Thiruvaiyaru is a small, quiet town. However, its modesty belies its importance as a pilgrim centre. On the highway from Thanjavur, you pass five bridges ' over the Vadavar, Vettar, Vennar, Kudamurutti and Cauvery, the five rivers from which Thiruvaiyaru gets its name (thiru = sacred; ai = five; aaru = river). The presiding deity of the Shiva temple here, Panchanatheesvarar (in Tamil, Ayyarappan ' both mean the same thing, `the Lord of the Five Rivers') also gets his name from them. Thiruvaiyaru is considered as holy as Varanasi and bathing in the Cauvery here is as guaranteed to rid devotees of sins as bathing in the Ganga.
Sri Sri Saint Thyaraja
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Samadhi of Sri Thyagaraja
Thiruvaiyaru has been, and still is, home to many enlightened siddhas and ascetics. The 18th century saint-composer, Sri Thyagaraja, whose life was characterised by the ceaseless and divine music that flowed from him, was a resident of Thiruvaiyaru. His samadhi on the banks of the Cauvery is one of the reasons why people visit the place today.
Thyagaraja's family lived all his life in a house in Tirumanjana Veedhi (a kilometre south of the samadhi), given to the family by the Maratha royal family of Thanjavur. It is preserved for the public to visit even today (a good time to visit is around 11 am; the house is not kept open right through the day). The worship of Rama became the keynote of the boy's life, and he composed his first kriti, Namo namo Raghavaya' when he was 13, spontaneously, while worshipping the deity. Bhakti and music thereafter became his only interests in life. Thyagaraja composed more than 800 songs on Rama alone, apart from kritis praising other deities, including Aiyarappar. Saint Thyagaraja's music was a true example of nadopasana, worship through music.
The samadhi of Thyagaraja is housed in a small shrine in the middle of a shady stretch of land on the river banks. The view from here, of the river, the ghats (there are 24 in the town), and the many mansions built along the river by the Marathas, is pretty. There is something peaceful about this shrine, a feeling worth experiencing.
Every year the death anniversary of Saint Thyagaraja is commemorated on Bahula Panchami (mid-Jan) at his samadhi in Thiruvaiyaru with, appropriately, a music festival, the Thyagaraja Aradhanai. The best known Carnatic musicians join lesser known voices in singing the pancharatna kritis, the five compositions that are considered Thyagaraja's gems or ratnas. Listening to their voices soar in unison is a spiritual and emotional experience.
*Location 2 km north of the Panchanatheesvarar Temple Timings 7 am-noon, 4-8.30 pm Nearby Thingalur (the Navagraha Sthala for Moon or Thingal) is 6 km north-east
Thyagaraja's family lived all his life in a house in Tirumanjana Veedhi (a kilometre south of the samadhi), given to the family by the Maratha royal family of Thanjavur. It is preserved for the public to visit even today (a good time to visit is around 11 am; the house is not kept open right through the day). The worship of Rama became the keynote of the boy's life, and he composed his first kriti, Namo namo Raghavaya' when he was 13, spontaneously, while worshipping the deity. Bhakti and music thereafter became his only interests in life. Thyagaraja composed more than 800 songs on Rama alone, apart from kritis praising other deities, including Aiyarappar. Saint Thyagaraja's music was a true example of nadopasana, worship through music.
The samadhi of Thyagaraja is housed in a small shrine in the middle of a shady stretch of land on the river banks. The view from here, of the river, the ghats (there are 24 in the town), and the many mansions built along the river by the Marathas, is pretty. There is something peaceful about this shrine, a feeling worth experiencing.
Every year the death anniversary of Saint Thyagaraja is commemorated on Bahula Panchami (mid-Jan) at his samadhi in Thiruvaiyaru with, appropriately, a music festival, the Thyagaraja Aradhanai. The best known Carnatic musicians join lesser known voices in singing the pancharatna kritis, the five compositions that are considered Thyagaraja's gems or ratnas. Listening to their voices soar in unison is a spiritual and emotional experience.
*Location 2 km north of the Panchanatheesvarar Temple Timings 7 am-noon, 4-8.30 pm Nearby Thingalur (the Navagraha Sthala for Moon or Thingal) is 6 km north-east
Panchanatheesvarar Temple
This temple to Shiva sprawls over a 14-acre campus and is both grand and serene. Beyond the temple are lush paddy fields and groves.
He who attracts his devotees/ The way honey attracts bees/ He who wears white ashes/ And is the Truth for those who seek it/ Oh, He who sits by the five rivers, Let us sing of him!' joyously sang Manikkavachagar, one of the Thevaram saints, of the deity of this kshetra.
