Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 115th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 61th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
This ancient temple is
situated on the northern bank of the river Kollidam. This temple complex is
spread over sprawling 12 acres of land.
The temple’s main tower
is believed to have been built by King Konerinmai Kondaan and it is only
constructed up to the first tier.
Lord Yama’s shrine is
in the form of a cave (“Gunabaram”) and is said to have been constructed by
King Mahendra Varma Pallava in 640 AD.
As the Sthala Viruksham
of this temple is the “Gneeli” plant, this place gets the name “Thiru
Paingneeli”. “Gneeli” is a variety of plantain and “Pain” means lush green.
Other historical names of this place are – Kathalivanam, Arambaivanam, Vimalaaranyam,
Muthumalai, Swethagiri and Viyakrapuri.
Lord
Shiva here has many names:
Lord Shiva here has
many names – it is believed that the lord has 43 names – few of them are
Kathalivasanthar, Sakrathiyagar, Aaranyavidankar, Neelakandar and Gneelivananathar.
Lord
Yama:
As per the sthala
puranam, Lord Shiva reinstated Lord Yama here after he was vanquished in order
to save Markendaya’s life in Thirukadaiyur. The legend is that after Lord
Yama’s death, his work had stopped and there was no one to take care of the
cycle of life and death. Lord Mahavishnu, Bramha, Bhoomadevi, and Devas came to
this temple and urged Lord Shiva to give rebirth to Yama. Lord Shiva gave
rebirth to Yama on the day of Thai Poosam and gave him the powers to restart
his work. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Adhikaravallavar (“athikaram”
means power in Tamil).
Inside Lord
Adhikaravallavar’s shrine, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi can be seen along
with Murugan in between them as Somaskantha. Lord Yama can be seen in the form
of a child under Lord Shiva’s feet. Near the ceiling, on either side of Lord
Shiva’s idol, Suryan and Chandran can be seen fanning the lord with a
“Samaram”. This shrine is known as “Yama Dharmaraja” temple.
Lord
Shiva’s cosmic dance:
According to legend,
sages Viyakirapathar and Pathanjali went to Mount Kailash to see Lord Shiva’s
dance but the lord directed them to go Chidambaram instead. In
Chidambaram, it is believed that the lord gave his Nataraja dharisanam on the
day of “Thai Poosam”. The place where he performed his dance is known as
Rathina Sabha.
When sage Vashistar
came to know of this incident, he reached Mount Kailash and requested Lord
Shiva to give him the opportunity to watch his dance. Lord Shiva advised him to
go to “Gneelivanamakiya Thiruppaigneeli”. When he reached this place, Sage
Vashistar was blessed with Lord Shiva’s dance performance in this temple. There
is a Rathina Sabha in this temple also. This temple is also known as “Melai
Chidambaram”.
It is believed that
Lord Ram visited this temple on the advice of Sage Vashistar to worship Lord
Shiva before going to Lanka.
Sthala
Viruksham:
Goddess Parvathi
visited this place and worshiped the lord. The Seven virgins (Saptha Kannikas)
- Brahmi, Maheshwari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi came to
this place before their wedding to seek the darshan of Goddess Parvathy. The
goddess appeared before them and blessed them that they would be married soon
to suitable grooms. The goddess also granted them the boon of staying here in the
form of plantain trees to continually receive her darshan. Accordingly, they
left their worldly form here in the form of plantain trees which then became
the “sthala viruksham” of this temple.
Then
Kailasam (South Kailash):
Adhisheshan (the
serpent on whom Sri Mahavishnu rests) and Vayu (lord of the winds) fought among
themselves frequently to test their superiority. During one such struggle,
Adhiseshan encircled Mount Kailash and Vayu tried to break his hold by creating
a “santamarutham” (Tornado). Because of this tornado, 8 parts (“Kodumudigal”)
fell from Mount Kailash into 8 different places on the earth. These places are
- Thirugonamalai, Thirukalahasthi, Thiruchiramalai, Thiruenkoimalai,
Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri, Ratnagiri, and Swethagiri. Swethagiri is known as
Thiruppaigneeli. As this place is believed to have originated from Mount
Kailash, it is called “Then Kailasam” (“then” means South in Tamil).
Saint
Thirunavukkarasar (Appar):
Saint Thirunavukkarasar
(Appar) was on his way to worship Lord Gneelivana Nathar in Thiruppaigneeli.
However, due to the oppressive heat, he became exhausted and hungry. A priest
appeared before him and asked him where he was going. Appar replied that he was
proceeding to Gneelivana Nathar’s temple. Noticing how tired and hungry Appar
was, the priest offered him the rice (“kattamudhu”) which he was carrying. He
also told him to take water from a tank nearby. He further told Appar
that he would take him to the temple. After Appar ate the food, both of them
proceeded to the temple.
As soon as they reached
the temple, the priest disappeared and Lord Shiva gave him dharshan along with
Goddess Parvathi seated on his bull mount (Rishaba Vakanam). Hence Lord Shiva
here is also known as “Sri Chottrudaya Easwarar” - the lord who offered rice
(“choru” means rice in Tamil). This event is celebrated every year on the day
of Avittam star, in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May). The tank near which
Lord Shiva appeared and offered food and water to Appar can still be seen near
the temple.
King
Kaliyugarama Pandiyan:
It is believed that
King Kaliyugarama Pandiyan of Madurai came to this place and worshiped the lord
to seek relief from his ailments. He prayed to the lord for eight days after
taking a dip in each of the temple’s eight different holy waters. It is
believed that he was cured of his illness.
People
who worshipped here:
It is believed that
Goddess Parvathy, Mahavishnu, Indiran, Kamadhenu, Adhiseshan, Vayu, Agni, Ram,
Arjuna, Vashista, Sudhama Munivar, Sapta Rishis, King Musukunda Chola, King
Kaliyugarama Pandiyan, Viyakirasuran, Sivamithiran, Padumakarpan, Sutharman and
Ankamithiran have worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is one of the 44 Paadal Petra
Sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar,
Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered
their Pathigams.
·
Thiruppainjeeli is referred to as “South
Kailash”.
·
The uniqueness of this temple is that
there is a shrine for Lord Yama (Lord of death).
·
This is one of the “Saptha Sthana”
temples of Thiruvanaikkaval.
·
This is one of the famous “parikara
sthalams” for conducting poojas to remove obstacles from marriage proposals and
to seek child boon.
·
This east facing temple’s main tower
(Rajagopuram) is incomplete and its second tower has 3 tiers.
·
It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun)
worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam in the
Tamil months of Purattasi (September-October) and Panguni (March-April).
·
There are two shrines for Goddess
Parvathy in this temple.
·
There is no separate Navagraham here as
Lord Yama is considered as their lord. However, the 9 steps from “Ravana gate”
to Lord Shiva’s shrine and the 9 holes in front of the Nandhi are considered to
be the Navagrahas in this temple.
·
It is believed that the Nandhi near the
flag post (Kodimaram) is Swayambu (self-manifested).
·
The temple’s Sthala Viruksham (Gneeli)
does not grow anywhere else.
·
The Vimanam above the sanctum sanctorum
is called “Badra Vimanam”.
·
Some of the stones in this temple have
stripes like that on a tiger. Stones of this particular variety can only be
found in this village.
·
Inside Lord Vinayakar’s shrine there are
idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Mahavishnu (Senthamarai Kannan). Lord
Dakshinamurthy of this temple is seen with Nandhi under his feet. These are two
occurrences that is unique to this temple.
·
Soothama Munivar performed penance in
this temple for many years and attained salvation. His “Jeeva Samadhi” (tomb)
can be seen in the outer corridor.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Gneelivaneswarar, Sri Chottrudaya Easwarar, |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Visalakshi, Sri Neelnedungkanni |
|
Theertham |
8
Theerthams (Vimalaranya river, Visalakshi, Yama, Kalyana, Agni, Deva, Appar
and Maniankarunai). |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Kalvazhai
– Plantain trees |
BELIEF:
Devotees perform poojas
in Lord Yama’s shrine on their 60th and 80th birthdays for a long and
prosperous life.
As per Sthala Puranam,
Devakanniyarkal (virgins) represent the sacred trees of this temple. It is
believed that those facing obstacles in their marriage proposals can perform
poojas here by tying a “mangal sutra” on the trees. It is also believed that
those seeking “santhana prapthi” (child boon) can offer poojas to the sthala
viruksham here.
Since Lord Yama’s
position was reinstated here, devotees believe that worshiping Lord Shiva here
would give them back their lost fortunes.
Thirunavukkarasar
(Appar) Guru Puja is celebrated here.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar
Chathurthi |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Special pujas to Lord Yama on the day
of Poosam star |
|
Chithirai |
April-May |
10-day Chithirai Brahmotsavam |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiruppaigneeli is
situated at a distance of about 20 kms from Trichy.
From Trichy, first
reach Mannachanallur (11kms) and then proceed to Thiruppaigneeli (8 kms).
Nearest railway station is Pitchandar Koil.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Shri Gneelivaneswarar Temple,
Thiruppainjeeli,
Mannachanallur,
Trichy,
Tamil Nadu- 621005.
LOCATION:
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