| Description:
Tirutturutti is a Shivastalam closely associated with Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. It is
also known as Choleeswaram. There are several shrines in the vicinity and in the temple
complex - Viswanathaswamy Kovil, Agneeswarar Temple, Manmatheswarar Temple, Varunalingam,
Kalyanasundarar etc. Tirutturutti is considered to be the 37th in the
series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the
river Kaveri. Legends: Shiva is said to have recited the Vedas
as a Bhrammachari prior to his marrying Parvati at Tiruvelvikkudi
nearby, hence the name Sonnavaararivar; the name Manavalanathar - on account of his
marrying Parvati. Agni and Varunan said to have been blessed by Shiva here. From Appar's
patikam it is apparent that this shrine was surrounded by the Kaveri; a subsequent change
in the rivers course has caused the shrine to be on its southern bank. Sundarar is
believed to have been relieved of his ailment after a bath in the temple tank here.
The Temple: Maintained with great care by the Dharumapura Aadeenam,
this temple has a Raja Gopuram, two prakarams, with a separate temple for Ambal in the
outer Prakaram.
Terezhundur, Tiruvavaduturai, Tiruvelvikkudi, Tirutturutti, Tirumanancheri and Edirkolpaadi
are the Shivastalams in close proximity, linked together by a common thread covering the
legend of Shivas marriage with Parvati. Parvati is said to have expressed her desire to
Shiva to have the experience of an earthly wedding; Shiva obliged and so she was reborn as
the daughter of Bharata Muni. Shiva emerged from the lingam at Tirutturutti; Bharata Muni
approached Shiva and asked for his hand in marriage to Parvati. The name Sonnavaararivaar
stems from this legend that Shiva kept his word.
This west facing temple covers an area of about an acre. Inscriptions from as early as
Raja Raja Cholan's period are seen here. This temple was rebuilt of stone by the Chola
queen Sembian Mahadevi, who also provided endowments for its upkeep. This temple resembles
that at Konerirajapuram. The niches around the ardhamandapam and the garbagriham contain
images of Vinayakar, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Agastyar, Lingodbhavar, Bhrama,
Bhikshatanar, Ardhanareeswarar and Durga. Another Choleswarar temple nearby dates back to
the days of Vikrama Chola, where Sundays in the month of Kartikai are festival days. The
Omkareswarar temple in Kutralam dates back to the period of Kulottunga III.
Festivals: Five worship services are offered each day. The annual
Bhrammotsavam is observed in the month of Chittirai. Other festivals celebrated here
include Navaratri, Kartikai Deepam, Sivaratri and Skanda Sashti. |
