Brahmapureesar temple, Ambar Perumthirukkovil
Location: Ambar Perumthirukkovil
Deity known as: Brahmapureesar
Female Deity: Sugandha Kundhalambikai
Pathikam: Sambandar - 1
Gallery - Brahmapureesar Temple, Ambar Perumthirukkovil
How to Reach
This shiva temple is located about 5 km from Poonthottam. Poonthottam lies around 16 km from Tiruvarur on the road connecting Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai. Another Paadal Petra Sivasthalam, Ambar Maakaalam, is located about 2 km to the west of this temple.
Temple Address
Ambar Perunthirukovil
Tiruvarur District
Tamil Nadu
Temple Hours
Morning: 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Evening: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Nearby Temples
| 1 | TiruNallaaru - 15.2 kms | |
| 2 | Tiru-Kottaru - 21 kms | |
| 3 | Ambar Makalam - 1.8 kms | |
| 4 | Tiru-Meeyachur - 10 kms |
Temple Layout
Maadakoil
The temple, situated on the northern bank of the Arisil River, has a three-tiered Rajagopuram. The name of the temple is Ambar Perunthirukovil. The temple is built like a small hill with steps arranged in such a way that elephants cannot climb them; hence it came to be known as Perunthirukovil. It is also one of the Maadakoils constructed by the Chola king Kochengat Chola. The temple faces east, while the steps leading to the sanctum of the presiding deity are oriented towards the south.
Annamam Poigai
Upon entering through the Rajagopuram, one comes into a spacious courtyard where a large Nandi can be seen. On the left side is a well known as "Annamam Poigai." Nearby, there is a Shiva Lingam. According to the temple's sacred history, Brahma bathed in the holy waters of this well and worshipped the Shiva Lingam located beside it, thereby being relieved of a curse and regaining his original form after having taken the form of a swan.
Sthala Vinayaka – Padikkasu Vinayaka
Before climbing the steps to the sanctum, on the eastern wall, facing east is the temple's presiding Vinayaka, Padikkasu Vinayaka. In this sannidhi, three smaller idols of Ganesha are also placed in a row. In the prakaram, there are sannidhis for Subramanya, Mahalakshmi, and Jambukeswarar. Goddess Sugandha Kundhalambikai is in a dedicated sannidhi, standing gracefully in a majestic posture.
Main and Other Sannidhis
After completing the circumambulation and climbing the steps to the upper level, one can see the sannidhi of Somaskanda. On the opposite side are the principal images of Ganesha, Kochengat Chola, Saraswati, Thirugnanasambandar, and Appar. After offering prayers to the Dwarapalakas and Vinayaka, devotees pass through a small entrance to have darshan of the presiding deity inside the sanctum, where Brahmapureeswarar appears as a self-manifested (Swayambhu) Lingam. Behind the main deity, Somaskanda is also seen. On the right side is the hall of Nataraja. The temple houses three images of Ambalavanan (Nataraja), and the Koshta deities include Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, and Brahma.
Sthala Purana
Brahma's Curse
Once, a dispute arose between Brahma, the god of creation, and Vishnu, the god who sustains the world, about who among them was superior. To remove their ignorance and teach them the truth, Shiva appeared before them as a towering column of divine light that rose infinitely upward and downward. Vishnu took the form of Varaha and burrowed deep into the earth in search of the base of the light, while Brahma assumed the form of a swan and flew upward to find its summit. However, neither of them was able to discover the beginning or the end of this radiant form of Shiva.
Shiva then transformed from the radiant column of light into a sacred hill and manifested at Tiruvannamalai. However, Brahma, who had taken the form of a swan, falsely claimed that he had seen the crown of Shiva. Because of this untruth, Shiva cursed Brahma to remain in the form of a swan.
Repenting for his mistake, Brahma prayed for forgiveness. Shiva instructed him to come to this sacred place, known as Punnagavanam, and perform penance there. Following this command, Brahma arrived at this site, created a sacred tank, and performed abhishekam to the Deity with its waters. After worshipping for many years, the curse was lifted, and Brahma regained his original form and resumed his role of creation. The annual festival commemorating the occasion is celebrated here every year on the day of Masi Magam. The sacred tank created by Brahma came to be known as "Annamam Poigai."
Amba and Ambara
Two asuras named Amban and Ambaran worshipped the presiding deity of this sacred place and obtained a boon of immortality from Shiva. Because these two demons worshipped here, the place came to be known as Ambar. However, empowered by the strength gained through their penance, Amban and Ambaran began causing great disturbance to the world. The devas, as was their custom, went to Shiva and pleaded for relief.
Shiva then looked toward Parvati, and understanding His intent, the Goddess assumed the fierce form of Kali. Kali appeared before the asuras in the form of a maiden. Mistaking her for an ordinary woman, both Amban and Ambaran desired to marry her and began quarrelling with each other. During the fight that broke out between them, the elder brother was killed. Kali then slew the younger one. The place where Kali destroyed Ambaran is known as Ambakarathur.
Somasi Mara Nayanar
This sacred place is also the birthplace of Somasi Mara Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. He once developed a strong desire to perform a Somayaga and wished that Shiva Himself should personally come and receive the sacrificial offering from the yajna. Believing that he could invite the Lord directly only through the help of his friend Sundarar, he decided to first gain Sundarar's friendship. Knowing that Sundarar was very fond of Thoothuvalai keerai, Somasi Mara Nayanar began sending it to him every day.
Sundarar came to meet the person who had been sending him the greens. At that time, Somasi Mara Nayanar requested Sundarar to invite Shiva to attend the yajna (sacrificial ritual) he was planning to perform. Sundarar prayed to the Lord on his behalf, and Shiva agreed, promising that He would come to the yajna that would take place in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, on the day of the Ayilya star.
Since Shiva Himself had promised to attend, many Vedic scholars and sages from different parts of the land gathered, and the yajna was conducted with great grandeur. At that time, Shiva arrived in disguise, appearing like a lowly person, carrying a dead calf on His shoulder and accompanied by four dogs that symbolized the four Vedas. Ganesha then appeared before Somasi Mara Nayanar and his wife, revealing that the one who had come was none other than Shiva Himself. Overjoyed, Somasi Mara Nayanar offered the sacrificial oblation to Shiva, who is worshipped here as Thyagaraja. Shiva then shed His disguised form and appeared with Parvati, granting divine darshan and blessing Somasi Mara Nayanar by including him among the revered Nayanmars.
Yajna Site
The place where Somasi Mara Nayanar performed the yajna is located along the roadside on the route from Ambar Perunthirukovil to Ambar Maakaalam.
Tevaram Hymns
The pathikam sung in praise of the Deity of this place by Thirugnanasambandar is included in the 3rd Thirumurai. In several verses of his hymn, he mentions that this temple was built by the Chola king Kochengat Chola. This temple is also regarded as the last among the seventy Maadakoils constructed by Kochengat Chola.
More Photos – Brahmapureesar Temple
