Aa udayaar

Thiruperundhurai is an ancient shetram in Pudukkottai region.

This town is also called as Aa udayaar koil after the temple constructed by Sri Manivaasagar, one of the four prime gurus of Tamil Saivism. He constructed this temple while he was the Chief Minister of Pandyaa Kingdom.

Soul is referred as ‘Aa’ or ‘pasu’ in Tamil Saivism.  ‘Udayar’ is a term to refer the king or owner or head of a kshetram i.e. place – indicating God Shiva – and Pandya Kings used to assume this title name.  So Aaudayaar is the King of all the souls. Adma Naathar is the Sanskrit version of Aa udayaar.

Manivaasagar constructed a temple to Aaudayaar while he was at the service of Paandyaa king probably during the 8^th century. At that time he was on an important royal mission. He was under the orders of the Paandyaa King at Madurai to urgently procure imported horses from the sea shore ports for the Paandyaa cavalry. The King wanted to strengthen his dwindling cavalry units.

The rest of the story is a Shiva Leelaa…..the popular Thiruvilayaadal……..associated with Madurai.

A visit to Thiruperundhurai temple is an ethereal experience.

Extensive later works by several Kings and Chieftains expanded around the core of the temple over a period of 12 centuries. The temple has many unique features standing apart from other Saivite temples of Tamilnaadu…..

There are no forms ………no icons to indicate the God……..No Shiva vigrahaa or lingaa…..even no nandhi / Rishab to represent the soul….but is only a pedestal at the sanctum sanctorum…..

Other important iconic representations of Savite temples such as Dhwajasthamba and Chandikeswara are also absent in this temple. More curiously the temple is southward looking unlike other East/ west looking Shiva temples.

The temple indirectly represents the Saivite concept of seeing God in eight tangible forms - the five elements, the Sun, the Moon and the Self i.e. Atman or soul. Figurative representation of the above eight forms are carved in the ceiling slabs of Maha mandap i.e. the next mandap / hall to the sanctum sactorum.  

Since there is also no iconic representation for the soul, this temple is said to represent the ‘oneness’ or the Adhvaithik concept of unification of soul with the almighty. Perhaps the concept means merging of soul with Shiva? By the way,  ‘Merging with shiva’ is one of the triology of the American Saivite Guru, Sri Satguru Sivaya Subramanya Swamy of the Kauai Hindu Monastery in Hawai.

Shiva is worshipped in roopa, aroopa and roopaaroopam forms i.e. form, formless and partial forms in saivite tradition. The linga form is considered as roopaaroopam form. Guru Jaggi Vasudev considers linga as three dimensional form of an elliptical representation. He enunciates such elliptical form as a natural geometric form found in the universe….…. from galaxies and orbits of planets to electronic course in atomic structure.

I would like to moot the possibility of a closely similar notion that the linga icon might be the three dimensional form of the most profound symbol across the civilizations, across the time i.e the circumpunct….

By the way, ‘Stauros’ is the Greek word meant for cross but literally meaning only a stake or pole which is actually a three dimensional form of a circumpunct i.e. the elliptical icon used by the ancient civilizations across the World…..

However the indications and even symbols over the period might have undergone adoptions and mutations.  However, the circumpunct symbol is almost ubiquitous in the temples of Tamil Nadu – particularly in the segments where the Chettinaadu works were undertaken. Chettinaadu works are particularly abundant with the yin-yan and circumpunct motifs across Tamil Saivite temples.

this circumpt motif I found in Thiruvaanaikka Temple, Trichy

Another notion is that the similarity of nuclear reactors' design /shape to the lingam form may be due to similar reasons.....

All Shiva temples deify God in 'roopa-aroopa' form. There are only very few ancient Shiva temples with 'roopa' form such as Piraan Malai and Thiru Malai – two ancient rock cut temples near Madurai.

Aa udayaar temple is the only revolutionary temple in the Tamil lands and perhaps in the entire World so beautifully depicting God in a formless form.

Sri Manivasagar’s Thiruvaasagam, one of the six celebrated works of the classical Tamil says in a mirthful way,

       'ஒரு நாமம் ஓருருவம் ஒன்றுமில்லாற்கு ஆயிரம் 
        திருநாமம் பாடிநாம்  தெள்ளேணம் கொட்டாமோ'

Finding of 500 Imperial Roman Gold and Silver Coins of BC 29 to AD 79 issue, the largest ever recorded, from a single hoard in the region and the presense of ancient ports such as Mimisal and Saliyur in the nearby shoreline indicate the historicity of maritime trade in the region.

Aranthaangi is the nearby town to Thiruperunthurai. Aram Thaangi literally means one which upholds dharma. There appears to be no locality with such profoundly meaningful name in Tamil lands. This is a very uniquely assertive and wonderfully coined name to be cherished.  

This region bordering Vellaru River was a buffer zone between the contending Chola and Pandya dynasties over centuries. Many prehistoric habitation sites are found in this district. This region is unique with hundreds of adjoining water body networks. Particularly, Thondi, Embal, Aaudayaar koil, Aranthaangi and Kattumaavadi arc is the only region in Tamilnaadu with such densely placed water bodies so visible even from google maps - which itself is a heritage aspect to be cherished. Hundreds of ancient inscriptions found in the sluice systems of these water bodies prove the historicity of the agricultural practice and pattern in this region. 

In the ancient stone masonry tradition of Tamil lands, the ‘kodungais’ of Thiruperundhurai, the ‘chaalaram’ of Thiruvalanchuli and the ‘madhils’ of Thiruvaanaikka are considered as not only unique but also superhuman and unbeatable.

Kodungai is the unique stone masonry roofing work of a mandap, imitating the wooden roofs. i.e. such exquisitely carved stone canopy is fixed as if the roof is made of wood with identical roof slabs, holding planks, artistically designed rafters, ridges, hinges and even with nail like features.  

Chaalaram means window. Thiruvalanchuli temple near Kumbakonam is known for grand artistically carved stone window panel with amazing designs.

Madhil means wall. The huge wall structures of Thiruvaanaikka temple at Srirangam island in Tiruchi is known for its mind-boggling stone walls of stupendous magnitude.

All the above unique stone masonry works are heritage treasures to be properly maintained and celebrated. Whether TTDC is ever up with any such intention leave alone such idea?

The Manivasagar sannathy in the temple is a treasure trove of ancient paintings with natural colours depicting the biography of Manbivasagar however, in the verge of extinction....  

figurative depiction of 27 constellations of stars

Stone chains dangling from the ceiling - the audacious expression of stone carving skills;

an ancient cavalry man with his weapons and elaborate ornaments;

The following patterns found in the huge pillars have said to have gone into textile designs;

 The temple has a number of mandaps with exquisite and intense art expressions;

A Sheppard.......

Thiruvasagam Pitchiah Pillai of Tirunelveli, an authority on Thiruvasagam, explains the features of the temple;