Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram | Timings & Deities

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram is famous for its Natrajar Panchaloga idol, the biggest idol of that type. According to popular belief, praying in this temple during the Pradosha time will benefit the people. Umamaheswarar temple’s morning timings are 06:00 am to 12:00 pm, and the evening timings are 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm.

The idol also represents one of the Kalyana Kolams, and this appears to be the one for Panigrahanam, where the Lord, the main deity Sree Umamaheswarar faces West as we enter the inner pra haram and the Goddess Arulvalanayaki faces east in a separate sandhi with an entrance from the outer prahara.

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram History:

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram

According to legends, Varaguna Pandya King wanted to create a huge life-size Natarajar statue and ordered his sculptor to prepare it in metal. Despite his continuous efforts, the sculptor could only make an idol at most 3 feet. The king gave him more time to work on the idol but warned him that he would chop his head off if he did not accomplish his task before the deadline. 

As the deadline reached, the worried and frantic sculptor prayed to God Shiva for help. God Shiva and Goddess Parvathi came to his house as a couple older than 70 and asked for little water. The sculptor was engrossed in his labour, and out of frustration, he told them to take the molten meta.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy drank it, instantly turning into the beautiful Statue of Natarajar and Sivakami. This Statue of Natarajar with Parvathi is about 7 ft high. It was then that the sculptor knew that the old couple had been none other than God Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. 

After hearing about this incident, the king visited the sculptor’s place but refused to believe the story. He hit the Statue with his sword, and to his astonishment, the idol started bleeding. The king amazement by God and asked for forgiveness. The Statue still bears the mark of the king’sking’s sword. Another interesting thing to note is its life-like appearance – fingernails, a mole on the body and fingerprints on the hands.

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram Architecture:

The documentary name of this place is Thiru Nallam. It had believed that this place got submerged and later excavated. Queen Sembian Mahadevi, the wife of Chola King Kandarathithan, replaced the old brick temple with granite and enlarged it.

Some stone inscriptions in this temple date back to the periods of King Chola Kandarathithan, his partner Sembian Mahadevi and their son Uthama Chola. Some inscriptions also mention kings Rajarajan, Rajendran, Rajathirajan-I, Rajendran-II, Kulothungan I and III and Rajarajan-III. These inscriptions show that Chola kings maintained this temple for almost two and a half centuries.

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram Timings:

Umamaheswarar temple’s morning timings are 06:00 am to 12:00 pm, and the evening timings are 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm.

DaysMorning TimingsEvening Timings
Monday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Tuesday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Wednesday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Thursday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Friday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Sunday06 am to 12 pm4:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Deities in the Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

Deities in the temple are here

  • Lord Shiva 
  • Goddess Parvathy
  • Lord Vinayakar
  • Lord Murugan
  • Mahalakshmi
  • Nalvar
  • Brahmalingam
  • Agasthiya Lingam 

There are different shrines for Goddess Parvathy, Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts and Sri Vaithiyanathar in the corridor.

Best time to visit Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

The ideal time to worship Lord Shiva is during the sunset. Technically speaking, this period is called prodosha. This period lasts for about 90 minutes, from about 45 minutes before the actual sunset to 45 minutes after it.

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram Sculptures:

While going around the sanctum sanctorum, there are smaller-scale sculptures in the inner circle outside the sanctum sanctorum. There are sculptures of Anaiyuri Devar, worshipping the lingam and the Lord being with the Goddess.

Benefic Lord Saturn at Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

Lord Saturn here is facing west. Nalan and his wife Damayanti worshipped at this temple before going to Tirunallaru. So Shani, who had dressed in black in other places, here only wears white clothes and blesses him as Anukraka Murthy.

At that time, it was customary for devotees going to Thiru Nallaru to go to Thirunallam only after worshipping this Saneeswara Lord.

Festivals Celebrated at Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

Some of the famous festivals celebrated in this temple are

  • Two Brahmotsavams celebrated in this temple – “Vaikasi Visakam” in May-June and “Margazhi Thiruvadhirai” in December-January.
  • Abhishekam to Natarajar is performed six times yearly (in the Tamil months of Chithirai, Purattasi, Markazhi Aani, Aavani, and Maasi).
  • Vinayakar Chaturthi in the month of Tamil Aavani (Aug-Sept)
  • Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the month of Tamil Aippasi (Oct–Nov)
  • Shivrathri in the month of Tamil Masi (Feb-Mar).
  • Pradosham had also observed regularly.

Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram Prasadam: 

Many devotees come here and perform abhishekam for the God and the Goddess. Offering to clothe and contributing to the temple’s renovation is very common amongst the devotees. Temple’s committee gives prasadams to devotees free of cost.

Tourist places nearby Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

Hotels nearby Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

  • Hotel Metro
  • Ark Inn Residency
  • Hotel Metro
  • Quality Inn Viha
  • Hotel Atlantis Kumbakonam
  • Sri Balaji Grand
  • Mantra Koodam
  • Hotel Thangavilas Inn
  • Raya’s Grand

Umamaheswarar Temple Address & Contact Number:

  • Sri Uma Maheswarar Swamy Temple, Thirunallam (Konerirajapuram), Mayiladuthurai Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu – 612201.
  • Contact Numbers: +91 94865 10515, 435-2449830 and 2449800.

How to reach Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram:

By Road:

S Pudur Bus Stop is the nearest bus stand.

By Rail:

The closest station to the temple is at Aduthurai.

By Air:

The nearest airport to this temple is at Trichy.

FAQs:

Which temple is famous in Konerirajapuram?

Sri Uma Maheswarar Temple, Konerirajapuram Mayiladuthurai Taluk, Nagapattinam District, is a famous temple.

What is the history of Umamaheswarar Temple Konerirajapuram?  

Originally built by the Cholas, it was later renovated by the Madurai Nayaks and Vijayanagara rulers. The major temple complex had believed to had built during the 8th century by the Chola king Aditya I and his grandson Raja Raja Chola I.

Where is the 7 feet Nataraja statue in Tamilnadu?

The idol is in the Konerirajapuram Temple.

Who made the temple in Konerirajapuram?

Referred to as Thirunallam in the inscriptions and the hymns of Saivite saints Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnanasambandar, the temple in Konerirajapuram, constructed by Sembiyan Madevi, the grandmother of Raja Raja Chola, the greatest among the Chola King, is also the abode of the tallest Nataraja idol.

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