Thirunavukarasar Thevaaram Nyanam

Thirumurai 4.75

4. உடம்பெனு மனைய கத்து வுள்ளமே தகளி யாக
மடம்படு முணர்நெய் யட்டி யுயிரெனுந் திரிம யக்கி
இடம்படு ஞானத் தீயா லெரிகொள விருந்து நோக்கில்
கடம்பமர் காளை தாதை கழலடி காண லாமே.

in the house which is the body.
having the heart as the hollow of the lamp into which oil is poured pouring the ghee of the limited knowledge of the soul acquired by the senses which is combined with ignorance.
fixing the wick which is life if one meditates burning the lamp with the fire of the extensive spiritual wisdom, without any other activity of the mind.
one can obtain a vision of the feet wearing Kalal of Civan who is the father of the youth, Murukan, who is partial to the Katampa tree.

Thirumurai 4.76

2. மெய்ம்மையா முழவைச் செய்து விருப்பெனும் வித்தை வித்திப்
பொய்ம்மையாங் களையை வாங்கிப் பொறையெனு நீரைப் பாய்ச்சித்
தம்மையு நோக்கிக் கண்டு தகவெனும் வேலி யிட்டுச்
செம்மையு ணிற்ப ராகிற் சிவகதி விளையு மன்றே.

doing the ploughing which is truth.
sowing the seeds of love.
removing the weeds of false-hood.
irrigating the field with water of forbearance.
realising self by turning the wisdom internally and seeing god.
constructing the fence of impartiality to protect the crop.
if they are steady in the right conduct.
eternal bliss will be produced.

திருவன்னியூர்

Greatness of Temple

The shrine for the four saivite saints known as Nalvar is in the front mandap.  Ambica shrine is on the right.  Presiding Lord shrine is just opposite.  Dwarapalakas are sculpted in stone.  Sculptures of Saint Appar, Agni, Gowri, a Shivalinga, milking Kamadenu, Vrushabaruda are in line on the walls of sanctum sanctorum.

Mother Parvathi performed penance here to be born as daughter of sage Katyayana and to have the hand of the hand of Lord in wedding.  Lord appeared before Mother Parvathi and married Her in Tiruvezhi Mizhalai.  Hence, this place is considered as an ideal place of worship for removal of obstacles in marriage matters.  Those suffering from blood pressure and heat related ailments bathe in the theertha in the temple and offer a preparation made of wheat as nivedhana.  Those facing delays in their building works, bring seven bricks to the temple so that the construction goes without delay.  Of the Panchamurthis in the temple, the Somaskanda Murthi looks very beautiful.

Temple History

Daksha while performing a yajna, intentionally avoided Lord Shiva and invited others to participate in the yajna.  Agni is one among those attended the yajna.  For attending a yajna to humiliate Lord Shiva, Agni was punished by Badrakali and Veerabadra and had to bear their curse.  Agni could not attend any yajna then with his curse.  This resulted in the failure of monsoon creating drought.  Agni came to this place, worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved of his curse.  As Agni worshipped here, Lord is praised as Agnipureeswarar and the sacred spring Agni Theertham.  

Thirumurai 5.26

3. ஞானங் காட்டுவர் நன்னெறி காட்டுவர்
தானங் காட்டுவர் தம்மடைந் தார்க்கெலாம்
தானங் காட்டித்தன் தாளடைந் தார்கட்கு
வானங் காட்டுவர் போல்வன்னி யூரரே.

Civan in vanniyur.
will show the way to spiritual wisdom will show the way to obtain it.
will show the place to obtain it, for those who approached him.
will show heaven and the rule over it, for those who approached his feet by showing the place.

திருச்சோற்றுத்துறை

Greatness of Temple 

As the very name of the Lord Chottruthurai Nathar suggests, Lord not only offers adequate food to His devotees but it also means that He ensures total salvation to the souls.  The place, Tiru Chottru Thurai is one among the seven places where Lord fed His devotees.  This is the third among the Ezhur-seven places beginning from Tiruvaiyaru, Tirupazhanam.  Saints Ramalinga Vallalar and Arunagiriar had praised this temple in their hymns.   Lords Brahmma and Vishnu, Sage Gautama, Sun God and Indira worshipped Lord in this temple.  Indira got a highest position.  Sage Gautama attained salvation. 

The wedding festival of Nandhi Bahagwan and Suyam Prakasai daughter of Sage Vyakrapada is celebrated on the Punarvasu star day in the month of Panguni-March-April.

Brahmmotsavam is celebrated for Lord Aiarappar in Chithirai-April-May.  On the final day of the festival, Nandideva-Suyam Prakasai and Aiyarappar-Aramvalartha Nayaki begin their festival journey in separate palanquins from Tiruvaiyaru at about 6.00 a.m. and reach Tirupazhanam where they are received by Lord Aabathsahayar and Mother Periyanayaki.  They join the group and proceed to Tiruchottruthurai.  They are received at the border by Lord Chottruthurai Nathar and Mother Annapoorani.  Feeding takes place here.  The procession continues towards Tiruvedikudi.

Entering the temple, a vast prakara welcomes the devotee. Southeast of this prakara is the Shrine of Mother Ambica facing east.  She is praised Oppilambikai and Annapoorani.  As Lord Shiva-Chottruthurai Nathar is pouring endless wealth on His devotees, He worshipped as Tholaya Selvar.  Mother Annapoorani is half of Shiva taking all care of Her devotees.  Poverty and ailments vanish from those who place themselves at Her feet.

Lord Vinayaka and Lord Muruga are on the two sides of Rajagopuram.  Next is the large Mandap with Lord Nataraja Sabha, leading directly to the sanctum sanctorum.  Lord Arumugha’s shrine is on the south prakara facing east and shrine of Lord Mahavishnu facing east followed by a sculpture depicting Sage Gautama worshipping the Lord.  Proceeding further after worshipping Adhikara Nandhi we have the darshan of Tholaya Selvar-Chottruthurai Nathar.

Temple History

Once, a severe famine struck the place.  A Shiva devotee, Arulalan by name, men, women and children were suffering from starvation.  Arulalan cried to Lord that He should come to rescue the people to save them from starvation deaths.  The priest  stopped coming to the temple long back.  A temple staff coming to light a lamp in the evening also fell down due to hunger.  The temple was dark.  Arulalar, sitting in the dark temple wept and dashed against the entrance steps and cried for help.  It suddenly began to rain incessantly and the whole place was inundated with flood water. 

A bowl came floating in floods.  Arulalar picked it up.  He heard a voice saying that it was a Akshaya Patra which will never go dry and would be feeding the people to quench their hunger.  Rice, dal, ghee and curry poured from the divine bowl.  People’s joy knew no bounds.

Thirumurai 5.33

2. முத்தி யாக வொருதவஞ் செய்திலை
அத்தி யாலடி யார்க்கொன் றளித்திலை
தொத்து நின்றலர் சோற்றுத் துறையர்க்கே
பத்தி யாய்ப்பணி செய்மட நெஞ்சமே.

ignorant mind!
you have not done even a little of penance to attain salvation.
you have not given to Civan`s devotees anything with love.
Do service at least hereafter with piety only to Civan in Corruturai where in the gardens bunches of flowers blossom in all seasons.

Thirumurai 5.32

1. கொடிகொள் செல்வ விழாக்குண லைஅறாக்
கடிகொள் பூம்பொழிற் கச்சியே கம்பனார்
பொடிகள் பூசிய பூந்துருத் திந்நகர்
அடிகள் சேவடிக் கீழ்நா மிருப்பதே.

Ekampanar in Kacci which has fragrant flower garden, and never-ceasing bustle due to shouting and dancing, in the flourishing festivals where the flag is hoisted in temples.
we stay under the lotus red feet of Civan who besmears himself with sacred ash and who is in the city of Punturutti.

Thirumurai 5.37

3. ஞான மாகிய நன்குண ரானையார்
ஊனை வேவ வுருக்கிய வானையார்
வேன லானை யுரித்துமை யஞ்சவே
கான லானைகண் டீர்கட வூரரே.

Civan is like the elephant which has well understood which is called spiritual knowledge.
flaying the elephant which had become emaciated by the hot summer, to make Umai frightened.
Civan in Katavur is the elephant that does not live in the forest.
is the elephant who melted the body to transform it as love itself.