Tirukkaanoor Semmeninathar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thirukanur in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Tirukanurpatti. The place is also called as Manalmedu. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Semmeninathar. His consort is known as Sivayoganayaki.

This is the 110th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 56th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha nadu. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Iraivan: Sri Karumbeswarar, Sri Semmeninathar

Iraivi: Sri Sivaloka Nayagi

Kshatriya dosha Relief by Parasurama:

Sage Parasurama is the son of Sage Jamadagni and Renukadevi. During his absence, a king Kartha Veeryarjunan entered the ashram and took away the divine cow Kamadenu by force. Coming to know of the incident, Parasurama set out in fury, killed the king along with 21 Kshatriyas and rescued the cow. Thus, he incurred the Kshatriya dosha. Parasurama worshipped Lord Shiva in this place bathing in the sacred spring and got relieved of the dosha.

Manalmedu:

This place was once ruled by the Pandyas. The Pandyas ruled though local Chieftains who ruled on behalf of the Pandyas. The local Chieftain here was very just and had taken good care of his subjects. The Cholas waged a war on the Pandyas and reclaimed some of the lost kingdom. During this time, the local Chieftain here was captured, while his wife was let off because she was pregnant. However, the Chola rulers also said that those who helped the woman would be banished from the Kingdom.

The lady who was in the advanced stage of pregnancy was not helped by anyone at Thirukkanur due to the fear of being thrown out of the kingdom. She was heartbroken and angered by the conduct of the very same people for whom they had done a lot. She cursed that the whole village be submerged by sand, and so it did happen. The villagers then moved a little further away to Vishnampettai and settled there. An ancient name for Thirukkanur is Manalmedu (mound of sand).

Penance of Parvathi:

Parvathi was once separated from Shiva and had come to the earth to perform her penance to unite with Him. She found this village at Thirukkanur suitable for the same. Pleased with her devotion, the Lord appeared before her as a column of fire. Due to the heat he was red in colour and hence he came to be known as Semmeninathar; sem meaning red and meni meaning body in Tamil. There is a belief that visiting this temple as a couple will clear all misunderstandings and result in a happy marital life. Reuniting with estranged spouse is also one of the benefits of praying at this temple.

Greatness of Temple

Mother of Karikala Cholan was hiding in this place to protect her son from the threats of enemies. As there was no king for the kingdom, as followed in those days to choose a king, a royal elephant was sent with a garland to pick up person to head the kingdom. The elephant came to Thirukkanur and chose the little boy Karikalan playing there, garlanded him, took him on its back in procession. Thus Karikalan became the king of the Chola kingdom from this place.