Kalyanasundaresar Temple, Nallur also known as Thirunallur is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located a few kms far away from the temple city of Kumbakonam.
In this temple, Lord Shiva is worshiped as Kalyansundaresar and as usual he is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Girisundari. This temple is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva sacred text, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and this temple is also classified as one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams. The legend of the temple is related with sage Agastya and Amaraneethi Nayanar, who is one amongst the 63 Nayanars. The lingam in this temple is believed to change colours five times during the daytime, and this is the great speciality of this temple.
The original temple structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions were done by the Vijayanagar rulers and by the Saluva Kings. The temple follows six daily rituals at various times, from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and twelve annual festivals. Devotees are blessed with Sadari, which is a practice followed only in the Vishnu temples. The temple has been well administered by the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.
According to the Hindu legend, Lord Shiva sent the great sage Agastya to this place in order to properly balance the earth at the time of his marriage with Parvati. At the present place of this temple, Rishi Agastya had seen the marriage of Shiva and Parvati.
As per another legend, one of the 63 Nayanars, Amaraneedi Nayanar, spent his life supplying loincloths to the worshipers of Shiva. Shiva wanted to test his devotion and came to him, disguised as a Brahmin. The Brahmin deposited his loin-cloth in the custody of Amaraneethi, which was lost by a divine trick. The Brahmin demanded equal weight in gold as a replacement for his loincloth. The Brahmin placed another loincloth on one side of a scale pan, and Amaraneedi deposited all his wealth on the other side, but it did not balance. Finally, he submitted himself and his wife on the scale pan. Shiva was pleased by the devotion of the Nayanar and bestowed him with all his wishes.
The temple also has a bronze image of Nataraja, the cosmic dance form of Shiva. The temple has images of Ganapathi (elephant god), sage Agastya, and the three Shaiva saints: Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar. The temple also has an image of Somaskanda (a representation of Shiva with his consort Uma, and Skanda as a child), which is considered similar to the one present in the Thyagaraja temple in Thiruvarur. The third prakaram downstairs houses a separate shrine for the Hindu god Kali.
The temple has a large tank called Saptasagaram, located outside the main entrance.
Shivrathri in February–March and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December–January are the major yearly festivals celebrated in the temple. Masi Magam celebrated during the Tamil month of Masi is considered the most prominent festival of the temple. During Masi Magam festival, the Somaskanda Murthy is taken in procession around the temple. Unmarried/widows/widowers/divorcees are requested to visit this temple in order to get married soon.
Some unmarried devotees used to sing songs in praise of Ma Saptha Kanniagal in this temple, in order to get married soon, and in order to please our divine mother Ma Shakti Devi.
Some of those songs are as follows: –
The following are the wonderful songs written in praise of Ma Saptha Kannimar: –
My Humble Salutations to Ma Vaishnavi Devi who
-always bestows boons as Lord Vishnu, since she is an aspect of Vishnu;
who is always worshipped;
and she is the Goddess to whom the devotees turn into;
-is the Goddess always revered with Pujas, holy bath and flower decorations;
-is the mother goddess and
-is always praised and praised by her devotees.
My Humble Salutations to Ma Maheswari who
-bestows bliss to the Sages, Kings, Saints and to her devotees
-has great divine form;
-is uniquely interpreted in each and every observation; (she is beyond the imagination of mere mortals)
-is the Shakti element, the ultimate consciousness;
-is the core and content of Vedas and Shastras;
-is endearing to the poor and needy;
-is full of mercy and benevolence; and
-is the Great Goddess.
My Humble Salutations to Ma Kaumaryai who
-is impartial and indifferent;
-blesses with benevolence;
-stays in the souls of her devotees;
-protects the universe;
-exists with divinity;
-dazzles like fire;
-blesses abundance; and
-she is worshipped by all and all.
My Humble Salutations to Aindriyai who
-has the powerful Vajrayudha weapon on her hand;
-destroys the sufferings of her devotees;
-is the Goddesses of the heaven;
-is the Goddess bestowing boons;
-is the Greatest Goddess;
-is the Goddess of the people;
-is the Goddess of the wealth;
-is the Goddess of the Goddesses;
-has the nature of showering mercy on her devotees.
My Humble Salutations to Vaarahyai who
-is the purest of pure;
-is the goddess of bravery, wisdom and fortunes, removes the evil planetary positions and relieves us from diseases and from black magic problems;
-has the lovely face;
controls Sun, Moon and the Fire and the entire things present in the universe -is always like a dazzling moon; and has the wonderful ornaments present on her body.
My Humble Salutations to Ma Narasimhai who
-adorns the skulls as the ornament on her neck;
-wears the wonderful garments;
-wears the beautiful fresh fragrant flowers;
-is the great and mighty warrior;
-adorns the tiger skin; and
-smears the holy Kumkum on her body.
My Humble Salutations to Ma Brahmanyai who is the creator of the whole world, roams everywhere and anywhere,
-adorns the wonderful garments and ornaments on her body;
-burns down our bad habits; and
-sits on the Holy Swan.
“OM SRI KALYANASUNDARESHWARAYA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR