Harpreet Singh Kohli: creating the location initial version

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creating the location initial version

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{{short description|Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Sivalokanathar temple
| image = Sivalokanathar temple (4).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|51|00|N|79|24|16|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Villupuram district|Villupuram]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Sivalokanthar([[Shiva]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Sivalokanathar temple''' (also called '''Thirumundeeswaram''' or '''Sivalokanatha temple, Gramam''') is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in Gramam, a village in [[Villupuram district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Shiva is worshiped as Sivalokanathar, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]''. His consort [[Parvati]] is depicted as Soundaranayagi. 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]]''.

The temple complex covers around one acre and can be entered through a seven-tiered gopuram, the main gateway. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Sivalokanathar and his consort Soundaryanayagi, being the most prominent. All the shrines of the temple are enclosed in large concentric rectangular granite walls.

The temple has four daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. Chitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Aaani'' (June–July) are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple.

The original complex is believed to have been built by [[Cholas]], while the present masonry structure was built by Vijayanagar kings during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Sivalokanathar temple (19).jpg|thumb|left|250px|Image of the shrines of the temple]]
As per Hindu legend, the [[Dvarapalas]], the gatekeepers named Thindi and Mundi worshipped Shiva at this temple and hence the temple came to be known as Thirumundeeswaram.

As per another legend, a king named Chokkalingam came to the place for hunting during [[Dvapara Yuga]]. He found a strange lotus flower and wanted to attain it. His men were not able to get it and the king shot an arrow at the flower. The flower started bleeding and the whole tank become red. At the sight of the tank turning red, the king fell unconscious. He found a [[Lingam]] on the flower and built a temple around it. Based on the legend, the later kings inscribed the place name as Mouli Gramam, which eventually became Gramam.<ref name=dinamalar/> During the period of [[Appar]] during the 7th century, the presiding deity was called ''Aruttali Mahadevar'', but later came to be known as Sivalokanathasvamin.<ref name=early/>

==History==
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|image1=Sivalokanathar temple (12).jpg
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Most of the Chola temples built during the period of 866 and 1004 CE is associated with certain military events or political campaign. During 940 [[Parantaka I]] had frequent trouble from invading [[Rashtrakutas]]. [[Battle of Takkolam|Takkolam War]], dubbed as the greatest war held in the Tamil region, was fought between Cholas and Rashtrakutas.<ref>{{cite book|title=Temple Imagery from Early Mediaeval Peninsular India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=My8rDwAAQBAJ&q=takkolam+monument&pg=PA257|page=257|last=Verma|first=Archana |publisher=Routledge|year=2017|isbn=9781351547000}}</ref> There was a military station in the region during the time of Parantaka, which was headed by his son [[Rajaditya Chola]]. The inscriptions from Kannara-deva (Rashtrakuta Krishna III), mentions the Kannaradeva defeating the Cholas and death of Rajaditya during the Takkolam war. Rajaditya was killed with a spear piercing him while he was seated on the elephant. The event gave him the name ''Anai-merrunjina-deva''. The inscriptions from the period of Parantaka mentions that the temple was converted to a stone temple during the reign and the gift of lamps by Rajaditya (mentioned as Vellan Kumaran).<ref name=early/> The temple has various inscriptions from the period of the [[Medieval Cholas]] like [[Aditya I|Aditya Chola]], [[Rajendra Chola]], and [[Kulothunga Chola I|Kulothunga Chola]] and [[Pandya]]n kings like Sundarapandithevan and Veerpandithevan. There are other inscriptions from Rashtrakutas, [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagar kings]] like Virupanna Udayar.<ref name=Arasili/> In modern times, the temple is 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==
The temple is located on the Villupuram - Thiruvennainallur road. The temple has a seven-tiered gateway tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The temple occupies an area of around {{convert|1.5|acre|ha|abbr=on}}. The central shrine houses the image of Sivalokanathar in the form of [[Lingam]]. The central shrine is approached through the flagstaff, Mahamandapam and Ardhamandapam, all of which are located axial to the gateway. The sanctum is square in shape measuring {{convert|13|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The Ardhamandapa measures {{convert|9|ft|m|abbr=on}} from east to west. The central shrine has entrance towards South and can be approached circumbulating the shrine. The temple tank is located outside the main entrance tower.<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=60–3}}</ref> As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of [[Vinayaka]], [[Murugan]], [[Navagraha]], Chandikesa and [[Durga]] are located in niches around the precinct of the main shrine.<ref name=R/>

==Festivals and religious importance==
[[File:Sivalokanathar temple (5).jpg|250px|thumb|The temple tank in front of the temple]]
It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]] - [[Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu#Sthalams|Shiva Sthalams]] glorified in the early medieval ''[[Tevaram]]'' poems by Tamil Saivite [[Nayanars]] [[Sambandar]].<ref name=Arasili>{{cite web|title=Thirumundeecharam|url=http://www.thevaaram.org/thirumurai_1/koil_view.php?koil_idField=235|publisher=Thevaaram.org|year=2011|accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref>

The temple priests perform the ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day; ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 a.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m, and ''Arthajamam'' at 8:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''[[abhisheka]]'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''[[Naivedhya|naivethanam]]'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for Sivalokanathar and Soundara Nayagi. 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''. Chitra Pournami and Aaani Thirumanjanam during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Aaani'' (June–July) are the most important festivals of the temple.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sivalokanathar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=149|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|access-date=19 October 2018}}</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=174–5}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Sivalokanathar temple, Thirumundeeswaram}}

{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

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

Sivalokanathar temple, Gramam - Revision history

Harpreet Singh Kohli: creating the location initial version