Shri Pasupathishwarar Temple

This Shiva temple is located at Kallar PasuPathiKovil on Tanjavur-Kumbhakonam route near Papanasam.

This, 1800 years old, temple is on the banks of river Kudamurutti, which is a tributary of river Kaveri. It is associated with various groups of temples. It is one of the Sapta Sthana temples around Chakrapalli. It is also one of the Sapta-Mangai Sthala where Shri Parvati Devi along with Shri Varahi, one of the Sapta-Matrikas, performed Sharad NavaRatri.

Mulavar (Main deity): Shri PasuPathishwarar 

Devi (Consort): Shri Paal Vala Nayaki, Shri Loga Nayaki (Empress of the Universe)

Kshetra Vruskha: Bilva

Sacred Teertha: Kamadhenu Teertha.

Old name: PasuMangai

Taluka: Papanasam 

District: Tanjavur (TamilNadu)

This temple is one of the 70 MadaKovil temples built by 2nd century Chola king. This is one of the Sapta-Mangai temples where Shri Parvati Devi worshiped Shri Shiva along with Shri Varahi on the 5th day of NavaRatri. They, along with divine cow KamaDhemu, had divine darshan of the small drum (Damru) in Shri Shiva's hand. This is known as ShivaDamruka darshan.

The temple has three tier RajaGopuram and has only one parikrama. On the RajaGopuram the life history of Sage Markandeya and saint Kannappa Nayanar are depicted as idols. There is a unique idol of Shri Shiva with weapons in 8 hands. The sanctum-sanctorum of Shri Shiva is on an elevated pedestal. Similarly the shrine of Shri Ucchishta Ganapati is on an elevated pedestal adjacent to Shri Shiva. Idol of Shri Ganapati is very beautiful.

We come across idols of Shri Shanishwar, Shri Bhairav, Shri Durga Devi, Shri DakshinaMurti and Shri GajaLaxmi Devi in the parikrama.

Idols of Shri Manthan and Shri Manthini are in the southwest, whereas idol of Shri Bramha is in the northwest.

There is an idol of Shri JyesthaDevi in this temple who was worshiped by Chola dynasty.

The temple was destroyed by Muslim invaders Malik Kafur and Arcot Nawabs.

The flood waters of Kaveri had destroyed this temple to a large extent and was renovated.

Later on, this temple was renovated by Chola kings, kings of Vijaynagar and Maratha generals.

Legends (Kshetra Puran):

Shri Parvati Devi, along with one of the SaptaMatrika - Shri Varahi and celestial cow KamaDhenu, worshiped Shri Shiva at this place. 

A spider and an elephant worshiped Shri Shiva at this place.

According to puran, when Shri Shiva plays the damru, the sound emanating from it produces the sound waves of BeejAkshara. It is believed that lord grants blessing through these BeejAkshar waves.

One side of Damru of Shri Shiva represents the soul (jivAtma, i.e. Pasu) and the other side represents Pati, who is the lord of these bound souls who are bound to him (Shri Shiva) by love.

Hence this place is considered to be the place where the bound souls can reach the Pati (Shri Shiva). So the Lord is known as Pasupatishwarar and the place is known as PasuMangai.

People pray to Shri PasuPati at this place for Beej Veda Gyan so that they can unite with him. 

As the celestial cow Kamadhenu worshiped at this place the place got the name PasuMangai.

Agastya rishi also worshiped at this place.

A staunch devoted couple Shri NadaSharma and Shri AnaVidya got the divine darshan of Shri AdiParaShakti in her kumarika form.

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 websites and blogs