Shistagurunathar - The Lord Who Blessed Sundarar with Divine Wisdom, Thiruthuraiyur Shiva Temple

Lord Shiva initiated Sundara Moorthy Nayanar in Thiruvennainallur to sing his first thevaram song. After this transformation, Sundarar started exploring and visiting Shiva temples. He was on his way to Thiruthuraiyur when river Pennar came as an obstacle. Lord Shiva and Parvathi came as old couple and offered help to him by ferrying in a small boat. After reaching the other shore of the river, the old couple vanished and Sundarar could not locate them anywhere. At that moment, a divine voice directed him to reach this temple from where he had the Darshan of Lord Shiva along with Parvathi. In this temple, Lord Shiva taught Sundarar the principles of Saivism and the way to attain divine union with Him. Lord Ganesha was the witness for this discourse, this scene is depicted as painting as well as sculptures inside the temple premise.

Main Praharam

Sundarar composed one pathigam (collection of ten songs) on this temple. Also, Lord Muruga in this temple has been sung by the saint Arunagirinathar. Vishnu, Brahma, Rama, Sage Agastiya, Bheema and Sita also have worshipped the Lord here.

Lord Shiva Imparting Divine Wisdom with Ganesha as Testimony

Lord Siva: Shistagurunathar, Pasupatheeswarar, Thavaneriyappar

Ambal (Goddess): Poongkothai Nayagi, Sivaloka Nayagi

Lord Shiva and Parvathi Giving Darshan to Sundarar

How to reach – Coming from Chennai, NH 36 branches off from Vikravandi (after the toll gate). On this highway continue until you reach the place Kandarakottai, from there take the road on the right which leads to Thiruthuraiyur.  Another famous Paadal Petra Sthalam Panangattur is situated closed to Vikravandi. Both the temples are covered in one trip.

Temple is open from 7 am to 11 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm daily.

Tamil version of this is available in my YouTube channel

Abirameswarar Shiva Temple – Thiruvamathur (near Villupuram)

This temple signifies Lord Shiva offering protection to Cows as a mother. This paadal petra sthalam has been praised by Thirugnanasambandar, Appar and Sundarar as well. The very existence of cows were in great peril because of the attacks from wild animals, Lord Shiva offered protection to them by providing horns to them. To commemorate this, there is a hoof like mark on the Shiv linga in the main sanctum.

There are two separate temples on either side of the road, one for Shiva and the other one for his consort.  Rama worshipped the Shiva here on his way to Lanka and hence the Lord is called as Abirameswarar. This is also the shrine where sage Bhringi got absolved of his curse. Bhringi used to worship only Lord Shiva and completely ignored Shakti because of which she cursed him to become a Vanni tree.

In the amman temple just opposite to the main temple, there is a circular stone, as per the legend Rama made a pact with king Sugriva in this place before going to Sri Lanka. Hence this stone is referred as stone of oath and it is believed that those who make false statements in the presence of the stone will face bad consequences. Another story which is being told supports this belief – once there were two brothers in a nearby village and the elder one due to his greediness, retained their ancestral property completely for himself without giving anything for his younger brother. Aggrieved by this injustice, the younger brother made a complaint to the village elders and they asked the elder brother to come and make a promise before the circular stone. Aware that this oath taking will be compelled on him, prior to making the promise, the elder brother transformed the plundered wealth into gold and hid them in a walking stick kind of arrangement. Just before making the promise, he momentarily transferred his walking stick to his younger brother, made the promise that he does not have the wealth with him right now and immediately got the stick from his younger brother.  Villagers did not have an option other than accepting the promise and let him go. The elder brother was feeling happy that he had smartly deceived everybody including the Lord. But his happiness was short lived, he was bitten by a highly venomous snake and killed at about 10 kms from this temple. Integrity is always the best policy, promptly reinforced by Devi Herself.

Lord Siva: Abirameswarar , Azhagiya nathar

Ambal (Goddess): Muthambigai, Azhagiya nayagi

Bhakthajaneswarar Shiva Temple - Thirunavalur

Thirunavalur near Villupuram Town, Tamilnadu has the privilege of being the birthplace of Sundarar, one among the four great Saints of Saivism. This place is also called Thirunamanallur.

This Paadal Petra Sthalam has been praised by Sundarar in Thevaram. As per the legend, Lord Vishnu before taking taking the Narasimha Avatar to kill the demon Hiranyan, worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple. There is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu inside the temple premises.  There is also a shrine for Sundarar and his consorts Paravai and Sangili. Another legend is that Sukran worshiped the Lord here and got his Dosha absolved. Hence it will be beneficial for those who are having Sukra Dosha to have darshan and pray to the Lord Bhakthajaneswara in this temple.

This place is located on the Chennai - Thiruchirapalli Highway. after crossing Villupuram there is a place called Madapattu and Thirunavalur is about 2 kms from this point. Those travelling by bus should board bus from Villpuram and get down at a place called Kedilam. From this place, another bus which is plying on Thirukovilur to Thirunavalur should be boarded to reach the destination.

Lord Siva: Bhakthajaneswarar, Thirunavaleswarar

Ambal (Goddess): Sundarambigai, Manonmani

Sthala Vriksham : Naaval

Theertham :Garuda Theertham

Temple is open from 6 am to 12 noon and from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm everyday.

Sundarar praises the Lord as follows

The Lord who annihilated the three worlds of demons by a single arrow, one who forcefully dragged me to Thiruvennainallur for my deliverance, one who deserved the service from four faced Brahma, Indra and Vishnu resides in Thirunavalur!