हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Kannayiranathar Temple, Tirukkarayil (Thirukaravasal)

One of the seven Saptha Vidanga shrines of Thyagaraja, where the processional Lord is Adi Vidangar. Sambandar sang it, and devotees with eye trouble come for the oil of the abhishekam.

Built: Chola temple, with Pandya-period additions; five-tiered rajagopuramWhere: Tamil Nadu (Tiruvarur district, on the Tiruvarur–Thiruthuraipoondi road)Deity: Bhagwan Shiva as Kannayiranathar (Lord of a thousand eyes); Devi as Kailasanayaki; Adi Vidangar (Thyagaraja)10.67° N, 79.65° E
Photo: Mohan Krishnan (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

01Adi Vidangar

The Chola king Muchukunda, the temple kathas say, received from Indra the image of Thyagaraja that rested on Vishnu’s breast, and with it six likenesses. The true one went to Tiruvarur and the others to six shrines of the delta: Tirunallar, Nagapattinam, Tirukkarayil, Tirukkuvalai, Tiruvaimur and Vedaranyam. Each Vidangar has his own dance in procession; here it is the kukkuta natanam, the dance of the cock. Kannayiranathar is a swayambhu linga, and the temple’s katha says Shiva showed Patanjali seven kinds of tandava here.

Visiting

About 14 km south of Tiruvarur, right on the main road to Thiruthuraipoondi.

Nearby

Ratnapureeswarar (Manikkavannar) Temple, TirunattiyathankudiStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Ratnapureeswarar (Manikkavannar) Temple, Tirunattiyathankudi

Birthplace of Kotpuli Nayanar, the Chola general whose two daughters Sundarar took as his own. Sundarar sang this shrine and called himself the father of Singadi.

Nellivananathar Temple, TirunellikkaStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Nellivananathar Temple, Tirunellikka

Nelli is the amla, and this was a grove of amla trees. The temple’s katha says Parvati was born here as a Chola princess and married Shiva.

Vellimalainathar Temple, Tiruthengur (Thiruthangur)Standing
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Vellimalainathar Temple, Tiruthengur (Thiruthangur)

Vellimalai is the silver mountain, Kailasa. Tiruthengur, the coconut town, keeps the Lord of Kailasa in a small delta shrine sung by Sambandar.

Manathunainathar Temple, TiruvalivalamStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Manathunainathar Temple, Tiruvalivalam

Manathunainathar is the Lord who keeps the mind company. Sambandar and Appar sang this raised maadakkoil, named for the valiyan, the black drongo said to have worshipped here.