History of The Somanatha Swami Temple
Sacred Origins
The sacred history and divinity of the KAILĀSA Paramparagatha Sūrya Vamsa Adi Chola Sāmrājya Kamala Peetha Sarvajnapeetha (religious kingdom) ruling from the Tiruvarur Aadheenam (temple-monastery) begins with Paramaśiva Himself. Established as Paramaśiva’s royal court, Tiruvarur has an unsurpassed continuity of vibrant spiritual activity and achievements. This region
was ruled by the royal Chola Kingdom, the longest ruling dynasty in history, who were the regents of the Pontiff of the mutt. The Pontiffs were in turn the legal heir and direct representative of Paramaśiva in the region.
History of the Somanatha Swami temple
The sacred history and divinity of the Thiruvarur Peetham are recorded in its temple scriptures and rules from the Tiruvarur Aadheenam. The Kingdom of Tiruvarur is the Spiritual Kingdom. The Thiruvarur Aadheenam (temple-monastery) is located in the Tiruvarur region of South India with its ancient Sri Somanatha temple.
The deity Somanatha Swami has all along been worshipped to end mental agonies and stress of the devotees who seek His blessings at this temple.
This temple is located in South India in the State of Tamil Nadu close to the famous temple of Thyagaraja Swamy at Tiruvarur.
History reveals that Paramaśiva (Primordial Hindu Divinity) and His Divine Consort Devī appeared in physical form in this very location to Lord Chandra (the lunar planet) and blessed him with enlightenment. They then took deity form and remained there, heeding Lord Chandra’s prayers to be available to bless humanity as they had blessed him.
The deity forms are called Somanatha Swamy and Devī Jnanasiddhi Yogambigai. They are known to remove ignorance and bestow Enlightenment to those who worship them. To date, the devotees coming here are relieved of their mental agony and experience higher spiritual knowledge.
Sri Somanatha Swami
Devi Jnanasiddhi Yogambigai
Lunar God Chandra worshipped in deity form
Lord Paramashiva and Devi – deities that move in procession
The Aadheenam and temple were later established here by a Guru-disciple lineage. The founder and presiding deity remains Paramaśiva. This region was ruled by the royal Chola Kingdom, the longest ruling dynasty in history, who were the regents of the Pontiff of the mutt. The Pontiffs were in turn the legal heir and direct representative of Paramaśiva in the region. The Somanatha Swami temple is a 1000 year old Hindu Śiva temple. The contemporary history of the Somanatha Swami temple dates back to the time of the Medieval Cholas (1012-1044CE).
Reign of The Chola Kingdom Circa 1000 CE
Revelations on Thyagaraja Swami by The SPH
I tell you; highest renunciation, greatest Tyaga is renouncing your self-hatred. See, Paramaśiva worshiped in Indraloka (heaven), He is called as Tyagaraja. I was wondering, “Eh, Paramaśiva worshiped in Svarga (heaven) should be called as a Raja (king) of the Pleasure; King of pleasure. Why is he called as Tyagaraja?”. Hindus had regular communication and travel to other dimensions. It is… it was a lifestyle for us. It is a lifestyle even now for us. We used to go and come; to other dimensions. It used to be very usual, regular; till we were invaded and all this science was destroyed and demonized; much was destroyed, the remaining left over was demonized. Musukunda Chakravarthy, the Chola king of Thiruvarur, went to Svargaloka and he even helped Devatas (gods) in their war with Rakshasas (demons). Because he helped and they won the war, the head of the Gods, Indra, wanted to gift him something. He asked, “Oh Musukunda. You were such an amazing help and support and friend for me. Please ask what do you want?” He said, “My Chola kingdom is much more amazing than Svarga. There is nothing you can give me. There is nothing you can give me. I have everything more than Svarga. I looked around, it looks too poor. There is nothing which is not there in Chola Sāmrājya, Chola kingdom in Svarga.” Indra was very ashamed.He said, “Please, ask something, because I need to keep my pride and I need to save my face. I have to gift you something. You came all the way from Bhuloka and helped me; and I won the war because of your strategies and support. Please ask something and take; so it will give me a feeling fulfilled and I showed my gratitude”.
Then, Musukunda Chakravarthy said, “Alright, one thing I liked in your Devaloka. I wanted to take this deity, as a Utsava Murti (processional deity) for my Thiruvarur Temple”.
Indra was shocked because it was his own Atma Murti (personal deity of worship) and finally he felt, “Alright, anyhow he asked for some gift, so I should not say, no”; and he gifts that.
I tell you… if you learn Tyaga, (sacrifice) you will be in Svarga. If you learn Tyaga, you will be in Devaloka (dimension of all the gods). If you learn Tyaga, you will be In Indraloka. That same deity still exists. It is sitting in Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Swami Temple.”
3 January 2020
Revelations on Thyagaraja Swami by The SPH
The Tyagaraja Swami shrine
King Manu Neethi Cholan
This temple is the home of the legendary Chola Empire. King Manu Neethi Cholan followed the path of Manu and dealt even-handed justice according to the Code of Manu. Manu was the Son of Surya – the Sun God who codified the Cosmic Principles into ruling laws of a Hindu Kingdom. In his palace, there was a Bell of Justice which was rung only in case of injustice done to man or animal. It is said that one day a cow came to the palace and rung the bell. On inquiry, the king learned that his own son had trampled and killed her calf under his chariot wheels. Immediately, the king himself oversaw that justice was given. At once Lord Paramaśiva appeared before him and blessed all of them, especially the king for upholding the rule of the Cosmos. This incident is recorded in a stone inscription on the wall of the second circumambulation path of this temple (a.r. 164 of 1894; SII, V, no. 456).
