| Description:
This Shivastalam is located near Tiruppugalur and
the Vaishnava Divya Desam Tirukkannapuram and is also known as Ganapateeswaram. There are
several features of interest and several colorful legends here. Shiva's dance here is
referred to as Ubayapaadanarthanam. Sirutonda Nayanar is associated with this shrine.
It is considered to be the 79th in the series of Tevara Stalams in
the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. Tiruchenkaattankudi
is the site of one of the nine Nava - tandavams of Shiva Tiruvalangadu-Oordvatandavam,
Kailasam-Veda Tandavam, Tiruvenkadu-Rahasyatandavam, Chidambaram-Ananda
Tandavam, Madurai-Kaal Maari Aadiyadu, Kumbhakonam-Aadalvallar Tandavam, Vazhuvur-Dharukavana Tandavam, Atikai - Tripura Tandavam, and Tiruchenkaattankudi
- Ubayapaadanartanam.
Legends: Ganapati is said to have prayed to Shiva here to seek
atonement for the sin of having killed Gajamukhasuran, hence the name Ganapateeswaram. The
demon's blood flowed to create the reddened land, Chenkaadu. Shiva Bhairava is said to
have killed Raktabheejan & other demons here.
This temple occupies an area of about 2 acres. A five tiered
rajaopuram adorns the entrance. The Vaataapi Ganapati temple (in commemoration of the
expedition to Vaaataapi the Chalukyan capital) was raised by Sirutonda Nayanar and the
then Pallava Emperor. Utharapateeswarar represents the Bhikshandakar manifestation of
Shiva. There is an image of Vinayaka with a human face here in this temple.
Festivals: Six worship services are offered here each day. Navaratri,
Sivaratri, Skanda Sashti and Kartikai Deepam are celebrated here; so is the Amudhu Padayal
festival in the month of Chittirai. ; Vinayaka Chaturthi is also celebrated with great
pomp here. |
