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Thiruppurambiyam Temple – The temple with the Wonder of Honey Absorbing Ganesha !
Sakshinatheswarar or Thiruppurambiyum temple is one of the famous Shiva temples located in a place called Thiruppurambiyum that is 7kms to the North of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District. The temple was built by the Cholas during the 9th Century. This temple is considered as the 46th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam since it was sung in the Thevaram Hymns.
The Sthala Purana says, that there was a businessman named Dhanaguptan. He lived in Madurai and came to this place to see his uncle who was ill. The old man who was in the death bed handed over his daughter to Dhanaguptan and died. While returning back to Madurai, they stayed in this temple in the night. At that time, a snake bit Dhanaguptan and he died. Fortunately, Saint Gyanasambandar was present in that place and he restored the man back to life. He also conducted their marriage in the temple with Lord Shiva and the Vanni tree as the witness. When the couple reached Madurai, their marriage was not accepted by Dhanaguptan’s first wife. The second wife pleaded with the Lord in Thiruppurambiyum for help. Lord Shiva came all the way from Thirupurambiyum to Madurai along with the Vanni tree and the well in order to testify that He witnessed the marriage. Since Lord Shiva Himself came as a Witness, he is called as Satchinatheswarar (Saatchi – Witness). This incident is narrated in the Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam and Silappathikaram.
Another important significance of this temple is the Pralayam Katha Vinayagar (Pralayam – Destruction of Earth by the Sea, Katha – Safeguard, Vinayagar – Lord Ganesha). During the end of the Threthayuga, the Earth was destroyed by 7 seas. Lord Shiva wanted to save this Holy temple of Thiruppurambiyam. So he gave this work of preserving the temple to His Son Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha used the powers of “Pranava Mantra OM” to control the forces of the 7 seas into one well. Even today, one can witness the Well that contained the 7 seas in the temple Premises and it is called by the name Yezhu Kadal Kinaru. The idol of Lord Ganesha was installed by the Rain God Varuna. It is believed that he made this idol with the substances obtained from the sea such as Shells, Snail hoods, Oyster shells and Seafoam and he installed it here in this temple. Hence the Lord Ganesha is called by the name Pralayam Katha Vinayaka.
This idol of the Lord Ganesha has a special significance in this temple. On the night before Vinayaka Chathurthi, a special Abishekam will be performed to this Lord Ganesha with Honey. Nearly 100kgs of Honey will be used for this special Abishekam. During this, one can notice that all the 100kgs of Honey that was poured on the Lord will be absorbed completely by the idol (What a Wonder!!). At the end of the Abishekam, the idol will appear Crimson or Golden Colour. Other than this Honey Abishekam, no other abishekam will be performed to the idol of Ganesha.
According to the sages and the Siddhas, there lies a deep inner meaning behind this absorption of Honey. It is strongly believed that Lord Ganesha absorbs all the falsehood that is in the minds of the people and burns it up. And so the Lord appears to be Golden Red in color after the Abishekam.
Apart from all the above significances, this temple is also considered as one of the 24 sacred places attributed to Lord Dakshinamurthy. It was said that the Lord granted His Darshan in the Form of Lord Dakshinamurthy to a poor woodcutter, who was carrying fuel to the temple. Sage Agasthiyar, Brahma, Four Sanakathi rishis and Sage Vishwamitrar worshiped the Lord here.
This temple is considered as Parihara Sthala for marriage, child and knowledge boon. Devotees offer Vasthram (clothes ) and offer special Abishekam and pooja to the Lord for a successful conclusion in marriage talks, childbirth, and progress in education. People who are scrambled in long-standing court cases can visit this temple and do Honey Abishekam on Tuesdays to the Lord Sakshinatheswarar. By doing so, it is believed that they will have a favorable win in those cases.
