Krupapureeswarar Temple

Overview

Thiruvennainallur is 50 kms from Cuddalore, 25kms from Thirukoyilur, 62 kms from Thiruvannamalai, 23 kms from Villupuram and 22kms from Ulundurpettai. The temple is located on the Cuddalore-Tirukovilur route with a diversion and the temple stands 7 kms from the diversion. Bus facilities are convenient. This is the temple where Saint Sundarar sang his first song on Lord Shiva addressing him with the first word granted by Lord Himself,as - Pitha-Mad Man, promising that he would be for Him in the world. This is the 14th Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu region praised in Thevaram hymns.

About The Temple

At the entrance of the temple, to the right side of ( north direction) a mandap is found. That's where the Lord and Sundarar argued and the Panchayat took place. People carry the sand from the place and worship it at their homes. Also the sandals which the Lord wore while coming to claim Sundarar is also still available in the temple.

The temple is named Thiruvarulthurai meaning that it is the abode of the grace of Lord. The court Mandap still exists where both fought for their rights. The idol of the Goddess is with four hands in a standing posture.

The temple also has the Vijayalinga that gave Arjuna a son. The Sundaralingam worshipped by Indira the king of Devas and the Sankaralingam worshipped by Mahavishnu are also here. Thiruvennainallur is the place where Lord Muruga gave Darshan on his Peacock to Saint Arunagiriyar.

The celebrated Saivite Epic Periapuranam by Sekkizhar begins with the story of Alala Sundarar, who comes to earth at the direction of Lord Shiva assuming the name Sundarar. The epic also ends with the return of Sundarar after his earthly life.

Sundarar was in his wedding attire ready for the subsequent rituals at Tirunavalur. Suddenly, an old man, no less a person than Lord Himself intervened and claimed that Sundarar had been assigned to him as His attendant by his forefathers and proved his case. After verification of the signature in the document produced by the old man, the panchayat men asked Sundarar to go along with the old man as his servant. Sundarar in his fury, called the old man a lunatic. The old man took Sundarar to Tiruvennainallur and disappeared in the inner sanctum. Sundarar was shocked at first and later realized that the old man who demanded his service was Lord Shiva himself. He cried apologetically. Lord asked him to sing in his praise. When Sundarar said how he could without any knowledge, Lord asked him to use Pitha (lunatic) as the first word and start singing.

The first song of Sundarar – Pitha Pirai Soodi – thus came into being and was sung by hundreds later in various Shiva temples he visited then. He was the one responsible for the resurgence of Saivism in the South challenged by rival faiths then.

The Panchayat Mandap where the case was argued by Lord Shiva and Sundarar is on the north of the right side of the entrance. The pillar on which the old man was leaning during the panchayat proceedings is still warm. People collect the sand from the mandap and keep it in their puja rooms. There are three Lingas in the temple, Sundaralingam worshipped by Devendra, the Vijaya Linga worshipped by Arjuna seeking child boon and Sankaralingam worshipped by Lord Vishnu.

Lord Muruga-Shanmuganatha granted darshan to saint Arunagiriar in a dancing form with His peacock vehicle in this temple. It is here MotherGoddess bathed in the river to cool Herself from the fury of killing demon Mahishasura. Mother Goddess graces with all features of Mother Mahalakshmi with Padma Nidhi, Sri Chakra and Sanga Nidhi. It is here Arujuna cleansed himself from the guilt of interfering in the privacy of his brother Dharmaraja with Panchali and sought child boon. A Brahmin got relief in this temple from the sin of using a pregnant cow for sacrifice in a yajna, by bathing in the Arul Thurai sacred spring.

All description of the reputation of Tiruvennai Nallur would be incomplete if we fail to recollect the life of and contribution of great philanthropist Sadayappa Vallal who was instrumental for the writing of Ramayana in Tamil by Kavi Chakravarthy Kambar. Kamba Ramayanam came into being with the support of Sadayappa Vallal whom Kambar has used in select episodes for some examples.

