Sri Agneeswarar Temple at Thiru Kanjanur

Visited on: 2^nd September, 2016

Location

Kanjanur is located at a distance of about 20 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Kallanai route. From Kumbakonam, it is about 19 kms. From Aduthurai (Mayiladuthurai - Kumbakonam route), it is about 4 kms.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this temple are – Aduthurai, Thiruneelakkudi, Kuthalam, Therezhunthur, Thirukkozhambam, Thiruvaduthurai, Thiruvelvikudi, Ethirkolpadi, Thirumanancheri, Thirumangalakkudi and Thirukkodikkaval.

General Information

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 36^th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• Kanjanur is one of the 9 famous Navagraha Sthalams. This is a parihara sthalam for “Sukra dosham”.
• Here Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy represent the planet Sukran.
• Kalikkama Nayanar’s (one of the 63 Nayanmars) wedding took place in this place.
• This is the birth place of Manakkanchara Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. He worshipped Lord Shiva here and obtained salvation.
• This is the birth place of Haradatha Sivachariyar. He was a staunch Shiva devotee who wanted to prove that “Lord Shiva is the supreme deity and the life force behind everything on this earth”.
• This east facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers and it has 3 corridors.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 31.08.2006.

History of the Temple

There are certain stone inscriptions available in this temple which relate to the period of Chola Kings Vikraman, Rajakesari, Kulothungan, Veera Rajendran and the Vijayanagara King Krishnaraya Maharayar.

The historical names of this place are Palasavanam, Parasarapuram, Brahmapuri, Agnipuram, Kamsapuram and Mukthi Kshethram.

This temple is under the administrative control of Madurai Thirugnanasambantha Swamigal Aadheenam.

Legend

The legend is that Lord Sukran, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, visited this place and worshiped him. Sukran is also known as Parkkavan, Sukrachariyar and Kanjan. He is the son of Sage Birugu. As Kanjan (Sukran) worshipped the lord here, this place gets the name Kanjanoor.

Another legend associated with this temple is that of Haradatha Sivachariyar. Haradhathar was born in a Vaishnava family in Kanjanur. His birth name was Sudarsanar. Although he was born in a Vaishnava family, he became a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. The village people were not happy with his devotion towards Lord Shiva. The villagers asked him to prove his devotion by sitting on a heated iron stool and chant “Sivame paramporul”.

Haradhathar accepted their challenge, sat on the heated stool and proclaimed that “Lord Shiva is the supreme deity and the life force behind everything on this earth”. The villagers were so enamoured by his devotion that some of them even converted to Saivism.

It is believed that Haradhathar used to visit 7 Shiva temples (Kanchanur, Thirukkodikka, Thiruvalankadu, Thiruvavaduthuri, Then Kurangaduthurai, Thirumangalakkudi and Thirumanthurai) every day before taking his dinner. One day when he left Kurangaduthurai temple, there was heavy rain and in the darkness, he was unable to find his way back to the village. It is believed that Lord Shiva came in the guise of a brahmin and took him home.

It is also believed that Haradatha Sivachariyar was blessed by Lord Shiva who visited his house in the guise of a devotee and took the food that was offered.

Another legend associated with Haradatha Sivachariyar is that he was able to feed grass to a stone Nandhi in this temple after reciting the “Shiva Panchatcharam”. He also showed the world the importance of the 5 letters - “Sivayanamah”.

It is believed that Lord Dakshinamurthy took him as a student and taught him the “Shiva Gnanam”. The lord further pronounced that Sudarsanar would henceforth be called as “Haradatha Sivachariyar”.

Another legend associated with this temple is that of a wealthy Shiva devotee who would offer food to Lord Agneeswarar every day. It is believed that every day the lord would appear in his dream and consumed the food that was offered. However, one day the lord did not appear in his dream. He tried his best to find out the reason and finally he came to know that the lord, in the form of an aged brahmin, had gone to Haradhathar’s place instead. On learning about Haradhathar and his accomplishments, the devotee visited him and offered his respect. Sculptures depicting this incident can be seen in the temple.

Another legend associated with this temple is that of a devout farmer. It is believed that he used to offer vegetables to Lord Shiva and then feed devotees. One day he was left with only one piece of “Suraikkai” (a green vegetable). He thought that this vegetable was not suitable enough to be offered to the lord and the devotees. He decided to extract the seeds from it and plant them. It is believed that Lord Shiva visited his house in the guise of a devotee and asked for food. The farmer was in dilemma as he did not have anything except for that suraikkai. At this point, it is believed that the lord’s divine voice was heard saying that “Oru pathi vidhaikku, oru pathi karikku” (keep one half for seed and the other half for me). The farmer immediately cooked and offered it to the guest. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. Henceforth, the farmer came to be known as “Suraikkai Bakthar”.

A few more legends associated with this temple are -

Lord Chandran got relieved from his curses.

Lord Brahma got the opportunity to see Lord Shiva’s wedding darshan in this temple.

On the advice of Sage Vyasa, Agni worshiped the lord here and was cured of his ailments. Hence the lord is also praised as “Sri Agneeswarar”.

Lord Shiva performed his “Mukthi Thandavam” dance for Saint Parasarar here. Also, Parasarar was cured of his mental illness by Lord Shiva here.

It is also believed that Kamsan, the king of Madura Puri and the son of King Ukrasenan, was suffering from some ailments. Sage Sukrachariyar advised him to visit this temple and worship the lord. Kamsan came here, worshiped the lord and was cured of his ailments. Hence, this place also gets the name “Kamsapuram”.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Vinayakar, Mayura Subramaniar, Vishwanathar, Natarajar with Sivakami, Mahalakshmi, Anjaneyar, Nalvar, Suryan, Chandran, Saneeswarar, Navagraham and Bairavar can be seen in the corridors. The idol of Natarajar (made of stone), Kalikkama Nayanar and Manakkanchara Nayanar can also be seen in the corridors.

The idol of Goddess Aadhi Karpakaambal can be seen near Goddess Parvathy’s shrine.

Planet Sukran’s shrine in this temple attracts a large number of devotees.

Idols of Haradhathar and Suraikkai Pakthar with his wife can be seen in the corridors.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Durgai and Chandikesarar can be seen.

Salient Features

The stone idol of Lord Natarajar with Goddess Sivakami is very beautiful and is worth seeing.

As Lord Shiva granted his wedding darshan to Lord Brahma here, Goddess Parvathy’s shrine is seen on the right side to the lord’s shrine.

The idol of the stone Nandhi which is believed to have taken the grass from Haradhathar can also be seen here.

Saint Arunagirinadhar has sang songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.

This temple is considered to be significant for its three important attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple tank.

There is a separate temple in the outskirts of the village for Haradhathar. In that temple, Haradhathar can be seen worshiping Lord Shiva.

Greatness of this temple

Devotees believe that worshipping Lord Shiva here will bless them with wealth and prosperity. Those seeking cure for mental disorder and diseases like anaemia can also worship Lord Shiva here.

This is a famous “parihara sthalam” for those suffering from the adverse effects of planet Sukran.

Important Festivals

Some of the main festivals celebrated in this temple are-

Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (Jul-Aug),

Maasi Maham and Maha Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar),

Haradhathar festival in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb),

Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct) and

Thiruvathirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan),

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Festivals for Anjaneyar are also celebrated in this temple.

Temple Timing

From 07.30 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.30 PM to 08.30 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Agneeswarar Temple
Kanjanur Post, Thukili Via,
Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk,
Tanjure District,
Tamil Nadu- 609 804.
Tele: +91 - 0435 - 247 3737& 0435 – 247 0155.

Pathigam (Hymn) with English transliteration

Saint Thirunavukkarasar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam.

Devotees visiting this temple should make it a practice to recite this Pathigam.

மூவிலைவேற் சூலம்வல னேந்தி னானை
மூன்றுசுடர்க் கண்ணானை மூர்த்தி தன்னை
நாவலனை நரைவிடையொன் றேறு வானை
நால்வேத மாறங்க மாயி னானை
ஆவினிலைந் துகந்தானை அமரர் கோவை
அயன்றிருமா லானானை அனலோன் போற்றுங்
காவலனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Mūvilaivēṟ chūlamvala ṉēnthi ṉāṉai
mūṉtṟusuṭark kaṇṇāṉai mūrththi thaṉṉai
nāvalaṉai naraiviṭaiyoṉ tṟēṟu vāṉai
nālvētha māṟaṅka māyi ṉāṉai
āviṉilain thukanthāṉai amarar kōvai
ayaṉtṟirumā lāṉāṉai aṉalōṉ pōtṟuṅ
kāvalaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

