Thenkudi Thittai Sri Vashishteswarar Temple 15th of 129 on the south bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Tanjore

Visited on: 1^st October, 2017.

Location

Thittai is situated at a distance of about 10 kms from Thanjavur on the Tanjure - Melattur - Kumbakonam route. Nearest railway station is Thittai on the Kumbakonam to Tanjure line which is two kilometres away from this temple.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are – Thiruppullamangai (Pasupathi Koil), Thiru Sakkarapalli (Iyampettai), Thirukkarukavur, Thiru Paalaithurai and Thiru Nallur.

General information

Moolavar

Sri Vashishteswarar, Sri Dhenupureeswarar,
Sri Pasupathinathar

Ambal

Sri Suganda Kundalambikai, Sri Ulaganayagi,
Sri Mangaleswari

Theertham (Holy water)

Pasu Theertham, Soola Theertham, Chakra Theertham

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Mullai, Chenbagam and Chevvanthi

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 15^th Shiva Sthalam on the southern bank of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• This is one of the famous Guru (Jupiter) Parikara sthalam.
• Drops of water fall from the ceiling on the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum every 24 minutes without fail.
• This east facing temple has 2 corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers.
• The flag post (Dwajasthambam) is made out of granite.

History of the temple

Thenkudi Thittai is located between the rivers Vennaru and Vettaru, both of which are tributaries of river Kaveri.

There are stone inscriptions available here which date back to the 10^th and 12^th centuries. It is believed that this temple was built by the Chola King Kulothungan. In 1922, the entire temple was reconstructed using granite by Sri Ramaswamy Chettiar of Chettinadu Nagarathar family.

This place is also known as Therur or Rathapuri which originates from the legend that the chariot (“Ther”) of a king got stuck in the sand dunes here.

The historical names of this place are Vilvaranyam, Vasishtasramam, Dhenupuri and “Kudeethveepam” (in Sanskrit).

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

Legend

It is believed that there are 28 places where Lord Shiva emerged in the form of a Shivalingam. Apart from this place (Thittai), some of the other such places are Chidambaram, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvarur, Thiruvaiyaru and Thirukkazhukkundram.

According to legend, during the great deluge (“pralayam”), when the entire universe was submerged, this place stood aloft like a sand dune (Thittai in Tamil). It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared at this place as a Swayambu Lingam. Hence this place gets the name Thenkudi Thittai (sand dune on the southern side).

According to Hindu mythology, Guru (“Viyazhan” in Tamil) is the seventh son of Sage Aankirasa. Guru became a very learned scholar and became the teacher (Guru) to the Devas. Under his stewardship, the Devas lived peacefully. Once when he had gone to visit Indira, Indira did not receive him as he was busy watching Urvasi’s dance. Angered by this slight, Guru abandoned the Devas and started living as a recluse. Without his guidance, the life of Devas became miserable and the demons started terrorising them. Realising his mistake, Indira searched for Guru in order to ask his forgiveness but he could not find him. Indira visited many Shiva temples and prayed to the lord to help him find Guru. When he visited this temple, Guru decided to appear before him and pardoned him.

It is believed that Sage Vashishtar had his hermitage here, he installed a lingam and performed penance. Hence, Lord Shiva is praised here as “Sri Vashishteswarar”. Also, as a mark of respect, Guru stood up and received teachings from Sage Vashishtar. It is believed that Lord Shiva elevated Guru to a place in the Navagrahams at this place.

Other legends

The legend is that a Chola king named Jayan performed the maha yagna “Rudra Paasupatha” here, which is equal to performing 100 “Aswametha yagna”. This earned him the position of Indira.

The Goddess Ulakanayaki of this temple is also praised as Sugantha Kunthalambigai because she is believed to have given rebirth to the husband of a girl named Suganthi.

It is also believed that lords Brahma, Vishnu, Murugan, Vedas, Bhairavar, Suriyan, Saneeswaran, Yama (the lord of death), Parasuramar, Indiran, Aadisheshan, Kamadenu, Sage Vashishtar, Sage Gautamar and Sage Jamadagni have worshipped the lord here.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Sidhi Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, 4 Shivalingams at four corners, Gajalakshmi, Mahalingam with Ambal, Navagraham and Bairavar can be seen in the corridors.

