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{{short description|Temple in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Bhaktajaneswarar Temple
| image = Thirunavalur (7).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|45|31.5|N|79|23|55.5|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Viluppuram district|Viluppuram]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Bhaktajaneswarar([[Shiva]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Bhaktajaneswarar Temple''' (also called '''Thirunavalur Temple''' or '''Bhathajaneeswaram''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in [[Thirunavalur, Viluppuram district|Thirunavalur]], a village in [[Viluppuram district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Shiva is worshipped as Bhaktajaneswarar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Manonmani Amman. The temple is located on the Panruti - Kedilam road. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[nayanmars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''. The temple is closely associated with [[Sundarar]], who is believed to have attained grace at this place.

The temple complex covers an area of two acres and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Bhaktajaneswarar, his consort Manonmani Amman and Ranganathar being the most prominent.

The temple has three daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and many yearly festivals on its calendar. Sundarar Janana festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Aavani'' (August - September) and Sundarar Guru Poojai during the month of Aadi are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.

The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], with later additions from different ruling dynasties. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend and history==
[[File:Thirunavalur (11).jpg |250px|thumb|left|The main shrines of the temple]]
<ref name=dinamalar/>
As per [[Hindu]] legend, during the churning of the [[Ocean of milk]], a sperm fell at this place to originate as a "Naval" tree. It came to be known as Jambuvanam and over the period of several eons, a temple formed in the place. The place thus came to be known as Navalur while presiding deity came to be known as Thirunavleesan.

As per another legend, Sukra (Venus) obtained the diving elixir that could bring back dead people. During the fight between Devas, the celestial deities and [[Asura]]s, the demons, Sukra helped the Asuras by bringing them back to life repeatedly. The Devas complained it to Shiva, who swallowed Sukra. He then brought him back to life and installed him as one of the [[Navagrahas]], the planetary deities. He also instructed him to help devotees based on the deeds. Sundarar, an 8th-century saivite saint was born in the place and believed to have attained divinity by worshipping Shiva at the place.

The place is also believed to be the one where Adisesha got back his original colour attained on account of the poison. Brahma is believed to have worshipped the deity during [[Dvapara Yuga]], while Sivapriyar, who went on to become [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|Chandekeswarar]] worshipped the deity during [[Treta Yuga]].<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==History==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
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| width1 = 5184 | height1 = 3456
| width2 = 5184 | height2 = 3456
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thirunavalur (3).jpg
|image2=Thirunavalur (5).jpg
|footer=Shrines of the temple
}}
The original structure is believed to be existent from time immemorial, while the later additions are believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], [[Pallavas]], while the present masonry structure was built during the 16th century. As per inscriptions from the period of Parantaka I, there were seemingly three Shiva temples and one Vishnu temple in the place. One of the three, a [[Pallava]] temple named Kalinarisvaram, was destroyed by the locals. The inscriptions during the 32nd regnal year Parantaka I (recorded as 348 of 1902) mentions gifts to the Vishnu temple by Rajaditta-devar for perpetual lighting of the temple. The other two Shiva temples are called Rajaditta Isvarattu Mahadevar temple and Agasteeswaram (recorded as 347 of 1902). While Agasteeswaram cannot be traced, Rajaditta Isvarattu Mahadevar temple (also called Rajaditta Isvaram) is the Bhaktajaneeswarar temple. The other inscriptions in the temple indicate the conversion of it to a stone temple from an earlier structure made of bricks. The inscriptions from Kannara-deva (Rashtrakuta Krishna III), mentions the Kannaradeva defeating the Cholas and death of Rajaditya during the Takkolam war.<ref name=early>{{cite book|title=Early Chola temples Parantaka I to Rajaraja I (AD. 907-985)|last=S.R.|first=Balasubramanyam|year=1975|publisher=Thomson Press (India) Limited|url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/49443.pdf|pages=64–7}}</ref> There are inscriptions from later [[Chola]] emperors like [[Rajaraja Chola I]] (985–1014), [[Kulothunga Chola I]] (1070–1120) and [[Rajendra Chola III]] (1246–1279).<ref>{{cite web|title=Navalur|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=264|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref> In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|pages=244|access-date=25 July 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Architecture==
Bhaktajaneswarar temple is located in a village called [[Tirunavalur block|Thirunavalur]] on Viluppuram - Kedilam main road. The temple has a flat entrance tower facing South, and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The central shrine is approached through pillared halls. The central shrine facing East houses the image of Bhaktajaneswarar in the form of [[Lingam]] (an iconic form of Shiva). The shrine of Manonmani Amman, facing South, is located in separate shrine around the first precinct. The central shrine is approached through a Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam.<ref name=early/> The sanctum is a square structure measuring {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}}, while the rectangular ardhamandapa projects {{convert|9 |ft|m|abbr=on}}. The notable features of the outer structure of the sanctum has [[Yali (mythology)|yali]] friezes, ''kumudam'' mouldings, Bhootaganas and dancing figures.<ref name=early/> As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of [[Vinayaka]], [[Murugan]], [[Navagraha]], Chandekeswara and [[Durga]] are located around the precinct of the main shrine. The second precinct also has a shrine of [[Ranganatha]] and a garden around the periphery of the compound wall. The shrine of [[Sundarar]] is located in the north eastern corner of the precinct. Sundarar is sported in standing posture along with his two consorts on either sides.<ref name=dinamalar/>

==Religious importance and festivals==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
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| width1 = 5184 | height1 = 3456
| width2 = 5184 | height2 = 3456
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Thirunavalur (14).jpg
|image2=Thirunavalur (8).jpg
|footer=Sculpted images on the roof of the sanctum
}}
[[Sundarar]], an 8th-century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Bhaktajaneswarar in ten verses in ''[[Tevaram]]'', compiled as the ''[[Tirumurai|Ninth Tirumurai]]''. As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. During three days of March, the Sun rays fall directly on the image in the sanctum.<ref name=R/>

The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed three times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 a.m. and ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Bhaktajaneswarar and Gnanambigai. Unlike other shiva temples, anointing with oil is not performed in the temple.<ref name=R/> There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' (Monday) and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'' (Friday), fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'', and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''. Sundarar Janana festival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Aavani'' (August - September) and Sundarar Guru Poojai during the month of Aadi are the most important festivals of the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Bhaktajaneswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=685|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|
publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=342–3}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Thirunavalur temple}}
{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Viluppuram district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Bhaktajaneswarar Temple - Revision history

BeauBasaldua8: created the place v1