Today we are posting information about Shri Alanthurai Nathar Temple at Thirupullamangai.
This Shiva temple is one of the 275 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. It is also a Saptamangai Sthalam where Goddess Parvati, along with Chamundi, and one of the Sapta Matrika, performed navaratri utsav on the “Saptami (seventh day)” of Navaratri. The temple is about 2000 years old. It is located at Thirupullamangai near Papanasam in Tanjavur district on Tanjavur-Kumbakonam route.
Mulavar (Main deity): Pasupathishwarar, Pasupathi nathar, Bramhapurishwarar, Alanthurai nathar
Consort (Devi): Soundaryanayaki Devi, Alliyankothai
Kshetra Vruksha: Banyan tree (in Marathi “Vad”)
Sacred Tirtha: Kaveri, Kudamurutti
Puranik Name: Thirupullamangai
Present Name: Pashupathi kovil
District: Tanjavur, TamilNadu
The temple is on the bank of river Kudamurutti (a tributary of river Kaveri). As the temple is located on the river bank with a Banyan tree, the place is also known as Alanthurai. At present, the temple is in a depleted condition, but renovation has been done by the Maratha kings and Chola kings.
This is a Madakovil built during the Chola empire. Lord Shiva is in the form of swayambhoo linga.
Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva at this place as a Chakravak bird (Ruddyshell Duck) along with Chamundi - one of the saptamatrika. They had the darshan of the divine serpent on Lord Shiva’s neck. Hence it is known as Shiva-Nag-Bhushan darshan.
Kshetra Puran:
According to the puran, Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva as a Chakravak bird. Hence the place got the name Pullamangai. It is believed that ashtanagas (eight divine serpents) worshiped Lord Shiva with more than 10 crores nagalinga (Kailashpathi) flowers on a Shiva Ratri. Hence this place is considered to be Nagashakti shrine. In a sculpture in the temple, we come across the celestial cow Kamadhenu worshiping Lord Shiva.
Lord Brahma got rid of his curse by worshiping Lord Shiva at this place.
Salient features:
Durga idol in this temple has special feature and is known as Mahishasur-mardini. She is standing under an umbrella with her leg on head of Mahishasur. She has conch, chakra, sword, bow, mace, trident, ankush and khatvanga as her weapons. On her either sides, a deer and lion are depicted in standing position. A sculpture depicts two soldiers offering their heads as an offering to her. One of her hands has abhaya mudra.
There is a shrine of Chandikeshwarar. In the Navagraha shrine we have Nandi at the center. There are idols of four Shaiva saints. We can
observe kites (eagles) above the temple tower. There are a lot of stone carvings, depicting the relief and the renovation work done by the Chola, Vijayanagara and Maratha kings.
The name of the Tanjavur maratha king Pratapsingh and Chola king Parantaka Chola find mention in the relief works.
About the temple:
The temple faces east. The temple has only one Prakara (parikrama). Though there are Bali Peetha and Nandi, we do not find the flagstaff associated with the temple. There is a separate Ganesha shrine. A three feet deep canal is surrounding the temple. We find the Koshta murtis on the outer wall of sanctum sanctorum.
The shrine of Devi Soundaryanayaki is separate. Shrines of Ganesha, Subramanya with his
consorts Valli and Deivaini are found in the parikrama. Idols of Bhairava, four Shaiva saints, Surya, Chandikeshwar are found in the temple. At mahamandap entrance we have the idol of Ganesha. There are lot of panels which depict purans of Lord Shiva and Shiva ganas which are holding various musical instruments. Besides this there are panels depicting scenes from Ramayana and other Vaishnava purans, though this is a Shiva temple. The panels also depict Krishna-leelas.
