This is the amazing temple tank of the ancient Shiva Temple at Thiruvarur, location of the famous Tyagaraja Swamy deity which was brought from Indraloka by King Muchukunda. I have never seen a temple tank as large and beautiful as the one at Thiruvarur. Even though it is off the usual path of travel, anytime I go South I make an effort to visit this temple.
The temple tank is so large, that there is an island in the middle with a complete separate temple, including gopuram, vimana and temple walls. This is the only temple I have seen that has this. Madurai temple has a large temple tank along with an island mandapa, but not in this same manner with separate gopuram and temple walls.
This temple is equal to 1,000 Taj Mahals, but practically no one has even heard of it or visited it. This temple spans 30 acres, and is perhaps the only temple where the temple tank is equal size to the temple.
In ancient times, Thiruvarur was previously the capital of the Tamil kingdom, and saintly kings ruled from here. One famous king, Manu Neethi Cholan, executed his own son by driving over him in his chariot because his son had accidentally killed a calf under the wheels of his chariot.
The king had kept a bell which any citizen could ring if they had a complaint for the king. One day a cow came and rang the bell and told him that his son had killed her calf. In response the king punished his son by executing him in a similar manner. Afterwards, being pleased with the king, Lord Shiva appeared before them and brought back to life his son as well as the calf his son had accidentally killed.
This temple is so vast and gigantic, but it is mostly empty and you can walk straight up to the garbhagriha for darshana without anyone else even being present. You can sit for hours in the garbhagriha and watch the puja of Lord Shiva with no restrictions, but people prefer to go to Tirupati, Palani, or some other famous temple where you will be allowed to glimpse the Lord for one second before the security shouts at you and pushes you away. This is one of the rare treasures of India that the masses of people have still not discovered.
Everyone knows about the famous classical singer and composer saint Tyagaraja, to whom Lord Rama personally appeared and gave His darshana. He was born in this town and is named after the deity of Lord Shiva in this temple. People should be introduced to the original Tyagaraja after Whom the singer was named, Who was manifested from the mind of Maha Vishnu, Who was worshipped by Lord Indra in Swarga Loka, Who was brought by king Muchukunda to earth for the welfare of human society, and who today is sitting alone in a remote town with just a handful of devotees carrying out his worship.
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You are ding a wonderful job of spreading Hinduism through your Newsletter. Keep it up.
Wonderful, thank you.
Nice information
Quite amazing sacred place, and had never heard of it. Wonderful article.
Hi Sir,
you havedonegreat &wonderfuljob by Posting the Thiruvarur Amazing Shiva temple story.
Thanks
Thank you for sharing this worthy information. Unknown to most of us..
You have written an important story about the temple and Thyagaraja Thanks for spreading Hinduism.
There are many beautiful and architectural innovative temples in India, your organization is doing excellent services spreading such information for public. My suggestion is if possible may prepare an encyclopedia of temples in India. This will be great contribution to Hinduism. This requires money and people will donate but you have to make an appeal or you can approach “Council of Cultural relations” government of India for grant purposes.
Thiuvarur temple is a huge one. It won’t be possible to see the temple in one day. Your article dwells very well on this ancient temple.
Have trouble understanding it all Are you able to make it more clear about Hinduism
Interesting article. Thiruvyaru and Thiruvaroor and saint Thygaraja any articles are there. If so please share.
Excellent coverage once when I visited the temple I saw Sri Muthuswamy Dhikshidar’s ( one of the Carnatic music thrimurthis) all the navagraha keerthanais engraved on the wall. Unfortunately the temple’s office under the state govt., has cordened off that area for their office room, hiding the engraved keertanas. There is a saying in Tamil which means ‘the donkey does not know the smell of the camphor’.
Thank you for this wonderful article. I never heard about this temple and it’s tank before and connection of the deity with King zMuchukunda.
Excellent information, I read first time. I had visited this place along with tourists company but not informed so vividly.
Many thanks for providing these details. Definitely my next visit I will spend more time to this temple.
Thank you for the information. Nice job, pleaze keep it up.
This is the one of the beautiful temples around 90 kms from Tanjore dedicated to Lord Shiva. But the TN State Govt HRCE which controlls this temple does not even bother about maintaining it The present TN Govt of DMK headed by MK Stalin is totally indifferent to Hindu temples and their culture trying to either spoil the Hindu culture or erase great things that Chola kings did for Lord Shiva. They are after Christians and Muslims for vote bank politics totally ignoring Hindu temples. The Central Govt should take note of this indifferent attitude. The Archakas ( Brahmins ) who are doing poojas are being paid a very low sum ( they cannot survive with this paltry sum to maintain their families ) as salary whereas the Hundi collections are taken by Govt for their other expenditures and not for the temple upkeep or lookafter of different sect of people who are required to perform different functions in the temple. If the state government is really interested in the look after of this great temple they should have marked it as one of the beautiful temples with lot of advertisements with spiritual tourism which will attract more people from different parts of the country
I compliment you on all the great work you are doing to promote sanatana dharma. You make all hindus throughout the world proud of their heritage and of themselves.
The Carnatic music trinity – Thyagaraja, Shyma Sastri, and Muthuswamy Deekshithar have an association with this temple. Many of Deekhitar’s kritis on Divine Mother is about the goddess (Kamalambiga) of this temple. There are two main Shiva Shrines – Vanmeega Nathar ( Moolavar) and Veethi Vidangar and both are equally large and important. This Kshetram is also known as Kamalayam. There is a saying that for one born in Kamalalayam, Mukti comes automatically. Birth in Kamalalayam, Death in Kashi, and constant remembrance of Arunachalam, assures one Mukti.
very nice seva
I visited this temple many years ago. Truly ethereal experience. Don’t miss the evening arti, where you can truly feel the presence of the devathas in attendance.
Great temple to know details about Lord Shiva
Om Namah sivaya
As a person who hails from Tiruvarur, I am really grateful to you for this wonderful article on the Thiagaraja Temple and the Kamalalayam tank. In addition to what you stated, there are 108 Shiva Lingas with separate shrines to each one of them inside this temple. Once this temple was reported to be owning 1000 acres of land. After HR&CE took over, I wonder how many acres of land are still owned by the temple. It is a pity that enough patronage is not there for this gorgeous temple.
If I am not wrong there is an Emerald Linga in the temple which is worshipped even today.