Sri Athmanathar
temple
This temple was built by Saint Manickavasagar, the prime
minister of Arimardhana Pandian. Iron screws are used in the construction of
mandaps. Stone chain, the musical pillars of Panchakshara Mandap are of high
architectural values. Of the two pillars in the big mandapa, 1000 small pillars
are carved.
Lord Athmanathar temple is one speaking volumes of he temple
architecture skill of Tamil Sculptors and engineers. Lord Shiva and
Mother Parvathi in the Thillai Mandap in the second prakara granting the
Pasupatha weapon to Arjuna as hunter and his wife is very realistic in
workmanship. Mother appears with a chain around the neck, bangles in hand
and holding a bag. The five philosophies representing the Panchakshara
the five letters – Na, Ma, Shi, Va, Ya – Nivarthi Kalai, Pratiba Kalai, Vidya
Kalai, Gandhi Kalai and Shandheetha Kalai are in sculpture form on the roof of
the Panchakshara Mandap. Lord Vinayaka is praised as Veyil Ugandha
Vinayaka.
As this is the sacred place where Lord Shiva Himself was the
Guru-Teacher of Saint Manickavasagar, devotees pray here for progress in
education and high academic pursuits.
The beneficial power of Jupiter – Guru further adds to their
development. People also pray for
wedding and Child boons too.
Lord Shiva graces in three postures in the sanctum sanctorum
as formless, form-formless as the Kuruntha tree and in form as
Manickavasagar. As the Kurundha tree is praised as Lord, 108 conch
Abishek (Sangabishekam) is offered on Mondays of Karthikai month –
November-December. Only a square shape Avudayar-the mount on which the
Linga is placed – is in the sanctum sanctorum. A bowl – Kuvalai in
Tamil – is placed on the Avudayar personified as the body and the inner empty
space as Athma-soul. As Lord dwells in all beings being their Athma, He
is praised as Lord Athmanathar. An kind of oil prepared with 108 herbal
is used for abishek during all the six time puja – Aarukala puja in Tamil.
Generally, the Arati offered to deities in temples are shown to devotees who
touch it and place their hands in eyes. But the Arati plate in
Avudayarkoil Lord is not brought out of the sanctum sanctorum as Lord by
Himself is a Jyoti. Worshipping Lord or the Arati makes no
difference.
There are three deepas (lamps) lit in the sanctum sanctorum behind the
presiding deity in white, red and green as the three eyes of Lord Shiva
representing Sun (white), Agni (red) and Moon (green). As Lord is
formless, these three lamps are lit.
A Shiva form in the temple is known as Kudhirai Swami – Horse God. For
Saint Manickavasagar, Lord Shiva brought horses and delivered them to King
Arimardhana Pandian. He also rode on a horse along with other horses.
Hence he is praised as Kuthirai Swami– Horse Swami wearing horseman dress
with a whip in hand. He is in the Panchakshara Mandap. There are
foxes too under the horses praised as Ashwa Nathar.
Every entrance in the temple has Deepas (lamps) in specific numbers. The
Thiruvasi (a metal frame in upside U shape around Lord Shiva has 27 lamps
representing 27 stars, the two nearby the Jeevatma-Paramatma philosophy, 5
representing the five arts, 36 representing many philosophies, 51 letters. 11 mantras
and 224 world divisions. Those facing planetary problems offer ghee for
lighting the deepas around the Thiruvasi.
Boiled rice nivedhana: Lord Shiva as Guru accepted the food offered by
His disciples. They brought boiled rice, palak and bitter gourd curry –
all simple.
Thus boiled rice nivedhana began. It is offered fresh directly from the
oven and taken to Lord and placed on the stone called Padaikkal with steam
compressed in the rice. The doors are closed and opened a little
later. As Lord is Formless, the steam in the rice also without a form
disappears. During the third puja at 11.00 a.m. variety of nivedhanas as
Thanekuzhal Adhirasam, Vada, puddings, Dosa and porridge are offered. On
Pongal day nivedhana is offered on plantain leaf with 16 vegetable
preparations, Sweet Pongal and Ven Pongal and sugarcane.
A chieftain of the place grabbed Avudayarkoil temple land. They took the
case to the king, he still claimed that the land belonged to him. He
demanded evidence
to prove that it belonged to the people. Devotees, unable to oppose the
king, fell at the feet of Lord. Lord went to the chieftain and asked him
about the quality of his land. The chieftain said that it was but
drought. Lord Shiva said that he was wrong and the land was fertile and
there was plenty of ground water down. On digging, water sprang up.
