Thiru Poosalar is the eight century Nayanar saint and is counted 58th
in the list of 63 Nayanmars. Poosalar was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and
always desired to build a beautiful temple for the alimighty.
Thiru Poosalar hailed from a town called Thiruninravur. He was a great devotee
of Lord Siva and longed to build a temple for his Lord, though he was a very
poor man. He roamed far and wide to get the required funds, but his efforts
were not fruitful. He was desperate and distressed beyond words.
Suddenly a thought struck him. "Why do I not attempt to build a
temple for my Lord in my heart?" He determined to do so. He studied the
Agama Sastras and consulted knowledgeable Sivacharyas. The thought got
shape in his mind to build a grand temple for the lord almighty.
image source: google images
He gathered requisite materials in his mind. He approached rich donors
and collected huge amounts from them-all in his mind. Expert architects were
approached who formulated designs, plans and drawings. He collected
artisans, renowned sculptors, labourers and tools. He did not even leave small details,
however trivial it might appear on first sight! His thoughts were occupied only
with the construction of a grand temple for the Lord and determined to complete
the task with great devotion.
On an auspicious day, the corner (foundation) stone was laid according
to the rituals. With infinite love and meticulous care he had the temple built
brick by brick, stone by stone, pillar by pillar, sculpture by sculpture, day
and night, unseen by anyone.
Layer by layer, from the base to the top, the temple was nearing
completion. He planned the huge Rajagopuram, other four towers, one each for
the four directions, North, East, West and South. He supervised the
construction devotedly. The rounded dome, the ancillary pillars, pavilions,
shrines and the sacred kalasams were all made ready, worked on the wall
sides and niches. Shrines for the Divine Mother, the Lord's Consort, Vinayaka,
Muruga, main deity, Durga were completed. Walls and prakarams were laid. The
temple tank was dug and filled with clean water fit for abihsekham (anointing)
At last, the temple was fully completed. It was grand, mighty and a rare
sight to behold! He consulted the priests, discussed with them in great detail
and fixed an auspicious date for the Mahakumbhabhishekam (consecration) of the
temple. ..
The Kadava king of Kanchi who was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva had
built a magnificent temple of granite, marble, red and black stones. The king
decided to perform the Kalsabhishekam on the same date, on which Poosalar had
mentally chosen for the installation of the Lord in his temple.
image source: google images
The Lord wanted to show the king the superiority of Poosalar’s great
devotion. So, the Lord appeared in the king's dream the night before the sacred
consecration date. The king was thrilled. But, the Lord asked him to postpone
the installation ceremony in his temple. The Lord explained that He had to be
present at the installation and consecration ceremony fixed by His dear devotee
Poosalar of Thiruninravur on that same date! That was far more important!
The king woke up from sleep and was intensely eager to have the darshan
of the devotee mentioned by the lord and also to have a look at the great temple
built by Poosalar, which he considered to be more superior to the temple he
built.
image source: google images
The King moved on to Thiruninravur in search of the temple. The king
could not find any temple and so he enquired about the whereabouts of Poosalar.
The King spotted Poosalar in the town and asked him about the temple. He also
told him about the words of the Lord in his dream.
Poosalar was in tears. He was deeply touched by the grace of the Lord.
He told the king that the temple he built was in his mind. The king was
surprised to hear this. He admired Poosalar’s devotion and fell at his feet and
started to worship him. Poosalar installed Lord Shiva in his heart/hridayam temple
and continued to worship till he attained Lord Shiva’s abode.
The King later on built a temple in Thiruninravur – Hridayaleeswarar Temple(
the lord who resides in heart) and made the dream of Poosalar Naayanar come
true.
Hridayaleeswarar Kovil - Thiruninravur
image source: Google images
OM
NAMAH SHIVAYA
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM
