Sri Thanthondriyappar Temple, Thiru Aakkoor, Mayiladuthurai - 275 Shiva Temples

46. Sri Thanthondriyappar Temple, Thiru Aakkoor, Mayiladuthurai (Chola Nadu - South of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Thanthondriappar, Sri Swayambunathar
Name of Goddess : Sri Vannedunganni Ammai
Holy water (Theertham) : Kumudha Theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Kondrai, Vilva, Betel Nut
Thevaram : Thirunavukkarasar ; Thiru Gnana Sambandhar
District : Nagapattinam.
Location : Mayiladuthurai.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 04:00 p.m. to 08:30 p.m

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This is the 46th sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery. Thiruganasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva Of this temple. Thiruakkur/Thanthondri Madam is one of the 275 Thevara Shivasthalam of Lord Shiva located in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu. This is one of the prominent temples of Lord Shiva built by King Ko-Chengan Chozha widely known as Madakkovil. Saint Gnanasambandar had praised the Lord of the temple in his Thevaram hymns. In the hymns, the saint says, “My Lord in Thanthondri Madam graces with His Than Kondrai garland and the sacred ashes, He rose furious against Yama the Lord of Death and made him tremble, He is the Lord of Vedas and its six angas and the rules for performing the yajnas.”

Important Features:

• This temple classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
• This is one of the maada temple constructed by Ko Chenkat Chozhan.
• This is birth place of Sirappuli Nayanar.
• This is one of the sthalam in which Lord Shiva had given Kalyana dharshana to Sage Agasthiyar.
• Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddess Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Moovar, Sundaramurti Nayanar with Sangili Nachiyar & Paravai Nachiyar, Kala Bhairavar, Lord Surya, Lord Bhairava, Thiru Siruppuli Nayanar, Vishwanathar & Visalakshi, Ayirathil Oruvar.
• The Aayirathil Oruvar Sannithi is located on the north of main moolavar.
• Sri Muruga peruman sannadhi is in the form of Chariot looks beautiful.

This is a place that enjoys a higher importance than Kasi. Sri Vinayaka behind the temple is praised as Lord Poyya Vinayaka. He came in the disguise of a Brahmin to a king wandering around the place and inquired of his problem. The king replied that he was searching for a location to build a temple. Lord Vinayaka advised the king to stay at the bottom of the tank for some three and half hours (Nazhigai) to get the reply. The king stood confused. Lord Vinayaka said that the place was more holy than Kasi and what was left in Kasi could be recovered from this tank. The king obeyed the advice of the Brahmin and came out with the sanctum sanctorum. He was happy and built this temple.

Image Gallery Of Thanthondriyappar Temple:

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History / Legend:

This is a place considered sacred for performing remedial rituals for removal of any evil and adverse effects faced by the devotees. Devotees perform Parvathi Homa to conclude wedding proposals successfully. Those seeking child boon perform Santhana Gopalakrishna Homa.

This is the birth place of Sirapuli Nayanar, one among the 63 celebrated saivite Nayanmars. He attained salvation also here. People also celebrate their 60th birth day in the temple. Devotees perform Sahasranama (chanting 1000 names of the Lord) archana to Lord Bhairava on the Ashtami the 8th day of the new moon fortnight. Lord Muruga in the temple is praised in the Tirupugazh hymns of Arunagiriar. This is also one of the sacred places where Lord Shiva granted Wedding Darshan to Sage Agasthya. The temple belongs to Mada category built by king Kochengatkannan. In a banquet here, Lord Shiva participated sitting with others.

King Kochenganan was suffering from ulcer in the stomach. A voice said that he could be cured if he built in a temple at a place that had three sthala vrukshas-sacred trees. He saw Kondrai, Pakku and Vilwa trees here and began building the temple. During the construction, the wall built the previous day would fall the next day. He begged Lord Shiva for the solution. He was advised to feed 1000 Brahmins for 48 days. He found that one Brahmin short each day. He again fell at the feet of the Lord to help him. On the final day-48th day- all the seats were full with 1000 Brahmins present. The king politely asked the old 1000th guest to which place he belonged to. The old man replied “Yarukku Oor” meaning “place! to whom?”. The security with the king was angry as the old man questioned back the king. The guest ran from there and disappeared in an anthill. When opened, a Swayambulinga was found in the anthill with an injury caused by the hit of the crowbar used to demolish the anthill. It is still visible on the Linga.

For removal of adverse effects on children, people use to offer their kids in adoption to other, and get them back again. Those seeking child boon perform archanas with white lotus flowers.

Location: This sivasthalam temple is located 16 Kms to the east of Mayiladuturai on the Mayiladuturai - Tarangambadi road. Another paadal petra sthalam Tiruthalaichangadu is at a distance of 2 Kms from here. Town buses available from Mayiladuthurai to Seerkazhi.

Temple Address & Contact Details:

Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple,
Akkur,
Tarangampadi Taluk,
Nagapattinam district,
Pin code: 609 301.
Phone: 98658 09768, 97877 09742.