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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Sivagurunatha Swamy Temple
| image = Sivapuram temple12.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|56|N|79|25|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tanjore]]
| location = [[Sivapuram, Thanjavur|Sivapuram]], [[Kumbakonam]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Sivagurunathar([[Shiva]])
| primary_deity_Godess =
| utsava_deity_God =
| utsava_deity_Godess=
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Sivagurunathaswamy temple''' is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to [[Shiva]] located in the village of [[Maruthuvakudi|Aduthurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Shiva is worshipped as Sivagurunathaswamy, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Prabhavalli. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[nayanars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1961, Volume 7|year=1961|publisher=Director of Census publication}}</ref>

It houses two gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]''. The tallest is the eastern tower, with five stories and a height of {{convert|72|ft|m|0}}. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Sivagurunathaswamy and Aryambal being the most prominent. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 9 p.m., and eight yearly festivals on its calendar. The ''Aippassi Annabhishekam'' festival is celebrated during the day of the Aippasi (October - November) is the most prominent festival. The image of [[Nataraja]], a prominent and ancient Chola art, was stolen and brought back from overseas after an elongated legal battle.

The temple was originally built by the [[Cholas]] and has many inscriptions from them. The present masonry structure was built during the [[Thanjavur Nayak|Nayak]] during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Sivapuram temple18.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Sculpture indicating the legend]]
As per [[Hindu]] legend, the Sun god [[Surya]] and moon god [[Chandra]] worshipped the presiding deity in the place. [[Brahma]] worshipped Shiva in the place and attained his power of creation. [[Vishnu]] is believed to have appeared in the form of a boar to worship Shiva. [[Sambandar]], a saivite saint, is believed to have performed ''Angapradakshanam'' (cicumabulating using ones body} as he believed that the image of Shiva resided beneath the floor and he should not touch the image with his foot. Following the legend, the temple is one of the few Shiva temples where ''Angapradakshanam'' is performed, which is otherwise performed only in Vishnu temples.<ref name=R>{{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|pages=262–4}}</ref>

As per another legend, [[Ravana]], an [[asura]] king, worshipped Shiva in an unclean manner. [[Kubera]], the brother of Ravana, worshipped Shiva to forgive the behaviour. He was chided by Shiva's bull [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] and was cursed to born in earth as a normal human. Kubera was born in this place as a knight and he started worshipping Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, his position was restored.<ref name=dinamalar/> As Kubera is believed to have worshipped here, the village is also known as Kuberapuri.<ref name="templenet" />

==Architecture==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=right
| total_width = 400
| width1 = 4128 | height1 = 3096
| width2 = 2576 | height2 = 1932
|direction=horizontal
|image1=Sivapuram temple22.jpg
|image2=Sivapuram temple8.jpg
|footer=Shrines within the temple
}}

Sivapuram is located 5 kilometres south-east of the town and [[taluk]] headquarters of [[Kumbakonam]] on the way to [[Thiruvarur]].<ref name="templenet">{{cite web|title=Abodes of SHiva - Shivasthalams glorified by Tevaram hymns|url=http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s133.html|publisher=Templenet}}</ref> Sivapuram is famous for the Sivagurunathaswamy temple dedicated to the [[Hindu god]] [[Shiva]].<ref name="temples_kumbakonam">{{cite web|title=Temples|url=http://www.kumbakonamonline.com/abouttemp.html#seast|publisher=Kumbakonam.net}}</ref> The [[deity]] is also referred to as Sivagurunathar or Sivapuranathar.<ref name="templenet" /> The temple is one of the 67 ''sthalams'' or holy abodes mentioned in the Thevaram located in the ancient [[Chola kingdom]].<ref name="templenet" /> According to different legends, [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]] and [[Kubera]] had worshipped Shiva here at different times.<ref name="templenet" />

The present temple in the village dates back to the [[Later Cholas|Later Chola period]] and covers an area of {{convert|1.3|acre|m2}}.<ref name="templenet" /> The principal shrine is dedicated to Shiva who is worshipped by a sculpted figurine of Vishnu in his [[Varaha]] [[Avatar]].<ref name="templenet" /> There are also shrines dedicated to [[Subrahmanya]], [[Gajalakshmi]] and [[Bhairava]].<ref name="templenet" />

It is also believed that a [[shivalingam]] lies buried at this spot. This shivalingam was worshipped by the [[Saivite]] saint [[Tirugnanasambandar]] and the spot where he worshipped is called Swamigal Thurai.<ref name="templenet" /><ref name="Sridhar">{{cite book|title=Kumbakonam Azhaikkirathu|isbn=9788183682244|pages=34–36|publisher=New Horizon Media|year=2007|last=Sharma|first=Sridhara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D0HOpzd4-cwC&q=kumbakonam+azhaikkirathu}}</ref>

== Idol theft ==
In 1951, idols of [[Nataraja]], [[Tirugnanasambandar]], [[Somaskanda|Somaskandar]], [[Ganesha|Pillaiyar]] and two other goddesses from the Later Chola period were recovered by a farmer Annamuthu Padaiyachi in Kuppuswamy Iyer's field.<ref name="tngov_idolwing">{{cite web|title=Idol wing, Important Judgements and Convictions, Economic Offenses|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|url=http://www.tneow.gov.in/IDOL/judgement.html}}</ref> The farmer alerted government authorities about his find and handed the idols to the authorities. On 10 October 1953, the District Collector of Thanjavur donated the idols to the Sivagurunathasamy temple to be installed along with other deities.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> On receipt of the idols, the temple authorities commissioned sculptor Ramasamy Sthapathi to repair the idols.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> The idols were subsequently returned to the temple after the repairs had been carried out.

Some time later, Dr. Douglas Barrett of the [[British Museum]], who had visited the temple in 1961,<ref name="plunderofartp150">{{cite book|title=The Plunder of Art|pages=150|author=Hamendar Bhisham Pal|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1992|isbn=978-81-7017-285-7}}</ref> wrote in his book ''South Indian Bronze'' that the Nataraja idol in the Sivagurunathaswamy temple was fake and that the original idols were in the possession of a private art collector in the [[United States of America]].<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> This claim prompted the Government of Tamil Nadu to send S. Krishnaraj, Deputy Inspector General, [[Criminal Investigation Department|CID]], to the US to investigate the claim.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> As the outcome of Krishnaraj's investigations, a case was registered at the [[Nachiyar Koil]] police station.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" />
[[File:Sivapuram temple23.jpg|250px|thumb|Temple tank located in front of the temple]]
The case was entrusted to the Crime Branch CID and investigations were carried out with the assistance of the [[Scotland Yard]].<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> It was found that in 1956, one Thilakar of [[Kuthalam]] and his brother Doss had persuaded Ramasamy Sthapathi to lend the six idols to them in return for six fake ones which Ramasamy had returned to the temple authorities.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> The idols were purchased by a private art collector Lance Dane of [[Bombay]] who kept the idols in his possession for a decade before selling them to Bomman Beharan.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> The idols eventually made their way to the United States where in 1973 they were purchased by Norton Simon Foundation for $900,000.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /><ref name="indianheritagep126">{{cite book|title=Indian Heritage and Culture|pages=126|publisher=APH Publishing|year=1998|isbn=978-81-7024-992-4|first=Dhirendra|last=Singh}}</ref>

The Indian police arrested Lance Dane, Thilakar, Doss and Ramasamy Sthapathy.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> Meanwhile, the Scotland Yard found out that the actual Nataraja idol was in the possession of [[Anna Plowden]] of England.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> The Government of India filed a civil suit against the Norton Simon Foundation.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> The Tamil Nadu government approached the Government of the United States of America through India's Ministry of External Affairs.<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /> The Nataraja idol was handed over to Dr. M. S. Nagaraja Rao, the Director-General of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] in 1987<ref name="tngov_idolwing" /><ref name="indianheritagep126" /> and is currently present in a safe-vault in the [[Kapaleeshwarar Temple|Kapaleeswara temple]], [[Mylapore]], [[Chennai]].<ref name="tngov_idolwing" />