தலையேந்து கையானை என்பார்த் தானைச்
சவந்தாங்கு தோளானைச் சாம்ப லானைக்
குலையேறு நறுங்கொன்றை முடிமேல் வைத்துக்
கோணாக மசைத்தானைக் குலமாங் கைலை
மலையானை மற்றொப்பா ரில்லா தானை
மதிகதிரும் வானவரும் மாலும் போற்றுங்
கலையானைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Thalaiyēnthu kaiyāṉai eṉpārth thāṉaich
chavanthāṅku thōḷāṉaich chāmpa lāṉaik
kulaiyēṟu naṟuṅkoṉtṟai muṭimēl vaiththuk
kōṇāka masaiththāṉaik kulamāṅ kailai
malaiyāṉai matṟoppā rillā thāṉai
mathikathirum vāṉavarum mālum pōtṟuṅ
kalaiyāṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

தொண்டர்குழாந் தொழுதேத்த அருள்செய் வானைச்
சுடர்மழுவாட் படையானைச் சுழிவான் கங்கைத்
தெண்டிரைகள் பொருதிழிசெஞ் சடையி னானைச்
செக்கர்வா னொளியானைச் சேரா தெண்ணிப்
பண்டமரர் கொண்டுகந்த வேள்வி யெல்லாம்
பாழ்படுத்துத் தலையறுத்துப் பற்கண் கொண்ட
கண்டகனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Thoṇṭarkuzhān thoḻuthēththa aruḷsey vāṉaich
chuṭarmazhuvāṭ paṭaiyāṉaich chuzhivāṉ gaṅgaith
theṇṭiraikaḷ poruthizhicheñ chaṭaiyi ṉāṉaich
chekkarvā ṉoḷiyāṉaich chērā theṇṇip
paṇṭamarar koṇṭukantha vēḷvi yellām
pāzhpaṭuththuth thalaiyaṟuththup paṟkaṇ koṇṭa
kaṇṭakaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

விண்ணவனை மேருவில்லா வுடையான் றன்னை
மெய்யாகிப் பொய்யாகி விதியா னானைப்
பெண்ணவனை ஆணவனைப் பித்தன் றன்னைப்
பிணமிடுகா டுடையானைப் பெருந்தக் கோனை
எண்ணவனை எண்டிசையுங் கீழு மேலும்
இருவிசும்பு மிருநிலமு மாகித் தோன்றுங்
கண்ணவனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Viṇṇavaṉai mēruvillā vuṭaiyāṉ tṟaṉṉai
meyyākip poyyāki vithiyā ṉāṉaip
peṇṇavaṉai āṇavaṉaip piththaṉ tṟaṉṉaip
piṇamiṭukā ṭuṭaiyāṉaip perunthak kōṉai
eṇṇavaṉai eṇṭisaiyuṅ kīzhu mēlum
iruvisumpu mirunilamu mākith thōṉtṟuṅ
kaṇṇavaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

உருத்திரனை உமாபதியை உலகா னானை
உத்தமனை நித்திலத்தை ஒருவன் றன்னைப்
பருப்பதத்தைப் பஞ்சவடி மார்பி னானைப்
பகலிரவாய் நீர்வெளியாய்ப் பரந்து நின்ற
நெருப்பதனை நித்திலத்தின் தொத்தொப் பானை
நீறணிந்த மேனியராய் நினைவார் சிந்தைக்
கருத்தவனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Uruththiraṉai umāpathiyai ulakā ṉāṉai
uththamaṉai niththilaththai oruvaṉ tṟaṉṉaip
paruppathaththaip pañchavaṭi mārpi ṉāṉaip
pakaliravāy nīrveḷiyāyp paranthu niṉtṟa
neruppathaṉai niththilaththiṉ thoththop pāṉai
nīṟaṇintha mēṉiyarāy niṉaivār chinthaik
karuththavaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

ஏடேறு மலர்க்கொன்றை அரவு தும்பை
இளமதியம் எருக்குவா னிழிந்த கங்கைச்
சேடெறிந்த சடையானைத் தேவர் கோவைச்
செம்பொன்மால் வரையானைச் சேர்ந்தார் சிந்தைக்
கேடிலியைக் கீழ்வேளூ ராளுங் கோவைக்
கிறிபேசி மடவார்பெய் வளைகள் கொள்ளுங்
காடவனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Ēṭēṟu malarkkoṉtṟai aravu thumpai
iḷamathiyam erukkuvā ṉizhintha gaṅgaich
chēṭeṟintha saṭaiyāṉaith thēvar kōvaich
chempoṉmāl varaiyāṉaich chērnthār chinthaik
kēṭiliyaik kīzhvēḷū rāḷuṅ kōvaik
kiṟipēsi maṭavārpey vaḷaikaḷ koḷḷuṅ
kāṭavaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

