Viswanathar, Devankudi, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Viswanathar	Ambal / Thayar:	Visalakshi
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Vaippu sthalam	–
Sung by:	Appar, Sambandar	Temple set: Swamimalai parivara devata sthalam
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Devankudi	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Thanjavur (21 km)	Kumbakonam (31 km)
	Ariyalur (31 km)	Perambalur (57 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

This temple is connected to the story of Siva’s journey from Tiruvaiyaru to Swamimalai. When Siva wanted to hear the meaning of the Pranava mantram from Murugan, the latter asked Him to come to Swamimalai, as a disciple. When going to a Guru’s place for upadesam, one is supposed to leave behind all worldly attachments. In order to fulfil this requirement, Siva left various aspects of His persona as also His entourage, in various places. At Devankudi, Siva left behind all the devas who accompanied him from Kailasam.

This temple is a Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam, in fact, finding mention in the pathigams of both Appar and Sambandar.

The temple is located on the village road from Manalur (famous for the Mariamman temple there) to the Veeramangudi Vajrakandeswarar temple.

This temple would have likely been a much larger site in the Chola times, when this structural temple was originally built.

Today, the entrance from the road directly takes us to the mandapam that houses the garbhagriham and Amman shrine. Both the moolavar and Amman have Nandis facing them. To the left of the garbhagriham entrance is a vigraham of Vinayakar, which appears to be rather new.

As we walk around the small prakaram, the only koshtam shrine is for Dakshinamurti, which also appears not to belong to the original temple structure, but a later addition. In the prakaram, the layout of shrines for parivara devatas is also a bit different. In the southwest corner, where one normally sees Vinayakar, is the Navagraham shrine. Right behind the garbhagriham, ie on the west, is a shrine for Murugan, and Chandikeswarar in the north.

Though the temple is not in a great state of maintenance, it is in active worship by the locals in the village. Those interested in assisting with the upkeep of this temple can contact the village officials.