2. SRI PAASUPATHESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUVETKALAM, CHIDAMBARAM

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	56th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - North
Chola Naadu - North	2nd Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

HISTORY:

In ancient times, this place was densely populated with bamboo trees. It is believed that this temple is more than 2000 years old and it was built by Pallava kings. At a later date, it was renovated by the Nattukkottai Chettiars. The historical name of this place is Moonkilvanam.

Arjuna:

The legend of this place revolves around Arjuna – a celebrated archer and one of the five Pandavas. Before going to the Mahabharata war, it is believed that Lord Krishna advised Arjuna to visit this place and worship Lord Shiva here. On knowing about Arjuna’s penance, Duryodhana sent a demon Mookasura to kill Arjuna. Demon Mookasura took the form of a wild boar to interrupt Arjuna’s worship. On knowing this, Lord Shiva appeared there in the form of a hunter. It is also believed that the four Vedas followed the lord in the form of dogs in order to protect Arjuna.  The lord shot an arrow on the boar and killed it. At the same time, Arjuna had also released an arrow from his bow. Thereafter a scuffle arose between the two as to whose arrow had killed the boar. The scuffle lead to a fight and Lord Shiva broke Arjuna’s bow.

Angered by this, Arjuna hit Lord Shiva with his broken bow. This beating was felt throughout the world. The lord then kicked Arjuna and he went flying in the air. But because of the mercy of Goddess Parvathy, he fell in the temple’s sacred tank. Arjuna then realised that the hunter was none other than Lord Shiva himself and begged his pardon. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi gave darshan to Arjuna and blessed him with the Paasupathasthiram (an arrow). The scar mark on the lingam due to the blow from Arjuna’s bow can still be seen. Since the lord gave Paasupathasthiram to Arjuna, he is praised as Sri Paasupatheswarar.

The event of Lord Shiva’s fight with Arjuna is described in details in the epic “Kirathachuneeyam”.

Interestingly, the names of the villages surrounding this temple refer to this legend. The place where Lord Shiva broke Arjuna’s bow is known as “Villiruthan Kuttai” (villiruthan means “breaking the bow” and kuttai means place in Tamil), the place where Arjuna hit the lord is known as “Nakkar Ukanthakudi” (Nakkanthankudi) (Nakkar refers to the lord, Ukantha means cherished and kudi means place in Tamil) and the place where the fight took place is known as “Esan porveli” (Esan refers to the lord and porveli means fighting ground in Tamil).

Sage Narada:

Sage Narada worshiped the lord of this temple.

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar:

It is believed that saint Thirugnanasambanthar stayed at Thiruvetkalam for few days and visited Chidambaram and othervnearby temples. In his hymn of this temple, he mentions this place as “Nannagar” (good city). Living up to its name of “Nannagar”, this place now has a sprawling university campus.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·       This east facing temple has a 3-tiered main tower (Rajagopuram)
·      The significance of this temple is that there is a single shrine for Suryan and Chandran. It is believed that on the days of solar and lunar eclipses, worshiping these two lords here would give respite from planet related doshams.
·     This temple’s hall has four pillars with beautifully carved reliefs that depict the following scene from this temple’s legend - Arjuna placing his weapons on the floor, his penance while standing on one leg, Lord Shiva coming in the form of a hunter, Lord Shiva and Arjuna’s fight and the lord giving Arjuna his darshan while seated on his bull mount. 

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Paasupatheswarar
Ambal	Sri Nalla Nayaki, Sri Sargunambal
Theertham	Krupa Kadaksha Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Bamboo tree

BELIEF:

Those who facing speech impairment, particularly stammering problems, can worship the lord here. Devotees also believe that worshiping the lord here will remove obstacles from their marriage proposals. 

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Chithirai	Apr-May	Tamil New Year day
Vaikasi	May-June	Vaikasi Visakam / Arjuna Pasupathasthiram festival
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chathurthi
Aani	June-July	Aani Tirumanjanam
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

Thiruvetkalam is located at a distance of about 4 kms from Chidambaram and it is near the Annamalai University campus.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Pasupatheswarar Temple,
Thiruvetkalam,
Annamalai Nagar,
Chidambaram,
Cuddalore,
Tamil Nadu – 608002.

LOCATION: