Sapta Risheeshwarar Temple - Lalgudi

Lalgudi, a quaint town situated approximately 20 kilometers away from the bustling city of Trichy in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, holds a rich historical and spiritual significance. Once known as Tirutavathurai in ancient times, this town is home to the revered Sapta Risheeshwarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Join us as we delve into the depths of this temple's history and features.

Highlights:

• God - Sapta Risheeshwarar 
• Goddess - Sreemati or Sivakama Sundari or Perunthirup Piraattiyar
• Sthala Vruksha (Holy tree) - Peepul
• Refered in Anbil copper plates.
• Sri Tyagaraja Swamigal composed Pancha Ratna Mala on the Goddess of this temple.

Legend:

Sapta Rishis:

The temple's history intertwines with the divine story of the Sapta Rishis (seven great sages). These celestial beings, seeking an end to the oppressive rule of the Asuras, implored Lord Shiva to father a son who could vanquish the malevolent forces, led by Tarakasura. With the assistance of Kama Deva, the God of Love, they disrupted Shiva's meditation. Consequently, six sparks emerged from Shiva, giving rise to Kartikeya, a six-headed deity. The wives of the Sapta Rishis were entrusted with the task of nurturing Kartikeya. Arundhati, the spouse of Sage Vashishtha, hesitated to perform this duty and passed it on to the Kritika girls. This act of delegation led to a curse being laid upon the Rishi Patnis (wives of the sages) by the sages and, in turn, upon the sages themselves by Kartikeya.

To free themselves from this curse, the Sapta Rishis journeyed to Tiruvaiyaru and subsequently to Lalgudi. Here, they sought solace and redemption through the worship of Lord Shiva. In a transformative moment, Shiva absorbed the sages into his divine essence, with a distinctive vertical red split atop the Linga. Henceforth, Shiva was venerated in this place as Sapta Risheeshwarar.

Birth place of Divine Feminine:

The presiding Goddess of the temple, Sivakama Sundari, also known as Sreemati, is believed to have been born to the sage Mangalya Rishi in Lalgudi.

Vishnu and Lakshmi's Connection:

Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity, undertook rigorous penance to attain the darshan (divine vision) of Shiva at this sacred site. Consequently, the town was originally known as "Tiru Tava Thurai," where "Tiru" signifies Lakshmi. Furthermore, it was at this location that Lord Vishnu, having lost his discus, regained it through the blessings of Lord Shiva.

Malik Kafur:

 It is said that Malik Kafur, during his invasion of South India, visited this town. The temple tower was painted in red color. He apparently asked his generals what was this Lal Gudi, meaning the red temple. Due to this, the town is called as Lalgudi. 

History:

The current structure of the temple belongs to the Chola period. The stone inscriptions of Parantaka Chola I's period (10th century CE) are found in the temple. It appears that two Pallava period inscriptions were copied by Parantaka. Hence, we can assume that the original temple must be much older and Parantaka might have rebuilt the temple.

Anbil copper plates have reference about this temple.

The palm leaves containing Devaram hymns were found in a room near the sanctum.

It is believed that Sambandhar would have sung about this temple. But, the relevant Devaram song is not found. Hence, it is not considered as Paadal Petra Sthalam and not even as a Vaippu Sthalam. 

The esteemed composer and saint Sri Tyagaraja Swamigal paid a visit to this revered site, commemorating it with the composition of the Lalgudi Pancha Ratna Kritis, a collection of five devotional songs dedicated to the temple's Goddess.

Temple Layout:

Entrance:

The western entrance boasts a four-tiered tower and an extended mandapa at its front, albeit partially obstructing the view of the tower itself. Within the tower, icons of Ganesha and Surya are enshrined.

Sapta Risheeshwarar:

The western-facing sanctum hosts a magnificent Shiv Linga named Sapta Risheeshwarar. This self-manifested (swayambhu) Linga bears a unique vertical red split at its summit. Nandi figures both within the Maha Mandapa and in the outer courtyard face the sanctum, with a flagstaff and bali peetha positioned in the courtyard. The awe-inspiring Dwarapalas images stand guard.



Sreemati:

The Goddess, Sreemati, occupies a separate shrine with an eastern orientation in the outer prakara area. Notably, Nandi (rather than the usual lion) faces the Goddess here.

Distinctive Murtis:

Within the Maha Mandapa area, one encounters remarkable sculptures. Vishnu and Krishna grace the true right side, while Vishwaksena and the Sapta Rishis find their place on the opposite side. These Vaishnava Murtis possibly relate to the legend of Vishnu reclaiming his discus from Shiva. The temple's dedication to the Sapta Rishis, Lord Shiva's celestial advisors, is evident through their presence.

Koshta Murtis:

The outer sanctum walls feature distinctive Koshta Murtis, including Bhikshatana, Ardha Nareeswara, and the standing Veenadhara Dakshinamurti. These niche deities radiate an enchanting charm.

Further Enclaves:

In the prakara, there are many icons located. Some of them are not usually found in the other Shiva temples.

• Sapta Matas
• Sapta Ganapatis (seven Murtis of Ganesh)
• Few Shiv Lingas
• 63 Nayanmars
• Nalvar
• Few sages
• Bhairav
• Navagraha (all eight planets face towards Surya in the middle)
• Garud
• Mangalya Rishi (father of the Goddess)

Other Sub-shrines:

In the first prakara, there are many sub-shrines located, such as:

• Small Utsav Murtis of Nataraja and Shivakami
• Big idol of Saraswati, which faces the sanctum
• Dakshinamurti
• Chandikeshwara
• Big stucco idol of Gaja Lakshmi
• Durga
• Ganesh
• Subramanya-Valli-Devasena

Similar to the Vimana of the sanctum, the Vimanas of the other sub-shrines are also very attractive. 

Happy travelling.