Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 9th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 9th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
In ancient times this
place was full of palm (Panai) trees and hence the place is called Panangkattur
and the lord here is named “Sri Panangkatteeswarar”. However, now this place is
known as Thirupanangadu.
Devakottai
Sri A.Ekappa Chettiar:
Devakottai Sri A.Ekappa
Chettiar’s family had renovated and constructed this temple. The consecration
ceremony (Mahakumbabishekam) was also conducted by them in the year 1928. Sri
Ekappa Chettiar’s statue can be seen in the main hall of the temple. It is
believed that in the year 1915, Ekappa Chettiar who was in a property
litigation case, prayed to Lord Shiva for help. Further, after browsing the
devaram book he selected the pathigam of this temple and started reciting it.
He also committed himself to do something for this temple if the judgement in
the legal case fell in his favour. Later, after he won the case he visited this
temple and found that it was in ruins. He renovated it using all the money that
he had got from the settlement.
Saint
Sundaramurthy Nayanar:
Saint Sundaramurthy
Nayanar visited this place; Lord Shiva appeared before him in the form of an
old man and offered food (Kattamudu). Sundarar laughed at him and said that
when there is no water available here then what the use of the food. The old
man scratched the land under his feet and water started flowing. The old man
disappeared and Sundarar realized that the old man was none other than Lord
Shiva himself. He then followed the foot prints of a bull and found this
temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi blessed Sundarar
with their dharisanam. In his hymns, Sundarar refers to this place as
“Vanparthan Panangkattur”.
The well which is
believed to have been created by Lord Shiva, is called “Sundarar Theertham”.
It is well maintained and has fencing around it. There is a small shrine
nearby where Sundarar is believed to have had the food that Lord Shiva gave
him. This Theertham and the shrine are at a distance of about one kilometre
from the temple. On the main road itself you can see a sign board
pointing to this well. People say that the water level at Sundarar Theertham is
just 3 feet whereas the nearby well’s water level is around 30 feet.
Two
separate shrines:
There are two separate
shrines for Lord Shiva in this temple - one is said to have been installed and
worshipped by Sage Agasthiyar and the other one by his disciple, Sage
Pulasthiyar. The deity installed and worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar is known as
Sri Thalapureeswarar (also known as Sri Panangkatteswarar) with Goddess
Amirthavalli. The deity installed and worshiped by Sage Pulasthiyar is known as
Sri Krupanatheswarar with Goddess Krupanayaki.
Sage Agasthiyar reached
this place, he wanted to worship Lord Shiva and searched for a temple. He found
another sage by the name of “Kottai Muniswarar’ (Yogananda Muniswarar)
meditating under a neem tree. Agasthiyar asked him if there was a temple
nearby, Muniswarar told him that there was a Shivalingam beneath this tree
itself. It is believed that Sage Agasthiyar took the lingam out, installed it
in a nearby shrine and worshiped it.
Pleased with the
worship of Sage Agasthiyar, Lord blessed him with his dharisanam. Further it is
believed that when Agasthiyar was looking to make offerings of fruits to the
lord, the lord made the fruits from the palm tree fall on the lingam. Because
of this incident, the lord here is named “Thalapureeswarar” (Thalam meaning
Palm tree in Grantham). It is said that while leaving this place Sage
Agasthiyar advised Sage Muneeswarar to look after this Shiva temple. In front
of this temple, there is also a separate small temple for “Sri Kottai
Muneeswarar”.
It is said that after
some time, Sage Pulasthiyar had also visited this place and installed a lingam
on the banks of river Palar and worshiped it. At a later date, this lingam is
believed have been discovered by a Chola king who brought it to this temple and
installed it next to the lingam that was installed by Sage Agasthiyar.
Panangkattu
Thambiran:
A staunch devotee
called Panangkattu Thambiran prayed to Lord Shiva to provide drinking water to
the local people. Lord conceded to his request and water started flowing from
the lord’s head. This water was stored in a nearby tank called “Jada Gangai
Theertham”. This is being used by locals even today.
Pillars
of the main hall:
The pillars of the main
hall have intricate reliefs and sculptures. One such sculpture depicts Vali and
Sugreev fighting with each other and another pillar depicts Lord Ram watching
this fight. An interesting point to note about these pillars is that you can
see Vali and Sugreev from Lord Ram’s relief whereas you cannot see Lord Ram
from the pillar in which Vali and Sukreev reliefs are chiselled. Similar reliefs
of Nagalingam, Garudazhvar, Mahavishnu and Anjaneyar can also be seen in other
pillars.
Two
separate sets:
There are two lingams
in this temple, this temple also has two separate sets of Nandhi, Pali Peedam
(altar for making offerings) and flag post (dwajasthambam). Similarly, in both
the outer sanctums, separate idols of lords Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu and
Brahma can be seen.
People
who worshipped here:
Lord Brahma,
Mahavishnu, Indiran and Sage Kannuva have worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
There are two
main presiding deities in this temple. Lord Thalapureeswarar was installed and
worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar and Lord Krupanatheswarar was installed and
worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar’s disciple, Sage Pulasthiyar.
·
This is an east
facing temple and it has an arch type entrance.
·
The vimanam
(roof tower) of both the sanctum sanctorum is designed in a special way that is
exclusive to Pallava architecture - the Gaja Brishtam that looks like the rear
of an elephant (Gaja - elephant, brishtam - rear).
·
Of the 276
Paadal Petra Shivasthalams, very few temples have Palm tree (Panai) as their
Sthala Viruksham. This temple is one of them. Some of the others are Panaiyur,
Panankattur, Puravaar Panankattur, Cheyyar, Thirumazhapadi, Thiru Valampuram
and Thiruppanandal.
·
The posture of one of the idols of Lord
Dakshinamurthy’s is unique to this temple - with his right hand placed on his
chest (“Chin muthirai” in Tamil).
·
Beautifully engraved Idols of Saint
Agasthiar, Saint Pulasthiar and palm trees can be seen at the entrance of the
sanctum sanctorum.
·
In the inner corridors, a beautiful
stone palm tree with Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi can be seen.
·
A stone inscription in this temple
stating that cutting down a palm tree is a sin.
·
There are two Lord Shiva’s shrines in
this temple, Saint Sundarar mentioned about Lord Thalapureeswarar (also known
as Sri Panangkatteswarar) only.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Thalapureeswarar & Sri Amirthavalli |
|
Ambal |
Sri Krupanatheswarar & Sri Krupanayaki |
|
Theertham |
Jada Gangai tank, Sundarar Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Palm Tree |
BELIEF:
In
the outer corridor, there are two sacred palm trees - one male and the other
female. It is believed that those seeking child boon can pray to the lord here
by making offerings of palm fruits and then consuming it.
Devotees also pray for
prosperity and relief from vision / eye sight related problems. They can also
circumambulate these trees and worship Lord Shiva for removal of obstacles from
their wedding proposals.
During Brahmotsavam, on
the Masi Magam day, “Thiruvural” festival is celebrated on the banks of the
river Palaru. The procession idol of Lord Ekambareswar of Kanchipuram is
brought to this place.
During the Brahmotsavam
festival, special poojas called “Kattamudhu” are also performed, to celebrate
the incident of Lord Shiva of giving food to Saint Sundarar.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Brahmotsavam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Somavarams |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Annabishekam |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Arudra
Dharisanam |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thiru
Vanparthan Panangkattur is at a distance of about 19 kms from Kanchipuram. From
Kanchipuram, first reach Thusi (10 kms) on Kanchipuram to Vandavasi route.
After travelling a distance of 6 kms on Kalavai – Venpakkam -Perungkattur
route, you can find a beautiful arch at the beginning of the road to
Thirupanangkadu. From the arch the temple is at a distance of about 3 kms.
TEMPLE ADDRESS:
Sri Thalapureeswarar
Temple,
Thiruppanagkadu,
Vembakkam Via,
Cheyyaru,
Thiruvannamalai,
Tamil Nadu – 604 410.
LOCATION:
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