Hridayaaleeswarar Temple , Thiruninravur

Hridayaaleeswarar Temple , Thiruninravur

Hridhayaaleeswarar Temple is about 300m from Sri Bakthavatsalam Temple, Thiruninravur. This temple was built in 7th century .

 

Legends:

 

The story of this temple dates back to 7th century. There lived a Shiva devotee called Poosalaar. Poosalaar was determined to build a temple for Lord Shiva at this place within his lifetime. He sought for help with many rich people who can fund him to raise a temple. But hardly anyone helped him.

 

Knowing that he won’t get any help, Poosalaar finally decided to build a temple for the Lord by himself, at his heart itself. As he knew all the Aagama Vidhis and nuances to build a temple, he wanted to start building the temple.

 

Poosalaar marked an auspicious day to commence the holy work. The temple started growing up in his mind. It is said that Poosalaar actually took the same time which will be needed to construct an actual temple.Finally, he also fixed an auspicious date for Kumbhabishegam of the temple. He prayed to Lord Shiva to be present for the consecration and offer His blessings.

 

During the same period, a king called Rajasimma Pallava was ruling this part. He was also was a ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and was building a huge beautiful temple for the Lord, at Kaanchi. He also named the God as Kailasanathar and the temple as Rajasimmeswaram.

 

The king also marked the same date which poosalaar had chooses for consecration. One day after visiting the progress of the temple work, he came back tiresome to bed. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and told him that He cannot make it to the consecration, as He had to be present for consecration of another temple built by Poosalaar of Thiruninravur.

 

The king woke up shockingly and couldn’t believe himself He wanted to know about the temple which God informed him of. He immediately set off to see Poosalaar’s temple at Thiruninravur.

 

He came to Thiruninravur the next day and enquired with many people about a new Shiva temple built by Poosalaar. Nobody knew anything about the temple but directed the king to the place where Poosalaar was meditating under the Iruppai tree.

 

King went and asked Poosalaar himself about the temple. Poosalaar, on hearing the king explaining about his dream, was overwhelmed to realize the mercy shown to him by Lord Shiva. Poosalaar explained the king that he had been constructing the temple in his heart and had fixed a date for consecration.

 

Rajasimma was amazed to see the devotion and sincerity of Poosalaar. The king himself took all the specifications of the temple and constructed a temple for the Lord here. Hence his temple is also called Manakkoil.

 

As Poosalaar originally built the temple for the Lord in his Heart, the Lord here is known as Hridhayaaleeswarar.

 

About the Temple:

 

There are 2 entrances to this temple, one on east and the other to the west, the Lord here faces east here. The sanctum is built in Gajabrishta or Thoongaanai Maadam shape.

 

Sannadhis:

 

Presiding Deity: Sri Hridhayaleswarar

 

Thaayar: Sri Maragadambigai

 

Poosalaar

 

Subramanyar

 

Ganapathy

 

Dhakshinamurthy

 

Naalvar

 

Maha Vishnu

 

Subramanyar with Valli and Devasena

 

Brahma

 

Durgai

 

Sandigeswarar

 

Sivagama Sundari

 

Natarajar

 

Kala Bairavar

 

Stala Virutchagam: Vilvam

 

 

Uniqueness of this temple

 

1. Parihaar stala for all heart ailments.

 

2. Sage Poosalaar built same replica in his mind and the same has been built by Rajasimma Pallavan physically. Hence the name Sri Hridhayaleswarar

 

3. The architecture of Garba Graha is similar to sleeping elephant like most of the temples in orissa sarvajan sukhino bhavanthu

4. The temple also has the statue of Rajasimma Pallavan

 

Temples in Proximity

1. Bhakthavatsala Perumal - 108 Divya desam
2. Eri Kaatha Ramar