The lingam in the main sanctum and the idols of Goddess Dharmasamvardhini (Aramvalartha Nayaki in Tamil ' both mean, `She who nurtures dharma'), Vinayaka, Muruga and Nandi, are said to have been found underground by a king whose chariot wheels got embedded in the ground where the temple now stands. A wise minister advised the king to dig around the wheels and there came into view not only the idols but also a living siddha (a realised being) who was in deep meditation, his locks spread across the pit like banyan roots. The stunned king fell at his feet. The yogi blessed him and commanded him to build the temple for Aiyarappar at the same spot. 'You will find the gold and the materials required for the construction under the hooves of the Nandi idol,' he further told the king. So it was found. Inscriptions and architectural details point to the temple having been built in the early Chola period.
Of special importance is the shrine of Shiva as Alkondesar, opposite the southern entrance. Legend goes that it was here that Shiva killed Yama, the god of death, for daring to lay hands on a young devotee of his. Outside the shrine, kungiliyam (benzoin) burns in a holder night and day, the belief being that the smoke protects people from the fear of death. Notice the words: not death but the fear of it.
In the third prakaram of the temple is an interesting feature: if one stands in its south-western corner, faces the north, and calls `Aiyarappa!', the word echoes several times. The temple tank, Surya Pushkarni, is a large one. It was from bathing in this tank that the aging and frail saint, Tirunavukkarasar, rose to see a vision of Shiva on Mount Kailash.
I have seen Him with the crescent moon in his hair,/ With the Daughter of the mountains by his side,/ In Aiyaru, I see the Bull,/ I see His feet,/ I see what no one else has seen!' sang Appar in ecstasy.
The temple celebrates this event in a festival in Adi (Jul-Aug).
*Location About a kilometre from the main bazaar street in the middle of the town Timings 6 am-noon, 4-9 pm Temple Tel 04362-260332 Related info Non-Hindus are not allowed into the sanctum. Still and video cameras can only be used in the outer prakarams
He who attracts his devotees/ The way honey attracts bees/ He who wears white ashes/ And is the Truth for those who seek it/ Oh, He who sits by the five rivers, Let us sing of him!' joyously sang Manikkavachagar, one of the Thevaram saints, of the deity of this kshetra.
The lingam in the main sanctum and the idols of Goddess Dharmasamvardhini (Aramvalartha Nayaki in Tamil ' both mean, `She who nurtures dharma'), Vinayaka, Muruga and Nandi, are said to have been found underground by a king whose chariot wheels got embedded in the ground where the temple now stands. A wise minister advised the king to dig around the wheels and there came into view not only the idols but also a living siddha (a realised being) who was in deep meditation, his locks spread across the pit like banyan roots. The stunned king fell at his feet. The yogi blessed him and commanded him to build the temple for Aiyarappar at the same spot. 'You will find the gold and the materials required for the construction under the hooves of the Nandi idol,' he further told the king. So it was found. Inscriptions and architectural details point to the temple having been built in the early Chola period.
Of special importance is the shrine of Shiva as Alkondesar, opposite the southern entrance. Legend goes that it was here that Shiva killed Yama, the god of death, for daring to lay hands on a young devotee of his. Outside the shrine, kungiliyam (benzoin) burns in a holder night and day, the belief being that the smoke protects people from the fear of death. Notice the words: not death but the fear of it.
In the third prakaram of the temple is an interesting feature: if one stands in its south-western corner, faces the north, and calls `Aiyarappa!', the word echoes several times. The temple tank, Surya Pushkarni, is a large one. It was from bathing in this tank that the aging and frail saint, Tirunavukkarasar, rose to see a vision of Shiva on Mount Kailash.
I have seen Him with the crescent moon in his hair,/ With the Daughter of the mountains by his side,/ In Aiyaru, I see the Bull,/ I see His feet,/ I see what no one else has seen!' sang Appar in ecstasy.
The temple celebrates this event in a festival in Adi (Jul-Aug).
*Location About a kilometre from the main bazaar street in the middle of the town Timings 6 am-noon, 4-9 pm Temple Tel 04362-260332 Related info Non-Hindus are not allowed into the sanctum. Still and video cameras can only be used in the outer prakarams
In Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru also has, befittingly, a government-run college of music. The interesting thing about Raja College is that it is housed in an old chatram (structures that sheltered travellers in the days gone by) building on the banks of the Cauvery, not far from Thyagaraja's samadhi. If you are lucky you can sit in on a nadaswaram (a wind instrument) or tavil (the drum that accompanies it) class. Have you listened to the reverberations of a tavil in the confines of a thick, walled, ancient room? You must.
