The temple is sung by celebrated Saivite Saints Sambandar, Appar
and Sundarar in their Thevaram hymns. This is the 6th Shiva temple in the
Pandya region praised in Thevaram hymns.Lord
Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. Lord Shiva is swayambulinga in the
temple.
According to the legend, the prominent snakes Vasuki and
Kaarkotakan worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the separate shrine for
Tirunageswarar in the outer 3rd prakaram. Also according to the legend, Goddess
Mahalaskhmi once wished to have a darshan of Lord Shiva's dance. Lord Shiva
conceded to her request and told her that she can have a vision of his dance at
this sthalam. Accordingly Shiva is said to have revealed a vision of his Cosmic
Dance known as Gowri Thandavam to Goddess Mahalakshmi here.
This temple has got the royal
patranage from the early Chola, Pandiya and Chera kings, and by the later
period Pallavas, Sethupathy Raja, Maruthu Pandiyar etc.
The place where Sage Valmiki performed penance here is shown
behind the sanctum sanctorum. Indiras son Jayandan has a place in Skanda
Mahapurana. He was abducted by demon Padmasura as he resisted the demon
to rescue his mother. Lord Muruga rescued Jayandan from the demon. He has a separate shrine in the temple. A festival is conducted for
Jayandan in Chithirai (April-May). It is said that Lord Maha Vishnu
worshipped Lord Tiruthalinathar in this temple. His shrine is behind the
sanctum in the name of Lord Yoga Narayana.
Mothers Sridevi, Bhudevi and Sri Anjaneya are nearby the Lord. There is
also a shrine for Lord Tirunageswarar where people worship during Ragu Kalam
time. Lord Muruga is facing north with His consorts Valli and
Deivanai. Saint Arunagiriar had praised Lord Muruga of the temple in his
Tirupugazh hymns. Lord Nataraja graces in His Gourithandava dancing form. Lord Dakshinamurthi graces alone without His disciples. All
planets Navagrahas are in sitting form. The temple has many such sacred
features.
Hiranyakshkan, a staunch Shiva devotee had two sons Andakasura and
Sambasura. Though they were Shiva devotees, they harassed the Devas who
sought asylum at the feet of the Lord. Lord Shiva with His Viswarupa
killed Andakasura and Sambasura. This form of Lord Shiva is but the Lord
Bhairava. Though He killed the evil demons, as killing is a sin, to
relieve Himself of this dosha, Bhairava performed Shivalinga Puja in the
temple. He is worshipped as Yoga Bhairava. Devotees dress Him with
white silk vastras. He does not have His dog vahan as He graces here in
Yoga form.
Those unable to visit specific Navagraha temples, may seek relief in this
temple worshipping Lord Yoga Bhairava. He is also praised as Aabath
Dharana Bhairava as He rushes to the rescue of his devotees when in
danger. On Ashtami days 8th day of new moon and full moon fortnights,
devotees worship here with cosmetic items.
A one day festival is dedicated to Lord Yoga Bhairava on the first day of
Chithirai falling almost on April 14. He comes in procession on Horse
vahan. Ashta Bhairava Yajna is performed for six days during the Champaka
Sashti festival in Karthikai (November-December). This is an important
event in the temple.
Sage Valmiki, to correct himself from the cruel activities as
robbery and murder he was indulging in earlier (this theory and story is
strongly refuted by eminent scholars of Ramayana) performed penance here dense
with Kondrai trees. As he was in penance for too long a time, he was
covered by an ant hill Vanmeekam in Sanskrit and Puttru in Tamil. Pleased
with his penance, Lord Shiva granted darshan to the sage. As Lord granted
darshan near the Puttru, He is praised as Puttreeswarar. The temple is
built on this Darshan story. The place also is named Puthur with the
auspicious prefix (Tiru - Tiruputhur). Kings built the temple later.
Moolavar: Tiruthali Nathar, Sreetalinathar,
Tiruttaleeswarar
Urchavar: Somaskandar
Amman / Thayar: Sivakami,
Soundarya Nayagi
Thala Virutcham: Kondrai
Theertham: Sridhali
Theertham
Agamam / Pooja: Shivagama
Pathigam: Thirunaavukarasar, Sambandar
Old year: 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name: Tiruputhur
The Tiruttalinathar temple is a grand Shivastalam in
PandyaNadu.
Rameswaram and Tiruvadanai are
the other Shivastalams nearby. This shrine is regarded as the 6thof the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. This
temple is located in between Madurai and Karaikudi and can be reached by road
from both the places. It is located about 65 Kms. from Madurai, 20 Kms from
Karaikudi and about 35 Kms from Sivagangai.
Although Tirupputtur is a small town, the shiva
temple here is
big and as we go inside the temple, it is really huge and causes fascination to
the visitor. The temple has a main gopuram on the east side and has 3
prakarams. The outer 3rd prakaram is a wide courtyard on all the 4 sides. In
the 2nd middle prakram there are shrines for Lord Subramanya along with His 2
consorts Valli and Deivaanai, Lord vinayakar, Yoga Bhairavar, Tirunageswarar
and Navagraha Sannadhi. Entering the 3rd inner prakaram from the east side, one
can see the small shrines for Sun God Sooriyan, Mahalakshmi, Mahaganapathy,
Dakshinamurthy, Varunalingam, Visalakshmi Amman, Agasthiyalingam, Sandeswarar
and Durgai on the 4 pathways of the prakaram.
The shrine for the presiding
male deity Tiruttalinathar is situated at an elevated portion and
is facing east. The mandapam in front of the sanctum sanctorum has pillars with
beautiful sculptured images of Rishabavaaganar, Narthana Ganapathy, Venugpolan,
Narasimhar etc. Interesting metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are also
seen here. The shrine for the female deity Sivagami is situated parallel to the north of
the main sanctum sanctorum and is also facing east.
Chithirai Bhairavar vizha in (April-May) and Karthikai Champaka
Sashti in (November-December) are the festivals of the temple.
Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri, Kartikai Deepam,
Arudra Darisanam and Vaikasi Visaakam are celebrated here in addition to the
Jayantan Festival celebrated in the Tamil month of Chittirai (1st Friday).
Devotees seek pardon for sins committed knowingly or unknowingly.
Devotees perform special pujas and abishek offering vastras.
The temple is open from 5.30a.m. to 12.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. to
8.30 p.m.
Sri Tiruthali Nathar Temple, Tiruputhur-630 211, Sivaganga
District. Contact Number - 91 94420 47593.
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Don't s:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.