திருவாரூர் தியாகராஜர் திருக்கோயில்Thyagaraja Temple, Thiruvarur

Sthala Mahātmyam

The Thyagaraja temple at Thiruvarur is the foremost of the seven Sapta Vidanga Sthalams. The presiding Shiva is Vanmikanathar, who appeared as an anthill (vanmikam) in answer to the devas' prayers; his consort is Neelotpalambika, also revered as Kamalambika, whose shrine is a celebrated Shakti Peetha and centre of Sri Vidya worship. The temple's fame rests on Thyagaraja (Somaskanda), the Vidanga processional deity called Vidhi Vidangar. Legend holds that this image, worshipped by Vishnu upon his chest, was gifted to King Muchukunda by Indra; when Indra tried to test the king with seven identical images, his devotion revealed the true one at Thiruvarur while the other six went to the sister shrines. Here Thyagaraja performs the Ajapa Natanam — a dance mirroring the rise and fall of the breath, symbolising effortless ajapa (unspoken) meditation. The grand Chithirai chariot festival, whose temple car is among the largest in Asia, and the Aani Thyagarajar Utsavam are the chief celebrations, followed by the Theppam float festival.