About Thiruvaiyaru
A serene panchayat town on the banks of River Cauvery, Thiruvaiyaru in the
Thanjavur district is known for its ancient Lord Shiva temple, and for being the
birthplace of the legendary 18th century music composer, Saint Thyagaraja.
Thiruvaiyaru is about 13 kilometer (8.12 miles) north-west of main Thanjavur
city, and has over the years become quite a hub for art, culture and religion.
Devotees make trips year round to worship at the sacred shrine of
Panchanatheeswar, while music connoisseurs congregate every January for the
eight-day festival of Carnatic music in honor of the great saint, Thyagaraja.
Along the way from Thanjavur, you will pass five bridges over the rivers Vadavar, Vettar, Vennar, Kudamurutti and Cauvery, before entering into Thiruvaiyaru (meaning five rivers around the city). At some point you might feel that the modest façade of the town underplays its significance as a pilgrimage center. A dip in the waters of the Cauvery here is believed to be as pious as a dip in the Ganges at Varanasi, and cleanses devotees of all sins.
One of the ‘trinity of Carnatic music’, Saint Thyagaraja was born here, grew up to become a stalwart composer, received immense adulation and breathed his last here. Close to the Shiva temple, you will find the one-roomed home of Thyagaraja, where he composed some of his greatest works. Music lovers gather at his samadhi (tomb) on the shore of the Cauvery for one of the greatest classical music festivals in the country held annually. The Thyagaraja Aradhana festival witness’ some soul-stirring performances by eminent Carnatic musicians from across the country and outside. At present, a huge complex is being constructed to house the ever-growing audience for the music concert. From the samadhi site, you can see as far as the Maratha mansions lining the river, the surrounding greenery, a free sky, to the placid Cauvery meandering to the horizon. What stirs your heart is the all-consuming calm of the place, making it truly ideal for a festival of music.
You can even visit Thyagaraja’s family home at Tirumanjana Veedhi, about a kilometer south of the samadhi, gifted to him by the Maratha royal family of Thanjavur. Ever since a child he was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, which eventually lead to some wonderful devotional compositions. Little wonder, he created more than 800 songs on Lord Rama alone!
Along the way from Thanjavur, you will pass five bridges over the rivers Vadavar, Vettar, Vennar, Kudamurutti and Cauvery, before entering into Thiruvaiyaru (meaning five rivers around the city). At some point you might feel that the modest façade of the town underplays its significance as a pilgrimage center. A dip in the waters of the Cauvery here is believed to be as pious as a dip in the Ganges at Varanasi, and cleanses devotees of all sins.
One of the ‘trinity of Carnatic music’, Saint Thyagaraja was born here, grew up to become a stalwart composer, received immense adulation and breathed his last here. Close to the Shiva temple, you will find the one-roomed home of Thyagaraja, where he composed some of his greatest works. Music lovers gather at his samadhi (tomb) on the shore of the Cauvery for one of the greatest classical music festivals in the country held annually. The Thyagaraja Aradhana festival witness’ some soul-stirring performances by eminent Carnatic musicians from across the country and outside. At present, a huge complex is being constructed to house the ever-growing audience for the music concert. From the samadhi site, you can see as far as the Maratha mansions lining the river, the surrounding greenery, a free sky, to the placid Cauvery meandering to the horizon. What stirs your heart is the all-consuming calm of the place, making it truly ideal for a festival of music.
You can even visit Thyagaraja’s family home at Tirumanjana Veedhi, about a kilometer south of the samadhi, gifted to him by the Maratha royal family of Thanjavur. Ever since a child he was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, which eventually lead to some wonderful devotional compositions. Little wonder, he created more than 800 songs on Lord Rama alone!
The ancient temple of Lord Shiva is spread out over 14 acre beyond which are dense paddy fields. It is about a kilometer from the main market in the middle of the town. According to legend, while passing this land, a king’s chariot wheel got stuck in a piece of moist ground, and on persistent struggle, he inadvertently unearthed a Shivlingam and the idols of Goddess Dharmasamvardhini, Vinayaka, Muruga and Nandi. On digging further, a saint in deep meditation came into view, with locks resembling the roots of a banyan tree. Awe-inspired, the king fell at his feet and was blessed by the saint who commanded him to build a Shiva temple on the same spot. Architectural detailing and inscriptions on the temple walls draw inference to the early Chola period. Look up the huge temple tank, Surya Pushkarni, on bathing in whose waters Saint Tirunavukkarasar realized a vision of Lord Shiva on Mount Kailash. The temple gears up for the annual festival Adi in July-August.
