73. SRI SOUNDARESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUPPANAIYUR

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	190th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	73rd Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)

HISTORY:

The great Chola King Karikalan grew up in this temple and lived here for around 10 years so that he could be shielded from his enemies.  Karikalan was born after his father King Ilamchetchenni was killed by his enemies. After his father’s death, Karikalan and his mother were sent to this temple by his maternal uncle, Irumbidar Thalaiyar who was a Sangam era poet. Irumbidar Thalaiyar did so to ensure that the boy could be raised in peace.

At this temple, Karikalan’s mother prayed to the lord asking him to protect them from their enemies. It is believed that Lord Vinayakar here started protecting them. When Karikalan attained the age of 13, with his uncle’s help, he fought and regained his kingdom. It is believed that when the Chola ministers sent a state elephant to look for the prince, the elephant found Karikalan and garlanded him.

At the entrance of this temple, there is an idol of Vinayakar called “Thunai Iruntha Vinayagar” (“thunai” means escort, “iruntha” means side by in Tamil).

There are about 14 stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Chola king Kulothungan-I, Sundara Pandiyan, Parakirama Pandiyan, Rajathi Rajan-I and Rajarajan II.

In these inscriptions, the lord is mentioned as Panaiyadiyappan and Panangattiraivan. It is also mentioned that this temple was built in granite in the early 11th century. The village around this temple is referred to as Rajendra Cholap Panaiyur.

The historical name of this place is Thalavanam and the temple is known as Thalavaneswaram (“Thalam” means palm tree).

Of the 276 Paadal Petra Shivasthalams, very few temples have Palm tree (Panai) as their Sthala Viruksham. This temple is one of them. The other temples having this sthala viruksham are - Thiru Panaiyur, Thiru Vanparthan Panankattur, Thiru Puravaar Panankattur, Thiru Cheyyar, Thiru Mazhapadi, Thiru Valampuram and Thiruppanandal.

Sage Parasarar:

The main Shivalingam here is believed to have been installed and worshiped by Sage Parasarar. The lord is praised as “Sri Thalavaneswarar” (“Thalam” means palm tree).

Sage Parasarar dropped a small portion of the celestial nectar, Amirtham, into the temple’s pond and hence this pond is called “Amirtha Pushkarini”.There is a Vinayakar in the Thiruvarur temple called “Matru Uraitha Vinayagar” which is connected to Saint Sundararamurthy Nayanar’s legend. In this temple also, there is a Vinayakar by the same name and this Vinayakar can be seen in the corridor.

Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar:

Another legend is that when Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar was at the entrance to this village, Lord Shiva blessed him by showing the saint a vision of his cosmic dance.  There is a place near this temple called “Manikka Nachiyar Thittu”. Here there is a tank called “Santhitha Theertham” which symbolises the meeting of Lord Shiva and the Nayanar (“santhitha” means met in Tamil). In his hymn, Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar has mentioned about the lord’s dance darshan to him.

People who worshipped here:

Goddess Mahalakshmi, Sage Parasarar, Saptha Rishis (Kausikar, Kasyabar, Bharadwajar, Gauthamar, Agasthiyar, Athiri and Birugu), Saint Thirugnanasambanthar and Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar and Chola kings Musukunda Chakravarthy and Karikalan have worshiped the lord here.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        The great Chola King Karikalan lived in this place in his childhood.

·        In this temple there are two palm trees (Sthala Viruksham) – one male and the other one female. It is believed that these trees have grown by themselves without any seed. Similar to plantain, it is believed that new trees came up in place of the older ones.

·        This temple is considered to be significant for its three important attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple tank.

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

·        There is a pillar in the main hall that has a relief of Lord Karkadeswarar (Lord Shiva being worshiped by a crab).

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Soundareswarar, Sri Thalavaneswarar, Sri Azhakiya Nathar
Ambal	Sri Brahan Nayaki, Sri Periya Nayaki
Theertham	Amirtha Pushkarni, Parasara Theertham, Thirumakal Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Palm tree

BELIEF:

Devotees seeking for transfer or promotion in their workplace can worship the lord here.

Devotees also believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thiru Karthikai
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

 

HOW TO REACH:

Thiruppanaiyur is located at a distance of about 12 kms from Thiruvarur on the Thiruvarur to Mayiladuthurai (via Andippanthal- Sannanallur-Peralam) route. Take the diversion road from this temple’s arch after Sannanallur and proceed further for about 1.5 kms to reach this temple.
From Andipanthal, cross the Putharu railway crossing and travel further for about 3 kms to reach Panayur.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Soundareswarar Temple,
Thiruppanaiyur,
Sanna Nallur Via,
Nannilam,
Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu – 609 504.

LOCATION: