Ancient temple craves for care

VADAKURANGU ADUTHURAI, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated on the northern banks of river Cauvery, 18 miles west of Kumbakonam and seven miles East of Tiruvaiyaru on the Kumbakonam-Tiruvaiyaru bus route. The presiding deity is Dayanitheeswarar and his consort is Jadamaghudanayaki. The temple faces East. In the South Lord Vinayaka and in the North Lord Subramanya are seated. There are two praharams.

In the inner praharam in the West, the presiding deity, the Lingam is housed in the garbhagriha, then there is the arthamandapam and the front mandapam. Lord Dakshinamoorthy faces South and lord Ganesha faces East. Subramanyaswami with his two consorts Valli and Deivanai, three lingams and Mahalakshmi are in the East-facing mandapam. Lord Arthanareswara is placed on the Western side of the Swami's outer wall. On the northern side (swamy's outer wall) Brahma and Durga are installed.Durga devi is most powerful, with prayaga chakra in one of her eight hands. Proceeding further Lord Chandikeswar is housed in a small temple. Farther away Lord Nataraja with his consort Sivagami are installed in a mandapam.

The mandapam is in a highly dilapidated state. Coming out of the inner praharam the Ammankoil facing south is situated.

The Thanjavur Maratha rulers performed Kumbabhishekam in the year 1907. After that till date no masonry work has been undertaken. Now the villagers of the agraharam along with a philanthropist from Coimbatore, have undertaken the renovation. The present trustee, Sri Babaji Bonsle of Thanjavur has granted permission for the renovation. Work in the Swami's sanctum sanctorum, inner praharam, walls, mandapams, ammankoil and rajagopuram are almost complete. The Nataraja mandapam is being relaid afresh and granite work is progressing. The village is known as Adichidambaram since the stone idol of Lord Nataraja with consort Sivagami, besides the icons are housed in this Nataraja mandapam.

A sparrow worshipped this deity it is said and hence He is known as Chitu Linganathar. As Vali worshipped Him He is known as Valinathar. One summer a trader couple visited the village, when the wife who was pregnant, felt thirsty her husband went to fetch water. Meanwhile the coconut tree in the temple bent low to enable her to pluck the tender coconuts on it and she was able to quench her thirst. Hence He is also known as Kulaivananginathar.

The outer praharam wall and Vasanthamandapam are to be repaired, for which donations are welcome. This temple is under the control of the Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam. Saint Gnanasambandar has sung 10 songs on this deity.

S. SUBRAMANIAN

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