Friday, July 7, 2017

Muktheeswarar Temple, Sethalapathy, Thiruvarur

Muktheeswarar Temple, Sethalapathy, Thiruvarur
Muktheeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Sethalapathy in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Mathi Muktheeswarar / Thilathaimathimukthar / Mutheesar / Mandara Vaneswarar with his consort Goddess Porkodinayaki / Suvarnnavalli / Marakathavalli. Sthala Vriksham is Mandaram. Theerthams associated with this temple are Brahma Theertham, Arasalaru and Chandra Theertham. In India 7 places are considered as special or important place for performing Last Rites. They are Kasi, Rameswaram, Gaya, Thiriveni Sangamam, Srivanchiyam, Thiruvengadu and Thilatharpanpuri.  





The important deity of this temple is “Nara Mukha Ganapathy” in a separate shrine at the entrance of the temple. This Vinayaga has a human face here and nowhere can we see Vinayaga in this form. Normally we know Vinayaga only with Elephant Head, but in this temple, Lord Vinayaga is seen with Human Head and called as "Adhi Vinayagar". Hence the temple is known by Nara Ganapathi rather than by the main deity’s name in recent times.





It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 175th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 58th Sthalam on south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place is also called as Thiruthilathaipathi / Sethalapathy / Thilatharpanpuri / Mukthi Sthalam.






Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Opening Time
This temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 12.00 PM in the morning and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM in the evenings.
Festivals
The Aadhi Vinayagar temple is famous for monthly Sangada Hara Chaturthi festival. Maha Shivaratri, Masi Makam, Thiru Karthikai, Panguni Uthiram, Aippasi Annabishekam and Arudra Dharisanam are the other festivals celebrated here with much fanfare.
Literary Mention
Tirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This is the 175th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 58th Sthalam on south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Saint Arunagirinathar sung praising the glories of Lord Subramanya in this temple.
Tirugnanasambandar the feature of the deity as:
புரவியேழும் மணிபூண் டியங்குங்கொடித் தேரினான்
பரவிநின்று வழிபாடு செய்யும்பர மேட்டியூர்
விரவிஞாழல் விரிகோங்கு வேங்கைசுர புன்னைகள்
மரவமவ்வல் மலருந் திலதைம் மதிமுத்தமே.
Contact
Muktheeswarar Temple,
Sethalapathy, Thiruvarur District
Phone: +91 – 4366 – 238 818 / 239 700
Mobile: +91 – 94427 14055
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Koothanur, 7 Kms from Thirumeyachur, 11 Kms from Thiruveezhimizhalai, 12 Kms from Thirupampuram, 3 Kms from Poonthottam, 7 Kms from Peralam, 17 Kms from Thirukkannapuram, 23 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 23 Kms from Thiruvarur and 130 Kms from Trichy. One should take the Mayiladuthurai - Thiruvarur bus route and get down at Poonthottam village. From here one has to take Eravancheri bus route for 3 Kms where this temple is situated at west or get down at Koothanur Saraswathy Temple, from there the temple is located at about 3 Kms. Autos are available from Koothanur and Poonthottam. Nearest Railway Station is located at Poonthottam and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.