Geography
Thiruvaiyaru is located at 10°53′N 79°06′E / 10.88°N 79.1°E / 10.88; 79.1[2]. It has an average elevation of 38 metres (124 feet).
Music Festival
Thyagaraja music festival, as the name suggests, is celebrated in the memory of the great saint cum musician Tyagraja. It is held on an annual basis in Thiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, where Tyagraja spent his whole lifetime and also attained Samadhi. The festivity is an eight day long musical show, which is graced by the leading Carnatic singers and musicians from all parts of the country. Thyagaraja musical festival is usually hosted in the month of January.
The main attraction of the Thyagaraja music festival is the group performance by the prominent musicians of the Pancharathna Krithis. To honor the works and pay homage to the great saint Tyagraja, what can be a better idea than the performance of Pancharathna Krithis, his five compositions that came to be popularly known as the five gems. Thyagraja is admired for his five gems even today. He is and will remain the role model for all those associated with Carnatic music.
How to get there
By Air: The nearest airport to reach Thiruvaiyaru is at Tiruchirapalli, which is located at a distance of about 71 kms. Regular flights are operated from this airport. Thus, the place is well connected to the major cities of the country by air.
By Rail: Nearest railway station is situated at Thanjavur, which is very well linked to the important cities such as Trichy, Madurai, Nagore etc.
By Road: There is a direct bus service from Thanjavur, which lies at a distance of 13kms from Thiruvaiyaru.
The main attraction of the Thyagaraja music festival is the group performance by the prominent musicians of the Pancharathna Krithis. To honor the works and pay homage to the great saint Tyagraja, what can be a better idea than the performance of Pancharathna Krithis, his five compositions that came to be popularly known as the five gems. Thyagraja is admired for his five gems even today. He is and will remain the role model for all those associated with Carnatic music.
How to get there
By Air: The nearest airport to reach Thiruvaiyaru is at Tiruchirapalli, which is located at a distance of about 71 kms. Regular flights are operated from this airport. Thus, the place is well connected to the major cities of the country by air.
By Rail: Nearest railway station is situated at Thanjavur, which is very well linked to the important cities such as Trichy, Madurai, Nagore etc.
By Road: There is a direct bus service from Thanjavur, which lies at a distance of 13kms from Thiruvaiyaru.
Festival at Thiruvaiyaru
Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival at Thiruvaiyaru is dedicated to Saint Thyagarajar, the greatest saint composer of Carnatic music. In 2010, the date of Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival is January 5. The Tyagaraja Aradhana Festival is observed on the fifth day after full moon in the Telugu month of Pushya. It is the day when Sri Thyagaraja attained Samadhi.
On the Aradhana festival day, hundreds of Carnatic musicians pay their homage to the Saint Thyagaraja by rendering his ‘pancharathna kritis’ in chorus at his samadhi at Thiruvaiyaru.
Thiruvaiyaru is located on the Cauvery River and is around 13 km northeast of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.
Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival is held around the world on the day in memory of Saint Thyagarajar.
About thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru (also spelt as Tiruvaiyaru) (Tamil: திருவையாறு) is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, 13 km from Thanjavur, Thiruvaaiyaru has an old Shiva temple dedicated to Panchanatheeswar. Though pilgrims flock to this temple throughout the year, Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, comprises the Trinity of Carnatic music. Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city.
Thiruvaiyaru is the headquarters of the Thiruvaiyaru taluk.
Near the Shiva temple is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed some of his greatest works. On the banks of the river is the samadhi of the saint composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country takes place annually.
The Thyagaraja Aradhana festival is held in January when most of the leading exponents of Carnatic music come to perform and are watched by thousands of ardent fans of classical music. A huge complex is now under construction at this site to accommodate the large audience that come to the concert in ever increasing numbers every year.
History :
The vast temple in this town, known as "Dakshina Kailasam" (Southern abode of Shiva), built in an area of approximately 60000 square meters, boasts of 5 'prakarams' (outer precincts used for religious purposes) and many 'mandapams' (great halls). Several inscriptions in the temple affiliates the temple to the Cholas, Pandyas, and other rulers. Karikala Chola, Rajaraja the great, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Krishna Devarayar are associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called 'Uttarakailasam' and 'Dakshinakailasam'. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Cholan's queen in the late 10th century who also made several endowments . Dakshinakailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan's queen. Appar, one of the important Nayanmar, was closely associated with this shrine and dedicated one of the songs in 'Thevaram' to this temple
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)