Friday Temple Visit - Week # 102
10th February 2023
வாரம் ஒரு கோவில் தரிசனம்
by S. Subramaniam
Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple at Thiru Akkur, Mayiladuthurai, Tamilnadu.
Location:
Thiru Aakkur or simply Akkur is situated at a distance of about 15 kms from Mayiladuthurai and about 5 kms from Semponar Koil. The sea shore of Bay of Bengal is about 10 kms. The place lies on the southern banks of river Cauvery.
Uniqueness
Of the 70 odd Mada Kovils (Temples erected on a raised platform) Akkur temple is the only one to have a shrine for the king Kochenkann Chozhan.
It's one of the rare Shiva temple to have separate Shrine for Devi Saraswati.
The shrine of Subrahmanya (Lord Muruga) is in the form of a chariot.
Salient Features
The presiding deity of the temple Moolavar (the stone idol of) Lord Shiva is known as Shri Than Thondri Eswarar or Swayabhu Nathar. The Urchavar (metal idol used during processions) is assigned a different name - Ayirathil Orivan ( one in a thousand). Devi Parvati is known here as Shri Vaal Nedu Kanni Amman or Kataka Nethri Ambal. The Sthala theertham (Holy waters of the temple) is Kumuda Theertham and there are three Sthala Vriksham (holy trees of the temple), Sarakondrai, Vilvam and Pakku (Betel nut) trees.
Name of the place
The historical name of this place is Shankharanyam. When king Kochenkann Chozhan was erecting this temple, he was instructed by a divine voice to feed 1000 Brahmins for 48 days. He found each day the number count would fall short by 1. On the last day he prayed to the Lord with deep reverence to ensure that the number touches 1000. His prayers were answered and he found the 1000th person whom he had never seen before.
When the king approached the stranger and enquired about him and to which place he belonged to, the stranger simply replied "Whose place?" (Yarukku Oor? in Tamil) and vanished into an anthill close by. The king then realized that the stranger was none but the Lord himself in disguise. That's how Akkur got its name from Yarukku Oor.
Since the Lord appeared as one in thousand, in this temple, he is referred to as Ayirathil Oruvar.
History
The temple is one of the 70 odd Mada Kovils (temples erected on a raised platform) built by King Kochenkann Chozhan.
There are several stone inscriptions in this temple dating back to the periods of Chozha kings Rajathirajan and Rajarajan, Pandiya king Kopperunsingan, and Vijayanagara king Veera Krishna Deva Rayar.
Legends
Legand relating to King Kochenkann Chozhan
According to the legend, King Kochengann Cholan had developed some ailments during construction of the temple. He prayed to Lord Shiva for a cure and was advised to do Anna danam (feed 1000 Brahmins) continuously for 48 days.
On the final day, it is believed, the Lord himself appeared as the 1000th person and when the King approached him to know about his whereabouts, answered him and vanished into an anthill. When the place was dug up a Lingam was found and it is the one installed as the presiding Deity.
Since the Lingam appeared on its own, the Moolavar Lord here is known as Than Thondri Eswarar or the one who manifested Himself. The Lingam still carries the scar mark as a result of the cut received during the digging up.
Legend relating to sage Agastya
This temple is also believed to be one of the places where Lord Shiva gave his wedding dharisanam to Sage Agasthiyar. For this reason, Goddess Parvathy’s shrine is located on the right side of Lord Shiva’s shrine (similar to their wedding posture).
Sirappuli Nayanar
Any write up on Akkur will be incomplete without the mention of Sirappuli Nayanar. He is generally counted as the 35th of the 63 Nayanmars. He belonged to this place and hailed from a wealthy Brahmin family. He used to observe all rituals, perform yajnas, feed the needy ones and chant regularly the five lettered name (Panchakshara) of the Lord. He has a shrine in this temple and his Guru Pooja is observed during the Tamil month Karthigai (Nov-Dec).
The Temple
The temple is an East facing one with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dvajasthambam and Rishabam are located in front.
The Sanctum sanctorum, Maha mandapam and Mukha mandapam are on the upper level. The Vimanam is an artistic one with a separate sub upanam. Several additions to the temple appear clearly to have been made during the Maratha periods.
Deities in the temple:
Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Lords Vinayakar, Muruga, Saraswathi, Nataraja, Sirappuli Nayanar, Nalvar with Sundarar's wives Sangili Nachiyar and Paravai Nachiyar, Arunagirinathar Kochengann Chozhan,, Navagraham, Chandikeswarar and Kalabairava can be seen in the corridors.
The temple also houses separately a set of three Lingam named as Appu Lingam, Vayu Lingam and Theyu Lingam.
As mentioned, the temple is one of the rare Shiva temple to have a shrine for Devi Saraswati.
The Shrine of Lord Muruga is in the form of a chariot.
The idol of King Kochenkann Chozhan can also be seen in this temple.
Sirappuli Nayanar has a shrine.
Arunagirinathar, the composer of Thiru Pugazh hymns on Lord Muriga has a shrine for him in this temple.
Literary Mentions:
Akkur is one of the Padal Petra Sthalam. Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal (Appar) and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Both Sambandar and Appar mention Lord Shiva as Akkur Thanthondriappar.
Contacts:
Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple,
Akkur Post, Tharangambadi Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,Tamil Nadu, India PiN :609301.
Tele: 098658 09768 and 097877 09742
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