Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar Temple, Thirunallur, Papanasam - 275 Shiva Temples

20. Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar Temple, Thirunallur, Papanasam (Chola Nadu - South of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Panchavarneswarar, Sri Kalyana Sundeswarar, Sri Periyandeswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Giri Sundari, Sri Parva Sundari, Sri Kalyana Sundari
Holy water (Theertham) : Saptha Sagara Theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Vilvam Tree
Thevaram : Thirunavukarasar ; Sambandar
District : Thanjavur.
Location : Papanasam.
Timings : 07:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 05:30 p.m. to 08:00 p.m

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This is the 20th sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery. Thiruganasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of Lord shiva of this temple. Located 3kms South East of Papanasam and 1km from Sundara Perumal Koil near Kumbakonam is the Kalyana Sundareswarar temple in Thiru Nallur, a temple that has been praised by Appar, Sambandhar, Sundarar and Manickavachagar. The Shiva Lingam at Kalyanasundareswarar Temple in Thirunallur is one of the 64 sayambhu lingams. This is one of the Mada Koil or temples built at an elevation by Kochengat Cholan. This is one of the 275 Padal petra sthalams of Lord Shiva. The main deity here is Panchavarneswarar and His consort is Parvathasundari. He is also known as Kalyanasundareswarar. The sthala cruksham is Vilvam. The holy water here is the Saptha sagara theertham. A dip in this water is supposed to absolve one of all sins.

Important Features:

It is considered as one of 275 Paadal Petral Stalams.
Nallur Siva Lingam is made up of a unique solid substance of an unknown metal to the science. That is why the LORD is known as “SWAYAMBU LINGAM”. May be only one such metal lingam in the world, exits more than 2000 years.
PANCHA VARNESWARAR. Nallur SIVA idol exhibits a rare phenomenon of undergoing color changes five times a day once in six “NAZHI-GHAI” as Copper Tinge, Light Red Tinge, Molten Gold, Navarathna Green, Unknown Color.
LORD SIVA of this temple had given “PADHA DIKSHAI”, putting his legs over the head of pious devotee NAVUK-ARASAR. To solemnize this event the devotees are even now worshiping the lord will have SADARI SEVAI. This practice is usually followed at VAISHANAVITE TEMPLES. May be only one Siva temple this course of action and modus?
Legend says that LORD NARASIMHA prayed at NALLUR SIVA to inherit the power to destroy the demon King HIRANYA KASIPU. To signify this “NARASIMHA SWAMY” idol in SUDHAI FORM is adorning the western side built over the “GARBA-GRAHA GOPURAM” of LORD SIVA.
A rarest Nataraja idol depicting “CHATURA THANDAVAM” with “THALAKKOL” on the right hand dates back to 10th century Cholas style molding belongs to this temple.
Outside of the Western side RAJAGOPURAM the “GANANATHAR” in the form of Bali-Peetam is installed in the open air. Abishegam and Pooja will be performed at midnight of Sukla Paksha Duvadasi. It seems similar one is at VARANASI.
Aspiring men and woman for marriage visit this temple and the garland adorned the LORD KALYANA SUNDARESWARAR will be worn by the concerned after the Pooja performed.
In one Avudayar two Siva Lingams are installed. Out of two one is installed and worshiped by great saint AGASTHIYAR. For this no Gingili oil Abishegam.
Ashta Bhuja Maha Kali is blessing one and all at Nallur. Nallur Dakshina Kali Amman/Devi is facing north. This Kali is a well known Santha Rupini and Vara Prasadani.

This is one of the Mada Koils (one where an elephant cannot reach the sanctum) built by the famous Chozha king Ko Chenganan, others include Thiruvanaikaval and Nachiyar Koil.

During Malik Kafur’s invasion, the idols were kept in safe custody in the ground floor of the temple. To this day, the treasure room is found on the ground floor. One has to climb 10 steps to reach the Sanctum at this temple. Ambal is believed to be a village Devathai as she remained here and protected everyone including the Lord during the Muslim Invasion. Kali is seen in a cool form here unlike her usually fiery posture.

There are several inscriptions at the temple that date back to the Chozha period. One of the inscriptions dating back to the rule of Rajendra Chozha refers to this place as ‘Niththa Vinodha Vada Naattu Nallur’, ‘Panchavan Mahadevi Chaturvedi Mangalam’ with the Lord being referred to as ‘Thiru Nallur Udaya Naayanaar’ and the main Vinayaka deity being referred to as ‘Agampadi Vinayaka’.

Each of the idols seen at this temple are also special. The Chathura Thaandava Nataraja is one not seen in any other temple.

10day Brahmotsavam in Maasi including a famous Chariot festival. Maasi Magam was celebrated in a grand way in memory of the event bringing the 7rivers here for Kunti Devi.

Vaikasi 7 city Procession – Visakam / Thiru Kalyanam
On the 12th day of the Visakam Festival in Vaikasi, Kalyana Sundarar in a Glass Palanquin with Sundaragiriyar opposite him makes a trip to nearby villages including Ranganathapuram, Kiliyur, Govindakudi, Aavur, Eri, Panathidal, Maligai Thidal, Mattiyam Thidal, Papanasam, Thiru Palathurai and Uthani. During this procession, Sage Agastya too accompanies the Lord providing darshan to the devotees.

