Kandiyur Sri Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal Temple – Where Shiva Found Salvation at the Lotus Shrine of Vishnu
Located approximately 11 kilometres from Thanjavur on the road to
Thiruvaiyaru, the sacred village of Kandiyur is home to one of the most
remarkable temples in Tamil Nadu. This temple holds a revered place among the
108 Divya Desams, the celebrated Vaishnava pilgrimage shrines sung by the Alwar
saints. The presiding deity, Bhagavan Vishnu, is enshrined here as Hara Sabha
Vimochana Perumal, facing east in a standing posture. The Thayar, the divine
consort, is Kamalavalli Nachiyar, and the Utsavar is Kamalanathan. The temple
is open to devotees from 8 am to 12 noon and from 4:30 pm to 8 pm.
The Sacred Story Behind the Name
The name Kandiyur itself carries deep spiritual
significance. It derives its name from Kandeeswarar, a name of Shiva,
commemorating a profound episode of divine grace and liberation.
In the ancient past, both Brahma and Shiva each possessed
five heads. One day, Parvati, returning from her daily worship, saw a
five-headed figure and, mistaking Brahma for her husband Shiva, began offering
respectful service by washing his feet. Shiva, witnessing this, grew furious.
He declared that Brahma's five-headed form had caused this confusion and that
it reflected arrogance on Brahma's part. In a moment of wrath, Shiva reached
out and removed one of Brahma's five heads. However, that severed head adhered
to Shiva's own hand and could not be removed. This was the Brahmahatya dosha,
the grave sin incurred by taking the head of Brahma.
Thus burdened, Shiva wandered across the earth as a pilgrim
and penitent, using Brahma's skull as a begging vessel. Yet, every time
well-wishers filled the skull with food or alms, the offerings would vanish
instantly, denying Shiva any relief. His penance seemed endless and his anguish
complete.
Bhagavan Vishnu's Grace and Shiva's Liberation
It was at this point that Bhagavan Vishnu, the preserver and
refuge of all beings, heard Shiva's earnest prayers. Bhagavan directed Shiva to
travel to Kandiyur, to bathe in the sacred waters there, and to seek the
blessings of Kamalavalli Naachiyar and Kamalanathan. Shiva obeyed with complete
devotion. Upon bathing at Kandiyur and praying before Bhagavan and the Goddess,
the skull fell away from his hand, and he was freed entirely from the
Brahmahatya dosha.
Because Bhagavan Vishnu liberated Shiva, known also as Hara,
from this terrible curse right here at Kandiyur, the presiding deity came to be
celebrated as Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal, the one who granted Hara his
freedom. The very ground of Kandiyur thus became a kshetra of redemption, a
place where even the greatest of sins could be washed away through sincere
surrender to Bhagavan.
The Pancha Kamala Kshetram
Kandiyur holds the distinctive title of Pancha Kamala
Kshetram, the abode of five lotus symbols. The five elements that earn this
title are Kamalanathan, the name of Bhagavan here; Kamalavalli, the name of the
Thaayar; the Kamala Pushkarani, the sacred temple tank associated with the
lotus; the Kamala Vimanam, the tower above the sanctum; and the Kshetra itself,
which bears the essence of the lotus in name and spirit. The lotus, in Hindu
sacred tradition, is the symbol of purity, divine grace, and liberation,
qualities that pervade every dimension of this temple.
The Glory of the Trinity at One Shrine
One of the rarest and most celebrated features of Kandiyur
is that all three of the great cosmic powers, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, are
present and worshipped here together. This is why Kandiyur bears the exalted
title of Mum Moorthy Sthala, the place of the three divine forms. Since Brahma
generally does not have independent temples dedicated to him in the Hindu
tradition, he is graciously enshrined here within the Kandeeswarar temple
alongside Maha Saraswathi, his divine consort. The presence of all three at a
single sacred site makes Kandiyur exceptionally rare among pilgrimage
destinations in Tamil Nadu.
Built by Emperor Mahabali
According to traditional accounts, this temple was
constructed by the noble Emperor Mahabali, whose devotion to Bhagavan Vishnu is
celebrated across the Puranas. His act of building this temple adds a layer of
ancient royal benediction to the sanctity of the site.
Festivals and Sacred Observances
The annual cycle of festivals at Kandiyur brings together
thousands of devotees. The Panguni Brahmotsavam celebrated in March and April
marks the grandest occasion of the year. The Aipasi Pavithra Utsav in October
and November, the Vaikunta Ekadasi in December and January, and the Karthikai
Deepam in November and December are all observed with traditional rituals,
processions, and devotional singing. These festivals transform the temple into
a vibrant centre of communal worship and spiritual renewal.
Significance for Pilgrims
For those undertaking a pilgrimage through the Divya Desams of Tamil Nadu, Kandiyur stands out as a place of exceptional spiritual potency. The belief, rooted in sacred tradition, is that just as Shiva himself was freed from his curse at this very spot, any devotee who comes to this temple with sincerity of heart and offers genuine prayer will find relief from the accumulated burdens and obstacles in their own life. The Pancha Kamala character of the kshetra adds to its spiritual purity, and the simultaneous presence of the Trinity makes every visit here a rare and complete experience of divine grace.