Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur

Last updated

Vaimoornathar Temple
Tiruvaimur
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Tiruvarur
Deity Vaimoornathar(Shiva)
Location
LocationTiruvaimur
State Tamil Nadu
Country India
India Tamil Nadu location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates 10°37′N79°43′E / 10.617°N 79.717°E / 10.617; 79.717 Coordinates: 10°37′N79°43′E / 10.617°N 79.717°E / 10.617; 79.717
Architecture
Type Dravidian architecture

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 classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam (No:124).

Contents

The Temple

The presiding deity is Vaimoornathar (Lord Siva) is believed to have been worshipped by Surya(Sun god). [1] Lord Siva appeared in the dreams of Appar, the 7th century nayanar and Tamil saivite poet and ordered him to make to Tiruvaimur. After making his visits to Tirupazhanam, Tiruvalanchuzhi, Tirunallur and Kumbakonam arrived at the temple here on the day of Tirvathirai for temple festivities. [2] Sambandar also followed him and both these poets revered the Lord here with their hymns. Thyagarajar is called Neela Vidangar and is believed to perform Kamala Natanam. [3]

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, Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Thirunallar, and Tirumaraikadu. [4] [5] 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) [6] and the related temples are as under: [7]

TempleVidangar TempleDance poseMeaning
Thyagarajar Temple VidhividangarAjabathaanamDance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple NagaradangarUnmathanathaanamDance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohanaswamy Temple SundaravidangarVilathithaanamDancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple AdhividangarKukunathaanamDancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple AvanividangarBrunganathaanamDancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornaathar TempleNallavidangarKamalanaanathaanamDance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple BhuvanivividangarHamsapthanathaanamDancing with the gait of a swan

Related Research Articles

Appar

Appar Tirunavukkarasar Nayanar, also known as Navukkarasar and Appar, was a seventh-century Śaiva Tamil poet-saint, one of the most prominent of the sixty-three Nayanars. He was an older contemporary of Thirugnana Sambandar. His birth-name was Marulneekkiyar. He was called "father" by Sambandar, hence the name Appar.

Sundarar

Sundarar, also known affectionately as Tampiran Tōḻan was an eighth-century poet who was one of the most prominent Nayanars, the Shaiva bhakti (devotional) poets of Tamil Nadu. He was a contemporary of Cheraman Perumal and Kotpuli Nayanar who also figure in the 63 Nayanmars. The songs of praise are called Thiruthondathogai and is the original nucleus around which the Periyapuranam is based. The Periya Puranam, which collects the legends of the Nayanars, starts and ends with him. The hymns of seventh volume of the Tirumurai, the twelve-volume compendium of the poetry of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta, were composed by him. His songs are considered the most musical in Tirumurai in Tamil language.

Paadal Petra Sthalam

The Paadal Petra Thalam are 275 temples that are revered in the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th-9th century CE and are amongst the greatest Shiva temples of the continent. The Divya Desams by comparison are the 108 Vishnu temples glorified in the poems of the contemporary Vaishnava Alvars of Tamil Nadu, India

Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvottiyur

Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. It is located in Tiruvottiyur in the northern part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is revered by the Tevaram hymns of Saiva nayanars, the 7th century Tamil saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.All the Three of Thevaram Moovar(Appar, Samandar and Sundarar) has rendered Thevaram songs in this temple. The temple is closely associated with the saint poet Sundarar and Pattinathar. The temple has been in vogue from the Pallava times of the 7th century and widely expanded by Chola kings during the 11th century. The temple has a seven tiered gateway tower, a tank, with the overall temple area covering 1 acre. The temple is administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The temple draws parallel with the Thygaraja temple in Tiruvarur as both the temples were expanded by Rajendra Chola I and both have the same dance poses of Shiva. The temple is one of the 51 Sakthi Peetams in the country.

Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur

Thyagaraja Temple is a Shiva temple, located in the town of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Vanmiganathar, and is represented by the lingam. Daily poojas are offered to his idol referred to as Maragatha lingam. The main idol of worship is Lord Thiyagarajar, depicted as a Somaskanda form.His consort Parvathi is depicted as Kondi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written in Tamil by saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur

Mahalingeswaraswamy Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Tiruvidaimaruthur, a village in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the seven major Shiva temples. Shiva is worshiped as Mahalingeswaraswamy, and is represented by the lingam, with his idol referred to as Jothimayalingam. His consort Mookambika is depicted as Pirguchuntarakujambigai. The lingam of the temple is believed to be the focal point for the seven consorts of Shiva. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil poet saints known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The 9th century Saiva saint poet Manikkavacakar has sung praise about the temple in his works.

Vriddhagiriswarar Temple, Vriddhachalam

The Vriddhagiriswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the town of Vriddhachalam, Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity Vriddhagiriswarar is revered in Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple gives its name to the town of Vriddhachalam.

Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi

Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi or Guru Sthalam or Tiru Irum Poolai is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the village of Alangudi in the Valangaiman taluk of Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Apathsahyesvarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Elavarkuzhali. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Aiyarappar temple

Aiyarappar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the village of Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, India. The Five Rivers are Vadavaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamuruttiyaaru and Kaaviriyaaru. Shiva is worshiped as Aiyarappar, and is represented by the lingam and his consort Parvati is depicted as Dharmasamvardhini. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil poet saints known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam

Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam 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 Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. The temple has been constructed by the Lakolisa cult which originated in Gujarat and their only other temple in Tamil Nadu is at Kanchipuram. The idol of Thyagaraja in the temple is made of lapis lazuli.

Agniswarar Temple, Kanjanur

The Agniswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the village of Kanjanur, 18 kilometres north-east of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity is Sukra (Venus). However, the main idol in the temple is that of "Agniswarar" or Shiva. In concordance with the Saivite belief that Shiva is all-pervading, Sukra is believed to be located within the stomach of the idol of Shiva.

Vedaranyeswarar temple

Vedaranyeswarar Temple is a temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu, India. Vedaranyeswarar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Shaiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is the only temple to have found mention in all the seven Thirumurais. The temple is famed for the legend between Appar and Sambandar when the former sang to open the door while the latter sang to close the door.

Pushpavananathar Temple, Tiruppoonturutti

Pushpavananathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the village of Tiruppoonturutti near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Aiyarappar, and is represented by the lingam and his consort Parvati is depicted as Soundaranayagi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil poet saints known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Vedapuriswarar Temple, Thiruvedhikudi

Vedapuriswarar Temple, Thiruvedhikudi or Vazhaimadunathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thiruvedhikudi near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil poet saints known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is counted as the earliest of all Chola temples.

Tirunallar Dharbaranyeswarar Temple

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shani (saturn) located in Tirunallar in Karaikal district of Pondicherry, India. The presiding deity is Shiva, Dharbaranyeswar and the place Tirunallar was historically called Dharbaranyam. The temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poets, Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

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. The temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poets, Appar, Sundarar and Campantar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam (No:123).

Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil Hindu temple

Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukarayil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poet, Campantar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam (No:119).

Tiruneelakkudi Neelakandeswarar Temple

Tiruneelakkudi Neelakandeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of Tiruneelakkudi is Thennalakudi. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Neelakandeswarar. His consort is Oppilamulaiyal.

Atakeccuram Nagabilam Temple, Tiruvarur, is a Siva temple in Tiruvarur in Tiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu (India).

Dharmapureesvarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located at Vadakandam in Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India.

References

  1. ↑ South Indian shrines: illustrated.P.254.P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar
  2. ↑ Mysticism and metaphysics in Saiva Siddhanta: a study of the concept of self in the Śivajñānabodham of Meykaṇḍa Deva in relation to the mystical experience of Appar .P.22.J. X. Muthupackiam
  3. ↑ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 36.
  4. ↑ Pillai, J.M. Somanasundaram (1994). The great temple at Tanjore. Tamil University, Thanjavur. p. 9.
  5. ↑ Glimpses of the history of Karaikkal.Saroja Sundararajan
  6. ↑ The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras: Volumes 33-34 .Music Academy (Madras, India) - 1962
  7. ↑ Nityasumaṅgalī: devadasi tradition in South India .P.146. Saskia C. Kersenboom-Story
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.