Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 52nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Nadu Naadu |
Nadu Naadu | 20th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
The place was densely
populated with palm trees. This place is called “Puravaar Panangkatur” because
“Puravaar” in Tamil means forest and Panangkatur means full of palm trees. Very
few temples have Palm tree (Panai) as their Sthala Viruksham. This temple is
one of them. They are - Thiru Panaiyur, Thiru Vanparthan Panankattur, Thiru
Puravaar Panankattur, Thiru Cheyyar, Thiru Mazhapadi, Thiru Valampuram and
Thiruppanandal.
Dakshan performed a yagna without
Lord shiva:
Dakshan
(father of Goddess Parvathi) once performed a yagna where he invited all the
devas (celestial gods) but intentionally left out Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was
angered by this slight and all the Devas who attended the yagna and consumed
the yagna-food (avirbhaagam), became the object of his fury.
Lord
Shiva instructed Aghora Veerabhadrar to go to Dakshan’s yagna-hall and punish
all the Devas. Agora Veerabhadrar carried out the lord’s instruction and as a
result the Sun God (Suryan) who was one of the attendee lost his eye sight and
lustre. To seek Lord Shiva’s forgiveness, Suryan went to several holy places
and offered his prayers. It was finally at this place (Puravaar Panangkattur)
that Suryan’s eye sight and his brightness were restored. Hence, Lord Shiva is
also praised here as “Kan parithu aruliya kadavul” (the God who took and later
restored the eye sight).
As
Suryan got back his brightness at this temple, it is believed that every year,
he worships Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi for a period of seven days from the
1st day of the Tamil New year by illuminating the idols in the two
sanctums.
King Sibi cut a portion of his
thigh flesh:
Once
a pigeon that was being hunted by a vulture surrendered to the King and sought
his help. Chola Emperor Sibi Chakravarthi immediately cut a portion of his
thigh flesh equivalent to the weight of the pigeon and offered it as food to
the vulture instead. This deed came to the notice of Lord Shiva who appreciated
his generosity, gave him his dharisanam and offered him salvation (moksham). In
order to celebrate this event and to honour King Sibi, his descendants built a
beautiful temple at this place.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is one of
the few temples that has palm tree is its “sthala viruksham”. There are four
sacred palm trees in the outer corridor.
·
The main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 4-tiers.
·
There is a rare
idol of Thiruneelakandar (one of the 63 Nayanmars) and his wife where both of
them are holding a staff and standing in praying posture.
·
There is also a
rare rock relief depicting Lord Vinayakar (Polla Pillaiyar) at the entrance.
This relief has been made using stone tools.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Panangatteswarar, Sri Nethrotharaneswarar, |
|
Ambal |
Sri Sathyambikai, Sri Meyyambikai, Sri
Puravambikai |
|
Theertham |
Padma Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Palm tree (panai) |
BELIEF:
Devotees
believe that worshipping Lord Shiva here would cure their eye sight related
problems.
Devotees
also pray to Lord Shiva here for the removal of hurdles from marriage proposals,
to attain knowledge and wisdom.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
Brahmotsavam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha
Shivrathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct-Nov |
Annabishekam |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Chithirai |
Apr-May |
Surya Pooja |
HOW
TO REACH:
Panayapuram
is at a distance of about 12 kms from Villupuram and 3 kms from Mundiambakkam.
It is on the Pondicherry to Mundiambakkam route. The temple is hardly one km
away from the Vikravandi tollgate on the Panruti / Kumabakonam route.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Panangaateeswarar
Temple,
Panaiyapuram Post,
Mundiyampakkam Via,
Villupuram ,
Tamil Nadu - 605 601.
LOCATION:
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