Swarnapureeswarar Temple

Overview

This Shivastalam of great religious significance, is considered equivalent to Kailasam and is located 5 kilometres west of Kodavasal. It is on the route between Needamangalam and Valangaimaan. This shrine is regarded as the 97th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola Region south of the river Kaveri. Saivite Saint Tirunavukkarasar has adulated the temple's Lord in his Thevaram songs. This is the 97 Lord Shiva Temple on the southern bank of Cauvery commended in Thevaram songs. Kashyapa had worship Lord Shiva in this temple.

About the Temple

The sun's rays illuminate the sanctum of this small temple for a 3 day period in the Tamil month of Chittirai. The temple has a 5 tiered Rajagopuram.The Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Kumbakarna Vinayaka blessing the devotees.

Legend/Story

It was the time when head Mushukunda was building a temple for Lord Thiagaraja in Tiruvarur. His priest Kandadevar went to the foot slopes to get stones. It got to be dull then. He would not have his supper without Shiva darshan. So he just sat as an afterthought way to unwind and rested. Ruler Shiva showed up in his fantasy and said that He was close to the Vanni tree there and prompted him to have the darshan and have his sustenance. The clergyman discovered a Shivalinga close to the Vanni tree. Promptly, he started to gather one stone and one spoon (Karandi in Tamil) lime (concrete) from every truck going to Tiruvarur and assembled this temple. Later, the priest recounted the story to the ruler and asked for him to visit his temple. In the wake of seeing the temple, the ruler requested the priest to pay him the expense brought about furthermore the Dharma he earned in building the temple back to him. The clergyman answered that he couldn't part with the dharma he had earned in building the temple however willing to give his life. The ruler said that the temple was fabricated with trusts stolen from him and requested his men to decapitate the priest before the temple itself. Mushukunda's men executed the request. While falling, the head cried "Andava" – My Lord. The lord understood that he had murdered a genuine Shiva aficionado and needed to pay for his wrongdoing by wounding himself. Ruler showed up before him saying that lord and priest ought to be similar to spouse and wife and restored the clergyman to life back. Thus, the spot is named Andavankoil.

Festivals

Maha Shivrathri in February-March; Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the celebrations celebrated in the temple.

Significance

The rays of Sun fall on Lord in sanctum sanctorum on Chithirai 11, 12 and 13 in April-May, when special Surya pujas are performed in the temple. Lord is Swayambumurthy. Devotees pray for child boon. It is believed that girls having a bath in the place and lighting lamps in the shrine of Lord Shiva would attain puberty if the same is delayed unduly after the proper age.

Accessibility

Rail

KUMBAKONAM Railway Station - 8.97 kms
DARASURAM Railway Station - 9.89 kms
TIRUNAGESVARAM Railway Station - 10.99 kms
NIDAMANGALAM Railway Station - 11.52 kms
SWAMIMALAI Railway Station - 11.93 kms

Address

Swarnapureeswarar Temple Aandankoil,
Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu,India