The lord of the temple is praised
in the hymns of Saint Tirunavukkarasar. The Saint profusely feels that
the life had been wasted without knowing and understanding the great grace of
the Lord who frees the devotee from sins, ailments, fate, whose neck is
beautifully blue. He has no equals. He is all philosophy. He
dwells in the minds of those filled with His thoughts. This is the 86th
Lord Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
There are sculptures of the
presiding deity, Lord Sri Rama, Jatayu, Kanni Vinayaka and Subramanya at the
top side of the front entrance.
Mother Ambica is praised as Mayil
Mevum Kanni. A queen, Tapovadahani by name worshipped Ambica seeking
child boon. Responding to her prayer, Mother appeared as a child on
a lotus leaf. The queen was happy to have the child and brought Her
up. When the child grew and attained the marriageable age, Lord came
in the guise of a Brahmin and married her, according to the sthala purana.
There are 12 wells in the temple
tank. The devotee derives the benefit of bathing in the Maha Magam
tank if he/she bathes here. Also bathing in this temple for 12 new
moon days without a break will relieve the devotees of delays in their weddings
and also concerns about the welfare of children. This is one of the
places where Lord Sri Rama performed Tarpan for His father
Dasaratha. Performing Tarpan in this tank is considered equal to
performing Shrardha for ancestors in Gaya. Hence, the place is
named Kekkarai.
Jatayu, an unforgettable
character in epic Ramayana who laid his life in the service of Lord Sri Rama
performed penance on Lord Shiva here seeking His grace to help him simultaneously
bathe in Kasi (now Varanasi) and Rameswaram and attain
salvation. Pleased with his penance and his noble aim, Lord appeared
before him and said that he would be fighting with Ravana to rescue Mother Sita
from his abduction attempt when his wings would be cut off by
Ravana. When he would be in acute pain, Sri Rama will come there and
that he would be giving the information about the direction Sita was taken by
Ravana. Jatayu would fall at His feet and attain salvation.
Jatayu asked back how he would be
able to fly and bathe in Kasi and Rameswaram if his wings were cut off by
Ravana. Lord replied saying that Jatayu wanted only one Sethu
Samudra Sanana but bathing in the tank of this temple was equal to bathing in
16 Sethu Snana ghats. It is said that this tank was dug by Lord
Vinayaka during Brungi Maharshi period.
This Theertham-tank is equal to
the Triveni confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi, hence praised as
Mukkudal meaning the confluence of three theerthams. A Chola king
who was on hunting had to stay here for a night. He had the habit of
taking the dinner only after Lord Shiva worship. The horseman made a
Linga of the Kollu bag (the grain for horses) and enabled the king to do his
Shiva puja before dinner. When he later tried to take the bag, he
could not as it became a real Shivalinga, according to the history of the
place.
Moolavar: Tirunethranathar , Mukkona Nathar
Amman / Thayar: Anjakshi , Mayilmevum Kanni
Thala Virutcham: Vilwa
Theertham: Shodasa
(Mukkodal) Theertham
Old year:1000-2000
years old
Historical Name: Kekkarai
Located at about 2 Kms from Virkudi on the Tiruvarur -
Kekkarai road. This sivasthalam is located at about 5 Kms. in the north-east
from Tiruvarur.
Lord of the temple is a swyambumurthy.
Rays of Sun God fall on the Lord on Masi Shivrathri day in February-March.
Besides all Lord Shiva related
festivals, three new moon days in Aadi (July-August), Thai (January-February)
and Mahalaya in Purattasi (September-October) are celebrated in the temple with
special abisheks and pujas.
Bathing in the tank of the temple
and worshipping Lord continuously for 12 new moon days (Amavasya) will bring in
effective relief to those facing delays in wedding and adverse aspects on
children, it is firmly believed by he devotees.
Devotees perform abishek to Lord
offering vastras. They also offer oil for lighting lamps in the temple
permanently.
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m.
to 8.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Sri Tirunethranathar Temple, Tirupalli
Mukkodal, Kekkarai-610 002, Tiruvarur district.+91 4366 244 714, +91 4366 98658 44677
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.