78. SRI PAYATRUNATHAR TEMPLE AT THIRUPPAYATRUR (THIRU PAYATRANGUDI)

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	195th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	78th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

HISTORY:

There lived a trader here who was also an ardent Shiva devotee. Nagapattinam, a nearby place, was the import and export hub during that period. Once, he had gone to Nagapattinam to trade some pepper. There was a check-post on the way, and he knew that the pepper that he carried with him would be taxed there. He realised that if he paid the taxes, he would incur a heavy loss. The trader prayed to Lord Shiva asking him to transform his stocks of taxable pepper into tax-free pulses (“Payaru” in Tamil) till such time the inspection at the check-post was complete. The lord fulfilled his wishes. It is believed that the trader spent his profit in renovating this temple. Hence the lord here is praised as Sri Payatru Nathar and the place gets the name Payatrur.

The historical name of this place is Thiruppayatrur but it is now known as Thiruppayathankudi.

One of the stone inscriptions here narrates the story of a man named Panchanathavaanan. He was suffering from some eye diseases and he prayed to the lord for a cure. He was cured of his ailments. His family then donated some land to this temple.

Sage Bairava Maharishi:

Sage Bairava Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva here.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This temple’s Sthala Viruksham is the Silanthi tree. This tree’s flowers are yellow in colour and resembles a spider.

·        There is no shrine for Goddess Durgai here but in its place, there is a shrine for Goddess Veeramaakaali.

·        The peacock idol in front of Lord Murugan looks very beautiful. Also, the idols in the Navagraham are very beautiful.

·        The front hall (Mandapam) of this temple is designed to look like the forehead of a bat (“Vovval Nethi Mandapam”). This looks very beautiful.

·        The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of semi-circular tank (“akazhi” in Tamil).

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Payatra Nathar, Sri Payatreeswarar, Sri Mukthapureeswarar
Ambal	Sri Kaviyangkanni Ammai, Sri Nethrambigai
Theertham	Devi Theertham, Karuna theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Silanthi tree

BELIEF:

Those suffering from eye related diseases can take a dip in this temple’s Theertham and worship Goddess Kaviyangkanni for relief.

Devotees can worship Goddess Veeramaakaali to ward off evil spirits.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Chithirai	Apr-May	Full moon day
Vaikasi	May-June	Brahmotsavam on Visakam star day
Aadi	July-Aug	Aadi Pooram and Fridays
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thiru Karthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri

HOW TO REACH:

Thiruppayatrur is situated at a distance of about 11 kms from Thiruvarur on the Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur route. Take the diversion road from Kangalanchery -Nagore road. Reach Melapputhanur and then take the Thiru Marugal road to reach this temple. This temple is 5 kms away from Thiru Marugal.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Payatrunathar Temple,
Thiruppayatrur (Thiru Payathangudi),
Kangalanchery Via,
Nannilam,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu – 610101.

LOCATION: