Dakshina Varanasi is also famous for one very special reason

Aiyarappar temple also known as Panchanadeeswarar temple is a unique temple surrounded by five rivers. Lord Shiva here is called Aiyarappar, meaning Lord of the five rivers. The Five Rivers are Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamuruttiyaaru and Kaaviriyaaru. The goddess here is known as Dharmasamvardhini.

There are several inscriptions in the temple that affiliates it to the Cholas, Pandyas and other rulers. Karikala Chola, Rajaraja the great, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan and Krishna Devarayar are associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called ‘Uttarakailasam’ and ‘Dakshinakailasam’. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Cholan’s queen in the late 10th century who also made several endowments . Dakshinakailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan’s queen.

Appar, one of the important Nayanmar, was blessed with Thiru Kayilaya Dharisanam in this very temple. Therefore, the saint was closely associated with this shrine and dedicated songs in ‘Thevaram’ to this temple. Thereby, making this temple one of the paadal petra sthalam.

Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, comprised the Trinity of Carnatic music.

Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. Thiruvaiyaru is considered as holy as Varanasi and is therefore called Dakshina Varanasi. Bathing in the Cauvery here is believed to rid devotees of sins like bathing in the Ganges.

Legend says this is the place where Lord Panchanatheeswara of Thiruvaiyaru planned the marriage between Nandhi devar and Swayasambihai in this place and conducted the ceremony in an auspicious place nearby on the Punarpoosa day of the tamil month Panguni. In a gesture to celebrate the same, the saptha sthana festival is conducted every year in the month of april.