Thiruakkoor

Thiruakkoor

Padal Petra Sthalam, Nagapattinam District

God

Thanthondriappar, Suyambu (self occurring) facing east

Goddess

Vaalnedunkanni, Kadaganethri

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga, Viswanadar, Visalakshi, Nalwar, Sirupuli Nayanar, Ayirathul Oruvar

Thiruakkoor is a Madakovil (elevated structure) with a 3 tier Rajagopuram.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Kumuda Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Sarakondrai (Indian Laburnum – Cassia fistula)

History

Thiruakkoor was built by Kochenkatchozhan. Thevaram hymns have been rendered by Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE). Thiruakkoor is the birth place of Sirapuli Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.

Legend

Lord Ganesha in the guise of a Brahmin is believed to have advised a King who was wandering about looking for a location to build a temple to stay underwater in a tank here. The confused king did so and came up with the Lingam and built the temple, thus the Ganesha here came to be called Poyya Vinayagar. Another story is that King Kochenkatchozhan was told by Lord Shiva to build a temple where there were three Sthala Vrikshams (Kondrai, Paakku and Vilwam) to cure himself of an ailment. He identified this spot and while building it the walls kept collapsing and was again advised to feed 1000 brahmins every day for 48 days. He kept falling short of one person every day, but on the last day, the seats were full. On questioning the brahmin where he came from, he said ‘Yaarukku Oor’ (a place for whom?) and ran and disappeared into an anthill. Chasing him the king’s men hit the anthill with their crowbar and it revealed the Lingam with the hit mark. Thiruakkoor is one more of the sacred places where Lord Shiva granted his wedding Darshan to Sage Agasthya.

Directions

Thiruakkoor is about 16 kms west of Mayiladuthurai on the Akkur Road.

Stay and Food

None locally, nearest is Mayiladuthurai

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