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

There is a separate shrine for Guru Bhagawan and he is worshiped as “Raja Guru”.

Salient features

In most of the temples Lord Dakshinamurthy is worshipped as Guru Bhagawan but only in three places – Thittai (here), Thiruvalithayam (popularly known as Padi near Chennai) and Thiruchendur, the Navagraha star Guru is worshipped as Guru Bhagawan.

This is probably the only place in the world where Guru Bhagawan has a separate shrine with a separate Vimanam. This shrine is in between the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. Also, this is the only place where you can see Guru Bhagawan in a standing posture with 4 hands – two of them holding his weapon and books and the other two in the “Abhaya Hastam” posture.

A unique feature of this temple is that a drop of water falls on the main deity, exactly every twenty-four minutes (1 Naazhigai in Tamil) from the roof. But for a small hole, there is no visible source of water on the tower (Vimanam) of the main deity. It is believed that two stones “Suryakaanthakkal” and “Chandrakaanthakkal” (precious stones) which are placed at strategic points above the tower are the reason for this miraculous phenomenon. These 2 stones absorb moisture from the atmosphere, convert it into a water droplet and perform a natural abhishekam of the lord. This is a clear testament to the advanced scientific and architectural knowledge that our country had possessed.

In front of the hall of Goddess Parvathy’s shrine, on the ceiling, 12 zodiac signs are carved beautifully in stone. It is believed that by standing under one’s respective zodiac sign and praying to the goddess, one’s wishes will be fulfilled.

Thittai is one of the holy places, extolled by Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, who holds the sanctity of this place in high esteem.

There are many beautiful granite reliefs that are artistically carved in the pillars such as those of the Nalvars, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy seated on the bull mount, Lord Vinayakar, Lord Murugan, etc.

Thenkudi Thittai is one of the “Sabthasthanam” temples of Thiru Karanthattaikudi (Karanthai). The other temples are - Thiruvennaru, Thirukudalampathi (Kudalur), Thirukadanapatham (Kadakadappai), Thiru Punnainallur Maariyammankoil (Shiva’s shrine) and Thiru Poomaalai Ravuthankoil.

There are 4 Shivalingams installed on the four corners of this temple keeping the main deity at the centre. Hence this temple is also known as “Pancha linga Kshetram”. It is believed that worshiping the lord here is equal to worshiping the lord at all the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams (Chidambaram, Kalahasthi, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvanikka and Kanchipuram).

It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam twice in a year – on 15^th, 16^th and 17^th of the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept) (“Thatchinayana punya kalam”) and on 25^th, 26^th and 27^th of the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr) (“Uththarayana punya kalam”).

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.

Another significance of this temple is that the entire temple is constructed using granite - from foundation to the tower.

Greatness of this temple

Devotees can get relief from the adverse effects of planet Jupiter by praying to the lord here.

Students pray to the lord here for attaining excellence in their studies.

As Guru was elevated to Navagraham in this place, devotees believe that worshiping Lord Shiva here will yield promotion in their work.

It is believed that those seeking “santhana prapthi” (child boon) can pray to the lord here. Devotees can also pray for removal of obstacles from their marriage proposals.

Devotees also believe that worshiping Goddess Parvathy here will result in a long and prosperous married life.

Important festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in the temple are –

Chitra Pournami in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May),

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

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),

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

The annual Brahmotsavam and the festival commemorating Vasishtar’s marriage with Arundhathi are celebrated in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June).

Guru transition day is celebrated here in a grand manner.

Surya Puja is performed during the time when Sun worships the lord here.

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple timings

From 07.00 AM to 12.30 PM and from 05.00 PM to 08.30 PM.

Temple address

Sri Vashishteswarar Temple,
Thenkudi Thittai
Pasupathikoil Post
Thanjavur District,
Tamil Nadu – 613 003.
Tele: +91 4362 252 858, 94435 86453.