Pataleshwarar Temple at Haridwara Mangalam

This Shiva temple is situated at Haridwara Mangalam in Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is about 1800 years old. This is one of the 275 temples revered by Nayanmars. The Shiva linga is Swayanbhu linga. 

Moolavar (Main deity): Pataleshwarar, Patalvardar

Amman (Consort): Alankarvalli, Alankarnayaki

Sthala Vruksha (Sacred tree): Shami (Vanni in Tamil)

Sacred Teertha: Brahma teertha

Other Shrines at this place:

Lord Vinayaka, Lord Nataraja with sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada, Kashi Vishwanaath, Bhairav, Lingodbhavar, Shanishwar, Surya, Chandra, Dakshinamurti. 

People worship the divine Mother Alankarvalli for marriage and begetting a child. This is the 3rd sthalam in the Panchaaranya sthalams. Those who wish to visit all 5 temples in a day, offer prayer (worship) at 12 noon at this place. It is the belief of the devotee that visiting all the 5 temples gives the same benefits as that of worshipping the Lord at Haridwar in North. It is believed that those who worship Lord Shiva at this place are relieved from their debts. There is no separate shrine for Goddess Durga here. The most significant feature about the temple is there are seven idols of Vinayaka.

Legends associated with this place: 

Brahma and Vishnu entered into an argument about who is great among them. They approached Lord Shiva for a solution. Lord Shiva manifested as a huge vertical column of fire and asked Brahma and Vishnu to find the top and bottom of this column. Brahma tried to reach the top in the form of a swan whereas Lord Vishnu tried to reach the bottom as a boar (Varaha). Lord Vishnu accepted His defeat that he could not find the bottom, whereas Brahma lied to Lord Shiva stating that he had been to the top and he presented Ketaki flower as a witness. Lord Shiva got angry and cursed that both Brahma and Ketaki flower will not be worshiped anymore on the earth whereas Lord Vishnu will be worshiped in all the places on the earth. It is stated that this is the place where Lord Vishnu appeared as a Varaha after losing one of his horns to worship Lord Shiva. It is stated that the hole (pit) through which he appeared at this place is found in this temple and it is kept covered by a stone. 

Festivals:

• In the Tamil month Vaikasi (May-June) on the Vishakha nakshatra a grand festival is held. 
• In the Tamil month Margazhi (Dec- Jan), Thiruvadurai festival is held.