| Description:
This shrine is associated with Pollaappillayar - who is connected with the legend
regarding the recovery of the Tirumurais from the Chidambaram
temple by Rajaraja Cholan and Nambiyaandaar Nambi. It is
considered to be the 33rd in the series of the Tevara Stalams located
in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri. Nambiyaandaar Nambi:
To Nambiyaandaar Nambi goes the credit of compiling and classifying this collossal
collection of Tamil Tirumurais. He compiled the works of the 3 saints into the 1st through 7th Tirumurais;
Manikkavacakar's Tiruvacakam & Tirukkovaiyar into the 8th. He
included Tiruvisaippaa and Tiruppallaandu in the 9th & Tirumoolar's Tirumantiram
in the 10th. Tirumukhappaasurm and other works were included in the 11th
Tirumurai. With the aid of a descendant of the musical Nilakanta Yaazhpaanar he assigned
and fitted Panns to the Tevaram Hymns, (after worshipping Shiva at Erukkattampuliyur) . Nambi is also credited with several
other literary and devotional works..
Legends: A Naarai (stork), Surya and others are believed to have
worshipped here. Pollaappillaiyaar (formerly PoLLaappillaiyaar - one untouched by a
chisel) is said to have aided the monarch and the devotee in recovering the Tirumurais
hidden in a vault in the Chidambaram Temple.
The Temple: An Ardhachandra Vimanam with 2 kalasams decks this shrine
and a 78 feet high Rajagopuram adorns this temple covering an area of 5.5. Acres.
Nambiandar Nambi's image is also housed here.
Festivals: The Nambiandar Nambi (Vaikasi) festival, sponsored by the
Tiruppanandal Matham witnesses the chanting of the Tirumurais. Other festivals include
Navaratri and Skanda Sashti. Images of Rajaraja Chola and Nambiyaandaar Nambi adorn this
temple. |
