The Sri Thiyagarajaswamy temple in Thiruvarur has a spectacular historical significance dating back to the powerful Chola era The temple is located in the Kaveri Delta and is dedicated to Lord Shiva Every year during the Tamil month of Panguni March the temple celebrates Asias largest chariot festival known as the Aazhi Ther Thiruvarur Chariot Festival The Aazhi Ther transports the mai....
The Sri Thiyagarajaswamy temple in Thiruvarur has a spectacular historical significance dating back to the powerful Chola era The temple is located in the Kaveri Delta and is dedicated to Lord Shiva Every year during the Tamil month of Panguni March the temple celebrates Asias largest chariot festival known as the Aazhi Ther Thiruvarur Chariot Festival The Aazhi Ther transports the main deity Uthsava Moorthi and his consort Lord Parvathi in a joyous procession through the city During the Car Festival the thousandyearold chariot is towed by devotees by thick ropesThe Sri Thiyagarajaswamy temple complex covers around 30 acres and features four large gopurams gateway towers The eastern tower is the tallest with three storeys and a height of about 100 feet 30 metres The temple features around 100 sannidhis shrines with 365 Shiva Lingas dedicating one Linga for each day of the year The temples two principal sannidhis are for the moolavar main deity Sri Vanmikinathar Lord Siva and Thiyagarajar In the devotional hymns of Thevaram saints like Appar Thirugnanasambandar and Sundarar the Nayanmars have glorified the Sri Thiyagarajaswamy temple and the auspicious Therottam festival The temple is home to two chariots Kal Ther immovable stone chariot and Aazhi Ther The Vikrama Cholas stone chariot reflects the Chola Kingdoms pursuit of justice as it connects with the fascinating history of the great Chola monarch Manu Needhi and his son when the latter accidentally strangled a calf beneath his chariot The King Manu Needhi punished his son in the same way as the calf was slaughtered when the mother cow rang the temple bell to seek justice The Stone Chariot at Thiruvarur bears witness to this episode which is also written in the Tamil classic Silappadikaram The Aazhi Therottam car festival is attended by thousands of devotees every year The 250 tonne chariot is adorned with colourful silk robes and aromatic flowers as the devotees tow the massive chariot in procession
