Tirumeniazhagar, Aniyamangalam, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Tirumeni Azhagar	Ambal / Thayar:	–
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	– to – & – to –	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Aniyamangalam	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (9 km)	Thanjavur (34 km)
	Tiruvarur (40 km)	Mayiladuthurai (46 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

South of Patteeswaram and northwest of Valangaiman, lies the hamlet of Aniyamangalam, where this temple for Lord Siva as Tirumeni Azhagar is located.

The word “aniya” or “aniyam” in Tamil (அணியம்) means near or proximate. Aniyamangalam therefore means a village near another. But which one, is the question – is it Govindakudi to the west or Chandrasekharapuram to the east? Nobody can be sure.

This temple is believed to have been an old, ancient temple, which was in a state of terrible disrepair. Some decades ago, that crumbling structure was taken down, and this temple erected in its place.

There is no sthala puranam available for the temple that once existed here. Assuming the previous deity also had the same name – Tirumeni Azhagar – it signifies beauty and handsomeness, perhaps describing Lord Siva on the way to his wedding at Manakkal Ayyampet. (On a related note, the nearby Harischandrapuram temple for Chandramouleeswarar is also connected with the wedding.)

The temple itself is rather unassuming, with just a single shrine for the moolavar. In front of the garbhagriham is a Nandi and a bali peetham, and flanking the maha mandapam entrance are Vinayakar and Murugan. There is no Amman shrine here, but an Amman vigraham is housed in the ardha mandapam, just outside the garbhagriham.

The koshtams are also half-empty, featuring only Dakshinamurti and Durga. There are no shrines for parivara deities In the prakaram, with the exception of Chandikeswarar. There is a separate navagraham shrine, and one for Sani. In the southeast part of the temple premises is a small shrine with vigraham depicting a beautiful Anjaneyar in kneeling pose.