நாரணனும் நான்முகனு மறியா தானை
நால்வேதத் துருவானை நம்பி தன்னைப்
பாரிடங்கள் பணிசெய்யப் பலிகொண் டுண்ணும்
பால்வணனைத் தீவணனைப் பகலா னானை
வார்பொதியும் முலையாளோர் கூறன் றன்னை
மானிடங்கை யுடையானை மலிவார் கண்டங்
கார்பொதியுங் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Nāraṇaṉum nāṉmukaṉu maṟiyā thāṉai
nālvēthath thuruvāṉai nampi thaṉṉaip
pāriṭaṅkaḷ paṇiseyyap palikoṇ ṭuṇṇum
pālvaṇaṉaith thīvaṇaṉaip pakalā ṉāṉai
vārpothiyum mulaiyāḷōr kūṟaṉ tṟaṉṉai
māṉiṭaṅkai yuṭaiyāṉai malivār kaṇṭaṅ
kārpothiyuṅ kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

வானவனை வலிவலமும் மறைக்காட் டானை
மதிசூடும் பெருமானை மறையோன் றன்னை
ஏனவனை இமவான்றன் பேதை யோடும்
இனிதிருந்த பெருமானை ஏத்து வார்க்குத்
தேனவனைத் தித்திக்கும் பெருமான் றன்னைத்
தீதிலா மறையவனைத் தேவர் போற்றுங்
கானவனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Vāṉavaṉai valivalamum maṟaikkāṭ ṭāṉai
mathisūṭum perumāṉai maṟaiyōṉ tṟaṉṉai
ēṉavaṉai imavāṉtṟaṉ pēthai yōṭum
iṉithiruntha perumāṉai ēththu vārkkuth
thēṉavaṉaith thiththikkum perumāṉ tṟaṉṉaith
thīthilā maṟaiyavaṉaith thēvar pōtṟuṅ
kāṉavaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

நெருப்புருவு திருமேனி வெண்ணீற் றானை
நினைப்பார்தம் நெஞ்சானை நிறைவா னானைத்
தருக்கழிய முயலகன்மேற் றாள்வைத் தானைச்
சலந்தரனைத் தடிந்தோனைத் தக்கோர் சிந்தை
விருப்பவனை விதியானை வெண்ணீற் றானை
விளங்கொளியாய் மெய்யாகி மிக்கோர் போற்றுங்
கருத்தவனைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Neruppuruvu thirumēṉi veṇṇīt ṟāṉai
niṉaippārtham neñchāṉai niṟaivā ṉāṉaith
tharukkazhiya muyalakaṉmēt ṟāḷvaith thāṉaich
chalantharaṉaith thaṭinthōṉaith thakkōr chinthai
viruppavaṉai vithiyāṉai veṇṇīt ṟāṉai
viḷaṅkoḷiyāy meyyāki mikkōr pōtṟuṅ
karuththavaṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.

மடலாழித் தாமரையா யிரத்தி லொன்று
மலர்க்கணிடந் திடுதலுமே மலிவான் கோலச்
சுடராழி நெடுமாலுக் கருள்செய் தானைத்
தும்பியுரி போர்த்தானைத் தோழன் விட்ட
அடலாழித் தேருடைய இலங்கைக் கோனை
அருவரைக்கீழ் அடர்த்தானை அருளார் கருணைக்
கடலானைக் கஞ்சனூ ராண்ட கோவைக்
கற்பகத்தைக் கண்ணாரக் கண்டுய்ந் தேனே.

“Maṭalāzhith thāmaraiyā yiraththi loṉtṟu
malarkkaṇiṭan thiṭuthalumē malivāṉ kōlach
chuṭarāzhi neṭumāluk karuḷsey thāṉaith
thumpiyuri pōrththāṉaith thōzhaṉ viṭṭa
aṭalāzhith thēruṭaiya ilaṅkaik kōṉai
aruvaraikkīzh aṭarththāṉai aruḷār karuṇaik
kaṭalāṉaik kañchaṉū rāṇṭa kōvaik
kaṟpakaththaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭuyn thēṉē”.