திருவிடைமருதூர் தெருவழகு ~ Thiruvidaimaruthur palace

 

During a recent trip to Kumbakonam, we had breakfast in a small hotel and as we stopped a casual click at a building .. .. checking back, it appears that it was not simply a place but in fact once a PALACE.

 

It is said  :  திருவிடைமருதூர் தெருவழகு  ~  mentioning the beauty of the streets of Thiruvidaimaruthur !!  

Located about 9 km (5.6 mi) north-east of the temple city of Kumbakonam and serves as one of the Taluk headquarters in the Tanjore District, Thiruvidaimaruthur  region is known for its fertile soil, allowing farmers to harvest crops three times a year.   

Tiruvidaimarudur (also known as madhyārjunam) is located on the banks of the Virasolanar River. It is home to the Mahalingeswarar Temple, where the deity Shiva is worshipped as Mahalingeswara Swami   represented by a lingam known as jothimayalingam (in Tamil, ஜோதிமயலிங்கம், jōthimaya liṅgam, meaning "lingam of radiant light").   

திருவிடைமருதூர் (Thiruvidaimaruthur) தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டத்தில், கும்பகோணத்தில் இருந்து சுமார் 8-10 கி.மீ தொலைவில் உள்ள ஒரு வரலாற்று சிறப்புமிக்க பேரூராட்சி ஆகும். காசிக்கு நிகராகக் கருதப்படும் காவிரி கரைத்தலங்களில் ஒன்றான இது, தேவாரப் பாடல் பெற்ற தலம். இங்குள்ள பிரசித்தி பெற்ற மகாலிங்கேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில் (சிவன் கோவில்) 1200 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேல் பழமையானது 

வேதாரண்யம் விளக்கழகு, திருவாரூர் தேரழகு, நீடாமங்கலம் நீரழகு, திருவிடைமருதூர் தெருவழகு, மன்னார்குடி மதிலழகு என்ற முதுமொழி மூலமாக இவ்வூரின் பெருமையை உணரமுடியும்.  

 

The image shows the exterior of the Thiruvidaimaruthur Maratha Palace, also known as Amarasimha's Palace, located in Thiruvidaimarudur.   The palace is a historical building with distinctive architecture, including prominent jarokha windows. It is situated on the main road opposite the Mahalingaswami Temple.     The building is currently in a state of disrepair, with significant vegetation growing on its facade.   

Centuries ago royalty would have witnessed  Temple processions from its windows.  The ground floor was completely obscured by shops.  Searches state that in 1787, a dying  King Tulaja II of Thanjavur   adopted son Sarabhoji was still a minor and the king’s brother Amarasimha was appointed regent till the boy comes of age.  In the war of succession, the regent tried  to get the adoption declared null and void. But Frederick Schwartz, the German missionary, Sarabhoji’s guardian, foiled his moves and succeeded in getting the East India Company to recognise the boy as the lawful heir.  Amarasimha was exiled to   Thiruvidaimarudur, where he lived,  funded by a pension.  Amarasimha was a  great rasika and patron of Carnatic music.  In 1785 or thereabouts, he discovered the talents of Ramaswami Dikshitar, father of Muttuswami Dikshitar, during a visit to Tiruvarur. Dikshitar Sr composed Samajagamana, a song in twenty ragas and Adi Tala in his praise and received rich gifts.

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.1.2026