Tiruvaiyaru Temple

Acknowledged as Dakshina Kailasam, this is a Saivite shrine of prodigious significance, This Tiruvaiyaru Temple is a enormous temple with fiveprakarams, and several mandapas and sculptural work. Somaskandar (Olokamaveedivitankar) here is of importance. The town of Tiruvaiyaru is known more for the samadhi of one of theleadingcomposers in the Karnatic Music idiom, Saint Tyagaraja. The Saptastana temples of Tiruvaiyaru are  Tiruppazhanam, Tiruchottruturai, Tiruvedikkudi, Tirukkandiyur, Tiruppanturai  Tillaistanam and Tiruvaiyaru. Tiruvaiyaru is considered to be the 51st  in thesuccessions of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom situated north of the river Kaveri.

This  magnificent Tiruvaiyaru Temple with five prakarams and a 7 tiered Rajagopuram covers a 15 acre area. Somaskandar (Ologamaaaveedivitankar) is kept in a separate shrine in the 2nd prakaram, nearby to the Japesa Mandapam (Kukti Mandapam). The Shiva yoga Dakshinamurthy shrine is also of great significance here. The shrine to Ambala Darmasamvardhini Amman has two prakarams by itself. . The external prakaram houses the Dakshinakailasam, and the Uttara Kailasam.To symbolize the primeval nature of Sound – Nada Bhrammam, there are spots in this temple designed to produce echos. The Shivalingam here bears a resemblance to that at Tiruvarur.

History:

A devotee by name Sucharitan was redeemed from untimely death by Shiva in the form of a column of light (similar to the Markandeya legend of Tirukkadavur&Vaikavur). Agasthyar is said to have obtained his dwarfed physical stature here. Ambal is said to have worshipped Shiva with two measures of grains.

Festivals:

The Tirukkalyanam of Nandi is celebrated in the month of Pankuni at Tirumazhapadi. The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chittirai, where the 5th day  Saptastana Utsavam where Shiva is taken in processionin a glass palanquin to the 7 Stanams of Tiruvaiyaru in the month of Aries – Full Moon is of great significance in this area.The float festival is celebrated Avani Moolam while the Appar festival is celebrated in the month of Aadi.

Rituals performed:

Six worship services are presented each day. Aiyarappar is taken to the Kaveri river on new moon days in every month

Prohibition to circumambulate the shrine: 

Lord Shiva in Tiruvaiyaru Temple is a swayambumurthy.  It is purported that His long and thick turf is spread all over the place behind the shrine.  As a devotee cannot afford to step on the Jatamudi of Lord, circumambulation is forbidden.

The deity:

Mother Goddess in the shrine is praised as Aram Valartha Nayaki in Tamil andDharma Samvardhini in Sanskrit meaning Mother, who upholds Dharma.

Lord Shiva in the place of worship is a swayambumurthy

Temple Timings:

Tiruvaiyaru Temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Location: 

10.88°N 79.1°E

Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, India

How to reach:

Tiruvaiyaru Temple is located in Tiruvaiyaru, a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, 13 km from Thanjavur.

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