Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu

Temple Significance & History

Location & Introduction

This temple is located on East Car Street in Tiruvarur, near the parking area for the chariot of the Tiruvarur temple. The sanctum faces east, and the presiding deity is a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Lingam. The deity is known as Thoovaaynathar, while the temple is popularly known as the Durvasa Temple. This is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, praised in the hymns of Sundarar. The temple of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar is situated behind this temple, while the temple of Paravai Nachiyar is located at the southern entrance.

Temple Significance

Sundarar married Sangili Nachiyar at Tiruvottriyur after promising her, “I will never leave you.” As the days passed, however, he suddenly began to long for his first wife, Paravai Nachiyar, and set out for Tiruvarur. Since he had broken the promise he had made to Sangili Nachiyar, Sundarar lost his eyesight. Deeply distressed, he visited several Shiva temples and prayed for his sight to be restored. When he reached Kanchipuram, through the grace of Kamakshi, Ekambareswarar restored the sight in his left eye. Sundarar then continued his pilgrimage to several Shiva temples and eventually returned to Tiruvarur, where he prayed for the restoration of sight in his other eye. Sundarar would bathe in the sacred water body situated in the south-east corner of the temple, and would worship god Shiva. By the grace of the divine, Sundarar regained the vision in his right eye. It is believed that, in remembrance of this divine grace, a mark resembling an eye can be seen on the Linga during Abhishekam.

Temple History

During the time of the great deluge, when the seas rose and threatened to engulf the world, the Devas and sages prayed to Shiva for protection. Shiva instructed Sage Durvasa to create a water body in the south-east corner of this temple and worship Him there, assuring him that the rising waters would subside and all living beings would be protected. Following Shiva’s instructions, Sage Durvasa and the other sages gathered here, created the water body, and worshipped the deity. Pleased with their devotion, Shiva drew the rising waters of the sea into this water reservoir, thereby protecting the world. The sacred temple tank in the south-east corner of the temple is therefore considered especially significant.

As Sage Durvasa worshipped the deity here, the deity came to be known as Durvasa Nayinar, and the temple gradually became popularly known as the Durvasa Temple. A sannidhi dedicated to Sage Durvasa is also found alongside the sannidhi of Vinayaka. According to the temple priest, Sage Durvasa was once believed to be extremely fierce. As a result, devotees would avoid passing close to the Vinayaka sannidhi while circumambulating the temple. It is said that, to subdue this fierceness, the right thumb of the idol of Sage Durvasa was bent backwards. Following this, devotees were able to circumambulate the temple without fear.

Statue of Sage Durvasa with bent right thumb