274 Sivalayam sri Chaya Vaneswarar temple
Moolavar : Chaya Vaneswarar
Amman : Kuyilinum Inia Mozhiyal – Ambica with a voice sweeter than of a nightingale
Thala Virutcham : Korai Theertham : Iravadham, Cauvery and confluence of springs
Old year : 2000 years old
Historical Name : Tiru Chaikadu, Melayur
City : Sayavanam
District : Nagapattinam
State : Tamil Nadu
Singers : Saint Tirunavukkarasar had sung the praise of Lord in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 9th Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Festival : 21 day Indira Vizha beginning from Chithira Poornima-full moon day in April - May; Thanneer Pandal – offering buttermilk and water to pilgrims in the name of devotee Iyarpagai Nayanar during April - June covering Tamil months Chithirai and Vaikasi in summer to quench their thirst; public feeding on Aadi new moon day in July-August; Saint Kumara Guruparar Guru Puja in May-June, 5 day Margazhi Iyarpagai Nayanar festival in December-January with Lord’s darshan on the fourth day, are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Opening Time : The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 12.oo a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m, Sri Chaya Vaneswarar Temple, Chayavanam-609 105, Nagapattinam district, Phone: +91- 4364 260 151
Information : The temple of Champagi Amman, guardian deity of Poompuhar is nearby the temple. The tank is on the south side. In the place of Kodimaram the flag post, Lord Vinayaka is in the place. As this is a Mada type temple, Nandhi is on a higher level. There are shrines of Sun, Indira, Iyarpagai Nayanar with his wife in the outer prakara. There is also a shrine for the three saivite saints. The devotee, while circumambulating the prakara can also have the darshan of Lords Vinayaka, Muruga and Kala Bhairava on a higher level and Mother Gajalakshmi and Navagrahas. In the end, they reach bats mandap through steps and the Palli Arai and Ambica shrine.
Greatness Of Temple : Chola King Kotchengannan built many Shiva temples, majority of them are of Mada style. Mada temples are the ones in which an elephant cannot enter. This is also a Mada temple.
Iyarpagai Nayanar, one among the 63 nayanars was born and attained salvation in this place. His wife was equally a Shiva devotee. To prove the highest standard of his Bhakti, Lord Shiva came to his house as a devotee and demanded his wife to be presented to him. Nayanar had no hesitation and offered her instantaneously. Wife did not object. Nayanar asked the devotee what he should do next. The guest devotee said that Nayanar should accompany him with his wife as an escort as the people of the place and his relatives could attack them. Nayanar agreed and escorted them with a long sword till the border of the place. Nayanar resisted the opposition of the people and took the guest Shiva devotee safely till the border. He was asked to return then. All of a sudden, the devotee disappeared. Lord Shiva with Mother Uma appeared and said that the play was staged to prove Nayanar’s Shiva Bhakthi, blessed him with all longevity and promised salvation to him. Lord Muruga in the temple blesses devotees with a bow in hand promising them all protection. It is said that this Muruga idol was found from the sea. He is wearing an ankelet - Veerakandara Mani - as powerful as the Vel gifted by Mother Parvathi. Those facing troubles from enemies worship Muruga in this temple.
Temple History : Athithi mother of Indira had a desire to worship Lord Chaya Vaneswarar in this place. She came to earth for the purpose. Missing his mother Indira found her in this place. To fulfill the wish of his mother, he tried to take the very temple to his place pulled by his elephant Iravadam. While the elephant began to pull the temple, Ambica expressed a sound that was sweeter than a nightingale. She came to be known as Kuyilinum Inia Mozhiyal. Lord appeared before Indira and advised him to drop his idea and be benefitted by his worship in this place itself.
Moolavar : Chaya Vaneswarar
Amman : Kuyilinum Inia Mozhiyal – Ambica with a voice sweeter than of a nightingale
Thala Virutcham : Korai Theertham : Iravadham, Cauvery and confluence of springs
Old year : 2000 years old
Historical Name : Tiru Chaikadu, Melayur
City : Sayavanam
District : Nagapattinam
State : Tamil Nadu
Singers : Saint Tirunavukkarasar had sung the praise of Lord in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 9th Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.
Festival : 21 day Indira Vizha beginning from Chithira Poornima-full moon day in April - May; Thanneer Pandal – offering buttermilk and water to pilgrims in the name of devotee Iyarpagai Nayanar during April - June covering Tamil months Chithirai and Vaikasi in summer to quench their thirst; public feeding on Aadi new moon day in July-August; Saint Kumara Guruparar Guru Puja in May-June, 5 day Margazhi Iyarpagai Nayanar festival in December-January with Lord’s darshan on the fourth day, are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Opening Time : The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 12.oo a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m, Sri Chaya Vaneswarar Temple, Chayavanam-609 105, Nagapattinam district, Phone: +91- 4364 260 151
Information : The temple of Champagi Amman, guardian deity of Poompuhar is nearby the temple. The tank is on the south side. In the place of Kodimaram the flag post, Lord Vinayaka is in the place. As this is a Mada type temple, Nandhi is on a higher level. There are shrines of Sun, Indira, Iyarpagai Nayanar with his wife in the outer prakara. There is also a shrine for the three saivite saints. The devotee, while circumambulating the prakara can also have the darshan of Lords Vinayaka, Muruga and Kala Bhairava on a higher level and Mother Gajalakshmi and Navagrahas. In the end, they reach bats mandap through steps and the Palli Arai and Ambica shrine.
Greatness Of Temple : Chola King Kotchengannan built many Shiva temples, majority of them are of Mada style. Mada temples are the ones in which an elephant cannot enter. This is also a Mada temple.
Iyarpagai Nayanar, one among the 63 nayanars was born and attained salvation in this place. His wife was equally a Shiva devotee. To prove the highest standard of his Bhakti, Lord Shiva came to his house as a devotee and demanded his wife to be presented to him. Nayanar had no hesitation and offered her instantaneously. Wife did not object. Nayanar asked the devotee what he should do next. The guest devotee said that Nayanar should accompany him with his wife as an escort as the people of the place and his relatives could attack them. Nayanar agreed and escorted them with a long sword till the border of the place. Nayanar resisted the opposition of the people and took the guest Shiva devotee safely till the border. He was asked to return then. All of a sudden, the devotee disappeared. Lord Shiva with Mother Uma appeared and said that the play was staged to prove Nayanar’s Shiva Bhakthi, blessed him with all longevity and promised salvation to him. Lord Muruga in the temple blesses devotees with a bow in hand promising them all protection. It is said that this Muruga idol was found from the sea. He is wearing an ankelet - Veerakandara Mani - as powerful as the Vel gifted by Mother Parvathi. Those facing troubles from enemies worship Muruga in this temple.
Temple History : Athithi mother of Indira had a desire to worship Lord Chaya Vaneswarar in this place. She came to earth for the purpose. Missing his mother Indira found her in this place. To fulfill the wish of his mother, he tried to take the very temple to his place pulled by his elephant Iravadam. While the elephant began to pull the temple, Ambica expressed a sound that was sweeter than a nightingale. She came to be known as Kuyilinum Inia Mozhiyal. Lord appeared before Indira and advised him to drop his idea and be benefitted by his worship in this place itself.