Konerirajapuram

Koneri Rajapuram - Uma Maheswarar Temple

Konerirajapuram ( Thirunallam) is a village in the Mayiladuthurai taluk of Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is famous for the Uma Maheswarar Temple. Tirunallam is considered to be the 34th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. 

Significance of the temple:

v  Thirunallam is considered as the 34th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.

v  This village is famous for the bronze statue of Lord Natraja in the Shiva's temple.

v  Lord Shiva is called as Umamaheswarar and his consort devi parvathi is called by the name Anga vala nayaki or Dehasundari amman.

This temple has been built by Kandaradhittha chola and his wife Sembian maa devi. Kandaradhithan is the grandfather of the famous Raja Raja Chola. He is well known for his service to Lord Shiva, by building huge temples in his empire.

The Chola king Kadaraditya Cholan and his wife Sembian Mahadevi were pious and asked the Sthapathi (An architect, a master carpenter or builder) to make a Lord Nataraja's statue in five metals or pancha loha which is tall and appealing . The Sthapathi was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and was very happy with the King’s order. 

Tirunallam (Koneri Rajapuram) - Sri Umamaheswarar Temple திருநல்லம் (கோனேரிராஜபுரம்) - உமாமகேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Umamaheswarar, Maamani Eswarar
Goddess Name	Sri Mangalanayagi, Angavala Nayagi
Location	Konerirajapuram
Historical Name	Thirunallam
Significance	34th of 127 Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Southern bank of River Cauvery, One of 275 Devaram Padal Petram Sthalams, Bronze statue of Lord Natraja idol
Ancient	1500 years old
Travel Base	Kumbakonam

The Sthapathi is a person who works on art of making icons, with the required quantity of metal, i.e. copper brass & lead in the ratio of 82%, 15%, & 3% respectively is collected in a crucible and heated to get converted into liquid form. Simultaneously the karu (mould) is also heated. The mould becomes red hot. It is then buried in the ground up to the mouth of the mould, to get firm upright position. The hot liquid metal is poured into it. The mould is allowed to cool gradually. Then the wire bindings and iron rods are removed. The mould is broken open. Now rough metal image is obtained. Then it is chiselled, filed, and engraved to get fine ornamental statue. 

The Sthapathi after receiving the order, works hard and presents the statue moulded to the king. The Kandaraditya Chola king isn't happy and asks him to make a Nataraj statue which is more alive, tall and appealing. The Sthapathi shows three casts of Nataraja which came upto 3 feet height but the King rejected them and gave him last chance to make it and ordered to chop his head if Sthapathi fails.

The Sthapathi was very depressed as he had just a day more to present his work. He was praying lord Shiva to make his work appealing to the king and was thinking about how to start casting Nataraja. An old man and his wife came near him and asked for some water to quench their thirst. The Sthapathi wasn't in the mood to offer water and said them " There is no water". The old man asked him to offer something to drink as they had walked all the way in a sunny day. The Sthapathi lost his patience and said "If you really want to drink something, drink the molten metal".

The old man immediately took the pot and drank the molten metal giving a little to his wife. Before the sthapathi could recognize what has happened, there emerged two statues, one of large Natraja and other  his wife Parvathi. The Chola King walked in the same time and was extremely happy to see the statues.

The Sthapathi was speechless by God's love and affection and couldn't believe that God had come himself to help him make the icons and saved his life. Later, Sthapathi conveyed the whole incident to the King. The Chola King called his tale a lie and raised his sword furiously which struck the lifted right foot of Natarajar's Icon . Blood spurted out and splashed on the King who developed leprosy. The Lord then appeared to all present there as Vrishabharoodar and told the King “ I am here in the form of Lingam as Vaidyanatha .

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How to Reach : The temple is 22 km from Kumbakonam on the Karaikal route. And we can reach from Aduthurai to Konerirajapuram - 12 kms.

Nearby Temple  : Thiruneelakudi  Shiva temple 9 kms 

Address :  Sri Uma Maheswarar Temple, 

Konerirajapuram Post , PIN : – 612 201,  Mayiladuthurai Taluk, 

Nagapattinam District. +91- 435 - 244 9830, 244 9800