The Art Lover: KalyanaSundareswarar temple@ Nallur, Kumbakonam

Thursday, August 18, 2016

KalyanaSundareswarar temple@ Nallur, Kumbakonam

Nallur Shivan temple is a very beautiful temple where the God Shiva is called Kalyanasundereswarar as it is believed that this temple is the place from where the Sage Agasthya witnessed the marriage of the God Shiva and Parvathi. The Goddess is called GiriSundari.

The legend of the temple is associated with sage Agastya and Amaraneethi Nayanar, one of the 63 nayanars, the Tamil Saiva saints. The lingam in the temple is believed to change colours five times during the day time.
The temple has three precincts. Unlike the other Shiva temples I had visited so far, I observed that the God is placed a little higher from the ground level and is located in the stair one level(Mada Koil). Enquiring the reason, I came to know the story of that the one who built the temple , who is also one among the Nayanmars had been a Spider in his previous birth and had built spider web over the Lingam in ThiruAnaika (Now Thiruvanaikoil, Trichy). Every day he built spider web as a roof to cover the head of the Lord, and the Elephant use to destroy it by pouring water over the linga. Frustrated Spider reported to the God & HE blessed that in his next birth he would build temples in to which elephants cannot enter. True, elephants cannot enter the sanctum. There are reportedly several such Mada Koils. This is the first one I have luckily visited.

Also, this temple has songs reportedly sung in the Tevaram. (Paadal petra Sthalam). There are several stories told which are also depicted as drawings on the walls of the temple premises. The Major Specialty of this temple is thet the Lingam Changes 5 colors in a day.
1. Morning 6:00 AM to 8:24 - Thamira Niram
2. 8:25 to 10:48 AM- Ilam Sivappu (Light Red)
3.10:49AM to 1:12 PM- Orukkiya Thangam (Molten Golden)
4. 1:13 PM to 3:36 PM- Maragatha Pachai (Emarold Green)
5. 3:37 PM to 6:00 PM- Unknown color (We cannot determine the color of the God during this time)
In Sivapuram, hence we can see the verse "நிறங்கள் ஓர் ஐந்துடையாய் "

One another Speciality is that Unlike other Shivan temples,the Chatari is being served to devotees (Which is a practice followed only in Vishnu temples)

This temple is under the maintenance of ThiruVaavaduthurai Aadheenam. There are lot more specialties to this temple.

One other thing I noticed is that in the Surrounding of the temple premisis, you can find the colored statues of Lord Shiva in various forms and various Names. I have so far never Seen Lord Shiva in other forms and there are stories for every form of his and am eager to learn them soon. I know only Somaskantha Moorthy and Nataraja Moorthy as I have seen them in other temples.

There is also special Sannathi for the Kali (believed to be more powerful) in the temple premises. The Gopuram of this temple is beautiful with multicolours and the Gods depicted on them are beautiful and bright. As I visited this temple early in the morning, I had the darshan of the God in color 1 (thamira Niram).

The Goddess GiriSundarai was really Sundari (Beautiful woman) dresseed in Marikozhundu Paavadai. She was having long hair and looked blissfull. No words to describe her beauty.

Below is the view as you descend down from the Shiva Sannidhi: