Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 255th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Pandiya Naadu |
Pandiya Naadu | 11th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
This
temple is situated at Tirupuvanam on the southern bank of river Vaigai. This
sivasthalam is considered as holy as Varanasi (Benares) as the river Vaigai
takes a turn towards the north here and then flows towards east. The temple at
Tirupuvanam is rather big with a 5 tier gopuram at the main entrance and a
small gopuram at the entrance to the presiding female deity's shrine. This
temple got the royal patronage of the Pandiya kings and later on by Nayak kings
who ruled from Madurai.
When
Sambandar reached the north bank of river Vaigai with the intention to visit
Tirupuvanam and worship Poovananathar, the sands of river Vaigai appreared to
him as thousands of Sivalingams. Samabandar decided not to set his foot on the
sands of river Vaigai and wanted to worship Lord Poovananathar whose temple was
on the other side of the river. Lord Shiva ordered Nandhi to move aside a
little so that Sambandar could have a view of the Lord from the other bank of
the river. The Nandhi is not in a straight line facing the Lord Shiva in this
sivasthalam.
According
to the legend, Lord vishnu and His consort Tirumagal, Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva's
consort Umadevi, Sage Agasthiyar, Sage Markandeyar, Sage Vasishtar, Indiran,
Sooriyan are said to have worshipped Lord Poovananathar at this Shivasthalam.
Tirupuvanam is associated with an episode narrated in the Thiruvilayadal
Puranam. This episode narrates the life of Ponnanaiyal, an ardent devotee of
Lord Poovananathar, who lived in Tirupurvanam. She used to take her bath in the
river Vaigai every day in the morning and offered garland to the Lord and
danced before Him daily. She had a desire in her mind to carve out an idol of
the Lord in Gold. Lord Shiva, pleased with her devotion to Him, appeared before
her in disguise as a Siddhar and told her that He could covert any piece of
metal into gold. Ponnanaiyal handed over to Him all the vessels she had in the
house. The Siddhar Lord Shiva in disguise sprinkled sacred ash on the vessels
and told Ponnanaiyal that they would turn into gold on the next day morning.
When Ponnanaiyal found the gold next day morning, she gave the gold to a
goldsmith and made an idol of Lord Poovananathar in gold as she had always
desired. The idol was so beautiful and thrilled by the beauty of it,
Ponnanaiyal pinched the deity's cheek leaving a permanent mark there. This idol
of somaskandar alias Azhagiya Nayagar bears the pinch mark on His cheek even
now.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
There are
separated entrances to the Shiva and Ambal shrines in this temple which covers
a span of about 3 acres.
·
The Rajagopuram
rises to a height of 75 feet. Several of the tanks here are considered to be
sacred. Natarajar's tandavam here is Bhrama Tandavam.
·
There are
several other noteworthy features and shrines in this temple.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Poovana Nathar, Sri Bhaskarapureeswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Poovana Nayaki, Sri Sundara Nayaki |
|
Theertham |
Vaigai Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Palaamaram |
BELIEF:
Devotees seek happy
results in marriage talks, child boon, good education.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Pooram |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Kolattam
festival |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Arudra
Darisanam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Annual
Bhrammotsavam |
HOW
TO REACH:
This
temple is well connected by road and train services from Madurai and is
situated about 20 Kms to the southeast of Madurai. There is a railway station
at Tirupuvanam on the Madurai - Manamadurai section of Southern Railway.Town
bus and regular bus services from Madurai are available to go to Thiruppuvanam.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Poovananathar
Temple,
Tirupuvanam,
Manamadurai,
Sivagangai,
Tamil Nadu – 623611.
LOCATION:
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