|
Of
the temples many lying on the sacred bank of Cauvery, the
Thiagarajaswamy Tirukkovil at Tiruvaiyur merits ardent mention and
indispensable adoration. It has many plus points. This is the sacred
scene of Saptasthanamam, where the annual festival is celebrated on
a grand scale in the month of Chitrai; it is here was born
Thyagaraja, the world famous saint-musician, who is deemed the most
adorable to the vocalists of Karnataka music, for trailing a blaze
of non-pareil of eminence on the pages of musicology, it is here
Tirunavukkarasar, one of the Saiva Samayacharyas rose up from the
holy temple tank, when plunged into a Himalayan pond on his way to
Kailas; it is this holy temple visited by many great sages, like
Agastya, and who on jumping into this temple Pushkarini reached
Kailas; it is this sacred place enjoying the unique honour of being
called the Cauvery kottam; and it is in this temple found Japesa
Mantapam that witnessed the Bhagavadaaradhana activities throughout
the year and finally it is the seat of Thyagarajaswamy, one of the
many hallowed names of Lord Siva. This temple is fairly a big one
with imposing towers and sturdy prakaras, vast courtyards, and
several mini-shrines. The Moolavar is adored with Saivagama rituals
with great zeal. In addition to the Sivalinga, the images in
standing posture elate and join the hands of the visitors. The
eyeful decoration of the archamurtis lift the souls and bends the
heads. It contains in its vast compound the sacred Pushkarini of
great fame. This
was visited in many luminaries both Saivate and Vaishnavate bhaktas
since time immemorial.
This
is the birth place of Thyagabrahma, the supreme singer among the
Trio of the Karnataka music, and his Samadhi lying on the bank of
river is regarded as the EL Dorado of the musicians.
It is 15 km off Tanjore enjoying rail and road facilities.
|
