Kiruthivakesvarar Temple, Sulamangalam

Kiruthivakesvarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at Soolamangalam near Ayyampet in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, India. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Vaippu Sthalam

It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Appar. ^[3] As Suladevar worshipped this place this place was known as Sulamangalam. ^[1]

Presiding deity

The presiding deity in the garbhagriha is represented by the lingam known as Kiruthivakesvarar. The Goddess is known as Alankaravalli. ^[1]

Specialities

Shiva has among other things one of the weapon or symbol known as Astradeva. Due to this he is known as Sulapani, the bearer of Astra (Sulam).Astradeva worshipped the deity of this temple. Shiva appeared before him and blessed him stating that as my weapon, you would get the primary places in all the temple festivals and would be taken. From then the first puja was done to Astradeva. The presiding deity is also known as Kari Urittha Nayanar, as he killed the elephant. As Shiva killed the asura known as Kayasuran, he is known as Kiruthivakesvarar. The asura gave disturbance to one and all. Unable to bear his disturbance all went to Kasi. Kayasuran also went there. While all of them worshipped the Lord of Kasi, Shiva saved them from him. In the Manikarnika Ghat he appeared as Linga and was known as Kiruthivakesvarar. ^[4]

Structure

Astra devar can be found standing in front of the temple, He is of 4.5 feet height. Dakshinamurthy who is found in the kosta is found without the banyan tree. He is found with jadamudi. During Thai Amavasai special pujas are held. Of the saptamatas, Kaumari worshipped here. Parvati did penance in front of the deity here. She is also found holding a trishul in her hand. The Goddess blessed the couple Nathasanma-Anavitha who came from North India. ^[2]

Saptamagai sthalam

This temple is one of the seven shrines associated with Saptamartrikas (seven female deities in Siva temple). ^{[5] [6]} Matrikas are the different forms Adi Parashakti. Matrikas are the personified powers of different Devas. Brahmani emerged from Brahma, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Maheshvari from Shiva, Indrani from Indra, Kaumari from Skanda, Varahi from Varaha and Chamunda from Devi, ^[7] and additionals are Narasimhi, Vinayaki. This is one of the Saptamangai sthalams, seven sacred places devoted to Devi. ^[4] They are also called as Saptastanam of Chakkarappalli. ^[8] They are:

• Chakkarappalli
• Ariyamangai
• Sulamangalam
• Nallichery
• Pasupathikovil
• Thazhamangai
• Pullamangai

Location

In Thanjavur-Kumbakonam road, in the Railway station road at a distance of 1 km this temple is situated. As Suladevar worshipped this place this place was known as Sulamangalam. ^[1]

References

1. பு.மா.ஜெயசெந்தில்நாதன், தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், வர்த்தமானன் பதிப்பகம், சென்னை, 2009
2. மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, சூலமங்கை - (சூலமங்கலம்), 6-70-10
3. தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், சூலமங்கை, 6-70-10
4. "சாதிக்க வைக்கும் சப்த மங்கை தலங்கள்!, தினகரன், 12 அக்டோபர் 2018". Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
5. கடம்பூர் விஜயன், சப்தமங்கைத் தலங்கள், பகுதி 1, அரியமங்கை, தினமணி, 16 சூன் 2018
6. சப்தமாதர்களும் சக்தியின் அம்சங்களே, ஆன்மிகம்
7. Leeming, David; Fee, Christopher (2016). The Goddess: Myths of the Great Mother. Reaktion Books. ISBN   9781780235387.
8. Ayyampet N.Selvaraj, Study on the Saptastanam (Seven Sacred Places) of Chakkarappalli in Thanjavur District, Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum, New Delhi, May 2011