Thala Virutcham

Bamboo Tree

Theertham

Pennai River, Neeli, Sivaganga, Kama, Arul Thurai, Dandu, (Sivnarkeni), Pandava, Vaikunda and Veda theerthams.

About The Deity

Lord Shiva is known as Krupapureeswarar. The presiding deity is also known as Venupureeswarar, Aatkondanathar and Arulkondanathar. The Goddess is also called Verkanmangai and Mangalambikai.

The idol of Lord Shiva is a self incarnated, a swayambumurthy in the temple. It is in this historical temple that Lord Shiva appeared as an old man claiming Sundarar to be his attendant on his wedding day. After a long dispute and a Panchayat on the issue, Lord took Sundarar to his home in Tiruvennainallur and disappeared near the inner sanctum of the temple leaving His footwear-Padukas- at the entrance. The Padukas are still in the temple for the darshan of the devotees. What is noteworthy in this episode is the procedure followed in settling a dispute. Divine poet Sekkizhar in his Periapuranam describes the scene. Heated arguments were exchanged between the old man-Lord Shiva and Sundarar. The judicial system in deciding a dispute should be under three main principles – Ayalar Kaatchi-eye witness, Aavanam-documentary evidence and Aatchi-tradition.. Lord Shiva won the case by producing a document signed by the ancestors of Sundarar as an evidence to prove his claim. The episode is long and quite interesting and spiritually enjoyable.

Legend and Stories

The Rishis of Tharukavana grew proud of their penance and conducted a yajna to destroy Lord Shiva. But the Lord absorbed their evil designs and kept them under His control. The Rishis realized their folly, performed penance and were forgiven by the Lord. This is also a story behind the name of the name of the Arul Thurai – Place of Blessings. As He showered His Krupa-forgiveness, the Lord is praised as Krupapureeswarar. Vedas performed penance here as directed by the Lord and were granted darshan in the form of Fire as begged by them and became a swayambulinga.

Festivals

10 day Panguni Uthiram with flag hoisting and float festival in March-April. A day when Aadi Swathi star rises in the month of July-August with a two day festival for Sundarar is celebrated grandly. Aavani Puttu-pudding festival in August-September, Skanda Sashti in October-November and Arudra darshan-Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January are the other festivals devotionally celebrated in the temple.

All pradosha days, as in all Shiva temple, Mondays in the month of Karthikai (October – November) are regular monthly special puja days drawing huge number of devotees. Tamil and English New year days and Pongal also are celebrated grandly.

Thanks Giving

It is the staunch belief of the devotees that their wedding plans will be successful if they worship Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva with a garland also wearing one themselves. Nandhi is revered as the deity of Darmas-righteous law. People from other countries as Japan come here and perform yajnas for good health. People also conduct yajnas for relief from sins of past birth. The Jyoti Linga woshipped by the Navagrahas the nine planets is in this temple. If a devotee worships the sacred tree of the temple and light 5 lamps, he/she would not be affected by the adverse aspects of any of the nine planets either during their main or sub periods during their zodiac transits. Devotees perform abishek to Lord with turmeric, milk, gingely oil, sugar cane juice,curd, fruit juices, green coconut, flour powders, honey, panchamirtham a mixture of five items, sandal, rose water, sacred ash etc. They also offer vastras. Light ghee lamps. They perform abishek to mother with turmeric powder and offer saris and undertake feeding of visitors.

Significance

Lord Shiva blesses the devotees with total mental peace, oratory skill and excellence in education, above all His full blessings. Polla Pillayar in the temple is not a man-made idol but a swyambu. He taught the great Saivite Acharya Meikanda Thevar when he was 5years old. Those who are dumb pray to Him to gain speech skill. People prays to the Lord for wedding boon, child, job and professional success boons.

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest airport is at Chennai.

Railways

The nearest railway station is at Villupuram.

Road

Tiruvennainallur is 7 kms far from the diversion road on Cuddalore-Tirukovilur road. Bus facilities are available to Tiruvennainallur from Tirukovilur.

Temple Address

Sri Krupapureeswarar Temple,
Tiruvennainallur, Tirukovilur taluk,
Villupuram district, Pin - 607 203.