Achaleswarar, Arur Araneri, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Achaleswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Vandarkuzhali, Achaleswari
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tiruvarur Araneri
Vriksham:	Pathiri	Teertham:	Sangu Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	5 to 12 & 4 to 9	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	, Appar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Arur Araneri	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Tiruvarur (1.7 km)	Nagapattinam (29 km)
	Kumbakonam (41.3 km)	Mayiladuthurai (44 km)

Location

This temple is located inside the Tiruvarur Thyagaraja temple complex, as a separate shrine.

Sthala puranam and temple information

There are three Siva temple complexes that each have two separate Paadal Petra Sthalams inside them – Tirupugalur (Agneeswarar and Vartamaneswarar), Tirumeyachur (Meghanthar and Sakalabuvaneswarar), and Tiruvarur (Thyagarajar and Achaleswarar). This shrine is located in the Agni moolai (southeast) part of the Thyagarajar temple complex (when entering from the eastern entrance, the shrine is immediately on the left).

Naminandi Adigal was a staunch devotee of Lord Siva and one of the 63 Nayanmars. When he visited this shrine, the saw the lamps about to go off due to lack of oil/ghee in them. As he lived far away, he approached the neighbouring houses for oil to keep the lamps lit. The neighbours, being of a different faith, ridiculed him, saying if his God was so great, He could make the lamps burn with water. A disappointed Adigal went back to the temple and cried in front of the Lord, who appeared to him and asked him to fetch water from the temple tank. When Adigal did so, and used it in place of ghee, the lamps shone brighter than ever before. Hearing of this incident and Adigal’s devotion, the Chola king made Adigal the head of the temple’s administration, and made over several grants in favour of this temple.

Seruthunai Nayanar once cut off the nose of the queen, for smelling the fragrant garland kept for Lord Siva’s worship. The queen cried out, and the king Kazharsingar (later, Kadavarkon Kazharsingar Nayanar) who was another devout Saivite, inquired as to what had happened. When informed, he gave the queen the additional punishment of cutting off the hand that picked up the garland. Finally, the Lord intervened, blessed all of them and also restored the queen’s nose and hand.

It is believed that the vimanam of the Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar temple (and consequently, Gangaikonda Chola Puram Brihadeeswarar temple and Darasuram Airavateswarar temple) is based on the vimanam of this Arur Araneri temple, which is considered to be the original design.

This Chola temple is quite ancient, but was rebuilt by Sembian Madevi in the 10^th / 11^th century CE. Inscriptions from the time of Raja Raja Chola I are found in this temple.