Thanthondriyappar temple, TiruAakkur

Location: TiruAakkur

Deity known as: Thaan-thondri-appar, Swayumbhu Nathar

Female Deity: KatgaNetri, Vaalarankanni

Pathikam: Tirunavukarasar - 1, Sambandar - 1

Gallery - Thanthondriyappar Temple

Entrance - South

3 Tiered Tower

A View

How to Reach

This Shiva temple is located about 16 km east of Mayiladuthurai, along the Mayiladuthurai–Tarangambadi road.

Temple Address

Arulmigu Thanthondriyappar Temple
TiruAakkur
Mayiladuthurai District
Tamil Nadu

Temple Hours

Morning: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Evening: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Nearby Temples

1	Mayiladuthurai - 15.4 kms
2	Sembanar koil - 5.7 kms
3	TiruNanipalli - 9.6 kms
4	Tiruvalampuram - 9.8 kms
5	TiruThalaichangadu - 6 kms
6	Tiru-Kadaiyur - 5 kms

Temple Specialities

Maada Kovil Tradition of King Kochengannan

History records that the Chola king Kochengannan built seventy temples, collectively known as Maada Kovil temples. These temples were architecturally designed in such a way that the sanctum would be difficult for an elephant to enter. This distinctive feature is attributed to the king's karmic conflict with an elephant in his previous birth. The Thanthondri Appar Temple at Thiru Akkur is one such Maada temple built by this king.

Thon-Thondri Maadam in Thevaram Hymns

In the Thevaram hymns, two temples are referred to with the prefix or suffix "Maadam." One is Thoonganai Maadam in the Nadu Naadu region, and the other is this temple, located in the region south of the River Cauvery. Although the area is known as Akkur, the temple itself is referred to as Thon-Thondri Maadam, as it is presided over by the Swayambhu deity Than-Thondri Appar.

Birthplace of Sirapuli Nayanar

This sacred place is the birthplace of Sirapuli Nayanar, one of the sixty-three Shaivite saints. Within the Ardha Mandapam of the sanctum, the idol of Sirapuli Nayanar can be seen on the left, and directly opposite him, on the right, is the idol of the revered "One Among the Thousand."

Arunagirinathar and Tirupugazh

The saint-poet Arunagirinathar has praised Lord Muruga of this temple in his Tirupugazh. There is one Tirupugazh hymn dedicated to this Muruga, who appears with a radiant face and four arms, mounted on his peacock, and accompanied by his two divine consorts.

Legend of the Thousand-Fed Annadanam

According to legend, a king, following a divine command, undertook the sacred act of feeding one thousand devotees every day as annadanam for forty-eight continuous days. Each day, despite laying out banana leaves for a thousand people, only 999 would partake of the meal, with one person always missing. This continued for forty-seven days, leaving the king deeply distressed. On the forty-eighth day, Lord Shiva Himself appeared in the guise of an ascetic, sat among the devotees, accepted the meal, and blessed the king.

Divine Glory

This sacred place is renowned for the divine glory of the Lord Himself sitting as one among the devotees in the dining row and partaking of the meal.

Temple Structure

Temple Layout and Entrances

The temple features a three-tiered Rajagopuram facing east and a modest entrance on the southern side. Near the eastern gateway is a sannidhi for Vinayaka, and this gateway opens into the eastern outer prakaram. From this vantage point, the elevated structure of the temple complex is clearly visible.

Presiding Deity and Agasthya Legend

Ascending the steps that lead to the elevated portion of the temple, one encounters the Nandi and Balipitham. The presiding deity here is a Swayambhu Linga, and this is one of the sacred places where Sage Agasthya was shown the Tirumana Kolam—the divine wedding form—of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. The sannidhi of the divine consort is located to the right of the main sanctum.

During the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati at Mount Kailash, the presence of countless gods and sages gathered in the north caused the earth to tilt slightly. To restore balance, Shiva asked the revered sage Agastya to travel to the southern regions. Agastya felt sorrowful at leaving, as he wished to witness the divine marriage. Understanding the sage’s devotion, Shiva granted him a boon that he would be able to behold the sacred wedding from wherever he was and whenever he desired.

Places visited by Sage Agasthya in his journey to south -

Inner Prakaram and Associated Deities

The inner circumambulatory prakaram houses sannidhis for Vinayaka, Muruga, and Visalakshi. The idols of Thirugnana Sambandhar, Manikkavasagar, and Thirunavukkarasar are installed together in one sannidhi, while the idol of the fourth Nayanmar, Sundarar, is housed in a separate sannidhi along with his consorts Sangili Nachiyar and Paravai Nachiyar. Adjacent to these are the sannidhis for Bhairava, Kalabhairava, and Surya.