The chieftain bowed his head down in shame This place is just at a
distance from the temple called Keel Neer Katti. This episode is well
painted on the roof of the Pankakshara Mandap.
Mother Ambika performed penance here to make amends for disobeying the advice
of Lord not to attend the Daksha Yagna. She was formless then.
Pujas are offered only to the feet of Ambika as the shrine is always kept
closed. To facilitate darshan of the feet, it is arranged through a
mirror. Devotees can have only Pada-feet darshan. The abishek
theertha and kumkum is offered as Prasad. Devotees use to tie cradles and
bangles here seeking child boon.
Contrary to traditional absence of pujas in temples during eclipse time, it is
otherwise in Avudayarkoil temple conducting the six time puja as usual even
during such occurrence. The philosophy is that eclipses cannot stop the
pujas for Shiva having no beginning nor an end – no Aadhi- no Andham.
Representing the rule that disciple should not sit before Guru but only stand,
Manickavasagar, Chokka Vinayaka, Muruga and Veerabadra are standing before
their Guru-Lord Athmanathar.
There is no shrine for Navagrahas in the temple but they are in pillars. While
Rahu and Ketu (serpent planets) are in the first pillar, Shukara –Venus, Sani
Bhagwan-Saturn, Jupiter-Guru and Sevvai-Mars are in the second pillar.
Sun with His consorts Pradyusha and Usha and Mercury (Budha) are in the
third. Moon is at the fourth pillar. In the next two pillars nearby
are Lord Kalatheeswar and Mother Gangadevi. There are four Vinayakas in
the four corners in the second prakara one of them with Mother Annapoorani
facing north. People pray here for prosperity. In one corner, Lord
Vinayaka appears in dancing posture with two others dancing with Him facing
south.
Sachidanandam-peak of bliss has three stages. The structure of the temple
has these three aspects. Mahamandap represents Sath, Arthmandapa the
Chith and the sanctum sanctorum the Anandha.
While Shiva temples are generally facing east, Avudayarkoil temple is facing
south. As Lord Shiva plays the Guru part teaching Saint Manickavasagar as
Lord Dakshinamurthy, the temple is facing south, it is explained. The
other Shiva temple facing south is Lord Kadambavana Nathar temple in Karur.
Saint Manickavasagar is occupying the Somaskanda status in the temple – in
between the shrines of Lord and Mother. Festivals are celebrated to Him
only as the one dedicated to a distinguished devotee – Bhaktha Utsav. It
is also believed that that treating Lord and Shiva and Saint Manickavasagar as
different ones is an unforgiveable sin.
Two Kuruntha trees – sacred trees of the temple - are in the northwest corner
of the Thiagaraja Mandap near the outer compound wall. Facilities are
provided to circumambulate them. The temple kitchen is at the other
corner.
A devotee visiting the temple cannot afford miss the rare sculptures of the
temple.
1. Dundi Vinayaka idol
2. 2. Stone chain with a snake spinning around
3. Udumbu-a lizard-like creature and the monkey
4. One thousand pillars carved in just two pillars
5. Sculptures Lords and Mothers in 1008 temple
6. Horses of various countries
7. 27 sculptures representing 27 stars
8. Various signs of dance art – Nattiya Kalai Mudras
9. Pillars expressing seven musical sounds
10. The shade of Koodalvai appearing as the neck of a cow.
There are no Nandhi or Bali peeta in the temple as both Lord and Mother are
formless. This is the place where Lord Shiva, for His devotee
Manickavasagar, converted the foxes in the forest as horses and delivered to
Pandya king. Pradosha Pujas are not observed in this temple.
Celebrated Tiruvasagam authored by Saint Manickavasagar was born in this sacred
temple, celebrated as the 8th Tirumurai of Saivite scriptures. The palm
leaves and the writing pin used by Manickavasagar are still safe in the
temple. A temple noted for epigraphy fame, stone floorings and
beautiful sculptures.
The devotee has to reach Arantangi
from Pudukkottai. Bus facilities are available conveniently from Arantangi to
Avudayarkoil. The place is 100 km from Tiruchi, 48 from Pudukkottai, 14 km from
Arantangi and 102 from Thanjavur.
