64. SRI SIVANANDESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRU PENU PERUNTHURAI (THIRUPPANTHURAI)

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	181st Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	64th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

This ancient temple is located on the southern banks of the river Arisilaru. Hence this place gets the name Perunthurai (“periya” means big and “thurai” means river bank in Tamil).

The historical name of this place is Penu Perunthurai but now it is known as Thiruppanthurai. In the stone inscriptions, the lord’s name is referred to as “Sri Penu Perunthurai Mahadevar” and the goddess’s name as “Sri Malai Arasi Ammai”.

Sri Pranaveswarar:

Once Lord Murugan is believed to have imprisoned Lord Brahma for not being able to explain the meaning of “Pranava Mantra” (Aum / Ohm). For imprisoning her husband, Goddess Saraswathi cursed Lord Murugan that he would become dumb. Lord Shiva intervened in this matter and then got Lord Brahma released. However, Lord Shiva asked Lord Murugan to go to this temple and offer his prayers in order to seek absolution for all the trouble that he had caused by imprisoning Lord Brahma. It is believed that Lord Murugan visited this place and worshiped the lord. Lord Shiva absolved him of his sins and restored his speech. Hence, the lord here is praised as “Sri Pranaveswarar” (“lord of Pranava Mantra”).

People who worshipped here:

Goddess Parvathy, Vinayakar, Lord Murugan and Lord Brahma have worshiped the lord here.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This east facing temple has main tower (Rajagopuram) 3-tiers.

·        The procession idol of Lord Pitchandavar of this temple is very beautiful. In his hymn, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar sings the praise of this lord.

·        At the entrance of the sanctum, on either side, idols of Vinayakar and Murugan can be seen.

·        In this temple, Lord Pitchandavar and Lord Dandapani are famous among the devotees.

·        The idol of Lord Dhandapani is located in the hall in front of the sanctum. He is seen in a meditative posture with closed eyes, having long ears, showing the “chin mudra” in his hand and having a “sikha” (long hair-kudumi) in his head. This is a very unique depiction.

·        At the entrance of the temple, there is a separate shrine for twin Vinayakars – Sri Guga Vinayakar and Sri Satchi Vinayakar. It is believed that Lord Vinayaka took a twin form and escorted Lord Murugan when he came here for penance.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Pranaveswarar, Sri Sivanantheswarar
Ambal	Sri Mangalambigai, Sri Malai Arasi Ammai
Theertham	Mangala Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Vanni tree

BELIEF:

It is considered auspicious to perform abhishekam to Lord Murugan here using honey.

Devotees who have speech impairment or those who stammer can pray to the lord here to get relief.

“Amuthu Padayal” to Lord Pitchandavar is celebrated in a grand manner in the Tamil month of Chithirai on the “Barani” star day.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Chithirai	Apr-May	“Amuthu Padayal” to Lord Pitchandavar is celebrated
Vaikasi	May-June	Vaikasi Visakam
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thiru Karthikai
Thai	Jan-Feb	Thai Poosam
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

Thiru Penu Perunthurai (Thirupandurai) is situated at a distance of about 11 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Karikkal (Via Nachiyar Koil – Eravancheri) route. It is about 2 kms away from Nachiyar koil.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Sivanandeswarar Temple,
Thiru Penu Perunthurai (Thiruppanthurai)
Nachiyarkoil Via,
Kumbakonam,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu – 6120602.

LOCATION: