SREE UMAMAHESWARAR KONERIRAJAPURAM NEAR KUMBAKONAM

SREE UMAMAHESWARAR KONERIRAJAPURAM NEAR KUMBAKONAM

Sree Umamaheswarar temple in Konerirajapuram is famous for its Natrajar Panchaloga idol (ஐம்பொன்) and this is the biggest idol of that type.   The idol also represents one of the Kalyana Kolams and this appears to be the one for Panigrahanam where the Lord, main deity Sree Umamaheswarar faces West as we enter the inner praharam and the goddess Arulvalanayaki faces east in a separate sanndhi with an entrance from the outer prahara.

I went to the temple at 8.10 am itself on 6th October 2019  and I was told by some of the employees there who were cleaning the premises, that the Gurukkal will arrive only at 9 AM, and he comes from Thiruneelakkudi.  The yongster Bharanidharan did arrive at 9 AM and was very helpful in asking those who had assembled whether they would like to see the Abhishekam and was also explaining the thala purana.  His younger brother is the one performing pooja in the Ambal and Vaitheeswaran sannidhi.

In the inner prahara is a major mandapam in which deities have been arranged along the walls of east, west, north and south.   Immediate as you enter, to the left is the Lingam, Valli Devayanai sametha Subrmanyar and Lakshmi on a raised platform facing east and adjacent is the sannidhi as an enclosure, the Panchaloga Natarajar and consort facing South give Dharshan.  The outer walls of the Umamaheswarar sannidhi and eastern part of the prahara facing west is Saneeswarar, Durgai, Bhairavar and Surian.    On the Southern walls of the inner prahara are the 3 paintings of Goddess as Mahishasuramardhini and kali.  Adjacent to the paintings and facing east is the Lingam prayed by navagrahas and navagrahas.   Sani Bhagavan is facing West here and the colour of the cloth adorned by him here is white and not black.  Nalan and Damayanti worshipped him here before going to the Thirunallar.

At the centre of Inner prahara is the entrance leading the main deity sree Umamaheswarar which is a gigantic linga.  He is also known as Sree Mamani Easwarar and Sree Bhoominathar.   He is around 4 1/2 feet in height.

Cheranmadevi the Queen of Kandarathithan Chola and grandmother of Rajaraja Chola  built this temple.  She replaced the temple built with bricks with granite.  As for the Nataraja idol, Legend has it that King Varaguna Pandian wanted to make a huge Natarja Idol and he asked his sthapathy to do it with a time frame.    Though the sthapathi tried to do his best, he could not a make an idol with the required height and he failed in many attempts and was frustrated.  He prayed to Lord Siva to help him complete the required vigraha and within the time specified by the King, as the King had told that he would be beheaded if he did not complete the idol.   Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi disguised as an old couple, came to the Sthapathi and asked for water to drink.   In frustration, the Sthapathi asked the couple to drink the molten metal meant for the idol.  The couple did drink the molten metal and became the Nataraja idol of 7 1/2 feet with excellent features.  When the King was told, he did not believe the Sthapathy and banged the idol with his sword and blood started coming out from the place where the King had hit.  King prayed the Lord for forgiveness.  

Ashtadikpalakas worshipped here and they have a place in the Vimana of the temple
Ambal here facing east is known by the name Angavalanayaki, Thegasoundari and Mangalanayaki.

King Pururavan who was affected by Leprosy prayed here for cure and god in the form of Lord Vaithyanathar blessed him and he got cured.  The Vaithyanathar Sannidhi is in the outer prakaram.  The prayers of King Pururava is as in the slab on the wall of the temple is given below:

There is one more slab also in the temple wall about the stothram on the Lord of this temple by Bhoodevi.

It was navarathri time and there was Golu in the temple in the sannidhi of the Goddess Angavalanayaki.

Entrance to temple and one of the views of the temple from inside as seen from outer prakara:

There are two paintings on the entrance wall of the temple, one depicting the British Officials being invited, reasons not known and the other as told by the temple authorities is on the story of Poonthottam.  I had taken the photos of them.

Thirugnanasambandar (திருஞானசம்பந்தர்) sang on this temple and one of the pathigam is given below:

கல்லால் நிழல் மேய கறைசேர் கண்டா என்று
எல்லா மொழியாலும் இமையோர் தொழுது ஏத்த
வில்லால் அரண் மூன்றும் வெந்து விழவெய்த
நல்லான் நமை ஆள்வான் நல்லம் நகரானே

Reaching the place is a little difficult as one has to be take a turn from Pudur into narrow lanes.  But it is easier to know one has to follow the Vadamattam route from Pudur.

Temple timings:

06.30 AM - 12.00 Noon 

04.30 PM - 08.30 PM.

(As mentioned the Gurukkal who resides in Thiruneelakkudi arrived at 9 am only when I had darshan).

Temple Address

Sri Uma Maheswarar Swamy Temple,
Thirunallam (Konerirajapuram),
Mayiladuthurai Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu – 612201.
Tele: +91 94865 10515, 435-2449830 and 2449800.