Thiru Thinai Nagar

Thiru Thinai Nagar (216/276)

Name	Thiru Thinai Nagar
Other Name	OmKaara Puri Desapiratham Gnanapiratham Theertha Nagari
Vernacular Name	Theerthanagiri
District	Cuddalore
State	Tamilnadu
Devaram	Sundarar
Position	Nadu Nadu
Presiding deity	Shiva
God	Shiva Kozhundeeshwarar Shivangareshwarar Thiruntheeswarar Pranavapureeswarar
Goddess	Karunthadan Kanni Oppila Nayaki Neelayadaskhi Ilankompanaal Neelathalambigai Pranavapuresswari
Speciality	Yoga Dakshina Moorthy Lord Nataraja dancing to the music of Lord Vishnu’s conch and the beats of Lord Brahma’s drums.
Sthala Vriksham	Sara Kondrai (Cassia fistula)
Theertham	Jambuva Thadaagam Gowri Theertham Garuda Theertham (Perumal Lake) Deva Theertham (Bay of Bengal)
Worshipped by	Lord Vishnu, Garuda, Sage Bringi, Sage Jambavan, King Visuba Niruban and King Veerasenan
Temple timings	7AM to 12PM 5PM to 8PM
Contact details	9443434024

LORE:

What is the Lore of the temple?

The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva Kozhundeeshwarar and His Devi is Karunthadan Kanni.

Why does the Sthalam go by the name of “Thiru Thinai Nagar”?

There once lived an agriculturist called Periyan, in these lands, who along with his wife was an ardent Shiv Bhakt. The couple always used to offer food to a Shiva devotee before consuming their meal. One day, The Lord decided to play with them. He stopped all His devotees from going to the Periyan’s home for food. A frantic Periyan then went to his fields in search of field workers to offer food. Surprisingly, he found the fields were deserted too. He was in a fix. He prayed to The Lord that no hindrance should happen to his deed of feeding Shiv Bhakts.

Then, The Lord assumed the form of an old man and came to the fields asking for food. Periyan was overjoyed. He was ready to offer food to the mendicant. But the old man refused alms saying that he wanted to work for his keep. Reluctantly, Periyan agreed and asked him to plough the fields. The bodach agreed and started ploughing the fields. Meanwhile, Periyan rushed home to meet his wife and share with her the good news of finding a devotee to offer food. They returned to the field with food from their home to offer for the old man.

They were in for a surprise. The freshly sown millet seeds had fully grown into crops full of grain, ready for harvest. They were convinced that this was by divine intervention. Not wanting to keep the old man waiting, they served him the food from their home, under the Cassia tree. The old man ate to His heart’s content. After the old man finished His meal, Periyan asked Him “How did all the crops grow to this extent”. The Lord, who had come in the form of the old man simply laughed and vanished. He then gave the couple, who were His sincere devotees, His “Rishabarooda Darisanam” from the sky and granted them salvation.

The crops that were harvested due to the Lord’s grace were millets. Everything, right from the sowing of the seeds to harvesting the grains, happened in the same day. Hence, the shrine got the name as “Thiru Thinai Nagar” (Thinai = Millets)

What is the alternate rendering of the tale?

In an alternate version, Periyan was said to have been a big landlord, who had lost a majority of his wealth by feeding hungry Shiv Bhakts. He had then become an impoverished farmer, sowing millets in the field. The Lord came in the form of an old man and asked for food to Periyan, who immediately gave the millet seeds in his hand, for the old man to eat. He rushed home and told his wife that there is a hungry devotee in their fields who had asked for food.

The wife then did the unthinkable. The grains intended for sowing (Vidhai Dhaaniyam) are considered of utmost importance and are not touched even in times of desperate need. But, in order to appease the hunger of the Shiv Bhakt, the wife instantly cooked the “Vidhai Dhaaniyam” and took it to the fields to feed the old man.

