the ant hill). The Stala vriksham(temple tree) is patiri(trumpet flower tree). The principles and practises of tree-worship and ophilotary are ancient bases wherupon a later date linga worship seems to have been established.
though the existing temple complex as it exists today has been constructed only in the 14th century AD. There are plenty of inscriptions and paintings on the walls of the temple. The inscriptions either refer to the Medieval and Later Cholas or to the Thanjavur Marathas. The temple complex seems to have acted as the cultural model for the big Brahadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur of Rajaraja Chola I
, wherein he enshrined a vitankar which shared with the Atavallan of Chidambaram
the status of state cult. The last Chola monarch to play an important role in the affairs of the temple was Kulothunga Chola III
in the early part of the 13th century A.D. It attracted saivas of all schools and was important centre of Golaki matha in the 13th and 14th century. It was also an important Jaina
dwelling place, which was attacked by saivas, as is evident from Periya Puranam
, account of life of tantiyadigal.
and its smaller cars on the laborious path around the surrounding streets.
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 Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam
, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai 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:
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram
Thevaram
Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...
hymns of Saiva nayanars
Nayanars
The Nayanars or Nayanmars were Shaivite devotional poets of Tamil Nadu, active between the fifth and the tenth centuries CE...
, 7th century Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
The Temple
The temples complex occupies an area of around 20 acres with the Kamalalayam tank to its west. There are numerous shrines and mandapaMandapa
A mandapa in Indian architecture is a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.-Temple architecture:...
s(halls) in the three spacious enclosures(prakaram
Prakaram
A Prakaram, also spelled Pragaram or Pragaaram) in Indian architecture is an outer parth around the Hindu temple sanctum. These may be enclosed or open and are typically enclosed for the inner most prakaram....
). The two main shrines of the temple are for Valmikinathar(Lord Siva) and Thyagarajar. Of the two, the former is the most ancient, and derives its name from tha anthill(putru), which takes the place of linga in the main shrine. Appar, the 7th century poet saint, refers to the main deity in his hymn as puttritrukondan(one who resides in the ant hill). The Stala vriksham(temple tree) is patiri(trumpet flower tree). The principles and practises of tree-worship and ophilotary are ancient bases wherupon a later date linga worship seems to have been established.
History
The temple dates back to the time of the Medieval CholasMedieval Cholas
Medieval Cholas rose to prominence during the middle of the 9th century C.E. and established the greatest empire South India had seen. They successfully united the South India under their rule and through their naval strength extended their influence in the Southeast Asian countries such as Srivijaya...
though the existing temple complex as it exists today has been constructed only in the 14th century AD. There are plenty of inscriptions and paintings on the walls of the temple. The inscriptions either refer to the Medieval and Later Cholas or to the Thanjavur Marathas. The temple complex seems to have acted as the cultural model for the big Brahadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur of Rajaraja Chola I
Rajaraja Chola I
Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...
, wherein he enshrined a vitankar which shared with the Atavallan of Chidambaram
Chidambaram Temple
Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. The temple is known as the foremost of all temples to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two...
the status of state cult. The last Chola monarch to play an important role in the affairs of the temple was Kulothunga Chola III
Kulothunga Chola III
Kulothunga Chola III was the ruler of the Chola empire from 1178 to 1218 AD, after succeeding Rajadhiraja Chola II. Kulothunga Chola III gained success in war against his traditional foes. He gained victories in war against the Pandyas of Madurai, Cheras of Venad, Hoysalas of Mysore, the Sinhala...
in the early part of the 13th century A.D. It attracted saivas of all schools and was important centre of Golaki matha in the 13th and 14th century. It was also an important Jaina
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
dwelling place, which was attacked by saivas, as is evident from Periya Puranam
Periya Puranam
Periya Puranam , that is, the great purana or epic, sometimes also called Tiruttontarpuranam is a Tamil poetic account depicting the legendary lives of the sixty-three Nayanars, the canonical poets of Tamil Shaivism. It was compiled during the 12th century by Sekkizhar...
, account of life of tantiyadigal.
Car Festival
The temple hosts the annual car festival in March for ten days. Animated crowd push and pull the largest temple car of Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and its smaller cars on the laborious path around the surrounding streets.
Processional Dance
The Thyagarajar Temple at TiruvarurTiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
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
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai 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 |
| Tiruvarur 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 Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam The Kayarohanaswami Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva situated in the town of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is known as Kayarohana and his consort is Nilayathakshi. The temple has been in existence from the 6th century AD and has been praised by the Nayanmars... |
Sundaravidangar | Vilathithaanam | Dancing like waves of sea |
| Kannayariamudayar Temple Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil Kannayariamudayar Temple or Thirukarayil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India... |
Adhividangar | Kukunathaanam | Dancing like a cock |
| Brahmapureeswarar Temple Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai Brahmapureeswarar Temple or Tiurkolili is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India... |
Avanividangar | Brunganathaanam | Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower |
| Vaimoornaathar Temple Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur Vaimoornathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Tiruvaimur in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is revered in the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poets, Appar and Campantar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-The Temple:The presiding deity is... |
Nallavidangar | Kamalanaanathaanam | Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze |
| Vedaranyeswarar Temple Vedaranyeswarar Temple The Vedaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the coastal town of Vedaranyam which gets its name from the temple. The temple dates from the time of Chola king, Parantaka I and the presiding deity is Shiva.-Legend:... |
Bhuvanivividangar | Hamsapthanathaanam | Dancing with the gait of a swan |