Thiru Kandiyur

To recap from my earlier post on Bitchandar Koil or Uthamar Koil, Shiva was afflicted with Brahmahatti Dosham due to His act of plucking off Brahma’s fifth head.   He was partly absolved of the sin at Bitchandar Koil.  His hunger was satisfied at Bitchandar Koil but Brahma’s skull was still stuck to his palm.  To attain complete absolution of His sin, Vishnu instructed Shiva to worship Him (Vishnu) at Thirukandiyur after a bath in the temple tank.  Shiva went to Thirukandiyur and did accordingly and was absolved of the sin.  The temple tank since then has come to be known as kapala theertham.  In my next post on Brahmapureeswarar temple at Tirupattur, we shall see how Brahma was absolved of His sin.

I can’t resist deviating from the central topic for a short while.  It is to be noted that though Shiva himself is God, He still cannot escape from the effects of His sins.  Time and again, there are several stories in our Puranas, where Gods have had to undergo suffering due to their sins.  The purpose is to stress the doctrine of moral responsibility. It is to imbibe into our mind that like everything else in this universe is governed by law; all things that happen to us also are governed by a law.  Every human being is governed by this law known as ‘Law of Karma”.  The modern Management Gurus have termed this Law as “Law of Cause & Effect”.  Karma is nothing but our actions, thoughts, feelings and emotions.  Our Karmas, are responsible for our past, present, and future experiences. All Karma (our actions, thoughts, feelings and emotions) should have a Karma Palan (reaction).  So, if your Karma is good, it is bound to have good result.  In other words, our thoughts, actions, beliefs, emotions manifest into our experience.  We act only after the thoughts first come to our mind.  All that we are is the result of what we have thought, it is founded on our thoughts, and it is made up of our thoughts. Each individual is what he is because of everything that he thinks, feels and does.  Your thoughts and emotions, no matter how secret they are, have an effect on your circumstances, situations and people around you.  Be aware of your thoughts and emotions as they also have an effect on you.

Thus each one of us is responsible for all the happenings (both Good and Bad) in our lives.  It also means that we can take control of our circumstances and situations by changing the way we think.  Change your thoughts by using positive words in present tense (as though you already are what you want to be) and using positive goals.  Meditate on your goal everyday until you have achieved it.

Coming back to the topic on Thirukandiyur temple, Shiva as an act of gratitude built a temple for Vishnu here and also a temple for himself.  Vishnu is known by the name, Harasaaba Vimochanar, which literally means one who absolved Shiva or Haran of His Sins.  Vishnu’s consort here is Kamalavalli thayar.  Devotees throng the temple seeking atonement for their sins.  Shiva here is known by the name, Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar or one who plucked off Brahma’s head. His consort is Mangala Nayaki. There was a separate temple for Brahma here.  It is now in a dilapidated condition and the idols of Brahma and Saraswati are housed in a separate shrine at the Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar temple.  The postion of the navagraha in this temple is unique.  Suryan is present with His two consorts, Usha & Chaya.  The rest of the navagrahas face Suryan.

This is one of the 108 Divyadesams and also one of the 275 Padal petra sthalams.

The Shiva temple here is one of the Ashta Veeratta sthalams.  The eight temples are as follows

1. Thirukadaiyur

2. Thirukandiyur

3. Thirukkovilur

4. Thiruvadhigai

5. Thirupparaiyur

6. Thiruvirkudi

7. Vazhuvur

8. Thirukkurakkai

In the Tamil month of Vaikasi the act of Shiva punishing Brahma is enacted.

Nandi’s marriage took place at Thirumazhapadi near here.  As per the Hindu marriage ritual the couple goes around the ceremonial fire seven times.  Shiva took the newly wed couple to seven Shiva temples around Thiruvaiyar.  These seven temples are known as saptha sthanams.  This group of temples is very close to each other and can be covered in one session.  In the tamil month of Chittirai, the Deity (Utsavar) of Thiruvaiyar is carried on a palanquin to all these temples.  This is a very important festival in these temples around Thiruvaiyar.  These seven temples to be visited in order as follows:

1. Thiruvaiyaru

2. Thiruchotruthurai

3. Thiruvedikudi

4. Thirupponduruthi

5. Thillaisthanam

6. Kandiyur

7. Thiruppazhanam

Location

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Thirukandiyur is about 10 kms from Tanjore on the way to Thiruvaiyar.  Thirukandiyur is about 2 Kms from Thiruvaiyar.  There are frequent buses from Tanjore and Thiruvaiyar.

Click here for the map

Temple Timings:

Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar Temple – 8AM to 12 Noon and 4.00  PM to 8 PM

Hara Saba Vimochanar Temple – 8 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 8 PM

Temples addresses:

Arulmigu Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar Koil

Thirukandiyur

Thirukandiyur Post

Via Thiruvaiyar

Tanjore District

Pin: 613 202

Arulmigu Hara Saba Vimochanar Koil

Thirukandiyur

Thirukandiyur Post

Via Thiruvaiyar

Tanjore District

Pin: 613 202

Priest at Hara Saba Vimochanar Temple: Sriram Bhattar +919865302750