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 Thandan Thottam is a small village, about 10 km
east of Kumbakonam, and 4 km from Uppliappan Kovil. Thandan Thottam,
Thandavan Thottam, Thennan Thottam, Thandava Natarajapuram,
Natanapureeswaram, etc. (as the village has been variously called from
time to time) has a hoary past and finds mention in the 14 copper
plates of the Pallava and Chola Kings as early as 893 A.D. These
copper plates give details of the donations by the royalty and the
general public towards maintenance of the temples in Thandan Thottam.
At the time of Kulothunga Chola, this temple was very popular and was
endowed with plenty of resources.
This village was also referred to as one of the
many Chathurvedi Mangalams of the then Pallava/Chola kingdoms. In all
308 vedic scholars had once resided in this centre of Learning. They
were specialists in Smritis, Shruthis, the four Vedas, etc. The three
Nayanmars, Appar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar have sung in praise of
the Lord, and were graced with a vision of Nataraja/Natanapureeswarar
in Ananda Thandava pose here.
Thandan Thottam temples exhibit some of the finest
examples of Chola art and architecture – especially the intricate
workmanship of the bronzes. Unfortunately, the 300-year-old bronze
image of the dancing Nataraja, resembling in size, style and design
that of the Chidambaram temple idol, was stolen in 1973. This idol has
not yet been recovered.
There are five temples in Thandan Thottam. As you
enter the village, you come across first Sri Valli Devayani Sametha
Muthu Velayudhaswamy temple, along with Sri Poorna Pushkalambal
Sametha Sri Harihara Putra (Lord Ayyappa) temple – the only temple
where both Dharma Sastha and Karhikeya are seen together.
Close to this temple is the Varadaraja Perumal
Temple. Thirumangai Alwar has sung in praise of Sri Varadaraja Perumal
here. The Perumal temple was recently renovated and daily poojas are
being conducted.
In the same complex as Sri Natanapureeswarar is the
shrine of his consort Sri Sivakamasundari.
The fifth is a Siva Temple, known as Sri
Karthyayani Sametha Sri Kalyana Sundarar, temple (close to
Natanapureeswarar temple). The main deity is in Linga form. Tradition
informs us that Sage Agasthya was disappointed that he could not
attend the Siva-Parvathi wedding at Mount Kailash. Lord Siva assured
the sage of his presence in the South and this temple of Sri
Agastheeswarar with his consort Goddess Abhirami was built by the
sage.
 Recently, the renovation work of this temple was
undertaken by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankara Matam. The belief is that,
bachelors and spinsters would be blessed with the holy state of
matrimony after a darshan of Lord Kalyanasundarar and Goddess Abhirami.
The renovation work of the temples of Thandava
Murthy, Sivakami and Velayudha Swamy had commenced nearly three years
ago. The small flow of donations from devotees could ensure only slow
progress. Now, the work is progressing at a feverish pace. But more
funds are needed, at least Rs 10 lakh in the next 5 to 6 weeks,
towards completion of the renovation, and another Rs 5 lakh towards
mahakumbabhishekams of these temples.
These are planned for Thursday, June 28, 2007.
About 75 priests and Sivacharyas would perform the poojas, yagnas and
abhishekams in the august presence of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of Sri
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
Thandan Thottam has great spiritual significance.
It is a Chathurvedi Mangalam village. The Saivite Nayanmars and
Vaishnavite Azhwars have sung in praise of the gods and goddesses
here. It is a model of Hindu inclusivism.
These temples, therefore, deserve our encouragement
and financial help NOW to make the mahakumbhabhishekams a grand
success.
Your generous donations will be thankfully
acknowledged and put to use for a noble cause. Please forward your
kind donations to Sri K Vasu, 13, Kamakshi Amman Kovil Agraharam,
Tanjore 613009 (Phone: 95436-2224007, Mobile-94445 46244) or Sri K V Krishnamoorthy, D-2, Hari Apartments, Sripuram Colony First street,
Royapettah, Chennai - 600014 (Phone: 28111371). Both are members of
the board of trustees.
The damaged wall
Your donations may be made in cheque payable at
Kumbakonam, in favour of “Thandan Thottam Grama Samudaya Welfare
Association’.
Sri Vasu can also be contacted over e-mail --
fcitnj@dataone.in
Indira Ramanathan
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