This is one of the sapta sthana Shiva temples associated with the Shri Panchavarneshwarar temple at Thirunallur. It is situated at a distance of about 10 kms from Kumbhakonam at Aavoor in Valagaiman Taluka, Thiruvarur district on Kumbhakonam-Valagaiman-Govindkudi route. This is one of the 276 Padal Pethra sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri and is revered by Shaiva saint Sambhandhar. The temple is known as Shri Pashupateeshawar. The present name of the place is Aavoor (Govindkudi). The present structure of the temple is about 2000 years old. There are inscriptions which denote the work done by Chola kings. The present structure is a Mada-kovil built by Kochengat Chozhan. This is a panchabhairav sthala.
Mulavar: Shri Pashupateeshwarar, Shri Aswadanathar, Shri Aavoorvudiyar, Shri Pashupatheenathar
Devi: Shri Mangalambika, Shri Pankajvalli
Sacred Teertha: Bramha Teertha, Kamadhenu Teertha, Chandra Teertha, Agni Teertha
Kshetra vruksha: Pipal tree (Arusu in Tamil)
Puranic name: Ashwathvanam, Manikoodam
Kshetra puran:
1. As mentioned in the earlier blog, on Thirunallur Panchavaraneshwarar temple, two peaks got separated from Lord Meru during fight between Adishesha and Vayu. One fell at Thirunallur and the other fell at this place.
2. According to the Puran, once the celestial cow Kamadhenu, was cursed by Sage Vasishtha for not providing milk for his Yadnya. When Kamadhenu approached Shri Brahma for getting relief from the curse, he advised her to come to this place and worship Shri Shiva. She was relieved of the curse by following the advise. The name Aa mean cow in Tamil and Oor means a village. The village where Kamadhenu landed first is known as Govind kudi i.e. Go means cow (Kamadhenu) vanda means came and kudi means village. A statue indicating this incident is in the second parikrama. Since Kamadhenu worshiped Shri Shiva at this place, Shri Shiva is known as Shri Pashupatishwarar.
3. Siddha Thirumular was a great Shaiva saint. Once he saw a herd of cows lamenting beside the dead body of their herdsman. Being a Siddha he entered the body of the herdsman. He took care of the cows and sang 3000 verses in praise of Lord Shiva. This puran is associated with Gomuktishwarar Temple at Tribhuvanam, Thenupureeshwarar Temple at Pattishwaram and Thiru gokarnam at Pudukottai.
4. Once Shri Parvati Devi came here to do penance. The devas from Devalok also came here in the form of plants and trees to worship her. Pleased with her penance Shri Shiva appeared in front her with matted hair. Hence he is known as Shri Kapardishwarar.
5. The calf of divine Kamadhenu is known as Patti. She came to know about the glory of this place, she made a shiva linga and did abhishek with its milk. Shri Shiva was pleased by her worship and stayed at this place at her request.
6. It is believed that a king named DharmaDhwaja got rid of his leprosy by taking dip in the sacred teertha at this place and performed Abhishek with milk.
7. Once King Dasharatha had come to this place for worshiping Shri Shiva. He installed Shri Pankajvalli Devi and worshiped both of them. A divine voice directed him to the place where the Pancha Bhairav idols were buried. He renovated them and installed them in a shrine opposite to Shri Pankajvalli Devi. He worshiped Shri Muruga at this place seeking a male child. It is believed that due to this worship he got Shri Rama as his son. A sculpture in the temple depicts King Dasharath worshiping Shri Shiva. In memory of worshiping Shri Muruga we come across idol of Shri Muruga with bow and arrow in this temple.
About the temple:
This is an east facing temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram and has 2 parikramas. The Shivalinga is a swayambhoo linga. As soon as we enter the temple we come across the vahan mandap near the entrance. In the western parikrama, we come across Shri Nivrutti Ganapati, Shri Muruga with a bow, Shri Gajalaxmi Devi, Shri Durga Devi & Shri Vishnudurga Devi. In the north, there is a bilva tree with idol of Shri Nagaraja at the bottom. The yagashala and navagraha shrine is located in the east.
The mandap at the center is raised to about 30 ft above ground. To reach this mandap we have to climb 24 steps from the south. At the entrance of this mandap, we have the shrines of Shri Vinayaka and Shri Nataraja. Inside the mandap, we come across the shrine of Shri Pashupateeshwarar, Shri Mangalambika and Shri Pankajvalli. The Ambikas are housed in 2 separate shrines facing the east. Panchabhairav shrine is facing the west. They are facing the shrine of Shri Shiva.
Other idols:
Shiva linga, Shri Somskandhar, Sapta matrika, Shri Muktikandar, Shri Shasta, Shri Bhadrakaali Devi are in the parikrama.
Kosta Murthis:
Shri Narthan Vinayaka, Shri Dakshinamurthi, Shri Lingothbhavar, Shri Brahmha, Shri Vishnudurga Devi, Shri Chandikeshwar.
The panchabhairavas are Guru Bhairavar, Chanda Bhairavar, Kaal bhairavar, Unmatt Bhairavar, Asithanga Bhairavar
Salient features:
1. This place is also known as Dakshina Kailash.
2. This is a panchabhairav sthala.
3. There are 2 Ambikas in the temple. Idol of Shri Mangalambika was found in the temple tank. The older idol is Shri Pankajvalli which finds a mention in the hymns sung by Shaiva saint Sambandhar. Though this is a Shiva temple, it is famous for Shri Mangalambika Devi.
4. This is the birth place of poets and scholars of Sangam era namely Aavoorkizhar, Aavoor Moolankizhar and Perunthalai Sathanar
5. There is a sculpture of Kamadhenu on dhwajastambha. In this she is depicted as pouring milk on Shivalinga.
6. In the main hall, there is a relief depicting King Dashrath worshiping Shri Shiva. As the roof of sanctum sanctorum has a beautiful hill (as peak) the place is known as Manikudam.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Shri Brahma, Sapta Rishis, Shivaganas, Devas, Gandharvas, Shri Indra, Shri Surya, Navagraha, Shri Vishnu and King Dasharatha.
Prayers:
This is Parihar sthala for pitrudosha.
People worship the pancha Bhairavas on Krishna Ashtami to get relief from fear of death and relief from tantric mantras.
People worship here for better relationship in the family.
People worship here for education, prosperity and removal of marriage obstacles.
Pujas:
Regular daily pujas, pradosha puja, full moon , new moon,
Festivals:
Avani (June-July): Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippassi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek, Skanda-shashthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Karthigai deepam
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvadurai, Arudra Darshan
Thai (Jan-Feb): Pusa naksthra Sankranti
Masi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri
On each Sunday in the month of Karthigai, procession of Lord Pashupatishwarar is taken out.
Temple timings: 6.30 am to 11.30 am, 4 pm to 8.30 pm
Address: Shri Pashupatishwarar Temple, At post Aavoor, Taluka: Valangaiman, Tamil Nadu 612701
Telephone number: 91-9486303484
Temple priest: 91-9448661548
Courtesy: Various blogs and websites
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