24. SRI SOMANATHASWAMY TEMPLE AT PAZHAYARAI VADATHALI

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	141st Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - South
Chola Naadu - South	24th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

HISTORY:

In ancient times, this place was a part of the Chola capital and many Chola kings ruled from Pazhayarai. During that time, Pazhayarai was a big city that spanned 8 kms in length and 3.5 kms in width. It consisted of many villages such as Patteswaram, Muzhayur, Udayalur, Shakti Mutram, Cholan Maligai (where the king’s palace was situated), Darasuram and Ramanathan Koil. Pazhaiyarai was divided into four blocks. These are – Vadathali, Metrali, Keezh Thali and Then Thali. This temple is located at Keezh Thali.

This village is bounded by the river Mudikondan on the south and the river Thirumalairayan on the north. The river Mudikondan is also known as Pazhaiyaru and hence this place gets the name Pazhayarai. The village on the river’s northern side is known as Pazhayarai Vadathali (“vada” means north and “thali” means temple in Tamil).

During Gnanasambanthar’s period, Pazhayarai housed the following the battle camps of the Cholas - Aariyap padaiyur, Pampab padaiyur, Manap padaiyur and Puthup padaiyur.

This place has had different names throughout history. It was called Pazhaiyarai Nagar in the 7th century, Nandhipuram in the 8th century, Pazhaiyarai Nandhipuram in the 9th and 10th centuries, Mudikonda Cholapuram in the 11th century and Rajarajapuram in the 12th century.

This temple was believed to be built by Chola King Aditya and was renovated by Chola King Raja Rajan. Raja Raja’s birth name is Arunmozhi Devan and hence this place is also known as Arunmozhi Thevecharam. 

Vadathali temple:

Though the historical name of this place is Pazhayarai Vadathali, now there are two separate villages – one called Pazhayarai and the other called Vadathali. Both of them are approximately one kilometre apart. The Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam is located in Pazhayarai. In Vadathali, there is a separate temple.  Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar), while rendering his hymn, combined these two temples.

Sri Vimalanayaki along with Sri Dharmapureeswarar grace the temple at Vadathali. This temple is also known as Vallalar Koil and it is considered as one of the “Vaippu Sthalams”. This is a Madakkoil built by king Kochengat Cholan.

This temple was closed and buried under the ground by some Jains (Samanar). When Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) had come to Pazhayarai, he realized that something was unusual about Vadathali. When he enquired the local people, he was told that the temple in the village was hidden under the ground by the Jains. He then started fasting (“Sathyagraham”) here in order to find the location of the Shivalingam. It is believed that Lord Shiva came in the dream of the local Chola king Manimudi Devan and told him to assist Appar. The temple and the Shivalingam were found and re-established for worship.

Jatayu Theertham:

Garudan, the eagle mount of Lord Mahavishnu, wanted to release his mother from slavery. In order to do so he had to bring a pot full of nectar from Lord Indhra. When he was on his way to deliver the pot of nectar, he was attacked by some demons (asuras). Three drops of nectar fell down at this place and these drops turned into a lingam, a goddess and the Theertham. Garudan had a dip in this Theertham and worshiped Lord Shiva here. He made a pond here which is known as “Jatayu Theertham”.

Soma Kamala Nayagi:

Chandran created a theertham here and worshiped the lord. He was relieved from his curses and regained his strength and brightness. The theertham created by him is known as Soma Theertham. The lord gets the name Soma Nathar and the goddess is praised as Soma Kamala Nayagi (“Soma” is another name for Chandran).

People who worshipped here:

Chandran, the serpent king Aadhi Seshan, Garudan, Ganga and Kamadenu’s daughter Vimali have worshipped the lord here. 

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        The idol of Kailasanathar is incredibly beautiful and unique. It looks as if Ravana is carrying Mount Kailash over his head.

·        Idols of Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanareeswarar and Durgai are very beautiful.

·        Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar), while rendering his hymn, combined these two temples.

·        This place was a dense forest covered with neem trees in Kretha Yuga, plantain in Thretha Yuga, Kadamba trees in Dvapara Yuga and Amla trees in this Kali Yuga.

·        Keezhap Pazhaiyarai is the birthplace of Mangaiyarkkarasiyar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. She is the daughter of Chola King Manimudi Devan of Pazhayarai.

·        She is the wife of Koon Pandiyan of Madurai. She was the instrumental in bringing Saint Thirugnanasambanthar to Madurai to save Saivism at a time when Jainism was spreading across the land. Mangaiyarkkarasiyar attained salvation in Madurai. She got the opportunity to be honoured by Saint Thirugnanasambanthar in his pathigam.

·        Chola King Manimudi Devan was associated with Saint Thirunavukkarasar in finding out the Shivalingam in Vadathali temple. The king was also associated with straightening the Shivalingam in Thiruppananthal, another Devara Padal Petra Sthalam.

·        Keezhap Pazhaiyarai is also the birthplace of Amarneethi Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. He attained salvation in Nallur, a nearby village.

·        At the entrance of Goddess Parvathy’s shrine, there are many sculptures depicting the story of Pragalad and Lord Mahavishnu.

·        King Rajendra Chola was brought up in this place by his grandmother Queen Kunthavai Piratti.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Somanathar, Sri Somesar
Ambal	Sri Somakamalambigai
Theertham	Soma Theertham, Jatayu Theertham, Indra Theertham, Kamala Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Amla tree

BELIEF:

Devotees believe that taking a dip in this temple’s holy water (Soma Theertham) can cure them from mental disorder like “sitha piramai”.

Devotees also believe that taking a dip in the Jatayu Theertham can cure disease like leprosy.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
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
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

Though the historical name of this place is Pazhayarai Vadathali, now there are two separate villages – one called Pazhayarai and the other called Vadathali. Both of them are approximately one kilometre apart. The Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam is located in Pazhayarai. In Vadathali, there is a separate temple.  Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar), while rendering his hymn, combined these two temples.

Pazhayarai is situated at a distance of about 12 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam – Patteswaram – Muzhaiyur - Avoor route. It is about 2 kms from Patteeswaram.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Someswarar Temple,
Pazhayarai Vadathali,
Patteeswaram,
Kumbakonam,
Tanjore,
Tamil Nadu – 612 703.

LOCATION: