This Shiva temple is located at Papanasam in Tanjavur district of TamilNadu. It is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam. It is on the southern bank of Kaveri. It is at a distance of about 15 kms from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Tanjore route. It is one of the Sapta Sthanam Shiva temples associated with Thirunallur. It is at the junction of 3 rivers, namely Kaveri, Kudumurutti and Thirumalairayan. It’s a very old temple dating back to about 3 yugas. The present structure is about, 1200 years old. This temple was renovated by Vijaynagar Pandya kings. The temple has been revered by the Shaiva saints Shri Appar and Shri Sambandhar in their sacred hymns. It spreads about an area of 3 acres.
Mulavar: Shri Palaivananathar
Devi: Shri Thavala Vennayaiyan
Sacred teertha: Vasishta teertha, Indra teertha, Yama teertha, Kaveri river
Sacred Vruksha: Palm tree, Paalai tree (at present not in existence). The place gets the name as the place was abundant with Paalai. The place is on the bank of river Kudumurtti. It is known as Paalaithurai.
Puranic name: Bramha vanam, Paalaivanam, Aarasa (pipal) tree, Punnag vanam
Kshetra puran:
1) The sages of Daarukavana started feeling that they were superior to Gods. This led to their arrogant behavior. In order to teach them a lesson, Shri Shiva as Bhikshadanar and Shri Vishnu as Mohini (an enchanting damsel) reached Daarukavana. Mohini attracted the sages which resulted in their failure of penance, yagnya and meditation. The wives of sages took a fancy for Bhikshandanar and started neglecting their duties. The sages were angered by the action of their wives and they tried various methods of eliminating Bhikshadanar. They performed various rituals and yagnya and created various weapons to kill Him. They also invoked a tiger to kill Shri Shiva. Shri Shiva not only destroyed all the weapons but he also killed tiger and used tiger skin as dress. According to purans this event took place at this location.
2) Shri Rama who installed and worshipped 108 Shiva linga at nearby Ramalingaswami temple also worshiped Shri Shiva at this place. Hence, the Shiva linga gets another name of Ramalinga. He placed his bow and arrow below a Shami (Vanni) tree on Vijayadashami day and prayed to Shri Shiva for victory.
3) Sage Vashishtha performed penance under a pipal (Aarassu in Tamil) tree. For this purpose, he installed the Shiva linga and did penance. Shri Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. For the purpose of worship, he created a tank known as Vashishtha teertha. He installed an idol of Shri Ambika which was sculptured by Vishwakarma. He installed it on the Southern side of the Shiva linga installed by him. He did this worship for getting the title of Bramha rishi.
4) Pandya king – Malaidhwajam had insulted Sage Kala. The sage cursed him and turned him into a bear. Sage Agastya advised him to worship Shri Shiva at this place to get rid of the curse. He did as per the advice and was relieved of the the curse. During vanavasa of Pandava, Arjuna came to this place and worshiped Shri Shiva. He was taught various techniques in archery by Shri Shiva. It is believed that Arjuna went to the underworld and married a damsel Ullupi.
11 stone inscriptions denote the work done by Chola kings. There is a very huge granary for storing paddy. This is conical in shape built with bricks and dates back to about 700 years. This was built by king Raghunath Nayak. This is an east facing temple with a 5 tiered Rajagopuram and with 2 parikramas. There is no dwajastambha. The Shiva linga is swayambhoo linga. The Kostha moorthys are Narthan Vinayaka, Shri Dakshinamoorthy, Shri Urdhwa (ferocious) Tandav Moorthy, Shri Bhikshadanar, Shri Ardhanarishwarar, Shri Bramha, Shri Dakshinamoorthy and Shri Chandikeshwar. Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi are housed in separate shrines facing east. Shri Parvati Devi’s shrine is to the right of Shri Shiva which is considered as a wedding posture.
Other shrines and idols:
Shri Vinayaka, Shri Subramanya with his consorts, Shri Vishnu, Shri Somskansdha, Shri Nataraja, 63 Nayanmars, 2 idols of Shri Kalabhairav, Shri Shanishwarar, Shri Mahalaxmi Devi, Shri Surya, Shri Chandra, Navagrahas, Shiva lingas worshiped by Sage Vashishtha, Prabhu Shri Ram, Pandya kings – Malaidwajam, Arjun are present in the corridors. In the outer corridor we come across, another east facing shrine for Shri Parvati Devi on the right side. There are number of paintings on the western side of parikrama. Shri Shanishwarar faces Shri Mahalaxmi Devi in this temple. This is one of the 8 places, where Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi are in wedding posture. The other places are Thiruvidaimuruttur, Kanjanur, Maanthurai, Thiruambaramakkalam, Thiruchhotruthurai, Thiruvalanchuzhi & Thirukaraveeram.
Those who worshipped here:
Sage Dhoumya, Sage Vasishta, Shri Mahavishnu, Shri Bramha, Prabhu Shrirama, Shri Sita Devi, Pandavas, Ashtadikpals and King Malaidwaja.
Prayer:
People worship here by performing abhishek and donating new vastras for child boon, removal of marriage obstacles, for education, knowledge and intelligence
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): Chaitrapornima
Aavani (Jun-July): Ganesh Chatrurthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek and Skandha shasthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukarthigai
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Shivratri
Thai (Jan-Feb): Thaipusam
Pradosh pooja and Somvar pooja performed regularly.
Timings: 6-11am and 4.30 to 8.30apm
Temple address: Shri Palaivananathar temple, Thirupalai thurai, Post Papanasam, Taluka Papanasam, TN – 614205
Telephone: +91-9443524410
Note: We have not been able to get details of Pashipatishwarar temple at Govindpuri; Sudareshwarar temple at Maaligaithidal; Kailashnathar temple at Mattiyanthidal. We will post the detail as soon as possible after we visit the temple personally.
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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