007. Thirukkandiyur - Sri Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple
About the Temple & Location:
This Temple is situated in Tanjore (Thanjavur) Tamil Nadu. 6 miles away from Tanjore, 2 miles from Tiruvayyaaru. One bus facility available and no lodging facility.
Sthala Puranam:
The temple of this sthalam is 222 feet in length and 115 feet broad in breadth.
Lord Shiva, who is one of the popularly called "Mummoorthy" is given the Curse (Saapan, which is due to the bad activity when done on others) when he pinched the head of Lord Brahma and Brahma's head got attached (stuck or pasted) along Shivas hand. After this incident, he got the "Brahmagarthi Thosham", he lost all his wealth and finally, he begged for food and led his life. Since, he begged for food, he is also called as "Pikshandavar". Piksha means begging for some need. And finally he got the Saabba Vimochanam (getting out of the god's Curse (saabham)). This is the puranam that is told here in this sthalam.
In Brahmanda puram, 8 songs are sung and well explained about this temple.
Thiru Kandiyur temple inside anbil praharam
Inside the temple Praharam of the temple
Emperumaan, who is giving seva in Kidantha thirukkolam facing east direction in Utthamar Koil, he is giving seva in this sthalam in Nindra thirukkolam facing east direction.
If anyone gets god's curse from some person, they have to tell the Vimochanam (ie) how to get out of it. But, since Brahma deva was not there, Lord shiva he himself felt for what he has done and since that is the Karma, what has been written for him, he left all the things and led his life as pikshandavar.
The pabham was done by Lord Shiva and the person on who it was done is on Lord Brahma and the person who came to and gave dharshan at the end of the time of the pabham is Lord Vishnu. so, at the end of the Sabha vimochanam, are the three Murthygal, or otherwise called as "Mummoorthigal" was given the seva. Since all the three Murthis gave the Seva at the same time, this Shetram is called "Thirumurthy shetram". The victim who was included in the pabham is Lord Shiva. At the end of the Shabha Vimokshanam, the Victim on whom it is done and that is Lord Brahma, who wants them to get out of it is Lord vishnu, who is the Victim of truth.
The moral of this after doing the crime to someone, it is not a wise thing to go to the court and get the punishment but we can give ourselves that and go along with that, as done by Lord Shiva. Inspite of being a God, eventhough he did the pabham, he did not get out of it, but he really felt for it and begged for food and for all of his needs.
Based on this story only, there were separate Sannadhis for Sriman Narayanan and Brahma devan in Kadhambanoor, Uthamar Koil. Next to this temple is a temple for Lord shiva which is next and opposite to this temple. The temple is called as "Brahma Sirakandeeswarar Koil". Siram means head.
Since, Brahma devan sabham was warned (Kandanam in Tamil) in this sthalam this sthalam is called "Kandiyoor".
Even though it might be the God who has done the crime, they have to get the punishment for that. That is the main moral that is told to the world. This is the main moral which has to be rooted inside every human when going through this sthalapuranam.
Near Kandiyoor, there is a small place called "Kalyanapuram" where some special Utsavams are done for Kalyana Venkateswarar.
The theertham which is found in front of this temple is called "Bhali Theertham" and theertham which is found in west is called "Kabhala Theertham".
The Raja Gopuram is partitioned into 3 thalam.
Both Sri Lakshmi Narasimmar and Chakkratalwar are given the seva in the same place. As in front and back. Since, Narasimmar is behind the wall, it is not possible to worship him. Only Chakratalwar can be worshipped.
The vimaanam of this temple will be like the lotus flower. Sandhaana Gopalan and Navaneedha krishnan are also the Ursavars found in this temple.
Kamalam means Lotus. Since, the Shetram is also called as Kamala shetram, the pushkaraniis Kamala Pushkarani, the utsavar is Kamalanathan, and the thaayar is Kamala valli, this temple is said to built along with Panja Kamala way. Panja means five.
The Brahma devans sculpture is taken out and along with saraswathi devi, it is kept inside shivas temple and Lord shiva is kept where the Brahma's sculpture used to placed.
Since, Lord Shiva got the Brahmagarthi dosham, Lord Brahma's sculpture was kept inside shiva's temple. Along the south side of this temple is a sannadhi for Sri Vedantha Desikar, but not utsavar is available.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this temple is Sri Hara Saabha Vimocchanapperumal. Moolavar in Nindra (Standing) position facing East directipn. Prathyaksham for Agathiya Munivar.
Thayaar:
Kamala valli Thaayar.
Utsavar :
Sri Kamalanathan.
Sannadhis:
1. Chakratalwar
2. Lakshmi Narasimar
3. Vedantha Desikar
Mangalasasanam:
Thirumangai Alwar - 1 Paasuram.
