Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 104th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 50th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
HISTORY:
The historical names of
this place are Thiruppazhanam, Kathalivanam, Kausikasramam, Prayanapuri and
Pazhanappathi.“Pazhanam” means fertile land. True to its name, this place is
surrounded by many such fertile fields. It is believed that this temple was
constructed by Chola kings Aditha Cholan-I and Paranthaka Cholan-I. This temple
is one of the 88 temples controlled by the Tanjore Palace Devasthanam.
Sri
Pirayana Pureesar:
Goddess Lakshmi
worshiped Lord Shiva here and was granted many boons. After obtaining the boons
from the lord, she travelled back to her place. Hence the lord here is also
praised as “Sri Pirayana Pureesar” and this place gets the name “Pirayana Puri”
(“pirayanam” means travel in Tamil).
Sri
Aabath Sahayeswarar:
An orphan Brahmin boy
named Susarithan, from a village along the banks of Gauthama River, underwent
pilgrimage to various Shiva sthalams. When he reached this place, Yama, the
lord of death, informed him in his dreams that his life would be taken after
five days. The frightened boy surrendered to Lord Shiva and begged for his
life. It is believed that the lord, through his divine voice, advised the boy
to go to Thiruvaiyaru temple immediately. The lord further told him that
thereafter he would be safe. Hence the lord is praised here as “Sri Aabath
Sahayeswarar” (“Aabath” means danger, “Sahayam” means to help and “Eswarar”
refers to the lord).
Saint
Thirunavukkarasar:
Saint Thirunavukkarasar
stayed in this temple for some time and rendered his services. It is believed
that in a nearby village called Thingalur, he restored the life of a boy who
had died due to a snake bite. He did so by singing the following Pathigam – “Oṉtṟuko
lāmavar sinthai yuyarvarai oṉtṟuko lāmuya rum'mathi chūṭuvar… ..….”. This boy
was the son of a stanch Shiva devotee called Apputhi Adigal. In his hymns,
Saint Thirunavukkarasar praised Apputhi Adigal’s services and his devotion
towards Lord Shiva.
Sapthasthanam Festival:
Lord Panchanatheeswarar
(Sri Iyyarappar) of Thiruvaiyaru decided to conduct the marriage of Nandhi and
Suyasambigai at Thirumazhappadi (a nearby place) on the “Punarpoosam” day of
the Tamil month of Panguni. He selected the following places to arrange things
required for the marriage.
Thiruvedhikkudi to get
the Vedic Brahmins,
Thiruppazhanam to get
fruits,
Thiruchotruthurai to
arrange food,
Thirukkandiyur for
Kandi (ornaments),
Thiruppoonthuruthi for
fruits and garlands, and
Thiruneithanam (Thillai
sthanam) to get ghee for yagnas.
After the marriage, as
a gesture of thanks, it is believed that Lord Panchanatheeswarar and Goddess
Dharmasamvardhani visited each of these places in a palanquin. This event is
celebrated as “Sapthasthanam”.
Sapthasthanam (seven
places) festival is celebrated in Thiruvaiyaru on the “Visakam” day (the day
after the full moon) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) every year.
First palanquin
(bedecked with mirrors) carrying the principal deities of Thiruvaiyaru go to
the second temple in procession. Idols of Nandhi along with his wife
Suyasambigai also join this procession. The deities of the second temple
receive them at the border of the village. After reaching the second temple and
performing certain poojas, they join the second temple’s palanquin to the third
temple. Like this, the palanquins from six places are joined together and
they finally assemble in Thiru Neithanam temple. Thereafter, all the seven
palanquins take part in a procession back to Thiruvaiyaryu.
Thousands of people
come from all over the country to witness this marvellous festival. The
palanquins are paraded near the car stand (“Ther-adi”). Devotees also take part
in the “Poochorithal” (flower festival) in which an idol offers flowers to the
principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins
leave for their respective temples.
The seven temples that
are part of this Sapthasthanam festival are -
Aiyarappar temple,
Thiruvaiyaru,
Apathsahayeswar Temple,
Thirupazhanam (this temple),
Odhanavaneswarar
Temple, Thiruchotruthurai,
Vedapureeswarar Temple,
Thiruvedhikudi,
Kandeeswarar Temple,
Thirukkandiyur,
Pushpavananathar
Temple, Thirupanthuruthi and
Neyyadiappar Temple,
Thiru Neithanam.
People
who worshipped here:
It is believed that
Lord Mahavishnu, Lakshmi, Kuberan, Puthan, Ayan, Chandran, Sage Kousika,
Saptharishis, Ashtathik Palakas, Adithan, Angi and Soman have worshiped Lord
Shiva here.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is one of the Saptha Sthana temples
of Thiruvaiyaru.
·
This east facing temple with main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
There is no flag post (Dwajasthambam)
here.
·
Lingams installed and worshiped by Lord
Mahavishnu can also be seen in the corridor.
·
In this temple, the shrines of both Lord
Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are facing the east direction. Goddess Parvathy’s
shrine is on the right side of Lord Shiva’s shrine. This is considered to
symbolise their wedding posture.
·
The idols of Lord Dakshinamurthy, Saptha
Rishis and Kamadhenu look very beautiful.
·
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this
temple twice – a rare occurrence.
·
Lord Murugan’s idol here has six faces
and it looks very beautiful.
·
Lord Shiva’s sanctum tower (“Vimanam”),
is constructed entirely using granite. It is a wonderful structure and even the
sculptures are beautifully carved.
·
It is believed that Lord Chandran (Moon)
worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every
year for ten days in the Tamil months of Purattasi (Sept-Oct) and Panguni
(Mar-Apr). This occurs on full moon days and two days before and after it.
·
This temple is considered to be
significant for its three important attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham
- glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple tank.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Aabath Sahayeswarar, Sri Amuthalingeswarar, Sri Pazhanapiran, Sri Pirayana
Pureesar, Sri Parameshwarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Periya Nayaki Amman, Sri Siva Sundara Kalyani, Sri Bokasakthi Amman |
|
Theertham |
Cauvery
river, Devi Kupam, Amirtha Theertham, Kubera Theertham and Muni Kupam |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Banana
(Kathali), Vilva tree |
BELIEF:
It is believed that
worshiping the lord here will help devotees attain salvation and will help them
break away from the repetitive cycle of birth and re-birth.
Those seeking wedding
boon or those facing difficulties in their marriage proposals can pray to the
lord here.
Sapthasthanam (“ezhur”)
festival is celebrated in a grand manner.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar
Chathurthi |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani
Tirumanjanam |
|
Adi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Puram |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Somavaram |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda
Shashti and Annabishekam |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiruppazhanam is
situated at a distance of about 4 kms from Thiruvaiyaru on the Thiruvaiyaru to
Kumbakonam route. From Kumbakonam it is about 30 kms away.
It is about 2 kms away
from the famous Thingalur Lord Chandran temple.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Aabath Sahayeswarar
temple,
Thiruppazhanam,
Thiruvaiyaru Via,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu- 613 204.
LOCATION:
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