History of the Temple
It is believed that Lord Shiva stopped Yama, the lord of Death, and punished him before he could take the life of Sage Markandeya in Thirukadayur. As Yama had already thrown his noose around Sage Markandeya, he is believed to have repented for his sin by worshiping Lord Shiva here.
Yama came to this place, created a spring and performed penance. Lord Shiva granted darshan to Yama and told him that he would be restored of his position as the lord of death in due time. As Yama is also known as “Dharman”, this place gets the name Dharmapuram.
Another legend associated with this temple is that of a Shiva devotee by the name of Thiru Neelakanda Yazhpanar. He was a renowned musician and his preferred instrument was the “Yazh”. Yazh is a string instrument similar to the Veena or violin. Neelakanda Yazhpanar and his wife Madanga Soolamani joined Saint Thirugnana Samabanthar on his pilgrimages.
Yazhpanar would compose the music for Sambanthar’s hymns. Since Yazhpanar was a maestro in the art of composition, a sense of arrogance rose in the minds of his relatives as they felt that Sambanthar’s popularity was mostly because of Yazhpanar’s music. Yazhpanar harboured no such thoughts and was distressed when this came to this light. He apologised to Sambanthar who readily forgave him.
Sambanthar then expressed his desire to visit Yazhpanar’s mother and seek her blessings. For this reason, they came to Dharmapuram.
However, when Sambanthar sang “Yaazhmoori Padhigam” in this temple, Yazhpanar was not able to compose music for it. In his frustration, Yazhpanar decided to break the Yazh but Sambanthar stopped him to do so. Lord Shiva intervened, took the Yazh from Yazhpanar, composed the music for the hymn and also danced to it. It is for this reason that Lord Shiva of this temple is praised as “Sri Yazh Moori Nathar”.
It is believed that when Lord Shiva composed the music for Sambanthar’s hymn, Goddess Parvathy sang in a voice that was “as sweet as nectar”. For this reason, she is praised as “Sri Thene Amirthavalli” (“Thene” means honey and “Amirtham” means nectar in Tamil).
It is also believed that Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma and Yudhistra have worshiped the lord here. Yudhistra is also known as Dharmar. This is another reason why this place is called Dharmapuram.
General Information
| Moolavar | Sri Yazhmurinathar, Sri Dharmapureeswarar |
| Ambal | Sri Madhuraminnammai, Sri Thenamirthavalli, Sri Abhayambikai |
| Theertham (Holy water) | Vishnu Theertham/ Dharma Theertham, Brahma Theertham |
| Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree) | Plantain / Panana tree (“Vaazhai”) |
| Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 51st Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
This east facing temple has a 5-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram) and it has two corridors.
The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 09.02.2017 and prior to that on 20.04.1969.
This is the birth place of Saint Thiru Neelakanda Yazhpanar’s mother. Yazhpanar is one of the 63 Nayanmars.
Deities in the temple
Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Somaskanthar, Lingothbavar, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Nalvars, Santhana Kuravars, 63-Nayanmars, Chandrasekarar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi, Mahalakshmi, Durgai, Chandikeswarar, Navagraham, Suryan, Chandiran and Bairavar can be seen in the corridors.
The procession idol of Lord Yazhmurinathar depicts him with a Yazh in his hands and flanked by Thirugnanasambanthar and Yazhpanar. This along with Lord Yama’s procession idol are very beautiful.
Salient Features
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar’s hymn praises Lord Shiva’s music composition and Goddess Parvathy’s melodious voice.
When Lord Shiva played the Yaazh, it is believed that Lord Dakshinamurthy learned back to enjoy the performance. For this reason, Lord Dakshinamurthy is seen in a leaning position here.
Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either sides of Lord Lingothbavar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma in a worshipping posture. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords (Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very auspicious.
This place has a shrine for the revered Guru Gnanasambanthar, the founder of the Dharumapura Adheenam.
Greatness of this temple
Those aspiring for excellence in music can worship Lord Shiva and Lord Dakshinamurthy here.
Those facing “Puthra doshas” – problems related to child’s well-being can worship Goddess Durgai here on the days of the “Utharada” nakshatram.
Important Festivals
Guru Pooja for Saint Thirugnanasambanthar is celebrated in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) on the day of “Moola” nakshatram. On this day, Lord Shiva’s procession idol grants darshan to the saint’s idol.
Some of the other festivals celebrated in this temple are –
Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Maasi (February-March) and
Thirukarthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (November-December).
Pradosham is also observed regularly.
Location
Dharumapuram is situated at a distance of about 3 kms from Thirunallaru on the Thirunallaru to Karaikkal route. From Karaikkal also this temple is about 3 kms only. The nearest railway station is Karaikkal.
Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are – Thirunallaru, Thiruvettakkudi, Thiruthelichery, Thirukkadaiyur and Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam.
Source:https://www.dharisanam.com/temples/sri-yazhmurinathar-temple-at-dharumapuram
Geography. The district shares borders with Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of the union territory Puducherry. The district of Nagapattinam lies on the shores of the Bay of Bengal between latitude 10.7906°N and Longitude 79.8428°E an area of 1,397 square kilometres (539 sq mi).
