Thiruthinai Nagar also called as Thirthanagiri is a beautiful agricultural village situated on the Cuddalore ---Chidambaram high way almost equidistant from both the towns.

The railway station is Alappakkam which is on the Chennai---Tiruchy main line where both Cuddalore ---Chidambaram are the nearest junctions.

The Siva temple is located amidst lush green fields fed by clean live streams. This particular shrine finds a place in the holy text SIVA RAGASYA. The place was known by several names during different YUGA.

> GIRUDHA YUGA& THIRUDHA YUGA - depicted as ONGARAPURI

> THUVAPARA YUGA - known as THESAPIRATHAM

> KALI YUGA - it is GHANAPIRATHAM

In all the four YUGA the name Thiruthinai nagar was also known. This place is having a link of sorts, as this LINGAM is a prototype for the other temples from KASI to KANYAKUMARI. The Lord in the form a LINGAM which is to have originated on its own-----SUYAMU where AUVUDAIYAR is square shaped. The  LINGAM originated from earth & the base could not be reached-for more than 100 feet down ;probably there is a hillock in that region ,the peak / summit of which is transformed as SIVALINGAM.

The history of this sacred place was told to UMA by SIVA as per scriptures of the Holy SIVA RAGASYA .At that time Lord SUBRAMANIAN heard and retold the same to sage AGASTHIAR; the sage in turn compiled & documented as SIVA RAGASYA.AGASTHIAR was a SAIGIDA YOGEESWARAR who compiled nearly a lakh KIRANTHAM in to 12 ANGISHAM. (Part of which is available in the Connemara library. Thiruchendur Malaimarundhu descendant Kumara Malaimarundhu had written the same in Tamil.

The Lord is variably called:

1.SIVAKOLUNDEESWARAR
2.SIVANGURESWARAR
3.PIRANAVA PUREESWARAR

The Consort is known as:

1.KARUNTHATTAKANNI
2.NEELATHALAMBIGAI
3.PIRANAVA PUREESWARI

The sacred tree is SARAKKONDRAI

The water body four in no. namely

1.JAMBHAVA
2.GOWRI
3.GARUDA (PERUMAL LAKE)
4.DEVA (BAY OF BENGAL)

Other stories & incidences related to this place:

1. Maha VISHNU worshiped for three days; obtained a celestial power namely VAYAM & killed a demon called MURASURAN, hence VISHNU known as MURARI.
2. Sage BIRUNGI who was cursed by Sage DHURWASA did penance here for 30 days & got the same corrected.
3. GARUDA worshipped here & brought AMIRTHAM the holy Nector which he gave to his mother.
4. Sage JAMBAVAN who during the period of Lord RAMA along with the entire clan,came here after the war& subsequent anointment of RAM as king as  holy bear .
5. Bengal King VISUBANIRUBAN was purified of his Brhamhathi curse
6. His son King VEERASENAMAHA renovated & added additional structures; he stayed here for three years.

The original temple built by Bengal kings had three corridors with walls & four towers; they were destroyed by invaders during Arcot wars. (Some of the broken icons are seen even today).During the war the bronze sculptures were kept hidden in the various water bodies & retrieved later.

King Verasena during his campaign noticed a strange happening. His horse & dog who had certain skin disorder got cured on bathing in the water bodies around. The realized that water & the Deities in the temple possess curative power.

The king himself was suffering from Leckoderma & the same was corrected in the similar way like his animals. The king as a tribute renovated the temple complex & enhanced the water bodies.The figurine of King VEERASENA is kept along with the Four Saiva Sivachariars viz .SUNDARAR, APPAR, MANIKKAVASAGAR & THIRUGANASAMBANDAR  in the left of the main shrine.

REASON FOR THE NAME THIRUTHINAI NAGAR

The story goes like this: A farmer who was an ardent SIVA devotee who used to feed all the followers Lord SIVA. In the bargain he became poor but still he continued to feed at least one devotee every day before he & his wife eats. Since he lost the property he himself started tending the fields. One day at the field The Lord came in the guise of an ascetic (SANGAMA ROOPA) and asked for food immediately as HE cannot tolerate hunger. The farmer gave some of the seeds in hand & said to eat that till he brings food from home. The ascetic took shelter from scorching sun under a tree. (The same tree is alive till date & can be seen at a corner of the temple) At home there is nothing as well. But his intelligent wife took some of the grains indented to be used as seed & cooked .When the farmer reached the fields to his surprise the entire field was covered by fully grown ripe plants with grains. The plants were appearing like paying obeisance to the Lord; there was happiness everywhere.

The farmer & his wife understood that the SIVA Himself had descended as in the place where the farmer was sitting a SHIVLING existed. As on the same day the entire process of farming was executed including obtaining the grains the village came to be known as THIRUTHINAI NAGAR.   Latter the entire family of the farmer attained the abode of Lord SIVA.