Festivals in the temple:
1. MahaShivaRatri festival in Tamil month of Masi (February-March).
2. ShivaRatri festival in Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June).
3. AnnaAbhishek in Tamil month of Aippasi (October-November).
4. ArudraDarshan (known as Thiruvathirai) in Tamil month of Marghazi
Courtesy: Inputs are from TamilNadu-favtourism.blogspot.com
This Shiva temple is one of the 275 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. It is also a Saptamangai Sthalam where Goddess Parvati, along with Chamundi, and one of the Sapta Matrika, performed navaratri utsav on the “Saptami (seventh day)” of Navaratri. The temple is about 2000 years old. It is located at Thirupullamangai near Papanasam in Tanjavur district on Tanjavur-Kumbakonam route.
Mulavar (Main deity): Pasupathishwarar, Pasupathi nathar, Bramhapurishwarar, Alanthurai nathar
Consort (Devi): Soundaryanayaki Devi, Alliyankothai
Kshetra Vruksha: Banyan tree (in Marathi “Vad”)
Sacred Tirtha: Kaveri, Kudamurutti
Puranik Name: Thirupullamangai
Present Name: Pashupathi kovil
District: Tanjavur, TamilNadu
The temple is on the bank of river Kudamurutti (a tributary of river Kaveri). As the temple is located on the river bank with a Banyan tree, the place is also known as Alanthurai. At present, the temple is in a depleted condition, but renovation has been done by the Maratha kings and Chola kings.
This is a Madakovil built during the Chola empire. Lord Shiva is in the form of swayambhoo linga.
Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva at this place as a Chakravak bird (Ruddyshell Duck) along with Chamundi - one of the saptamatrika. They had the darshan of the divine serpent on Lord Shiva’s neck. Hence it is known as Shiva-Nag-Bhushan darshan.
Kshetra Puran:
According to the puran, Goddess Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva as a Chakravak bird. Hence the place got the name Pullamangai. It is believed that ashtanagas (eight divine serpents) worshiped Lord Shiva with more than 10 crores nagalinga (Kailashpathi) flowers on a Shiva Ratri. Hence this place is considered to be Nagashakti shrine. In a sculpture in the temple, we come across the celestial cow Kamadhenu worshiping Lord Shiva.
Lord Brahma got rid of his curse by worshiping Lord Shiva at this place.
Salient features:
Durga idol in this temple has special feature and is known as Mahishasur-mardini. She is standing under an umbrella with her leg on head of Mahishasur. She has conch, chakra, sword, bow, mace, trident, ankush and khatvanga as her weapons. On her either sides, a deer and lion are depicted in standing position. A sculpture depicts two soldiers offering their heads as an offering to her. One of her hands has abhaya mudra.
There is a shrine of Chandikeshwarar. In the Navagraha shrine we have Nandi at the center. There are idols of four Shaiva saints. We can
observe kites (eagles) above the temple tower. There are a lot of stone carvings, depicting the relief and the renovation work done by the Chola, Vijayanagara and Maratha kings.
The name of the Tanjavur maratha king Pratapsingh and Chola king Parantaka Chola find mention in the relief works.
About the temple:
The temple faces east. The temple has only one Prakara (parikrama). Though there are Bali Peetha and Nandi, we do not find the flagstaff associated with the temple. There is a separate Ganesha shrine. A three feet deep canal is surrounding the temple. We find the Koshta murtis on the outer wall of sanctum sanctorum.
The shrine of Devi Soundaryanayaki is separate. Shrines of Ganesha, Subramanya with his
consorts Valli and Deivaini are found in the parikrama. Idols of Bhairava, four Shaiva saints, Surya, Chandikeshwar are found in the temple. At mahamandap entrance we have the idol of Ganesha. There are lot of panels which depict purans of Lord Shiva and Shiva ganas which are holding various musical instruments. Besides this there are panels depicting scenes from Ramayana and other Vaishnava purans, though this is a Shiva temple. The panels also depict Krishna-leelas.
Festivals in the temple:
1. MahaShivaRatri festival in Tamil month of Masi (February-March).
2. ShivaRatri festival in Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June).
3. AnnaAbhishek in Tamil month of Aippasi (October-November).
4. ArudraDarshan (known as Thiruvathirai) in Tamil month of Marghazi
Courtesy: Inputs are from TamilNadu-favtourism.blogspot.com
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