Thiruchopuram திருச்சோபுரம்
(Location: Click this link)
Identified by the Uniform Code for Thevara
Sthalams as NNT006-Sri Thiruchopura Nathar Temple, also Called
Mangalapureeswarar temple is a Lovely calm temple, not very far from sea shore/
fishing villages. You can simply type NNT006
on your Google maps screen and you will
be taken there
One of the great temples sung in praise the great
Four Saivite Saints and probably less visited even today, despite being close
to a large town as Cuddalore.
This village is called Thyagavalli and the temple
is historically referred to as "Thiruchopuram" This temple apparently
was covered under Sand for several centuries before it was identified by one of
the devotees and brought to normal prayer methods.
An elderly Priest from Cuddalore does daily
rituals not minding the long travel. My respects to his sincerity. A must visit
temple.
EID Parry has one of their manufacturing
facilities near this temple.
*Additional inputs from Dinamalar* : Lord Chopuranathar, as Sand Linga is on a
square seat-peeta. A small ball type form on the head of the Linga is said to
be form of River Ganga. The Linga also has the palm prints of Sage Agasthya who
did the installation.
Though turmeric and kumkum
are used in the worship of Goddess, as people believe that Mother Shakti also
has mingled with the Linga when Sage Agasthya installed the Linga, turmeric and
kumkum are used in the worship of the Lord in this temple by those facing
marriage and health problems. Hence, the Lord is named Mangalapureeswarar.
Probably, the shrine for Mother-Goddess would have been built later. The Mother is called
Satyayadakshi.
Lord Dakshinamurthy: Lord Dakshinamurthy,
Jagadguru – teacher of the world – is seen in many temples with a Veena in His
hands. In this temple, He is Music personified. If one taps on the idol, he/she
will hear sounds of the seven musical notes – reverently called Sapthaswaras.
Against the tradition of holding the Naga (snake) in the right hand and the
torch (agni) in the left, it is the opposite in this temple. Students of music
perform special pujas to the Lord.
As Lord Dakshinamurthy is
the authority for wisdom, calmness and music and as the presiding deity
Chopuranathar blesses with all auspiciousness to the devotees, in the place of
yellow clothes, He is dressed with white. This is a special significance in the
temple.
Buried temple: The temple
is on the shores of Bay of Bengal. The sea water is the Theertha of the temple.
The Lord is facing west in the sanctum sanctorum. Saint Tirugnanasambandar had
praised the Lord of the temple in his hymns. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahmma are
behind the sanctorum in a worshipping form. The devotee can enjoy the darshan
of all the three Lords – Trimurthys – Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva. There is also
shrine for Kannappa Nayanar.
The temple was buried in
sands due to fury of the sea thousands of years ago. When a devotee came here,
he could not find the temple but found a Kalasa. People of the place removed
the sand and then brought the temple out.
Special Features:
Miracle
Based: Lord Chopuranathar is a swayambu Linga.
Scientific Based Musical sounds
could be heard tapping the Dakshinamurthy idol.
