- Special Features
Foundation YearThe inscription dating 954 CESthala TreeTheerthamRathamArchitectureDravidian architectureOther Speciality
- Sthala PuranThe main deity here is a Swayambu lingam in the form of an ant-hill with Lord Mahavishnu on the right side and Lord Brahma on the left side. Abhishekam is performed only to the Avudayar (base) and not to the lingam itself. On the full moon day in the Tamil month of Karthikai, the covers for the lingam are removed and Punugu (civet) and Sambirani oil are smeared. One can see and worship the lingam as an ant-hill itself without the cover for three days only and thereafter for the entire year it will be covered. It is believed that Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and serpent Vasuki are worshipping Lord Shiva during these three days.
Another interesting aspect of this temple is that everything is present in duplets here. There are two presiding deities Sri Adhipureeswarar and Sri Otreeswarar two goddesses Sri Vadivudai Amman and Sri Vattaparai Amman two sacred trees - Athi and Makizham two sacred theerthams - Brahma and Adhisesha theerthams and two pooja procedures - Karana and Kameeka.
This is one of the seven temples (Saptha Vidanga) in Thondai Nadu where Lord Thiyagaraja can be seen. His dance performance in this temple is called Ananda Thandavam. Hence the lord here is also known as Ananda Thiyagesar.
The Tri-Shakti temples - Itcha, Kriya, and Gnana Shakthis are very popular and are of great significance. Of these, Sri Vadivudai Nayaki at Thiruvotriyur is considered to be Gnana Shakti.
The other two Shakti shrines are - Thiruvudai Nayaki at Melur and Kodi Idai Nayaki at Vada-Thirumullaivayil. These three idols are said to have been created by the same sculptor. It is believed that worshipping these three goddesses in a single day (especially on the full moon day) at morning, midday and evening rewards the devotees with manifold benefits. On full moon days, these three temples are open for the devotees throughout the day. In Thiruvotriyur, only Namboodhiris (priest) of Kerala can be seen performing the poojas for Vadivudai Amman.
It is believed that at both the places - Thiruvarur and Thiruvottriyur Lord Shiva dance pattern is the same and is called Padama Natanam. The dance pattern of this temple is a continuation of that in Thiruvarur temple. Lord Maha Vishnu is believed to have missed seeing them dance at Thiruvarur, and Lord Thiyagaraja asked him to go to Thiruvottriyur to witness the same dance.
It is also believed that as per Nandhi wishes, Lord Shiva blessed him to witness his dance which he performed while being in a seated posture. This performance is also believed to have been witnessed by Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma, Romarishi, Vanmiki Rishi, Serpent Vasuki, and Chandran.
In this temple, it is believed that Lord Shiva blessed Sage Agasthiar with his wedding dharisanam.
It is believed that all the 27 Nakshatrams (constellations) have worshipped Lord Shiva here to seek absolution and have stayed in this temple as Shiva lingams. All the 27 Shiva lingams, one for each Nakshatram, can be seen in the corridors.
It is said that Kavi Chakravarthi Kambar translated Valmiki Ramayan from Sanskrit to Tamil in this temple only. It is also believed that every day he would pray to the Goddess Vattaparai Amman before starting his work. The legend is that the Goddess took the form of a woman and helped him by holding a torch while he was writing.
Saint Arunagirinadhar has also sang two songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.
This temple also has a shrine for Saint Pattinathar - a reputed Tamil ascetic-poet. He is also praised as Thavaraja Singam and he rendered many songs about Goddess Vadivudai Amman. It is believed that Pattinathar, a merchant from Poompuhar, worshiped to Lord Shiva to seek salvation. Lord Shiva appeared before him, gave him a sour sugarcane and asked him to travel to many places with it. The lord further advised him that when he felt sweetness at the end of the sugarcane, he would attain salvation. It is believed that it happened at this place - Thiruvottiyur. Realizing that his life was coming to an end, it is believed that Pattinathar asked his followers to cover him with a bowl. When they removed the bowl, to their surprise, they found a lingam in his place. Pattinathar had attained salvation and his Jeeva Samadhi (a shrine) was built near the Thiruvottiyur temple.
It is believed that many poets and sages including Kambar, Arunagirinathar, Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Ramalinga Swamigal and Maraimalai Adigal have worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Saint Thiyagaraja Swamigal, the Carnatic composer and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama visited this temple and composed the Thiruvotriyur Pancharatna (5 Gems) in praise of the Goddess Sri Thripurasundari. He had never sung about any other god or goddess other than Lord Rama, but after seeing Goddess Parvathi, he was mesmerized by her beauty and sung a song.The Thiyagarajaswamy temple in Thiruvottiyur stands majestically in this industrial area, busy with activity and commerce. Devotees from six sects of religion perform puja here. Saivites, Vaishnavites, Saaktar, Uchavar, Adi Saivites and Namboodris visit and worship the manifestations of Shiva and Shakthi at this temple.
The Name of the Town: Therein lies a story!
The etymology of the word Thiruvottiyur is interesting. The word originates from the Tamil infinitive which means lsquoto exemptrsquo. Two stories center around the origin of this name and how Thiruvottiyur had been exempted and so is special.
Stalapurana holds that during Padmagarba (the measure to calculate the passing of an Age or yuga), there ensued a great deluge that threatened to submerge the whole world. Lord Brahma, the God of Creation undertook an austere penance to appease Shiva. He wanted the power to the world once again.
- ArchitectureThiagarajaswamy Tower
Tower Name - Thiagarajaswamy Tower
Constructor Name - Tondaiman
No.of Kalasam - 7
Lightning Arrester - Yes
Tower Description - Tondaiman became a great devotee of Shiva. He restored the Thiagarajaswamy temple in 750 A.D He worked on the restoration of the temple and constructed the shrines of Vadivudai Amman, Gunalaya vinayagar, Vattapparai Amman, Valarkali Amman, Arul Jothi Murugan, Akasalingam, Sahasralingam and the 27 Natchktras. He also constructed the gopuras and the temple walls. Besides this, he also procured 500 shivalingas and 500 austere Brahmins from Kasi and reinstated the temple according the agama texts. Moreover, he conducted the Tirukkadalattu, a water festival on Masi Magam. He gave away several lands and towns to the temple. The Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Vadivudai Amman temple at Tiruvottiyur with its impressive 5 tiers Raja gopuram - a masterpiece in south Indian temple architecture- is about 1,500 years old.
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