Nadanapureeswarar, Thandanthottam, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Nadanapureeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Sivakamasundari
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	9 to 10.30 & 5 to 7	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Vaippu Sthalam	–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Thandanthottam	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (10 km)	Mayiladuthurai (32 km)
	Tiruvarur (32 km)	Thanjavur (49 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

This Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam is located quite close to Kumbakonam, and is mentioned in one of Sundarar’s pathigams.

The ancient names of this place include Natanapuri and Tandavapuri, and this is because of the sthala puranam here, involving Siva’s tandavam. In more recent times, the place was called Tandava Thottam (deriving from its Sanskrit name), which has corrupted to Thandanthottam.

Sage Agastyar had come to the south, at the request of Siva, to balance the world when Siva and Parvati were getting married in Kailasam. During this time, Agastyar and other sages heard about Patanjali and Vyaghrapada witnessing Siva’s tandavam in Chidambaram. They too wished to see the Lord’s tandavam, and worshipped him with that end in mind. Heeding their prayers, Siva asked them to come to this place, and performed the Ananda Tandavam here for the sages. Siva also made two promises in front of all present – one, that devotees worshipping here will cease to face any obstacles in their marriage; and two, all problems of devotees will fade away if they worship the Lord here.

As Siva was dancing His tandavam, a bell from one of His anklets came off. Vinayakar, who was also in the audience, dutifully picked it up and tied it back on the anklet, even as Siva continued His dance. Vinayakar is enshrined as Mani-kattiya Vinayakar (the one who tied the bell) at a separate temple located close by, in the same village. There is also a separate temple for Agastyar nearby.

One of the unusual iconographic aspects of this temple is Dakshinamurti, who is regarded as Rasi Mandala Guru, because He is depicted seated on the twelve rasi mandalams. It is believed that devotees who worship Dakshinamurti by offering a yellow vastram (cloth) and kondakadalai malai (garland made of cooked chick-peas) are rid of all rasi related doshams.

Several centuries ago, a group of 3000 brahmins from this village migrated to Thangaikadu near Palakkad, taking with them some Salagrama murtis they had made of Siva and Parvati, and also some sand from here. They installed all of these in their new hometown, and worshipped it. Over many generations, the families forgot their ancestral history, until someone fell sick, and this turned into a chronic disease for many in the community. They consulted Kanchi Maha Periyava, who advised them to locate a specific temple, giving them indications of the location of the temple. The group eventually located the Thandanthottam temple and recognised it as their kula-deivam, after which their health issues were cured. Kanchi Periyava also stayed here at one time, when undertaking the Chatur Masya vratam.

Interestingly, while located in the Chola heartland, this temple owes its origins to the Pallavas, and is dated to the 8^th century. The copper plates found in this village are from the Pallava period, and describe this as a large and prosperous village, in addition to making specific references about the Pallava king Nandivarman II. Later additions to the temple were made in the 10^th and 11^th century by the Cholas.

The temple itself is set amidst a lush garden with several trees and plants, and immediately to the north of the temple is the temple’s tank – a fairly large one.

Other information for your visit

While the garbhagriham is open only for a short time during the day, the temple premises itself is open throughout the day, and one can visit it at any time.