Aiyarappar temple
Encyclopedia
Aiyarappar temple is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, 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 incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram
Thevaram
Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...

 and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city. The Five Rivers are Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamuruttiyaaru and Kaaviriyaaru.

Location

The temple is located in Tiruvaiyaru(also spelt as Tiruvaiyaru) (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...

: திருவையாறு), a panchayat town in Thanjavur district
Thanjavur District
Thanjavur District is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur.-Geography:...

 in the 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...

n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 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...

. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, 13 km from Thanjavur, Thiruvaaiyaru has an old Shiva temple dedicated to Panchanatheeswar. Though pilgrims flock to this temple throughout the year, Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, comprises the Trinity of Carnatic music
Trinity of Carnatic music
The outstanding group of composer-musicians of Carnatic music which included Tyāgarāja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri, are commonly referred to as the Trinity of Carnatic music....

.

Near the Shiva temple is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed some of his greatest works. On the banks of the river is the samadhi of the saint composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country takes place annually.

The Stately Temple

The vast temple in this town, known as Dakshina Kailasam (Southern abode of Shiva), built in an area of approximately 60000 square meters, boasts of 5 prakarams(closed precincts of a temple) (outer precincts used for religious purposes) and many 'mandapams' (great halls). The Tiruvaiyaru temple has also a shrine for Aatkondar or Kala Samharamoorthy, which is unique in the world. A Homa Kund started by saint Shri Adi Sankara can be found outside the shrine of Aatkonda.

History

Several inscriptions in the temple affiliates the temple to the Cholas
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...

, Pandyas, and other rulers. Karikala Chola
Karikalan
Karikalan can refer to two names:*Karikala Chola, an ancient South Indian emperor*Karikalan , upcoming Tamil film...

, Rajaraja the great, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan
Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan
Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I was king and Lord Emperor of the Pandyan dynasty, ruling regions of Tamilakkam Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I was king and Lord Emperor of the Pandyan dynasty, ruling regions of Tamilakkam Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I was king and Lord Emperor of the Pandyan...

, and Krishna Devarayar
Krishnadevaraya
Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...

 are associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called 'Uttarakailasam' and 'Dakshinakailasam'. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Cholan's queen in the late 10th century who also made several endowments . Dakshinakailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan's queen. Appar, one of the important Nayanmar, was closely associated with this shrine and dedicated one of the songs in 'Thevaram' to this temple..

Saptha Stanam

The sapthasthanam festival is conducted at Tiruvaiyaru during April every year. Hundreds of people witness the convergence of seven glass palanquins carrying principal deities of respective temples from seven places at Tiruvaiyaru. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand, the crowd witnessed the Poochorithal(flower festival) in which a doll offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins left for their respective places.
The seven temples are
Temple Place District
Aiyarappar temple
Aiyarappar temple
Aiyarappar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city...

Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru
-External links:**...

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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:...

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Vedapuriswarar Temple or Vazhaimadunathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thiruvedhikudi near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Appar and Campantar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Legend:The temple is reverred by the hymns...

Thiruvedhikudi
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Thirukkandiyur or Tirukkandiyur is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Tirugnana Sambandar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Legend:...

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Thirukkandiyur
Thirukkandiyur or Tirukkandiyur is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Tirugnana Sambandar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Legend:...

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Pushpavananathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located near Tiruvarur, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Appar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Legend:...

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Tillaistanam or Thiruneithanam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Thillaistanam, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Tirugnana Sambandar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Location:...

Tiruneithaanam
Tillaistanam
Tillaistanam or Thiruneithanam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Thillaistanam, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Tirugnana Sambandar and is classifed as Paadal Petra Sthalam.-Location:...

Thanjavur
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