Saint Tirugnana Sambandar had praised the Lord of the temple
in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 5th Shiva temple on the southern bank
of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Sri Garuda Bhagwan, Kathru wife of Maharshi Kashyapa and
their son Karkodan had worshipped the Lord in this temple.
An atheist ignored the Vibhuti sacred ash Prasad offered to
him in the temple. He was born a pig in his following birth and had
to live in ugly muddy environment. He realized that his condition
was the result of earlier behaviour. He bathed in the Shiva theertha
and was freed from the sin. Mother Gandhimathi Ammai was worshipped
by Naga virgins in the Nagaloka serpent world and was installed here by a
Chola king, according to history. Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva in
Rameswaram. Lord Vishnu worshipped Lord Shiva in Mukkeeswaram.
Of the Pancha Bhooda places, Tiruvanaikaval belongs to
Water, Kancheepuram to Earth, Tiruvannamalai to Fire, Kalahasthi to Wind Vayu
and Chidambaram to Space Akasha. The devotee can have the collective
benefit of worshipping in these five shrines if he worship Lord Shiva in this
temple. Karkodan, his rival Garuda, Lord Brahmma had worshipped in
this temple. Their influence plays all benefits to the devotee here
ensuring success over the rival though he/she is as strong as an elephant.
Shivalinga in the temple showed Brahmma five colours golden yellow, red, black, white and smoke ash here. For Sage
Udangar, Shivalinga appeared as a Gem, Spatika, Gold and Diamond and as a
portrait. Lord also appeared here as Cock and controlled a wild elephant. Urayur
also has the reputation of being the birth place of Vaishnavite saint
Tirupanazhwar and Saivite saint Pugazh Chola Nayanar. Kochengatchozha
Nayanar attained the Lotus Feet of Lord in this place.
Karikal Cholan, a famous king of Chola dynasty during his
travel from Kaviripoompattinam passed through this place. A cock
struck on the forehead of his elephant. The elephant immediately
began to retreat. The king realized the greatness of the place,
built a city and stayed here making it his headquarters. The place
is also called Urayur Kozhi. Kozhi in Tamil means cock.
Moolavar: Panchavarneswarar, Mukkeeshurathu Adigal, Thanthondreeswarar
Amman / Thayar: Gandhimathi Ammai
Thala Virutcham: Vilwa
Theertham: Shiva
theertham, Naga theertham
Pathigam: Sambandar
Old year: 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name:Mukkeeswaram
City: Urayur
This temple is located in Tiruchirapalli city at a locality known
as Uraiyur. Uraiyur, the heart of Tiruchi Town hardly 1 Km from the Cauvery,
sports one of the oldest and greatest Shiva Temples in Chola Naadu. This temple
tucked away behind tall business complexes on Salai road was built in the 8th
century by the great Pandiya King Varaguna Maharaja II. The inscription dated885 AD has referred to the donation of gold coins to the village sabha for
performing poojas to the temple. Inscription in the Rockfort Thaymanavar temple
at Tiruchirapalli also speak of the donations by the great padiya king
Varagunaa Maharaja II.
At the entrance, a beautiful and richly decorated Nandi greets the
visitor. The temple has a maha Mandapam, ardha mandapam and a sanctum
sanctorum. The lingam in the sanctum is small in size. Lord Shiva is known as Panchavarneswarar as he is said to have manifested
Himself in 5 different colours to Utanga Munivar. The shrine for Utanga Munivar
is situated directly across the main sanctum. Inside the sanctum sanctorum is
the magnificent, tall lingam of Thanthondreeswarar, with a huge impressive
base. Goddess Kanthimathi Ammai, the consort of Panchavarneswarar adorns
Ankusam and Lotus in her two hands and faces north. Close to the shrine, one
can see the images of Mahavishnu, the sun god, Lord Saneeswara and Kala
Bhairavamurthy.
In the arthamanadapam, at the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum,
there are two brilliant six feet tall Dwarapalakas with typical 8th century
features. Both the images are brilliantly docorated. The southern wall of
sanctum sanctorum is adorned with the image of Dakshinamoorthy and the northern
wall with that of Lord Brahma. The 4 feet tall granite idol of Chandikeswara
inside the shrine on the northern side is one of the tallest granite idols.This
temple was renovated in the year 2002.
Garuda, Kasyapa Muni and Karkotakan are said to have worshipped
here. Pugazh Chola Nayanar and Ko Chenkat Cholan, who built 78 Maadakkovils for
Lord Shiva, were born here.Garuda, Kasyapa Muni and
Karkotakan are said to have worshipped here. Shiva is said to have manifested
himself in five different shades of color to Utanga Munivar (Ratna Lingam in
the morning, Spatika Lingam at noon, Gold Lingam in the afternoon, Diamond
lingam at night and Chitra lingam later on at midnight).
Uraiyur is also known as Kozhimanagaram as legend holds that a
fowl blessed with divine powers defeated an elephant in an duel. Go Chenkan
Cholan the builder of 78 Maadakkovils is said to have born here.
Several legends are associated with this temple and the one
involving the merger of 6 Shivalingsms into one, is commemorated in the month
of Vaikasi during the annual festival. This legend states that a Chola king saw
the five daughters of Nagarajan worshipping a Shivalingam each, on the banks of
the Nagatheertham. He married the youngest of these princesses and requested
his father in law for the Shivalingam that was held in worship by Nagarajan.
Nagarajan handed over a half of the Shivalingam to his daughter, who in turn
handed it along with the five Shivalingams worshipped by the siblings; all of
these merged into one under a Vilva tree, under which, this temple originated.
Lord Shiva of the temple is a swayambumurthy. Lord showed
five colours golden yellow, white, red, black and smoke ash to Lord
Brahmma, hence praised as Aivanna Perumal in Tamil and Panchavarneswarar in
Sanskrit Lord of five colours. The devotee can observe the change of colours
in the Linga during each puja. Wherever Shiva Puja is performed in any part of
this world, all glory of the pujas reach this place, hence the name Urayur
bearing this meaning.
Chitra Poornima in April-May, Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam in
May-June, Aani Tirumanjanam in June-July, Aadi Poornima in July-August (it is
on this day Lord showed five colours to Udanga Rishi), Aavani Moola in
August-September, Navarathri in September-October, Aipasi Poornima Annabishekam
in October-November, Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January, Thai Poosam in
January-February, Mahashivrathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in
March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
As serpent Karkoda and his arch rival Sri Garuda Bhagwan had
worshipped in this temple, it is the staunch faith of the devotees that they
would be freed from any adverse effects falling on them. Also, as
the Lord of Creation Brahmma had worshipped here, success is certain any
endeavour taken by the devotee.
Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer
pudding-pongal as nivedhana.
The temple is open from 5.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from
4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Sri Panchavarneswarar Temple, Urayur ? 620 003, Tiruchi
district. Contact number +91431276
8546, 9443919091, 97918 06457
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