Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 34th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Nadu Naadu |
Nadu Naadu | 2nd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
Lord Indra, the king of Devas needed flowers form earth to perform Shiva
pooja at his abode. He sent two maidens to earth to bring flowers. Although the
maidens found flowers there in plenty, they did not return back to the
celestial world and instead decided to stay in this place itself after seeing a
Shiva lingam here. They started worshiping this Shiva lingam. When they did not
return, Indira sent the divine cow Kamadenu to bring them back. Kamadenu found
the maidens but instead of taking them back, she joined them in their worship
of the Shiva lingam. When Kamadenu also did not return, Indra was perplexed and
sent his white elephant Iravadham in search of them. Iravadham found them
worshiping Lord Shiva and decided to join them. He stood near the lingam and
prevented sunlight from falling directly on the Shiva lingam, so lord does not
feel the heat of the sun. Finally, Indira himself came down to earth and
saw everyone worshiping the lord. He also joined them in the worship. Later on,
all of them returned together to the celestial world with the blessings of Lord
Shiva. Due to this, the name of this place is known as “Pennagadam” (“Penn”
means angel (maidens), “Aa” means divine cow (Kamadenu) and “Kada” means
elephant (Iravadham)) and this subsequently became “Pennadam”.
“Thoonganai Maadam” is the ancient name of this place (thoong(um) - sleeping,
aanai - elephant, maadam - top of a temple), because the vimana (roof tower) of
the sanctum sanctorum is designed in a special style of architecture called the
Gaja Brishtam. So the vimanam look like the rear of an elephant (Gaja - elephant,
brishtam - rear). This
temple was built in the early Chola period. The historical names of this place
are - Soundarya Chola Puram, Thiru Kadanthai, Parvathi Puram, Pushpavanam and
Dhayarasapathi.
Saint Thirunavukkarasar appealed to Lord Shiva:
Saint Thirunavukkarasar(Appar)
appealed to Lord Sudarkozhundhu Nathar to inscribe the stamped of a Trident
(Trishul),Vibuthu pattai(sacred lines of ash) and Nandhi (Vrushba) on his hands
and forehead. Lord shiva honoured the saint with his own hands and blessed saint. This
is described by divine poet Sekkizhar in his magnum opus Peria Puranam in
touching devotional lines.
Lord Shiva raised the ground level:
Version 1:
Chola King had worshiped the Lord from the other side of the bank of the
river due to heavy floods. Lord shiva acknowledged his worship by raising
the ground level. So there is a temple within the temple, 30 meters
above the ground level remembering the event.
Version 2:
It is believed
that Anandvalli Ammaiyar, an ardent lord Shiva devotee, who used to worship the
lord here regularly. Once there was a heavy flood in the river Vellaru that
prevented Anandvalli Ammaiyar from reaching the temple. She decided to perform
her daily worship from the other bank of the river itself. Although she
completed her worship, she could not see the lord. Lord Shiva realized this and
as a token of his appreciation for her devotion, he raised the ground level by
about 40 to 50 feet. Even today, the shrine is an elevated position and one has
to climb up some steps to enter it.
Kalikamba Nayanar:
Kalikamba Nayanar(one of the 63
Nayanmars) is a Nayanar saint. He is counted as the forty-third
Nayanmars. Kalikamba Nayanar and his wife used to do”pada pooja” for the
devotees of Lord shiva. Once, his wife was reluctant to perform “pada pooja”
for a devotee, who is to be their servent. Kalikamba Nayanar hagiography speaks
about that, he cut the hand of his wife, who did not help in serving a Shaiva,
devotee of the god Shiva. Pleased with dutifulness, Lord shiva restored
his wife hand and blessed both of them. Hence the Lord is praised as”Sri
kaivazhangeesar” (in tamil “kai” means hand and “vazhangu” means give).
Pralaya Kaleswarar:
Heavy flood was
consuming the entire world. All parts of the world was submerged in
water. Devas rushed to this place and begged the Lord shiva to protect all
beings by keeping them here. Lord shiva directed Nandi to prevent the
flood. Nandi turned the other side to swallow the waters of the great deluge
and saved the place. So lord of the place is praised as “Pralaya
Kaleswarar” Lord who protected the world from flood. . Nandi which turned
the other side to protect the place from the Flood is still in the same
position facing the entrance of the temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
The vimanam (roof tower) of the sanctum
sanctorum has been constructed according to the Gaja Brishtam style of
architecture.
·
Birth
Place of saints Kalikamba Nayanar and Meikandar, the pioneer of Saiva
philosophy.
·
Saint
Marai Gnana Sambandar in the Saivite Guru tradition lived here.
·
Once this
place had six thousand brave army men were living. They were called as
Kadanthayar and this town used to be called as Kadanthai Nagar.
·
Lingam inside the elevated shrine is
made of 16 plate faces (Sodasa lingam) and is known as Sri Soundaraeswarar. One
can see this lord from outside the temple also.
·
Main tower has five tier rajagopuram.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Pralayakaleswarar, Sri Sudarkozhundeeswarar, Sri Kadanthai Nathar, Sri
Kaivazhangeesar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Aamodanambal, Sri Kadanthai Nayaki, Sri Azhagiya
Kadhali |
|
Theertham |
Parvathi Theertham, Kapila
Theertham, Kayilai Theertham, Indira theertham, Mukkulam, Vellaru river |
|
Sthala Vriksham |
Shanbaga tree |
BELIEF:
This temple is a Parihara
sthalam for those who born during the period of the constellation kettai
(Jyeshta nakshatram). Devotees with birth star is Kettai visit this temple for
special poojas.
Devotees believe that
any kind of body pain can visit this temple and worship the lord here to seek
relief.
Devotees pray to Lord shiva here, for cure from hand
ailments.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
April-May |
12 days Brahmotsavam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Other Festivals: Karthikai
Deepam, Skanda Sashti, Arudra Dharisanam, Thai Poosam, Sankaranthi, Panguni
Uthiram and Aadi Pooram are the other important festivals celebrated in this
temple. |
||
HOW
TO REACH:
Pennadam is at a
distance of about 18 kms from Virudachalam on the Virudhachalam to Thittakudi
route. It is about 15 kms from Thozhuthur, 23 kms from Srimushnam and 40 kms
from Ulunthurpettai.
Another Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam near Pennadam is Thiru Nelvayil Arathurai which is about 5 kms
from it.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Pralayakaleswarar Temple,
Pennadam Post,
Thittakudi Taluk,
Cuddalore District,
Tamil Nadu - 606 105.
LOCATION:
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