Vaimoornathar Temple, Tiruvaimur
Encyclopedia
Vaimoornathar Temple is a Hindu temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva
located in Tiruvaimur in Tiruvarur district
of Tamil Nadu
, India
. The temple is revered in the hymns of 7th century Tamil
saivite poets, Appar and Campantar
and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
(Sun god). Lord Siva appeared in the dreams of Appar, the 7th century nayanar
and Tamil
saivite poet and ordered him to make to Tiruvaimur. After making his visits to Tirupazhanam
, Tiruvalanchuzhi, Tirunallur
and Kumbakonam
arrived at the temple here on the day of Tirvathirai for temple festivities . Sambandar also followed him and both these poets revered the Lord here with their hymns.
at Tiruvarur
is famous for the ajapa thanam(dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra
(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva
in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra
tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur
. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam
, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession(it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam(seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
dedicated to Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
located in Tiruvaimur in Tiruvarur district
Tiruvarur District
Tiruvarur district is one of the 30 districts in the Tamil Nadu state of India. The district occupies an area of 2161 km². It is lies between Nagapattinam district on the east and Thanjavur district on the west, and is bounded by the Palk Strait on the south...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The temple is revered in the hymns of 7th century Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
saivite poets, Appar and Campantar
Campantar
Tirugnana Sampantar was a young Saiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived around the 7th century CE....
and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
The Temple
The presiding deity is Vaimoornathar (Lord Siva) is believed to have been worshipped by SuryaSurya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
(Sun god). Lord Siva appeared in the dreams of Appar, the 7th century nayanar
Nayanar
Nayanar can refer to:*Nayanars, Shaivite saints from Tamil Nadu, India.*Nayanar , an honorific title used by certain clans of Nair caste from the north Malabar region of Kerala, India.*Nayanar, title used by Isai Vellalar of Tamil Nadu...
and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
saivite poet and ordered him to make to Tiruvaimur. After making his visits to Tirupazhanam
Apathsahayar Temple, Thirupazhanam
Apathsahayar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirupazhanam near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Appar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Legend:...
, Tiruvalanchuzhi, Tirunallur
Kalyanasundaresar Temple, Nallur
The Kalyanasundaresar Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the village of Nallur near the town of Papanasam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva who is worshipped in the form of a lingam. The temple was constructed by the Medieval Cholas.The temple is located...
and Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
arrived at the temple here on the day of Tirvathirai for temple festivities . Sambandar also followed him and both these poets revered the Lord here with their hymns.
Processional Dance
The Thyagarajar TempleThyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur
Sri Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram hymns of Saiva nayanars, 7th century Tamil saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-The Temple:The temples complex occupies...
at Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
is famous for the ajapa thanam(dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur
Tiruvarur is a town and a municipality in Tiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tiruvarur is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur is one of the oldest towns which has been popular as cultural head quarters for many centuries...
. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. It is a prominent seaport on the east coast of India and an important centre of trade and commerce.The town of Nagapattinam dates back to the Sangam period...
, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession(it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam(seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
| Temple | Vidangar Temple | Dance pose | Meaning |
| Thyagarajar Temple Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur Sri Thyagaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Thyagaraja located in the town of Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is reverred by the Thevaram hymns of Saiva nayanars, 7th century Tamil saint poets and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-The Temple:The temples complex occupies... |
Vidhividangar | Ajabathaanam | Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest |
| Dharbaranyeswarar Temple | Nagaradangar | Unmathanathaanam | Dance of an intoxicated person |
| Kayarohanaswamy Temple Kayarohanaswami Temple, Nagapattinam The Kayarohanaswami Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva situated in the town of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is known as Kayarohana and his consort is Nilayathakshi. The temple has been in existence from the 6th century AD and has been praised by the Nayanmars... |
Sundaravidangar | Vilathithaanam | Dancing like waves of sea |
| Kannayariamudayar Temple Kannayariamudayar Temple, Thirukkarayil Kannayariamudayar Temple or Thirukarayil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India... |
Adhividangar | Kukunathaanam | Dancing like a cock |
| Brahmapureeswarar Temple Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai Brahmapureeswarar Temple or Tiurkolili is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India... |
Avanividangar | Brunganathaanam | Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower |
| Vaimoornaathar Temple | Nallavidangar | Kamalanaanathaanam | Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze |
| Vedaranyeswarar Temple Vedaranyeswarar Temple The Vedaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple in the coastal town of Vedaranyam which gets its name from the temple. The temple dates from the time of Chola king, Parantaka I and the presiding deity is Shiva.-Legend:... |
Bhuvanivividangar | Hamsapthanathaanam | Dancing with the gait of a swan |