Satchinathar, Avalivanallur, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Satchinathar	Ambal / Thayar:	Soundara Nayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	TiruavaLivanallur
Vriksham:	Pathiri	Teertham:	Chandra Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	6.30 to 11.30 & 4 to 7	Parikaram:	Eyesight
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar, Appar	Temple set: Pancha Aranya Kshetram 1
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Avalivanallur	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (18.6 km)	Thanjavur (26.9 km)
	Tiruvarur (40.7 km)	Ariyalur (54 km)

Location

Availvanallur is located south of Kumbakonam, and about 12km east of Alangudi.

Sthala puranam and temple information

This is one of the Pancha Aranya Kshetrams (or five forest temples) near Kumbakonam, and according to sthalam puranam, the recommended route is to start a pilgrimage in the morning, and visit the 5 temples on the same day, in the following order (for pujas): Tirukarukavur (ushatkala puja, early morning), Avalivanallur (kalasandhi puja, morning), Haridwaramangalam (uchikala puja, midday), Alangudi (sayaratchai, evening) and Tirukollampudur (arthajamam, night). However, in today’s terms, these temples are within a total driving distance of about 36km, and can quite easily be completed in about 4-5 hours, including the temple visit time.

A temple priest who was a devotee of Lord Siva, got married to a good-looking girl and left for Kasi to pray to Lord Siva. When he was away his wife was affected by smallpox and lost her eyesight. Her younger sister who was equally good-looking, came to nurse her during the illness. The devotee returned after completing all the rituals but refused to accept the sick girl as his wife, instead stating that the sister was in fact his wife. The sick girl prayed to Lord Siva fervently to save her from the situation. On hearing her plea, Lord Siva appeared with Parvathi and explained to the devotee that the sick girl was the real wife and the sister was not. The Lord also advised the wife to bathe in the temple tank on the Amavasya (new moon) day in the Tamil month of Thai (January-February), which she did, and regained her beauty. Since the Lord stood witness for the wife, he is called Satchinathar (Satchi / Sakshi in Tamil means witness).

Those with skin diseases and poor eyesight are advised to pray here to get relief from their conditions.

Lord Vishnu prayed here to obtain Lord Siva’s pardon for digging the earth near the latter’s feet at Haridwaramangalam.

Sage Kashyapa, Sage Agastyar, Sage Kanva, Suryan, and Murugan have prayed here.

Sambandar and Appar have visited and sung here.