[[File:Ganesha - in Explore - Flickr - Thad Zajdowicz.jpg|250px|thumb|Ganesha (Norton Simon)]]
{| class="wikitable" sortable
|- style="background:#FFC569"
! scope="col" | S.No.
! scope="col" | Deity
! scope="col" | Stolen Idol traced to
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Current status
! scope="col" | More Details
|- align="center"
|- style="background:#ffe;"
|-
|1
| [[Nataraja]]
| [[Norton Simon Museum]]
| [[United States]]
| Recovered
| In safe-vault of Kapaleeswarar Temple, Chennai
|-
|2
| [[Somaskanda]]
| [[Norton Simon Museum]]
| [[United States]]
| Unknown
| <ref name=PIS>{{cite web|title=Sivapuram Somaskanda – the untold story – Part 2|url=https://poetryinstone.in/en/2014/07/29/sivapuram-somaskanda-the-untold-story-part-2/|website=Poetry In Stone|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="DT">{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Idol wing traces smuggled idols from TN temple to US museum |url=https://www.dtnext.in/tamilnadu/2022/06/15/idol-wing-traces-smuggled-idols-from-tn-temple-to-us-museum |access-date=15 August 2023 |work=DT Next |agency= |date=15 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Shiva with Uma and Skanda (Somaskanda)|url=https://www.nortonsimon.org/art/detail/F.1972.23.1.S/|year=950–975|access-date=6 August 2023|publisher=Norton Simon Museum}}</ref>
|-
|3
| Standing [[Sambandar]]
| [[Norton Simon Museum]]
| [[United States]]
| Unknown
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Shaiva Saint Sambandar|url=https://www.nortonsimon.org/art/detail/F.1973.01.03.S|year=c. 1100|access-date=4 August 2023|publisher=Norton Simon Museum}}</ref>
|-
|4
| [[Ganesha]]
| [[Norton Simon Museum]]
| [[United States]]
| Unknown
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Ganesha|url=https://www.nortonsimon.org/art/detail/F.1972.28.S/|year=950–1000|access-date=6 August 2023|publisher=Norton Simon Museum}}</ref>
|-
|5
| [[Parvati]] (Sivagami Amman/Thani Amman<ref name="MM">{{cite magazine |last=J. |first=Ramakrishnan |date=16 March 2019|title=The Lord returns to His abode |url=https://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-28-no-23/the-lord-returns-to-his-abode/ |magazine=Madras Musings|location=Chennai |publisher= |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref>)
| [[Denver Art Museum]]
| [[United States]]
| Unknown
| <ref name=PIS2>{{cite web|title=Sivapuram Saga – the untold story – Part 3|url=https://poetryinstone.in/en/2014/07/31/sivapuram-saga-the-untold-story-part-3/|website=Poetry In Stone|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="DT" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Devi|url=https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/object/1983.15|year=c. 1000|access-date=15 August 2023|publisher=Denver Art Museum}}</ref>
|-
|6
| [[Parvati]] (Gowri Amman<ref name="MM" />)
|
|
| Unknown
|
|-
|}

==Worship and religious practices==
The temple finds mention in ''[[Tevaram]]'', the 7th century 12 volume Saiva canonical work by Tamil saints, namely [[Appar]], [[Sundarar]] and [[Campantar]]. It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] glorified in the Saiva canon. The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 6:00 a.m., ''Irandam Kalm'' at 9:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m, ''Irandam Kalm'' at 7:30 p.m., and ''Arthajamam'' at 9:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Sivagurunathar and Aryambal. 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''. Masi Maham during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Maasi'' (February - March), Shivaratri in February- March and Panguni Uthiram during ''Panguni'' are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. Sun's rays fall directly on the sanctum on three days in April when the temple receives lot of devotees. Saint [[Arunagirinathar]], a 16th century Saivite, has praised the presiding deity of the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Sivagurunathaswamy temple temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=958|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|accessdate=24 November 2015}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Sivagurunathaswamy Temple}}
{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{Hindu Temples of Kumbakonam}}

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

Sivagurunathaswamy Temple - Revision history

Stormy43P6 at 10:49, 14 March 2026