Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thirukkuvalai

Brahmapureeswarar Temple
Brahmapureeswarar Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Tirukolili
Geography
Coordinates	10°37′N 79°43′E / 10.617°N 79.717°ECoordinates: 10°37′N 79°43′E / 10.617°N 79.717°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Nagapattinam
Location	Thirukkuvalai
Culture
Primary deity	Brahmapureeswarar(Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Brahmapureeswarar Temple or Tiurkolili is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saivite poets, Appar, Sundarar and Campantar and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Legend

One old man of Kundaiyur near Tirukkuvalai hearing of Sundaramurthi Nayanar's greatness was supplying him with paddy and dhol, when owing to adversity of season being unable to contribute the stipulated quantity prayed to God. Sundarar sung praying the deity here in favour of the old man.^[1]

Processional Dance

The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa thanam(dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. According to legend, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy(presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur. The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu.^[2] All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession(it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam(seven dance moves)^[3] and the related temples are as under:^[4]

Temple	Vidangar Temple	Dance pose	Meaning
Thyagarajar Temple	Vidhividangar	Ajabathaanam	Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple	Nagaradangar	Unmathanathaanam	Dance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohanaswamy Temple	Sundaravidangar	Vilathithaanam	Dancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple	Adhividangar	Kukunathaanam	Dancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple	Avanividangar	Brunganathaanam	Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornaathar Temple	Nallavidangar	Kamalanaanathaanam	Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple	Bhuvanivividangar	Hamsapthanathaanam	Dancing with the gait of a swan

References

1. South Indian shrines: illustrated P.370.P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar
2. Glimpses of the history of Karaikkal.Saroja Sundararajan
3. The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras: Volumes 33-34 .Music Academy (Madras, India) - 1962
4. Nityasumaṅgalī: devadasi tradition in South India .P.146. Saskia C. Kersenboom-Story