Tuesday, July 23, 2019

SRI BRAHMA PUREESWARAR TEMPLE OR Thirukadaiyur Mayanam.

SRI BRAHMA PUREESWARAR TEMPLE OR
Thirukadaiyur Mayanam.
It is situated at a distance of about 2 kms from Thirukadaiyur.

Thirukadaiyur is situated at a distance of about 22 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Karaikkal route.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are – Thirukadaiyur, Thirunallaru, Dharumapuram, Thiruvettakkudi and Thiruthelichery.

General Information

Moolavar

Sri Brahmapureeswarar, Sri Peruman Adigal

Ambal

Sri Aamla Gujambikai, Sri Vaadamulai Ammai, Sri Malarkuzhal Minnammai

Theertham (Holy water)

Brahma Theertham / Asvathi Theertham

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Kontrai tree / Vilva tree

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar


This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 48th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).

Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).

This is one of the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) have rendered their Pathigams.

This temple is one of the 55 west facing Shivasthalams in Tamil Nadu.

There is no main tower (Rajagopuram) in this temple. However, there is a 3-tiered second tower. This temple has two corridors.

The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 10.09.2014.

History of the Temple

As per Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva destroyed and created Lord Brahma five times at five different places. Each such incident took place at an interval of “one karbam”. One karbam consists of hundreds of thousands of years. These 5 places are known as “Mayaanam” (“Mayaanam” means burial ground in Tamil). They are - Kasi Mayaanam, Kachchi Mayaanam (Kanchipuram), Thirukkadavur Mayaanam, Kazhi Mayaanam (Sirkazhi) and Veezhi Naalur Mayaanam.  Since this place is very near to Thirukkadavur, this Mayaanam gets the name “Thirukkadavur Mayaanam”.

The historical names of this place are Brahmapuri, Vilvaranyam, Siva Vedapuyri and Thirumeignanam.

Legend

In this place, Lord Shiva is believed to have first burnt Lord Brahma and then remade him as holy water – hence the name Mayaanam. Since Lord Brahma is the creator god in Hinduism, after his death the process of creation came to a standstill.  The celestial gods came to this place and requested Lord Shiva to reinstate Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva then revived Brahma and reinstated him and bestowed upon him the duty of creation. It is believed that this is third such Mayaanam. It is also believed that Lord Shiva further taught Brahma the “Shiva Gnanam” here. Hence this place is also known as “Thiru Meignanam”.

Another legend is that Lord Shiva created a well here with water from the Ganges for Sage Markandeya to perform his pooja. This well is located next to the holy water of this temple “Brahma Theertham”.  Water is taken from this well to Thirukadaiyur temple for daily ablution (abhishekam) of Sri Amirthakateswarar. It is believed that no other water is being used for abhishekam of Sri Amirthakateswarar. Also, water from this well is not used for other deities.

It is believed that once a king tried to perform abhishekam for Lord Brahmapureeswarar using the water from this well. However, as soon as the water was poured on the lingam, a crack appeared on it. This crack can still be seen on the lingam.

Another legend associated with this temple is that of the Chalukya King Emakeridan. He was defeated in battle by another king and was thrown out of his kingdom. Since he was a Shiva devotee, he visited many temples asking Lord Shiva for his blessings. He came to this temple and prayed to Lord Singaravelar (Murugan) and sought his help. It is believed that Lord Murugan took the form of this king and went to his kingdom along with his army. The lord defeated the enemy king and later asked Emakeridan to take control of his country. The king is believed to have donated 53 acres of land to this temple. These lands are still be called as “Singaraveli”.

As per the “Sthala Puranam”, a few more legends are associated with this temple – A Chola king, who had leprosy, visited and prayed to the lord here and got cured of his ailment. A Vedic scholar Somadevasarma was relieved from his “Brahmahathi dosham” after worshiping the lord here; and a brahmin by the name of Sivasarma from Pandiya Nadu, was cured of his curse which had made him take the form of a crow. He later obtained salvation in this temple.

It is believed that Ganges visited this temple’s holy water on Aswini star day in the Tamil month of Panguni. Every year, on this day, procession idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are taken to this well and “Theerthavari” festival is celebrated in a grand manner.

Deities in the temple

Apart from the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Sidhi Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Nardana Vinayakar, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Kalyana Sundarar, Nalvar, Mahavishnu as Sri Pillai Perumal, Vishnu Durgai, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Chandikeswari and Sri Pitchana Bairavar can be seen in the corridors.



Salient Features

The uniqueness of the procession idol of Lord Singaravelar (Murugan) is that he holds a bow and arrow in his hands, wears a “Rudraksha” garland and also wears footwear.

Lord Dakshinamurthy is seen here with his six disciples – “Sanakaatha” rishis.

All the stone sculptures in this temple are exquisitely carved. The idol of Sri Pitchana Bairavar is especially beautiful.

Usually Lord Vinayakar is depicted with a pot belly. However, in this temple he is seen with a flat belly. He is worshipped as “Sri Pranava Vinayakar”.

It is said that Pambatti Siddhar, one of the revered 18 Siddhars, lived in this place.


Greatness of this temple

Since the lord of this temple is believed to have taught “Shiva Gnanam” to Lord Brahma, devotees worship the lord here to gain knowledge and wisdom.

Important Festivals

Some of the major festivals celebrated in this temple are –

Skantha Sashti in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct-Nov);

Thirukarthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec);

Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan);

Shivarathri in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar); and

Theerthavari on Aswini star day in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple Timings

From 06:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 04:00 PM to 07:30 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple,
Thirumayanam, Aadhi Kadavur,
Thirukadayur Post,
Tharangambadi Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu – 609 311.

This temple's priest, Sri M.K.Ganesa Gurukkal can be contacted at: +91- 4364 - 287999, 287222, 94420 12133.
OHM NAMA SIVAYA, OHM NAMA SIVAYA, OHM NAMA SIVAYA, OHM NAMA SIVAYA, OHM NAMA SIVAYA!

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