Navagraha Kshetram !! Thiru Irumpoolai/Alangudi Thiru Apathsahayeswarar Temple !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

 

 

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thiru Irumpoolai/Alangudi/Navagraha Keshtram/Pancharanya Kshetram/Guru Peedam/Parivara Kshetram is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located in  Thiruvanur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.  This is one prominent temples of Lord Dakshinamurthi famously known as Gurusthalam.  In this temple Lord Shiva worshipped in the form of self-manifested Linga.

Presiding deity – Thiru Apath Sahayeswarar with his consort Goddess Sri Yelavarkuzhali Ammai

 

Mangalasasanam – Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, Sundarar

 

Sthalavruksham – Punnai

 

Theertham –There are 15 holy theerthas surrounded by this temple.  Some of them are Cauvery Theertham, Kollidam river, Vennaru, Amrutha Pushkarani, Chakkra Theertham,

Sannidhis-  Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddesses Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Lord Dakshinamurthi, Lord Surya, Sundarar, Sapthalingas, Lord Kasi Viswanathar & Visalakshi, Nalvar, Somaskandhar, Sage Agastya, Varadarajaperumal with Ubayanachiyars,

Festivals –Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darisanam, Markazhi Utsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Masi Makam, Aippasi Annabhishekam, Thiru Karthikai, Guru Peyarchi, Chitharai, Pournami, Thai Poosam,

Worshipped by – Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi, Sage Vishwamitra, Sage Suka, Sage Agastya, Sundarar, Emperor Muchukunda,

 

Thiru Sunaramurthi Nayanar received Panchakshara Manthra as Guru Upadesham from Lord Dakshinamurthi.

 

Significance:

Alangudi  is one of the nine Parivara Kshetram of Lord Mahalingaswamy at Thiruvidaimaruthur widely known as Gurusthalam/ Lord Dakshinamurthi, others are Lord Ganesha at Thiruvalamchuzhi, Lord Subramanya at Swamimalai, Lord Nandikeshwara at Thiruvavaduthurai,  Navagrahas at Suryanarkovil, Lord Chandeswara at Thiruvaipadi, Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram, Lord Bhairava at Sheerkazhi and  Lord Somaskandhar at Thiruvanur. 

 

Alangudi/Thiru Irumpoolai/Punnaivanam  is one of the Pancharanya Kshetram was eulogized by the deities and the others are Thirukkarukavur/Mullaivanam, Avanivanallur/Pathiri Vanam, Aranthaiperumpazhi/Haridwaramangalam and Thirukkolamputhur/Vilvavanam.

The legend has that Emperor Muchukundha’ Minister Amuthokar was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.  Emperor demanded for the pieties he had obtained through the virtuous deeds should be transferred to him.  Consequently, Emperor beheaded his Minister Amuthokar, instantaneously a mystifying echo pronounce the name of his minister on this sacred land.  The Emperor was baffled at this incident, regretted for the offense committed. He underwent severe austerities and worshipped Lord Apathsahayeswarar and eventually got rid of the sin.

This temple remains open from morning 6.30 AM to 1.00PM in the morning and 4.00 PM to 8.30PM in the evenings.

 

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!