Thittai is a tiny hamlet in Tanjore district. There is a temple dedicated to Guru Bhagwan , one of the planets in the Navagrahas. Though the presiding deity is Vasishteswarar, yet many devotees flock to this temple to propitiate Guru.
Presiding deity- Vasishteswarar
He is self manifest-Swayambhu. He is also called Theerurnathar, Pasupathynathar. Radhapureeswarar , Dheenupureeswarar.
It is believed that God of death Yama got rid of curse after worshipping this deity.
The divine consort of Vasishteswarar is Ulaganayaki, Sugantha Kunthaleswari . and Mangaleswari.
There is a popular belief that a damsel Sugantha Kunthala lost her husband and prayed to this goddess who blessed her and brought her husband back to life Thus the Ambal is called Sugandha Kunthaleswari.
GURU BHAGWAN
He is consecrated in a separate shrine in between the presiding deities. Usually in all the temples Guru bhagwan's Adi Devata Dakshinamurti assumes significance. In this hallowed shrine he poses in a separate enclosure as a Raja Guru. There is a Utsava Murti for Guru.
PANCHA LINGA KSHETRA
There are four Lingas consecrated in all the four corners of the temple. The fifth linga is the main deity who is self manifest. it is called the Pancha Bhootha Kshetra as it an amalgam of all the Pancha Bhootha Kshetras- Kalahasti, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvanaikoil, Chidambaram and Kanchipuram.
The temple is a connoisseurs delight. The Vimanam atop the sanctum sanctorum is made of Surya Knatha Kal and Chandra Kantha Kal. Chandrakantha Kal absorbs the rays of the moon -Chandran and converts it into water and showers it on the lord once in 24 minutes. It adds to the uniqueness of the temple.
Holy Waters.
Chakra Theertham
It is opposite the temple. Mahavishnu used his Chakra to dig this holy pond. Hence it is called Chakra Theertham.
Kaveri theertham
A tributary of Kaveri -Vettar flows quietly nearby. Thus it also considered a holy water.
STHALA VRIKSHA
The celestial beings have transformed themselves into plants, trees and shrubs . thus the thick vegetation around the temple is the sthala vriksha.
The Guru peyarchi is celebrated in a grand scale in this temple.
Address
Administrative officer
VASISHTESWARAR temple
THITTAI 613003, tanjore dt.
Ph 0436 252858
Usha Raja