Visited on: March 31, 2018 and June 11, 2018.
Location
Thirucherai is situated at a distance of about 15 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam - Nachiyar Koil - Kudavasal route. It is about 5 kms from Nachiyar koil and 4 kms from Kudavasal.
Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are – Kudavasal, Nalur Mayanam, Kaduvaikarai Puthur (Andankoil), Thiru Kollamputhur, Penu Perunthurai, Naraiyur Siththecharam, Arisirkarai Puthur and Sivapuram.
The famous Vaishnava temple, Sri Saranatha Perumal, is also located in Thirucherai. This temple was praised by Saint Thirumangai Azwar in his hymn “Mangala Saasanam”.
General Information
- Moolavar
- Sri Saraparameswarar, Sri Senneriyappar
- Ambal
- Sri Gnanambikai, Sri Gnanavalli Ammai
- Theertham (Holy water)
- Markandeya Theertham, Bindusudha Theertham, Gnana Theertham
- Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)
- Mavilangai
- Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by
- Saint Thirugnanasambanthar-1,
Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)-2
- This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 95th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
- Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
- This temple is very famous as a “Kadan Nivarthi Sthalam” (to remove indebtedness).
- This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
- The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 22.01.2018 and prior to that on 04.04.2004 and 18.03.1992.
History of the Temple
There are three famous “Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar” temples in the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams. They are - Thiruvarur, Thirucherai (this temple) and Achalpuram.
This temple is situated at the southern bank of the river Mudikondan, a tributary of the river Cauvery.
There are two stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the period of Chola King Kulothungan. It is believed that this temple was built by him.
This temple is also known as “Udayar Koil”.
This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).




Legend
The lord here is also praised as Sri Senneriyappar. This means that the lord shows everyone the righteous way of living (“senneri” means “right way” and “appar” meaning the lord in Tamil).
Sage Markandeyar installed and worshiped a Shivalingam here. He prayed to Lord Shiva here and he was cleansed of the debts that he had accrued in his previous birth (“poorva janma kadan”). He also attained salvation (“moksham”) here.
The Shivalingam of this temple is known as “Sri Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar” (the lord who gives relief from debt) and “Kadan Nivartheeswarar”.
Devotees throng to this temple on Mondays and Fridays in large numbers.
It is believed that Lord Suryan and Sage Thoumiya have worshiped the lord here.


Deities in the temple
Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakaar, Shivalingam, Dhandapani, Navagraham, Suryan, Saneeswarar, Nagar, Gajalakshmi, Jeshta Devi, Amirthakadesar with Ambal, Nalvar, Juralingam and Sapthamadhars can be seen in the hall and the corridors.
There is a separate shrine for Sri Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar in the inner corridor.
In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Bairavar, Chandrasekarar, Brahma, Durgai (3) and Chandikeswarar (2) can be seen.














Salient Features
There are three idols of Goddess Durgai here - Shiva Durgai, Vishnu Durgai and Vaishnavi Durgai. This is quite unique and worshiping the goddess here is considered very auspicious.
In his hymn, Saint Thirunavukkarasar praised Lord Bairavar of this temple. The idol of this Bairavar is unique because there is an inscription of a trident and a bell on the left arm of the lord. One cannot see such an idol of Bairavar anywhere else. This Bairavar can be seen next to the idol of Lord Natarajar in the koshtam.
It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy of this temple by directing his rays on them every year for three days during the morning hours on 13th, 14th and 15th in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar). Special poojas are performed during this period.
The Sthala Viruksham of this temple is Maavilangai. The peculiar aspect of this tree is that in a year, it will be full of leaves for 4 months, full of white coloured flowers for another 4 months and it be barren for the remaining 4 months.
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.










Greatness of this temple
This is a famous Parihara Sthalam for those having significant debts. Devotees are required to perform special pooja to Sri Rina Vimochana Lingeswarar for 11 consecutive weeks to get relief from their debts and other related problems. These poojas are performed on Mondays and Fridays. Finally, on the 11th Monday or Friday, an “abhisheham” is performed to the lord.
Devotees also believe that by worshiping this lord here, they will be relieved of any sins that they might have accrued.
Devotees also believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. This is also a parihara sthalam for performing poojas for “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon).
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 Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar).
Pradosham is also observed regularly.
Temple Timings
From 07.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 04.30 PM to 08.30 PM.
Temple Address
Sri Saraparameswarar Temple, Thirucherai Post, Kumbakonam-Taluk,Tanjure District, Tamil Nadu – 612 605. Tele: +91 – 435-2468001.
The temple priest Sri S.Sundaramurthy Gurukkal can be contacted at 0435-2467759, 94426 37759, 94437 37759.













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