Total - 1
Pushkarani:
1. Kabaala Moksha Pushkarani.
2. Padma Theertham.
3. Kabaala Theertham.
4. Kudamurutti Nadhi.
Vimanam:
Kamalakkruthi Vimaanam.
Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple
Primary deity Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal (Vishnu)
Address National Highway 226 Extension, Kandiyur, Tamil Nadu 613202
Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumal Temple in Thirukandiyur, a village in the outskirts of Thiruvayaru in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Hara Saabha Vimochana and his consort Lakshmi as Kamalavalli.
The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and its bodies of water. The temple has a 5-tiered rajagopuram, the temple's gateway tower.
Hara Saabha Vimochana is believed to have appeared to Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, and King Mahabali. Six daily rituals and four yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Panguni Brahmostavam, celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni (April–May), is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Legend
As per Hindu legend, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation and Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, had originally five heads. Parvathi, the wife of Shiva once got confused and performed patha pooja (ablution of feet, considered an act of respect) to Brahma instead of Shiva. Shiva got enraged and cut off one of the heads of Brahma. The cut head got stuck in his hand of Shiva on account of a curse of Brahma. To get rid off the sin, Shiva worshipped Vishnu at Thirukarambanur as Bhikshadana, where a part of his sin was relieved. He got his curse fully relieved after visiting Vishnu at Thirukandiyur and taking a holy dip in the temple tank, Kamala Pushkarani. Since Vishnu relieved (vimochana) the sin (saabha) of Shiva (also called Hara), the temple is called Hara Saabha Vimochana Temple. After the incident, the tank came to be known as Kapala Theertham (kapala indicates skull). Shiva was pleased and he built the Hara Sabha Vimochana temple and also built a temple for himself near it.
As per another legend, Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu requested Shiva to cut off one of the heads of Brahma as she felt that Vishnu would ignore her and show all his affection towards Brahma. Sage Bhrigu, King Mahabali and Chandra (Moon) all got their sins relieved worshipping Vishnu here in the temple. Sage Bhrigu, once wanted to test the superior of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. He kicked Vishnu in his chest in anger and got relieved of the sin here. Chandra, who sinned by seducing the preceptor's wife, got partially relieved of it by worshipping Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumal.
Architecture
Hara Saabha Vimocchana Perumal Temple is located in Thirukandiyur, a village located between Thiruvayyaru and Thanjavur, in between the rivers Cauvery and Kudamaurutti. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. In modern times, the recorded temple renovation was carried out in 1984 under the aegis of seer Sri Thirukudanthai Vedanta Ramanuja Mahadesikan. The renovation is 2003 was carried out by his successor Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan. The works involved renovation of the gateway tower and the shrines of Hara Saabha Vimocahana and Kamalavalli.
The temple has a three-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower) and an adjoining granite wall that surrounds the temple. The temple occupies an area of 1 acre (0.0040 km2) and is located in the between the rivers Kudamurutti and Vennar. The temple is located 2 km (1.2 mi) away from Thiruvayaru in Thanjavur district. The temple has two precincts and the main gateway faces the east. The central shrine houses the image of Hara Saabha Vimochana Perumal in standing posture. The sanctum is approached through two halls, namely, the Garuda Mandapam and the Maha Mandapam. Kapala Moksha Pushkarani, located on the west side of the temple is the major water body associated with the temple, while the Mahabali Theertham is located opposite to it. The shrine of the consort of Hara Saabha Vimochana, Kamalavalli or Kamala Nachiyar, is located in the first precinct. The second precinct houses the shrines for Narasimha, Sudarsana, Andal, Azhwars and Desika.
Religious significance
The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Azhwar in ten hymns. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. The temple is one of the few historical temples in India where the images of Hindu trimurti, Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma are housed in the same premises. It is one of the two temples in Chola Nadu where the trimurti can be seen in the same premises, the other being Uttamar Kovil near Tiruchirapalli. The shrines of Brahma and his consort Saraswati were dilapidated during the course of time. The place is called by different names like Kandiyur, Kandana Kshetram and Pancha Kamala Kshetram, and is believed that devotees get relieved off their Brahmahatti Dosha after visiting the temple. The temple is considered older than Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple and believed to be in existence from the Treta Yuga.
Festivals and religious practices
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Hara Saabha Vimochana and Kamalavalli. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Four major festivals are celebrated in the temple, namely, the Panguni Brahmmotsavam celebrated during the Tamil month in Panguni (March–April), Aipasi Pavithra Utsavam in Aipasi (October–November), Vaikunta Ekadashi in Margazhi (December–January) and Karthikai Deepam in Karthikai (November–December).
