Shri Alanthurai Nathar Temple

This Shiva temple is one of the 275 Shiva temples revered by Nayanmars. This temple is associated with various groups of temples. It is also a Saptamangai Sthalam where Shri Parvati Devi, along with Shri 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): Shri Pasupathishwarar, Shri Pasupathi nathar, Shri Bramhapurishwarar, Shri Alanthurai nathar

Devi (Consort): Shri Soundaryanayaki Devi, Shri Alliyankothai

Kshetra Vruksha: Banyan tree (in Marathi “Vad”)

Sacred Teertha: 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. Shri Shiva is in the form of swayambhoo linga.

Shri Parvati Devi worshiped Shri Shiva at this place as a Chakravak bird (Ruddyshell Duck) along with Shri 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, Shri Parvati Devi worshiped Shri Shiva as a Chakravak bird. Hence the place got the name Pullamangai. It is believed that ashtanagas (eight divine serpents) worshiped Shri 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.

Shri Brahma got rid of his curse by worshiping Shri Shiva at this place.

Salient features: 

Durga idol in this temple has special feature and is known as Shri 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 Shri 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 Shri Soundaryanayaki Devi is separate. Shrines of Shri Ganesha, Shri Subramanya with his consorts Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai are found in the parikrama. Idols of Shri Bhairava, four Shaiva saints, Shri Surya, Shri Chandikeshwar are found in the temple. At mahamandap entrance we have the idol of Shri Ganesha. There are lot of panels which depict puranik stories of Shri 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:

Masi (February-March): MahaShivaRatri festival

Panguni (Mar-April): SaptaSthana festival 

Vaikasi (May-June): ShivaRatri festival

Aippasi (October-November): AnnaAbhishek

Marghazi (Dec-Jan): ArudraDarshan (known as Thiruvathirai)

Courtesy: Various blogs and websites