Aiyarappar temple

Aiyarappar Temple
Aiyarappar Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Other names	Panchanatheeswar
Geography
Coordinates	10°53′N 79°06′E / 10.88°N 79.1°ECoordinates: 10°53′N 79°06′E / 10.88°N 79.1°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tanjore
Location	Tiruvaiyaru
Culture
Primary deity	Aiyarappar (Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Aiyarappar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu, India.^[1] The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city. The Five Rivers are Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamuruttiyaaru and Kaaviriyaaru.

Location

The temple is located in Tiruvaiyaru(also spelt as Tiruvaiyaru) (Tamil: திருவையாறு), a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, 13 km from Thanjavur, Thiruvaaiyaru has an old Shiva temple dedicated to Panchanatheeswar. Though pilgrims flock to this temple throughout the year, Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, comprises the Trinity of Carnatic music.

Near the Shiva temple is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed some of his greatest works. On the banks of the river is the samadhi of the saint composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country takes place annually.

The Temple

Gopuram view

The temple, known as Dakshina Kailasam (Southern abode of Shiva), built in an area of approximately 60000 square meters, has 5 prakarams(closed precincts of a temple) (outer precincts used for religious purposes) and many 'mandapams' (great halls). The Tiruvaiyaru temple has also a shrine for Aatkondar or Kalasamharamoorthy. A Homa Kund started by saint Adi Sankara can be found outside the shrine of Aatkonda.

History

Several inscriptions in the temple affiliates the temple to the Cholas, Pandyas, and other rulers. Karikala Chola, Rajaraja the great, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Krishna Devarayar are associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called 'Uttarakailasam' and 'Dakshinakailasam'. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Cholan's queen in the late 10th century who also made several endowments . Dakshinakailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan's queen. Appar, one of the important Nayanmar, was closely associated with this shrine and dedicated one of the songs in 'Thevaram' to this temple.^[2]

Saptha Stanam

The sapthasthanam festival is conducted at Tiruvaiyaru during April^[3] every year. Hundreds of people witness the convergence of seven glass palanquins carrying principal deities of respective temples from seven places at Tiruvaiyaru. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand, the crowd witnessed the Poochorithal(flower festival) in which a doll offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins left for their respective places.^[4] The seven temples are

Temple	Place	District
Aiyarappar temple	Thiruvaiyaru	Thanjavur
Apathsahayar Temple	Tirupazhanam	Thanjavur
Odhanavaneswarar Temple	Tiruchotruthurai	Thanjavur
Vedapuriswarar Temple	Thiruvedhikudi	Thanjavur
Kandeeswarar Temple	Thirukkandiyur	Thanjavur
Pushpavananathar Temple	Thiruppoonthruthi	Thanjavur
Neyyadiappar Temple	Tiruneithaanam	Thanjavur

References

1. Census of India, 1961, Volume 7; Volume 9
2. East and west, Volumes 43-44.Instituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente.
3. Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu.
4. http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/22/stories/2011042255521400.htm.The Hindu