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{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Abirameswarar Temple
| image = Thiruvamathur (26).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|58|3.5|N|79|27|56.5|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Viluppuram district|Viluppuram]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Abirameswarar([[Shiva]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator = Cholas and Atchudevaraya of Vijayanagar Dynasty
| website =
}}

'''Abirameswarar Temple''' (also called '''Thiruvamathur Temple''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in [[Thiruvamaathur]], a village in [[Viluppuram district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Shiva is worshiped as Abirameswarar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Manonmani Amman. The temple is located on the Chennai - Villupuram highway. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[nayanmars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.

The temple complex covers an area of two acres and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Abirameswarar being the most prominent. There is a temple opposite to the premises that houses the shrine of Muthamman, the consort of Abirameswarar.

The temple has three daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and many yearly festivals on its calendar. Sivaratri festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Masi'' (February–March) and Navaratri during the month of ''Purattasi'' (September - October) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.

The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]].And Main temple was built by [[Achyuta Deva Raya]] of [[Vijayanagara Empire]]. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend and history==
[[File:Thiruvamathur (14).jpg |250px|thumb|left|The twin temples located opposite to each other]]
As per [[Hindu]] legend, during the original creation, cows were without horns and all the other predators were troubling them. They prayed to Shiva to provide them horns. Shiva was pleased with the devotion and offered them horns. Since cows (called ''aa'' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]) got horns at this place, it came to be known as ''Thiruamathur''. The presiding image of lingam is sported holding the hooves of cow. As per another legend, the image of Ambal is sported with the tail of snake.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MOhiCgAAQBAJ&q=tiruvamathur&pg=PT66|page=66|work=South Indian Railway Company Ltd|publisher=Amberly Publishing|year=2015|isbn=9781445650821}}</ref> There is a small hole in the wall between the shrines of Shiva and Parvathi located in opposite shrines through which the deities see each other.<ref name=dinamalar/>

The original structure is believed to be existent from time immemorial, while the later additions are believed to have been built by Cholas, Pallavas, and the main temple was built by Atchudevaraya of Vijayanagar Dynasty. There are inscriptions from later [[Chola]] emperors like [[Rajaraja Chola I]] (985–1014), [[Kulothunga Chola I]] (1070–1120),<ref>{{cite book|title=Urban Centres of Pondicherry|publisher=Icon Publications|year=2006|last=S. |first=Chandni Bi|isbn=9788188086252|page=111}}</ref> and [[Rajendra Chola III]] (1246–1279).<ref>{{cite web|title=Thiruvamathur|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=21|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref> Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya was a chieftain of [[Medieval Chola]]s whose contributions are documented in lithic inscriptions across various temples in modern-day [[Villupuram district|Villupuram]], [[Cuddalore district|Cuddalore]], [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]] and [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]] districts and also in his [[Sanskrit]] work ''Madhuravijayam''. He repaired, revived the services and inaugurated festivals of the temple.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Sambuvarayas of Padaividu their roles in South|last=A.|first=Krishnaswami|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=20|year=1957|pages=190–1|jstor=44304461}}</ref>

==Architecture==
Abirameswarar temple is located in a village called [[Thiruvamathur]] on Viluppuram - Chennai highway. The temple has a seven-tiered entrance tower facing east, and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The shrine of Muthambigai is housed in a shrine facing west is located opposite to the central shrine outside the rajagopuram. The shrine of Muthambigai also has a three tiered entrance tower. The central shrine housing Abirameswarar is approached through pillared halls. The shrine houses the image of Abirameswarar in the form of [[Lingam]] (an iconic form of Shiva). The central shrine is approached through a Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of [[Vinayaka]], [[Murugan]], [[Navagraha]], Chandekeswara and [[Durga]] are located around the precinct of the main shrine.<ref name=dinamalar/>

==Religious importance and festivals==
[[File:Thiruvamathur (25).jpg |250px|thumb|Festive images on the roof of the sanctum]]
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars]] [[Appar]]. Appar is believed to have visited the temple during the series of visits from [[Kripapureeswarar temple|Thiruvennainallur]] to [[Veerateeswarar temple, Thirukovilur|Thirukovilur]] and [[Sudarkozhundeeswarar Temple, Pennadam|Pennadam]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Philosophy of Šaivism: Saiva works and tantras of Kashmir; Saivism; Kashmir Shaivism I; Kashmir Shaivaism II; History of Kashmir Saivism. The universal experience : five principles of the universal subject-object; The limited individual experience; Famous Saiva saints; The Saiva Acharyas; Kashmir Shaivism in Siddha Yoga; Moksa and the means of its attainment in Kashmir Shaivism; Literature of Śaivism; Vīra Śaivism; Śaivism|section=Saiva Acharyas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xuRfquoAGrcC&q=tiruvamathur&pg=PA501|page=501|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|editor-first=Subodh |editor-last=Kapoor|isbn=9788177558852|year=2004}}</ref> [[Rama]], an [[avatar]] and hero of ''[[Ramayana]]'' is believed to have purified himself of the sin of killing [[Ravana]] by worshipping Shiva at this place. The image of Shiva is believed to have been self manifested. The image of Muthamai is believed to have been installed by [[Adi Sankaracharya]]. It is also believed to be the place where [[Muruga]] attained the [[Vel]], his weapon from [[Parvathi]] to kill the demon Surapadma. The presiding deity has been worshipped by various celestial deities. [[Arunagirinathar]] has sung praises about Muruga in the temple.

The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed three times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 11:30 a.m. and ''Sayarakshai'' at 5:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Abirameswarar and Muthambigai. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'', and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''. Sivaratri festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Masi'' (February–March) and Navaratri during the month of ''Purattasi'' (September - October) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Abirameswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=162|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=345–6}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Viluppuram district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Abirameswarar Temple - Revision history

Dentaltrendz at 20:51, 29 April 2026