The temple is one of the 275 Shiva Sthalams or sacred temples for Shiva. It is the 95th Siva Sthalam on the southern bank of the Cauvery River in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). The main deity is Shiva, as Sara Parameswarar. His consort is Gnanavalli. Shiva here is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
Lord Shiva graces the temple in the form of Runa Vimochana Lingeswarar, who gives relief from debts. Sage Markandeya installed and worshipped a Shivalingam here. The story goes that he prayed to Shiva here and obtained freedom from the debts that he had accumulated in his previous birth (poorva janma kadan). He also got Moksha or salvation here.
This is also the only temple where three Durgas are present. They are Shiva Durga, Vaishnavi Durga, and Vishnu Durga. This is unique, and people feel that worshipping the goddess here is very auspicious.
Saint Thirunavukkarasar praised Bhairava (a form of Shiva) in the temple by singing a special hymn.
The holy tree at the temple, Mavilangai, sprouts leaves only in the first 4 months of the year, then white flowers alone during the second 4 months and nothing during the remaining 4 months. A special offering of Archana is made on 11 consecutive Mondays by devotees. They complete their worship by performing Abishekam on the 11th Monday. This ritual is believed to clear all debts and bring prosperity. The deity supposedly bestows the form of wealth one seeks, whether it’s money, a good education, children, or a good marital life.
Mondays are dedicated to Shiva; hence 11 Mondays are prescribed. Surya Pooja is held on the 13th, 14th, and 15th day of the Tamil month, Maasi, when the Sun's rays fall on Shiva and Goddess Gnanambikai in the morning around 06-30 am. Surya Pooja takes place here every year at this time.
The temple is east-facing and has two corridors. Its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. The deity here also has the name of Sri Senneriyappar. It means that he shows everyone how to live righteously (‘senneri’ means ‘right way’ and appar means lord’).
Large numbers of devotees visit the temple on Mondays and Fridays. The belief is that Surya (Sun god) and Sage Thoumiya worshipped Shiva here.
Deities in the Temple
Apart from the shrines of Shiva and Goddess Parvati, one can also find shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Dhandapani, Shivalingam, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Surya, Shanishwarar, Nagar, Jeshta Devi, Amirthakadesar, as well as Ambal, Nalvar, Juralingam and Sapthamadhars. These are seen in the hall and the corridors.
There is a separate shrine for “Runa Hareshwarar” - one who removes our debt burden- in the outer praharam (circumambulatory path). In the koshtam, which is the place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum,, we can see idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Bhairavar, Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Chandrasekarar, 3 Durgas, Brahma, and 2 Chandikeswarar.
Saint Thirunavukkarasar has praised Bhairavar of this temple in his hymn. The Bhairava idol is unique as it has an inscription of a bell and a trident on the left arm of the deity. One cannot find such a Bhairava idol anywhere else. This Bhairavar stands next to the idol of Nataraja in the koshtam.
Locals believe that Suryan (Sun) worships Shiva and Goddess Parvati here by shining his rays on them every year for 3 days in the morning on the 13th, 14th, and 15th day in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar). There are special poojas at the temple during this period.
The Sthala Viruksham here is Maavilangai.The temple is significant for its three major attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam, and Theertham which represent the glory of the deity, sacredness of the land, and the auspicious temple tank, respectively.
Important Festivals at the Temple
Some of the major festivals here are:
Vinayakar Chaturthi in Aavani month (Aug-Sept),
Navarathri in Purattasi month (Sept-Oct),
Skanda Shasti and Annabishekam in Aippasi month (Oct–Nov),
Thiru Karthikai in Karthikai month (Nov-Dec),
Thiruvadhirai in Markazhi month (Dec-Jan), and
Shivrathri in Maasi month (Feb-Mar).
Pradosham is also observed regularly.
History of the Temple
The temple was built to protect devotees from debts and liabilities. Runa Vimochana Lingeshwarar embodies the sacred energies of Shiva, who can help people to gain freedom from debts, sins, financial issues, obligations, and past karmas. Long ago, Sage Markandeya installed a Linga in this temple for the welfare of the people in this region. The temple came to be known as Runa Vimochana Lingeshwarar, a temple where one could get relief from debts, sins, and karmic debts.
Chola kings built the temple 1000 years ago. The deity here guides people to be righteous in life. Vedic scriptures hold that every human being has three types of debts in life - debts to Devas, Rishis, and Pithrus, meaning debts to God, sages, and ancestors, respectively. Worshipping Shani or Saturn and Shiva here bestows divine blessings to get rid of past sins and karmas.
Benefits of Thirucherai Runa Parihara Pooja
There is a special Runa Parihara Pooja at the temple. This Pooja brings many benefits. Let us see what they are.
· It reduces and eliminates financial debts
· It boosts income and stabilizes one’s finances
· It bestows a happy and prosperous life
Many devotees who performed this ritual have experienced the above benefits in their lives.
Significance of the Thirucherai Temple
· It is a renowned temple for eliminating financial debts
· It can also remove our karmic debts
· It improves one’s finances and earnings
The Runa Vimochana Lingeswarar is in the outer prakaram (circumambulatory corridor). Many people come here to worship Shiva here as they believe that it can boost their financial status and free them from debts. Hence, the deity is also called ‘Kadan Nivartheeshwarar’ ('Kadan' means 'debt' and 'Nivartha' means ‘to get release from’).
This is also the only temple where three Durgas are present. They are Shiva Durga, Vaishnavi Durga, and Vishnu Durga. This is unique, and people feel that worshipping the goddess here is very auspicious.
Saint Thirunavukkarasar praised Bhairava (a form of Shiva) in the temple by singing a special hymn.
The holy tree at the temple, Mavilangai, sprouts leaves only in the first 4 months of the year, then white flowers alone during the second 4 months and nothing during the remaining 4 months. A special offering of Archana is made on 11 consecutive Mondays by devotees. They complete their worship by performing Abishekam on the 11th Monday. This ritual is believed to clear all debts and bring prosperity. The deity supposedly bestows the form of wealth one seeks, whether it’s money, a good education, children, or a good marital life.
Mondays are dedicated to Shiva; hence 11 Mondays are prescribed. Surya Pooja is held on the 13th, 14th, and 15th day of the Tamil month, Maasi, when the Sun's rays fall on Shiva and Goddess Gnanambikai in the morning around 06-30 am. Surya Pooja takes place here every year at this time.
The temple is east-facing and has two corridors. Its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. The deity here also has the name of Sri Senneriyappar. It means that he shows everyone how to live righteously (‘senneri’ means ‘right way’ and appar means lord’).
Large numbers of devotees visit the temple on Mondays and Fridays. The belief is that Surya (Sun god) and Sage Thoumiya worshipped Shiva here.
Deities in the Temple
Apart from the shrines of Shiva and Goddess Parvati, one can also find shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Dhandapani, Shivalingam, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Surya, Shanishwarar, Nagar, Jeshta Devi, Amirthakadesar, as well as Ambal, Nalvar, Juralingam and Sapthamadhars. These are seen in the hall and the corridors.
There is a separate shrine for “Runa Hareshwarar” - one who removes our debt burden- in the outer praharam (circumambulatory path). In the koshtam, which is the place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum,, we can see idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Bhairavar, Dakshinamurthy, Natarajar, Chandrasekarar, 3 Durgas, Brahma, and 2 Chandikeswarar.
Saint Thirunavukkarasar has praised Bhairavar of this temple in his hymn. The Bhairava idol is unique as it has an inscription of a bell and a trident on the left arm of the deity. One cannot find such a Bhairava idol anywhere else. This Bhairavar stands next to the idol of Nataraja in the koshtam.
Locals believe that Suryan (Sun) worships Shiva and Goddess Parvati here by shining his rays on them every year for 3 days in the morning on the 13th, 14th, and 15th day in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar). There are special poojas at the temple during this period.
The Sthala Viruksham here is Maavilangai.The temple is significant for its three major attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam, and Theertham which represent the glory of the deity, sacredness of the land, and the auspicious temple tank, respectively.
Important Festivals at the Temple
Some of the major festivals here are:
Vinayakar Chaturthi in Aavani month (Aug-Sept),
Navarathri in Purattasi month (Sept-Oct),
Skanda Shasti and Annabishekam in Aippasi month (Oct–Nov),
Thiru Karthikai in Karthikai month (Nov-Dec),
Thiruvadhirai in Markazhi month (Dec-Jan), and
Shivrathri in Maasi month (Feb-Mar).
Pradosham is also observed regularly.
History of the Temple
The temple was built to protect devotees from debts and liabilities. Runa Vimochana Lingeshwarar embodies the sacred energies of Shiva, who can help people to gain freedom from debts, sins, financial issues, obligations, and past karmas. Long ago, Sage Markandeya installed a Linga in this temple for the welfare of the people in this region. The temple came to be known as Runa Vimochana Lingeshwarar, a temple where one could get relief from debts, sins, and karmic debts.
Chola kings built the temple 1000 years ago. The deity here guides people to be righteous in life. Vedic scriptures hold that every human being has three types of debts in life - debts to Devas, Rishis, and Pithrus, meaning debts to God, sages, and ancestors, respectively. Worshipping Shani or Saturn and Shiva here bestows divine blessings to get rid of past sins and karmas.
Benefits of Thirucherai Runa Parihara Pooja
There is a special Runa Parihara Pooja at the temple. This Pooja brings many benefits. Let us see what they are.
· It reduces and eliminates financial debts
· It boosts income and stabilizes one’s finances
· It bestows a happy and prosperous life
Many devotees who performed this ritual have experienced the above benefits in their lives.
Significance of the Thirucherai Temple
· It is a renowned temple for eliminating financial debts
· It can also remove our karmic debts
· It improves one’s finances and earnings
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