Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 140th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 23rd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
Patti, the daughter of
the divine cow Kamadenu, worshipped the lord here. Hence this place gets the
name Patteecharam (“Echaram” means temple in Tamil). The lord is praised as Sri
Patteeswarar (Sri Thenupureeswarar in Sanskrit).
This ancient temple is
on the northern bank of the river Thirumalairayan. This temple is very big and
is spread over a sprawling 4.4 acre temple campus. It has 4 main towers at all
the four entrances. The historical names of this place are Mazhapadi,
Patteecharam, Devivanam and Shaktivanam. This place was once called Pazhayarai
and it was the capital of the Chola Kingdom.
Goddess
Parvathy:
Goddess Parvathy had
performed penance here. Devas came here in the form of trees and plants to
protect her and make the environment green. Kamadenu sent her daughter Patti to
assist Goddess Parvathy. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva blessed her with
his darshan. In this darshan he was seen with his dreadlocks (“jadamudi”).
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar:
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar, after worshiping the lord at Sakthi Mutram, a nearby Lord
Shiva temple, proceeded to visit this temple. It was a peak summer day and in
order to protect him from the oppressive heat, Lord Shiva created a tent lined
with pearls (“Muthu panthal”) and sent it through his attendants (“Bhootha
ganas”). He also advised the Nandhis to move a little bit to the side so that
he could see the beautiful sight of Sambanthar arriving through the pearls
roof.
Lord
Ram:
Lord Ram worshipped
Lord Shiva here to seek pardon for the sins (“Chayahathi dosham”) that he had
accrued by killing Ravana, Vaali and others. This event is commemorated every
year during the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan). He created a well here and
used this water to perform abhishekam to Lord Shiva. This well is known as
“Rama Theertham” or “Kodi Theertham”. This Theertham is considered to be
equivalent to “Dhanushkoti Theertham”.
Sage
Medhavi:
Sage Medhavi of Maluva
Kingdom was to attend a yagna conducted by Sage Pradesas. Sage Medhavi asked
one of his students, a brahmin boy named Dharma Sarma, to take care of the
Ashram and the cows. When he returned he found that the cows were not taken
care of properly. He cursed the student that he would turn into a dog. When the
boy pleaded for forgiveness, the sage advised him to come to this temple and
worship the lord here. Dharma Sarma came here, took a holy dip in the
“Gnanavavi”, circumambulated the Sthala Viruksham (Vanni) and worshiped the
lord. It is believed that he regained his original form after that.
Sage
Viswamitra:
Sage Viswamitra
worshiped the lord here and attained the full power of “Gayathri Mantra” and
also received the title of “Brahma Rishi”. The Gayathri Theertham here is
believed to have been created by Sage Vishwamitra.
Chithirasena
Maharaja:
Chithirasena Maharaja
of Kaampeeli kingdom stayed here along with his wife and worshiped the lord. He
performed “Puthira Kameshti Yagna” and was blessed with a child. The king also
conducted a festival during Uthirattathi star day in the Tamil month of Thai.
King
Sakthiyumnan:
King Sakthiyumnan, who
was afflicted with Brahmahathi dosham, was advised by Sage Kasyaba to visit
this temple for relief. The king visited this place and worshiped the lord
after taking bath in the Gnanavavi Theertham. It is believed that a parrot
taught him the “Panchatchara mantra” (namasivaya) in this temple and thereafter
he was relieved from his dosham.
Goddess
Durgai Temple:
Goddess Vishnu Durgai’s
shrine, located at the northern entrance of this temple, is very popular among
devotees. This temple is also known as Durgai Amman temple.
The Chola kings
including the great Rajaraja Chola were staunch devotees of Goddess Durgai. She
was the protecting deity of the Cholas in their fort’s northern gate.
After the decline of the Chola empire, the idol of Durgai from their fort
was installed in this temple. She is also known as “Sri Kottaivayil Durgai”.
The Goddess here is
known by many names such as Vishnu Durgai, Durga Lakshmi, Navayoga Nayaki,
Navakoti Nayaki, Navagraha Nayaki, Navaratri Nayaki and Navasakthi Nayaki, to
name a few. Unlike in other temples, Goddess Durgai here has a pleasing
appearance (“Shanta Swarupi”). She appears in a Thribanga stature - with eight
hands, three eyes, wearing ear rings (“kundalam”) and standing on top of the
demon Mahishasuran. Generally, her mount (lion) looks towards the right side
whereas here it faces left.
Sage
Markandeya:
Sage Markandeya also
worshiped the lord here.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This temple is very famous for Goddess
Durgai and is popularly known as Durgai Amman temple.
·
This east facing temple with main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 7- tiers.
·
This is a typical temple from the time
of Cholas and Nayakkars. It is spread over a large campus, has beautiful
and intricate sculptures, artistic pillars and halls (mandapams).
·
Lord Vinayakar here is praised as Swarna
Vinayakar, Anukgnai Vinayakar and Madavaranap Pillayar.
·
This is a “Pancha Nandhi kshetram”. All
the 5 Nandhis here are not seen in their usual plae but are shifted a bit to
the side.
·
The pillars in Goddess Parvathy’s shrine
have many beautiful sculptures of the mythological “Yaali”. It also has a chain
made of a single stone which is rotatable.
·
Beautiful paintings depicting the legends
of this temple are displayed in the Goddess’s shrine. Some of them are -
·
Patti, the divine cow, worshiping the
lord,
·
Lord Ram with Sita and Lakshman
worshiping the lord.
·
A Chola king from his capital Pazhayarai
visiting this temple along with his wife every day for worship,
·
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar with his
disciples arriving to this place,
·
Lord Shiva sending a pearl tent through
his attendants to receive Sambanthar,
·
King Veeradeva Maharayar with his wife
worshiping the lord. It is also mentioned that he built a new temple and
endowed it with some lands,
·
Veerapprathaba Devarayar worshiping the
lord. It is also mentioned that he created a tank and built a hall here. He
also gifted some lands to this temple,
·
Govinda Theekshidar with his wife
worshipping the lord here daily.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Dhenupureeswarar, Sri Patteeswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Palvalainayagi, Sri Gnanambikai |
|
Theertham |
Gnanavavi,
Kodi Theertham, Gayathri Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vanni
tree |
BELIEF:
Devotees worship Lord
Shiva of this temple to seek the blessing of prosperity and wisdom.
Devotees can get relief
from the adverse effects of planets Raahu and Kethu by worshiping Goddess
Durgai here.
Devotees pray to Lord
Bhairavar here to seek relief from enemy threats and for cure from dog bites
and other ailments.
Theerthavari at Kodi
theertham on new moon day in Margazhi (Dec-Jan) to commomerate the event of
Lord Ram being relieved from Chayahasthi dosham,
The Navakoti (9 crores)
archana is very popular here.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
Vaikasi Visakam Theerthavari at the
river Thirumalairajan |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani Thirumanjanam |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Muthu Panthal festival on the
1st day |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Pooram |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar Chaturthi |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Aippasi |
Oct–Nov |
Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thiru Karthikai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Theerthavari at Kodi theertham on new
moon day |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Makara Sankranthi |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri and Masi Maham |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
HOW
TO REACH:
Patteeswaram is
situated at a distance of about 8 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to
Avoor route. From Swamimalai it is about 3 kms and from Darasuram it is about 4
kms. Both Swamimalai and Darasuram have railway stations.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Dhenupureeswarar Temple,
Patteswaram,
Kumbakonam,
Tanjure,
Tamil Nadu 612 703.
LOCATION:
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