To their surprise, Periyan and his wife found that the seeds which were just sown were all full grown and ready for harvest. The rest of the story is the same as the previously rendered one.

What are the specialities of the shrine?

Lord Vishnu is said to have defeated the demon Murasuran, after praying to the Lord Shiva Kozhundeeshwarar, at this shrine. (Lord Vishnu is called as “Murari” as he defeated the demon Mura)

Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu, had prayed to The Lord here and had brought the “Amudham”, the nectar of The Gods, to his mother Vinatha.

Sage Bringi was once cursed by Sage Durvasa. He had come here and did penance for 30 days and had got reprieved of the curse at this shrine.

Sage Jambavan (in the form of a Bear) is said to have absolved himself of his karma, by bathing in the Jambuva Thadaagam.

Visuba Niruban, the king of Bengal, had heard about the sanctity of this shrine and had come here and offered his prayers. He was relieved of his Brahma Hathi Dosham at this shrine.

Veerasenan, the son of Visuba Niruban, the king of Bengal, was afflicted with Leucoderma (Venn Kushtam). He had come to this shrine and was resting under the canopy of the trees. His dog, who also had leukoderma took a dip in the Jambuva Thadaagam and got relieved of the ailment. The king also did the same and was relieved of the skin condition. He is said to have renovated the temple with his resources. There is as statue of the king, besides the Four Saiva Samaya Kuravargal, in the temple complex.

Thiru Thinai Nagar has been specially mentioned in one of the literary works by the Saint Agathiyar called as “Shiva Rahasyam”.

The lingam in the sanctum sanctorum is said to be a “Swayambhu”. The lingam had originated from the earth and its base was not reached even after 100 feet of digging in the depths. The Lingam is considered to be the summit of a hillock that is buried underground.

Our Experience:

We had planned a short trip of two temples on our way to Chennai from Chidambaram and decided on two temples enroute to Chennai along the east coast. Thiru Thinai Nagar (216/276) is midway between Chidambaram and Cuddalore.

We reached the temple around 10AM and as usual the priest was not available, and the sanctum sanctorum was locked. Luckily, the temple gate keeper opened the shrines for us.

The temple is located in a serenely green locale and the three-tiered Raja Gopuram welcomes us. The flag post is fully covered with a copper plate, engraved on all sides with beautiful sculptures.

In front of the Pradosha Nandi, is a window with 35 holes, through which sunlight falls on the main deity once a year, during the second week of April. Lord Shiva Kozhundeeshwarar is housed in a 12 pillared Mandapam, with each of the pillars symbolising a sign from the zodiac.

The Idol of Lord Nataraja is very unique in this shrine as one can see Lord Vishnu playing the conch and Lord Brahma playing the drums, on the peedams of The dancing Lord.

Lord Dakshina Moorthy is seated with both His legs folded like a yogi. This is said to symbolise the event of The Lord eating the food cooked by Periyan and his wife, under the Cassia tree, with folded legs. The demon Muyalagan, who is usually seen beneath the feet of the Lord is also strikingly absent.

In the outer Prahaaram, we see the Cassia tree under which The Lord is said to have had food offered by Periyan and his wife. There is a Shiv Ling there too. The casket and the plough used by The Lord to till the farm are still held in the temple premises. The Sthala Puranam is seen engraved in the panels, in the outer Prahaaram.

The temple is a testimony to the architectural prowess of the ancient era. This can be understood from the intricate carvings on the walls and the pillars, the provision of holes in the window pelmets to hang curtains, the engraving of the Brahma Mudichu in the Nandi, the single stone granite window with 35 holes through which sunlight enters and falls on the deity and a cheekily crafted statue of a man, wearing a slaked shirt and a shorts, in the tower of the sanctum sanctorum (symbolising the entry of firangs).

We had a hearty darisanam and went about onward to the next temple for the day Thiru Chopuram (217/276)

Loads of love,

Karthick and Rahul.