Abatsahayeswarar, Thenkurangaduthurai, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Abatsahayeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	PavaLakkodiammai
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	TiruthenkurangaDuthurai
Vriksham:	Pavazhamalli	Teertham:	Sakaya Teertham, Surya Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	6 to 12 & 4.30 to 8.30	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar, Appar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Thenkurangaduthurai	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (14.6 km)	Mayiladuthurai (23.4 km)
	Tiruvarur (38.4 km)	Thanjavur (56.3 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

In the Ramayanam, during a fight with Vali, Mayavi hid himself in a cave, and Vali followed him. After a long time, thinking that Vali had perished, Sugreeva closed the mouth of the cave. Eventually Vali came out, suspected that Sugreeva did his act intentionally in order to capture the kingdom, and so fought with Sugreeva. Unable to overcome Vali, Sugreeva prayed to Lord Siva here, who came to his rescue in his time of need and hid Vali in a cluster of Parijatam (pavazhamalli) plants.

Hara Datta was a devout Vaishnavite, but was also a Siva worshipper. He would regularly pray at the Kanjanoor sapta sthanam temples in the area, comprising Aduthurai (this temple), Kanjanoor, Tiruvalangadu, Tiruvavaduthurai, Tirumangalakudi, Tirumandurai and Tirukodikkaa. One day he was returning from this temple, when it started to rain heavily and got so dark that he could not see. He prayed to Siva, and then saw an old man with came up to him and asked Hara Datta to follow him. Once Hara Datta reached home, the old man disappeared. Hara Datta realized immediately that the old man was none other than Lord Siva.

In another legend that is similar to the one at Thayumanavar swami temple of Trichy, a pregnant woman could not return home after worshipping here, due to heavy rain. She also developed labour pains at that time, and so prayed to Siva for help. The Lord, in the guise of a midwife, helped her safely deliver her child, and took her home and gave comfort to her worried parents. When they asked the midwife where she was from, she replied that she was from nearby Maruthuvakudi (which did not exist at that time, but the place has since been named so after this legend; in fact, Aduthurai is also often referred to as Maruthuvakudi).

The Lord is called Abatsahayeswarar as He is one who helps those in distress, as per the puranams above.

Once, Hanuman was singing so melodiously that Narada lost himself in the music, and also forgot his tambura. Annoyed, he cursed Hanuman to lose his musical talent. Hanuman got his singing skills back after worshipping Siva here.

Aduthurai is the current name of the place, whose ancient names include Thenkurangaduthurai, Tiraimur Nadu and Bhupalakulavalli. Thurai usually refers to a place on the banks of a river. This place is located by the Veeracholan river, which splits from the Kaveri – effectively on the southern bank of the Kaveri. In the olden days, since monkeys were found in abundance here, and Rama had worshipped here on his way to Lanka, the place was called Kurangaduthurai. There are two places named Kurangaduthurai on the banks of the Kaveri river. This place on the southern side of Kaveri is called Then Kurangaduthurai, while the other is Vadakurangaduthurai, on the northern bank, and is home to the Dayanidheeswarar Paadal Petra Sthalam temple.

Sage Agastyar installed a Swarna Bhairavar at this temple. Swarna means gold, and so this temple is linked to the Akshayanatha Swami temple at Tirumandurai, which is another Kanjanoor sapta sthanam temples where Hara Datta worshipped, and has a carving of Hara Datta on a pillar in the Amman shrine there.

Siva also performed the Ananda tandavam for the benefit of Agastyar here.

The Navagraham shrine here is unique, where all Navagrahams face Suryan.

Arunagirinathar has sung about Murugan in his Tiruppugazh, at this temple.

While this is mainly a Chola temple – said to have been built by Sembian Madevi – there are inscriptions here that refer to both the Chola and Pandya kings making contributions to the temple and its construction and renovation.