Friday Temple Visit - Week # 89
21st October 2022
வாரம் ஒரு கோவில் தரிசனம்
by S. Subramaniam
Sri Sarguna Nathar Temple, Idumbavanam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Tamilnadu, India
Location:
The famous Shiva temple, Sri Sarguna Nathar temple is located in village Idumbavanam in Thiruvarur district and lies about 16 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 32 Kms from Vedaranyam, 42 Kms from Mannargudi and 48 Kms from Thiruvarur.
Uniqueness:
Behind the idol of the Lingam, the moolavar, idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati in wedding attire (Kalyana Kolam) can be seen.
Lord Vinayaka in this temple is called Vellai (white) Vinayaka as the idol is made of sea foam.
Salient Features
Presiding deity is called as Sarguna Nathar, Manakola Nathar, Kalyaneswarar and Idumbavanewarar. Mother is known as Mangalanayahi , Mangalavalli and Kalyaneswari.
The Sthala Vriksham (Holy tree of the temple) is Vilwa Tree. There are five Sthala Theertham (Holy waters of the temple) namely, Brahma Theertham, Agasthiyar Theertham, Eka Theertham, Shanmuga Pushkarani and Yama Theertham. The Brahma Theertham tank is located in front of the temple.
Name of the Place
Quite unusually, the place is named after a demon called Idumban. Similarly the prime theertham of the temple the Brahma theertham is named after Lord Brahma who is believed to have worshipped the Lord here. Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati derived their names Kalyaneswarar and Kalyaneswari as they give darshan to Sage Agastya in their wedding attire.
History
The temple is a very ancient one and has been in existence for more than 2000 years. However, renovation to the temple and the present structure was erected by Raja Raja Chozhan I (985-1024 CE). Later the Maratha rulers of Thanjavur made substantial contributions and so were the Nagarathar community.
Legends:
Legend 1 of 4 - The story of Idumban
Demon Idumban is both a great devotee and a disciple of Sage Agastya. Once sage Agastya wanted to take the two hills Shivagiri and Shakti giri to South India. It was Idumban who carried the hills on his shoulders in the form of a Kavadi. Thus it can be rightly said that it was Idumban who started the practice of Kavadi.
Before becoming a devotee of Muruga, Idumban was the teacher of Soora Padman, Singha Mukhasuran etc. He committed lot of sins during this phase of his life.
He is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this place to get absolved of all his sins and Lord Shiva pardoned him and announced that henceforth this place will be named after him.
Legend 2 of 4 - Relating sage Agastya.
Sage Agastya was deputed by Lord Shiva to move towards south to maintain balance of earth and also Divya Drishti, boon that will help him watch the Shiv Parvati wedding at Mt. Kailash. Idumbavanam is one of those places where Agastya got to see the Lord and Devi in their wedding attire -Kalyana Kolam.
Legend 3 of 4 - Relating to Lord Brahma
Lord Brahma, who had lost all his powers when he was imprisoned, worshipped Lord Shiva to get back his powers. He created a tank called Brahma Theertham and worshipped Shiva who gave him darshan doning a Satva Guna pose and hence one of the names of the Lord here - Satva Guna Eshwara or simply Sad Guneshwarar.
Legend 4 of 4 relating to Thiru Gnana Sambandar':
Saint Thirugnana Sambandar visited this place during his pilgrimage from Vedaranyam to Madurai. As he saw Shivalingas in every particle of the sand of the place, he walked through the place by his hands keeping the legs up, according to a story of the place.
The temple:
This temple is beautified with a 3 tier Rajagopuram, an attractive Vimanam and is surrounded by lofty walls. Lord Shiva in the temple is a self-manifested idol - Swayambumurthy.
Artistically carved stone pillars adorn the sanctum. Much of the granite structure that exists now is a result of the renovations carried out during various periods.Tamil Inscriptions belonging to Maratha Period can be found in this temple.
Other deities:
Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Lord Vellai Vinayaka made from sea foam. Performing abishekam to him with rose water and milk brings all benefits to the devotees.
Idols of Lord Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingodhbava, Brahma and Devi Durga are located in Koshta.
There are shrines in the prakara for Lords Vinayaka, Muruga, Bhairava, Lingodhbava, Nataraja, planets Sun, Moon and Sani Baghwan, Sage Agasthya and Idumban. Lord Thyagarajar is housed in a separate Sannadhi facing east.
Literary Mention
Saint Tirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This is one of the Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 108th Shiva Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.
Contact:
Sri Sarguna Nathar Temple,
Idumbavanam-614 703,
Thiruthuraipoondi Taluk,
Thiruvarur District, Tamilnadu, India
Phone: +91 – 4369 – 240 349 / 240 200.
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