This Shiva temple is located on a raised area of land between the two branches of the Cauvery River, known as Vettaru and Vellaru. The term 'Thittai' in Tamil refers to this mound, which is why the site is called Then-kudi-thittai. According to local legend, during the great deluge, when the entire universe was submerged, only this place remained above water, and it was here that god Shiva manifested as a 'Swayambu' Lingam. The temple features four Lingas positioned at its corners, with the presiding deity, Vasisteshwar, represented as the fifth Lingam. This sacred site is also referred to as 'Pancha Linga Kshethra' due to the presence of these five Lingas. Visiting Thittai is believed to be as spiritually significant as visiting the five Panch Bhootha Linga temples: Chidambaram, Kalahasthi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvanaikka, and Kancheepuram. The sanctity of Thittai is highly revered, with the poet-saint Sambandar proclaiming its holiness to be even greater than that of Lord Shiva himself.
The sun is believed to pay homage to the deity, as evidenced by its rays illuminating the Linga idol twice each year. Specifically, during the Dakshinayana Punya period, the sunlight graces the deity on the 15th, 16th, and 17th days of the tamil month Avani. Similarly, in the Uttarayana Punya period, the sun's rays shine upon the Linga on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of the tamil month Panguni, marking significant moments of reverence and connection between the celestial and the divine.
The shrine dedicated to the principal deity, Vasishteswarar, is oriented towards the east and features a square 'avudayar'. This deity, adorned with four distinct bands, is revered as Vasishteswarar due to the penance and worship of sage Vasishta, guru of Rama. The Shivalinga, positioned on the avudayar, is relatively small and is encircled by intricate lines. In front of the sannidhi, is a copper statue of Nandi. Numerous deities, including Brahma, Vishnu, Subramanya, Bhairava, Surya, Yamadharma, Shaniswara, Devendra, Adisesha, Vasishtha, and Jamadagni, have paid homage to Vasishteswarar within this temple. Additionally, the Goshtamurthas include Narthana Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, lingotbhava, Brahma, and Goddess Durga, alongside a sannidhi dedicated to Chandeshwar.
A distinctive characteristic of this temple is the precise interval at which a drop of water falls onto the Lingam, the main deity, occurring every twenty-four minutes, or one Naazhigai. This phenomenon is facilitated by a small hole in the roof of the Vimana, which lacks any visible water source. The source of the water droplets can be attributed to two strategically positioned special stones, known as Surya-Kaanth-kal and Chandra-Kaantha-kal, located above the Vimana. These stones absorb moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and convert it into a single droplet, thereby performing a natural Abhishegam to the deity consistently, regardless of the time of day or night.
Guru, the seventh offspring of the sage Angirasa, distinguished himself in various arts and ascended to the role of the divine guru for the gods. Under his wise tutelage, the celestial beings thrived in harmony and tranquility. However, a pivotal moment arose when Guru Jupiter visited Indra, who was preoccupied with the enchanting dance of Urvashi and, regrettably, dismissed the guru's presence. This slight ignited Jupiter's anger, prompting him to retreat to a secluded location, which subsequently led to chaos in the heavens. Without the guru's guidance, the gods found themselves vulnerable, suffering at the hands of the demons. Recognizing the gravity of his oversight, Indra embarked on a quest to locate Jupiter, visiting numerous Shiva temples in his search for redemption. His journey brought him to Thittai, where he earnestly prayed for forgiveness at the temple dedicated to Vasishteshwar. In a moment of compassion, Jupiter, no longer wishing to test Indra's resolve, revealed himself to the king of the gods and established a dedicated sannidhi within the temple, symbolizing the restoration of balance and guidance in the celestial realm.
The layout - 'Pasu theeertham' the sacred water body is situated directly in front of the temple, which features a striking three-tiered Rajagopuram oriented towards the east, adorned with exquisite black stone embellishments. Upon entering through the gateway and ascending a few steps, visitors arrive at the first prakaram. Inside the front hall, immediately upon entry, one can observe a pillar intricately carved with the likeness of the primary four nayanmars on the right, while the opposing pillar showcases the form of Rishabharudar. Dominating the space is a flagstaff, also crafted from black stone, along with Nandi and altar. Notably, between the main sannidhi and the goddess sannidhi lies the distinct sannidhi dedicated to Guru Bhagavan, which features its own vimana facing south, positioned to the west of the Goddess's sannidhi. In contrast to the typical representation of the Guru in Shiva temples as Dakshinamurthy, symbolizing wisdom, the depiction here at Thenkudi Thitta presents him as Raja Guru, offering blessings to devotees with the Abhaya Hastha Mudra. The sannidhi of the female deity is oriented southward, and in front of it stands a Nandi. Additionally, the upper roof of the goddess's sannidhi is adorned with a sculptural zodiac wheel, featuring representations of all twelve zodiac signs. It is believed that devotees who pray beneath their respective zodiac sign will have their wishes fulfilled. The vimanas throughout the temple are constructed from black stone and are embellished with remarkable artistic details. Furthermore, the pathikam composed by Sambandar in honor of the deity of this temple is included in the revered 3rd Thirumurai, highlighting the temple's spiritual significance.
Temple's Tower
Mahalingam in the prakram
Nandi
Dakshinamurthy
Pasu Theertham
Enclosure in front of the sanctum
Muruga with his consorts
12 Zodiac
Thittai Guru Sannidhi