This place is at a distance of 13 km from Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai-Thirukkadaiyur road and it is about 5 kms from Sembarnar Kovil. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam on southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saints Appar, Sundarar and Sambandhar. The present structure is about 1200 years old. This temple must have been in existence even before the 7th century as it is praised by the shaiva saints. In this place river Kaveri flows from East to West which is known as Basvamagini. There are 18 stone inscriptions in the temple of which 17 are during Chola period and 1 during the period of Vijaynagar kings.
Moolavar: Shri Natrunaiappar, Shri Swarnapurishwarar
Devi: Shri Parvatarajputri, Shri Swarnambika, Shri Malayan Madanithi
Sacred Teertha: Swarna Teertha
Sacred Vruksha: Punnag, Sonchafa (Shenbagam in Tamil)
Kshetra Puran:
1. It is believed by the devotees that Lord Shiva guides them to better life and righteousness, hence he is praised as Natrunaiappar
2. According to Puran, once Lord Vinayaka took the form of a crow to release Kaveri from the Kamandalu of Sage Agastya. As he was cursed by the sage he could not regain his original form. To seek relief, Lord Vinayaka came to this place, took a dip in this sacred teertha and worshiped Lord Shiva. As soon as the crow emerged from the sacred teertha it became golden colored instead of black. Hence the place came to be known as Ponsei (means in gold or change in Tamil). After sometime the name became Punchai (Punjai)
3. According to Sthala Puran the temple is associated with shaiva saint Sambandhar. This is the birth place of his mother named Bhagavati Ammaiyar. On hearing that Sambandhar was rendering sacred hymns on Lord Shiva and was blessed with gold by the Lord. The people of the village wanted him to come to this place. Sambandhar, who was a child at that time, came to this place sitting on his father’s shoulder. He sang a sacred hymn seated on his father’s shoulder. By the power of his sacred hymn the barren land in the village became cultivable. This is also one of the reasons why this place is praised as Punchai (Punjai meaning land of gold)
4. According to Sthala Puran, Lord Ganesha and Sage Agastya got the divine vision of Lord Shiva’s wedding. To symbolize this event there is a separate shrine of Lord Sundareshwarar in the parikrama.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Sage Agastya, Lord Ganesha and Shaiva saint Sambandhar.
Salient features:
1. Almost all idols are large in size and beautifully sculptured.
2. Lord Surya worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the shiva linga from seventh to thirteenth of Chitrai. Special pujas are held at that time.
3. Sanctum Sanctorum is so large that it is believed that an elephant had entered the sanctum and worshiped Lord Shiva.
4. There is a very big Viman (tower) above Lord Shiva’s shrine in the shape of a dome
5. The main mandap is known as Nanipallikodivattam
6. All the mandaps and the sanctum-sanctorum are designed aesthetically.
7. On the walls of sanctum-sanctorum there are many reliefs depicting events from Ramayana
8. On a pillar in the hall a mythical Yazhi is sculptured.
9. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati gave darshan to Sage Agastya and Lord Ganesha in wedding posture.
10. Lord Chandikeshwarar graces his devotees along with his wife in this temple.
11. There are 2 shrines of Goddess Parvati namely, Shri Malayan Madanthai and Shri Parvatarajputri.
About the temple:
This is an East facing temple with one prakaram. The main tower is not tiered. There is an arch at the entrance with the sculptures of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and Lord Chandikeshwarar. The sanctum-sanctorum is very large in size. It is believed that an elephant had come to worship Lord Shiva directly in the temple. Linga is a swayambhu linga. The rays of the Sun fall on the shiva linga from seventh to thirteenth days in the Tamil month of Chitrai. As Lord Shiva guides the human beings towards righteousness he is praised as Shri Natrunaiappar. In the Koshtamurtis are Lord Vinayaka, Sage Agastya, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma, Goddess Durga, Lord Chandikeshwarar and Goddess Chandikeshwari. The sanctum houses idols of Lord Kalyansundareshwarar and Goddess Parvati. The vimanam above the sanctum is one of the largest in Tamil Nadu and is famous for its architecture. Lord Nataraja idol is of bronze and is about 1000 years old. Sanctum Sanctorum and a mandap speak about the aesthetic value and skills of sculptures. On the Koshta walls we find sculptures depicting Ramayana events. The Manpad is known as Nanipallikodivattam and it is in the prakaram. It is very beautifully sculptured and designed with idols of Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Lingodbhavar and Lord Chandikeshwarar with his wife. There are two Ambikas in this temple. To the right of Lord SHiva’s shrine we find the shrine of Goddess Parvati praised as Parvatrajputri (Shri Swaranambika). The other shrine of Ambika Shri Malayan Madanthai is in the parikrama. Amibika is facing the west. There is a shrine with four Lord Ganesha idols. The idol of Goddess Durga in the koshtam is praised as Kotravaidevi. Generally Goddess Durga has Mahishasur under her feet but here we find a lion and a deer by her side destroying the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Other shrines and idols in the parikrama are: Four idols of Vinayaka, Lord Subramanyam with Valli and Deivanai, Lord Nataraja, Lord Naalvar, Shiva linga, and Lord Surya. Yazhi (a mystical half lion and half human) believed to be in existence during the Pallava period is sculptured nicely in one of the pillars in the mandap. Generally they are sculptured with a smooth stone ball in the mouth but at the place the stone ball is not there. If we insert a thread in the mouth it comes out of another hole in the body.
Prayers:
1. Devotees worship Lord Kalyansundareshwarar for the removal of marriage obstacles.
2. Devotees worship Lord Nataraja for prosperity, education of children and wisdom.
Pujas:
Daily rituals and pradosha puja. Specialsurya puja from 7th to 13th of Chitrai month.
Festivals:
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Shri Vinayaka Chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (October-November): Skanda shashti and Anna abhishek.
Karthigai (November-December): Thirukarthidai
Margazhi (December-January): Thiruvathirai
Masi (February-March): MahaShivaratri
Timing:
8 am to 12, 5 pm to 7 pm
Address:
Shri Natrunaiappar Swamy temple
(Punchai Thiru Nanipalli)
At post Kidaram Kondan,
TN 609304
Phone number: 91-4364283188
Contact number of temple priest:
Shri Vaidyanad Gurukal: +91-9443906587
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