Omampuliur Sri Pranava Viyakrapureeswarar Temple 31st of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Chidambaram

Visited on: 30^th March, 2018.

Location

Omampuliyur is situated at a distance of about 31 kms from Chidambaram on the Chidambaram to Kattumannarkoil route. From Kattumannar koil, this place is about 8 kms away and from Kaanattam Puliur it is about 6 kms away.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are – Thiru Naaraiyur (15 kms), Thirukkadampur, Kanattampuliyur (6 kms), Thiruvazhkoli Puthur, Thiru Pazhamanni Padikkarai (Iluppaipattu), Erukkathampuliyur (Rajendrapatinam) and Thiru Kudalaiyatrur.

General information

Moolavar

Sri Pranava Viyakrapureeswarar, Sri Thuyartheertha Nathar

Ambal

Sri Poonkodi Nayaki, Sri Pushpalathambigai,

Theertham (Holy water)

Gowri Thertham, river Kollidam

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Elandhai tree

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar-1
Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)-1

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 31^st Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is a famous Guru Parihara Sthalam.
• This is a Parihara Sthalam for Revathi Nakshathiram (star).
• In place of the main tower, there is a beautiful arch with sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy.
• This east facing temple has a single corridor and its second main tower has 3-tiers.
• There is no flag post (dwajasthambam) here.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place in the year 2011 and prior to that on 25.06.1992.

History of the temple

This ancient temple is situated on the northern bank of the river Kollidam. There are six stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Chola King Kulothungan-III and Pallava King Kopperunsinga Devar.

This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).

Legend

According to legend, once Goddess Parvathy requested Lord Shiva to explain to her the meaning of “Pranava Mantra – OM”. When Lord Shiva was explaining it to her, she lost interest in it. Lord Shiva was angered by this and he punished her to be born on earth as a human. Goddess Parvathy stayed in this place “Omam puliur” and performed penance here under this temple’s Sthala Viruksham, “Ilanthai tree”. It is believed that Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurthy (Guru) blessed her with his darshan and completed the teaching of Pranava Mantra. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Pranavapureeswarar”. It is believed that Lord Murugan, in the form of a beetle (“vandu”), overheard the teachings without his parents knowing about it. Lord Murugan is believed to have recited this “Mantra” to his father in Swamimalai at a later date.

It is believed that Lord Guru is a Swayambu Moorthy in this temple. The sanctum of Guru Dakshinamurthy is placed in the main hall (Maha Mandapam) in between the sanctums of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. This place is considered to be one of the Guru Sthalams. Abhishekam is performed here first to Dakshinamoorthy and then to Lord Shiva.

Interestingly, the places of Lord Dakshinamurthy and Natarajar are interchanged in this temple. As in other Shiva temples, here also there is a shrine for Dakshinamurthy in the khostam. Hence, there are two Dakshinamurthy in this temple which is considered to be very auspicious.

As per Sthala Puranam, Sage Vyakyapathar (Pulikkal Munivar – tiger legged rishi) worshipped Lord Shiva in five places – Perumpatra Puliyur, Omampuliyur, Perum Puliyur, Erukkatham Puliyur and Thiruppathiri Puliyur. It is believed that he worshiped Lord Shiva here to seek the dance darshan of Thillai Natarajar as seen in Chidambaram. Hence, the lord here is praised as “Sri Vyagyapureeswarar” and this place gets the name “Puliyur”.

As Lord Dakshinamoorthy explained the meaning of Pranavam “Om” to Goddess Uma Devi (Parvathy), this place gets the name “Om amam Puliyur”. Later this name was changed to Omampuliyur.

Another reason for the name Omampuliyur is that in ancient times, a lot of yagnas (“Homam”) were conducted in this place and the smoke from these yagnas would engulf this village. In his hymn, Saint Thirunavukkarasar also mentions about the large number of yagnas performed and the smoke in this place.

Once, a king called Sadanandan, a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, visited this place, took a dip in the temple’s tank and worshiped the lord. It is believed that he was then cured of his leprosy.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of

Vinayakar (3), Murugan with his consorts, Iyappan, Anjaneyar, Gajalakshmi, Saraswathy, Pathralingeswarar with Parvathy, Natarajar (stone), Guru Bhagawan,

Nagars, Iyanar, Bairavar, Suryan, Saneeswarar and Nalvar with Viyakrapathar can be seen the main hall and the corridors.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Annamalaiyar, Brahma, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen.

There is no Navagraham in this temple.

Salient features

The idol of Natarajar is placed in the khostam. It is believed that this is the Natarajar that gave darshan to Sage Viyakrapathar.

There are beautiful sculptures that depict Sage Vyakrapathar worshiping the lord in five different Shiva temples. The names of all the five places are affixed with “Puliyur” and they are together known as “Pancha Puliyur”. These places are –

Perum Patra Puliyur (Chidambaram),

Perum Puliyur,

Omampuliyur (this place),

Thiruppathiri Puliyur (Cuddalore), and

Thiru Erukkatham Puliyur.

Another sculpture in the sanctum depicts Lord Mahavishnu receiving the “Chakrayudam” from Lord Shiva to destroy the demon Salandharan.

The Sthala Viruksham of this temple (Ilanthai tree) can be seen in the corridor. There is an idol of Goddess Parvathy underneath it. This idol shows the goddess in a meditative posture.

There is a small Shiva Temple called Vadathali (Sri Vadathaleeswarar with Sri Nagavalli) on the banks of the Gowri Theertham, which is just opposite to this temple.

Saints Thirugnanasambanthar and Appar have referred to this place as “Omamam Puliyur” and “Omampuliyur” respectively. “Vadathali temple” also finds a mention in both their hymns.

Greatness of this temple

This is a Parihara Sthalam for those who were born during the periods of Revathi Nakshathiram. Devotees whose birth star is Revathi can visit this temple for performing special poojas.

This is also a famous “Guru Parihara Sthalam”.

Also, parents bring their children here to worship the lord and seek his blessings for a bright academic future for their children.

Important festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in this temple are –

Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept),

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

Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov),

Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec),

Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan) and

Masi Maham and Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar).

Special poojas are conducted on Jupitar (Guru) transition days.

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple timings

From 06.30 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 04.00 PM to 07.30 PM.

Temple address

Sri Pranava Vyakrapureeswarar Temple,
Omampuliyur Post,
Kattumannar Koil Taluk,
Cuddalore District,
Tamil Nadu – 608 306.

The temple priest, Sri Jagadeesa Gurukkal can be contacted at +91-4144–264845 and +91 99426 34949.