SRI VEERA ANJANEYAR TEMPLE, BHAWA SWAMI AGRAHARAM, THIRUVIYARU, TAMIL NADU...
gk kaushik
Thiruviyaru
Thiruviyaru kshethra got its name because there are five rivers
namely Kaveri, Kudamuruti, Vennaru, Vettaru, Vadavaru are flowing through
this place. Iy means five and aarru means river in Tamil, hence
the name Thiruviyaru. This place is very popular among the lovers of carnatic
music since it is in this kshethra the Saint Thyagaraja spent most of
time and obtained moksha. Saint Thyagaraja is devoted to Lord Rama and
many of his composition are in praise of Lord Rama, and it said that he had
been graced by the dharshan of the Lord himself. Every year on the
Bagula Panchami day the saint's aradhana day is observed, and the entire
leading musician finds it a privilege to participate in the function and sing
the Pancharathna kriti in front of the samathi of this great
saint. It is almost a pilgrimage to all the music lovers to this place during
this time.
Thiruviyaru is thirteen kilometers north of Thanjavur, and 33 kilometers west
of Kumbakonam and can be reached by bus or car.
Iyyarappan
temple
The main temple of this kshethra is that of Lord Siva presiding
over as Iyyarappan (Tamil name) or Panchanathiswar (Sanskrit name) and the
Sakthi is known by the name Dharmasamvarthini. The temple built during Cholas
period is very huge. There are many Nayanmargals who had sung in
praise of this Lord. Lord is Swayambhu and is of mud, hence there is
no abishekam for the Lord. From the southwest corner of the third
prakaram if you spell 'Iyaara' you will be astonish to hear the
same echoing seven times.
Uniqueness of Dharmasamvarthini temple
As in the case of other Siva temples the sannathi for the Ambal is
not in the same compound. Ambal of this kshethra is Dharmasamvarthini
and Her sannathi is in a separate compound abetting the main temple
hence known as Dharmasamvarthini temple. Another unique point to note is that
while in all the Siva temple the Ambal is seen facing Southwards here in this
kshethra she seen facing eastwards.
From these uniqueness of the present Dharmasamvarthini (Dharmambal) temple
and the difference in the construction style and the materials used with that
of the Iyearrapan temple it is said that Dharmasamvarthini Sannathi was
shifted to the present place. Godess Dharmambal is worshiped as a Vishnu
amsa since she holds changu and chakram and on her upper
two hands.
Sri Rama Temple
It is said that Sri Rama temple was in existence at this place where
present Dharmasamvarthini temple is in existence. Small temple for Sri
Anjaneya facing the Lord, in the middle of the Agraharam opposite to this
temple is the testimony for this claim. When Thanjavur was under the Maratha
rule, then queen by name Mohanambal feel in love at the striking beauty of
the Sri Rama and his parivara, of this Sri Rama temple. She decided to
shift this temple to the new town on the southern bank of Kaveri named after
her as 'Panchanatha mohanambal puram'.
Pratapah Simhan and Tulaja II
Thanjavur was under the rule of Maratha king Sri Pratapah Simha during
the period 1739-1763, subsequently by his son Sri Tulaja II. The capital town
of Thajavur was expanding and Pratapah Simha had then taken up development of
the town in a systematic way. During his regime he had built temples and
chatrams (wayside rest houses). Sri Sethu Bhawa Swami was his Guru. He is
instrumental in establishing the Moolai Anjaneyar
temple in Thanjavur the capital town of Sri Pratapah Simha. It is
said that Sri Sethu Bhawa Swami was living in Thiruviyaru, near Iyarappan
temple. The street where the Guruji was staying had been named after him as "Bhawa
Swami Agraharam". The street is opposite to the Dharmasamvarthini temple.
Though it is not known for sure as to who had built the Sri Rama temple, but
the Bhawa Swami Agraharam and the temple for Sri Veera Anjaneya even now
exist.
Sri Veera Anjaneya Temple
The
Veera Anjaneya temple in the Bhawa Swami Agraharam is facing northwest
direction, which is known as Vayu moolai and represented by wind God
Vayu. Sri Anjaneya son of Vayu is seen welcoming His father. In front of the
main sannathi there is a mandapam, which is known as
navagraha mandapam. The arrangement of the mandapam is done in the
same style as the case of positioning of navagrahas. Devotee can offer
his prayer standing below the position of his rasiathipati. There is a
bali peedam and a kodi maram (flag post) in front of the main
sanctum sanatoriums. The kodi maram is covered and there is embossing
of Sri Rama parivar and Sri Anjaneya on each of the sides. Unlike in
other temples there are "naga" installed in all the three sides of the
main temple known as gosta pirai. Another unusual feature is deer had
been installed in the top corners of the temple as dikpalkas.
Sri Veera Anjaneya
The lord stands on a pedestal in the sanctum and could be seen from any
corner of the navagraha mandapam. The idol had been brought from the
banks of river Thungabhadra and is made out of a green stone. The lord here
is seen giving Abhaya to the devotees through His right hand, while
the left hand is seen resting on his left thigh and holding a arrow. His hip
adores a small knife. His eyes are directly glancing the devotees and
bestowing his ever-loving kadaksham on the devotee.
Many devotees had benefited with job, child, and marriage by worshipping the lord. A visit to the temple and dharshan of the Lord is sure to bring peace of mind in our life.
[Ed. June 2007]