The Moolavar: The Deity of the Sanctum Santorum

September 3, 2005

The Moolavar: CTradition holds that this Shiva stala was the first temple ever on the face of the earth and was called ‘Adipuri’ (‘the primordial town’). In the same vein, the moolavar here is called Adipureeswarar. Shiva is present as Agni or fire. He is also present as a swayambu lingam of earth covered with a kavacham removed only on the occasion of the Karthikai Full Moon.

Shiva is also present in a third, complex dimension. The story goes like this. Vasuki, the snake heard about the greatness of Shiva here through Sage Upamanyu. He worshipped Shiva ardently until he attained unison with Him. Vasuki’s hood protects the manifestation of Shiva in this temple and Shiva is called Padampakka Nathar (‘He who is protected by a hood’). He is also called Putridam Kondar (He who resides in a snake pit)

Shiva is thus present in Tiruvotriyur in three dimensions:

In the formless form of Agni (fire) or Light with neither beginning nor end, alpha or omega. In the physical form of a swayambu lingam of earth in turn the form of a snake pit facing the east. In a form indescribable as Padampakka Nathar who was ordained as not to be touched by any hand, mortal or immortal.

Shiva is present in an inconceivable form, eluding man’s compelling desire to create an interface with which he can translate His mysterious ways. The Tripada Trimurthy image combines the essence of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma indicating that the latter two engaged in the worship of Shiva.

Shiva is worshipped as the embodiment of the primary elements at what are called as the Panchabhoota Stalams. He is present as wind in Kalahasti, as water in Jambukeswaram, as fire in Thiruvannamalai, as earth in Kanchipuram and as space in Chidambaram.

At Tiruvotriyur, He is present as a being with form (as a swayambu lingam of earth) as a being without form (as agni) and as a being with and without form (as Padampakka Nathar).

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