However, with the swindling of the temple lands and the finances relating to the temple in the century gone by, these festivals in recent times have lost its grandeur.

History / Legend:

The fight between Vayu and Adiseshan: Vayu gets angry after adiseshan is praised as being better than him. Adiseshan says that he can cover Kailayam and threw up a challenge to Vayu to remove one stone from the Meru Mountain through his power. Vayu blew air as powerfully as he could. Everyone was in a shocked state and went to Lord.

As adiseshan turned his head for a fraction of a second, Vayu’s capitalised on this momentum lapse and his power sent several pieces scattering from the mountain. One piece fell here in Thiru Nallur. This is a swayambu moorthy.

Agastya gets Kalyana Kolam Darshan: The entire set of devotees of Shiva congregated in the North to witness the celestial wedding of Shiva and Uma Devi. The weight tilted the balance of the earth as the excess weight on the Northern side led to rising of the Southern side. Realising this imbalance, Shiva directed Sage Agastya to head South to bring about a balance between South and North.

As Agastya expressed unhappiness at his missing the celestial wedding, Shiva promised to provide a similar darshan in the place down south if he helped bring about this south-north balance during the period of his wedding.

Agastya reached Thiru Nallur and with an idol of Shiva performed pooja everyday. This idol is seen even today inside the sanctum south of the Swayambu Moorthy

In a thankful gesture, Shiva provided ‘Kalyana Kolam’ darshan to Sage Agastya here at South Kailasam. Also, seen inside the sanctum are Vishnu and Brahmma in a standing posture. This is a special temple for the first Darshan of Vishnu, Brahmma and Shiva together. Ancient paintings are seen on the walls of the Sanctum.

Kunti Devi’s liberation from sin: Having thrown his first son into the river, Kunti was seeking liberation from the sin of having thrown her first son into the river. On the occasion of Maasi Magam she met Sage Narada who suggested that it was sacred to have bath on this auspicious day. Kunti invoked the blessings of Lord Shiva who brought the Saptha Sagara Theertham here at Thiru Nallur. In memory of this event, one finds the idol of Kunti in a posture of invoking the blessings of Lord Shiva.

The story goes that the ‘Magam’ began here and Maha Magam in Kumbakonam.

The famous Thyagaraja of Thiruvarur stays here: After having secured the idol of Lord Thyagaraja of Thiruvarur from Lord Indra, Musukanthan was directed to place the idol here for three days before taking it to his abode at Thiruvarur. Hence Thiru Nallur is credited with the historical event of a 3day pooja being performed for Thyagaraja before finally resting at Thiruvarur.

Thiruvadi Deekshithai for Appar: Seeking the Lord’s feet before his death, Saivite Saint Poet Thirunavukarasar (Appar) began his trip from Thiruvathigai and had darshan at Chidambaram, Sirkazhi and Thiruvidamaruthur. Pleased with his sincere prayers, Lord Shiva directed him to come to Thiru Nallur. On reaching here, Appar received Thiruvadi Deekshithai with Lord Shiva placing his feet on the head of the great Saint Poet. In memory of this event, Shataari, which is placed on the head of a devotee as a blessing of Lord Vishnu in Perumal temples, is placed on a devotee at this temple as well. This placing of Shataari on the devotee is a unique feature at the Thiru Nallur temple.

Delighted at this gesture of Lord Shiva, Appar praised the Lord. He stayed here for many days singing praise of the Lord before he moved on to nearby places such as Thiru Palathurai, Thiru Karugavur, Thiru Aavur and Thiru Pazhanam. And finally he moved on from here to Thiruvarur.

Pancha Varna Darshan every day: The Swayambu Moolavar Idol changes colour five times a day every 2 1/2hours changing from Lotus colour to red to gold to green and finally to a colour as visualized by a sincere devotee in the evening. As he provides darshan in these five different colours the Lord is also referred to as Pancha Varneswarar. Hence it is said that visiting the Lord here and invoking his blessings is equivalent to visiting the Pancha Bhootha sthalam.

Location: This sivasthalam temple is located to the east of Uthamadhanapuram, which is 2 Kms from Papanasam railway station. This sivasthalam is 25 Kms from Thanjavur and 15 Kms from Kumbakonam. Thiru Nallur is about 2kms South off the Thanjavur-Kumbakonam highway near Sundara Perumal Koil. Town Bus every half hour from Kumbakonam and Papanasam till Sundara Perumal Koil. Auto transport facility is also available. One can also get down at Uththani Railway Gate on the Kumbakonam-Thanjavur highway and take an auto (1km) to reach the temple.

Temple Address & Contact Details:

Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar (Panchavarneswarar) Temple,
Tirunallur,
Valangaiman Taluk,
Kumbakonam,
Thanjavur district.
Pin code: 614 208.
Phone: +91 93631 41676 ; Gurukkal at 04374 222863.