About the temple:

The main gopuram is three tiered.

The mast / post is covered fully with engraved copper plates.

THE TEMPLE HAS NANDHI & PALI PEETAM

During the Tamil month of PUNGUNI Sun rays fall on the deity probably getting reflected from the NANDHI on 25, 26 & 27(this approximately correspond to April second week ).  This explains several other subsequent events .The Sun moves to 12 Almanac starting from Mesham i.e. Aries and ends in Meenam I.e .Pisces ,after which a new year calendar begins. The Sun worships the Lord Shiva before the start of a new year. The Tamil New Year, probably for this reason, is fixed on the 1st of  the Tamil month Chithirai when the Sun enters the Mesham for the next cycle.

The shrine of the Goddess is located on the left of the mast as one enters the temple. The temple also has separate shrine for Lord GANESA, Lord SUBRAMANIAN & a platform with NAVAKRAHAS.

The information was provided by Mr. Manikandan, the priest of the temple.The temple is being maintained very well by him. The author also wishes to acknowledge the guidance of Mr. Yoga Siva; Computer work by P.Ranganathan.

A photograph taken when nearing the temple

Raja Gopuram - the main three tiered tower at the entrance.

The tower traditionally never had any sculptures; but during the last renovation two figurines on standing postures had been incorporated.

The main mast is fully covered with copper plates which contains engraved sculptures.

The sacred bull NANDHI is sculpted & positioned in such a way that the tail deflects  the sun rays through the ornamental granite window to fall on the SHIV LING during the Tamil month of PANGUNI for three days -25,26 & 27.

The story is that the Lord SUN Himself is supposed to worship on those days.

THE INSCRIPTIONS IN THE TEMPLE

The author Kavingar koo. Pitchai Pillay in his book titled Nadunattu Koilkall

i.e. Temples of Central Tamil Nadu ---Vijaya Publishers Ulundurpet - mentions
Various inscriptions present on the walls of the temple .The inscriptions are documented By A.S.I. (Archaeological Survey of India) ---115-127/1904.

1. No.116/1904-(stone inscription no of ASI) present on the west & south wall of the Sanctum begins as –PUALVOITHU VALAM PERUGA meaning rain rich fertile--- King Kulothungan-3-on his 15th year (A.D.1194) donated 50 veli area village Jayamkonda Chola Sathurvedhi Mangalam Pidakhai Kandi Mellur.

2. No116A/1904---also at the same area—Koneri Kondan-on the 3 rd year of reign Donated 50 veli land around the same area, depicted as Virutharasa Payangara Valanattu Merkanattu Jayamkonda Chola Sathurvethi Mangala Thiruthinai Nagar Pidagai Poopala Nallur to take care of day-to day activities.

3. No.118/1904—at the Sanctum base southern side – Kulothungan 3rd who conqured kings of Madurai & Elam during his 21st year of reign i.e. (198-99) donated land at Kudanthai Udayan Thinaiyan Nayan @ Panchavan Madhevipurathan to enable the Oil lamps to be lit .

4.No.118/1904---at the chamber opposite to the Sanctum—Maravarman Veera Pandian during his 9th year of reign levied taxes to celebrateTamil Month Vaikasi  festival, Thirunavukkarasar ,Nachiar thirunal & other daily activities.

5. No.123/1904--Sadayavarman Sundara Pandian on his 16th year of reign (A.D.1265)donated 50 veli land at Poopala Sundara Chola Nalloor ;the taxes from these land are to be used for celebration of festivals and renovation of Kothanda Ramar shrine and the temple itself. 

6. No.124/1904—at eastern side of the chamber opposite to the Sanctum—Vikirama Pandian in his 4th year of reign (A.D.1253) donated 20 maa land at Panchavan Madhevipuram Perunganur Thamanthai Velan Thiruvannamalai Udayan Thennvarayan.

7. No.125/1904—King Krishnadeva Rayar during Sagam 1439 (A.D.1517-18) while staying at the banks of the river Krishnaveni in Pejavada bequeathed various Government taxes to the temple. At the same time the King gave away tax income to The following temples.

1.  Thiruchirappalli Sandalkai Thirukkattupalli
2.   Thirunagar
3.   Thirunagoor
4.   Thirumanikkuzhi
5.   Thiruvaeendiram
6.   Thiruppathiri Pulliyur
7.   Korrukkai
8.   Thiygavalli
9.   Iraivanarayur
10. Senthavan Mangalam
11. Thirunavallur
12. Thirunarungondai
13. Thirukodikka
14. Pennadam
15. Thittaikudi

8. No127/1904—Jadavarman Sundara Pandian in his 14th year of reign (A.D.1264-65) gave a Royal Decree stating that for every maa land belonging to the temple should. Give one Kuruni measure paddy to the temple for the daily activities.