This temple is situated at a distance of about 9 kms from Karaikkal, 49 kms from Thiruvarur, 29 kms from Nagapattinam and 37 kms from Mayiladuthurai. This Padal Pethra Sthalam on southern bank of Kaveri was revered by shaiva saint Sambandhar. Hence this place must have existed before the seventh century. This place was earlier known as Kovilmedu. It was reconstructed as a stone structure by Chola kings and extensions were made by Vijayanagara kings. Lord Shiva came to this place in the guise of a hunter. Hence the name got Thiruvettikudi (in Tamil vedan means hunter and Kudi means village). Goddess Parvati is believed to have been born as a fisher woman, hence the place got the name Ambikapuram. The historical name of this place earlier was Punnagavanam, Devakodipuram, Ambikapuram.
Moolavar: Shri Sundareshwarar, Shri Thirumeni Azhagar, Shri Vedamurti
Devi: Shri Shantanayaki, Shri Saundarya Nayaki
Kshetra Vruksha: Punnaga tree
Sacred Teertha: Deva teertha, Chandra Pushkarini and the sea
Agama/Puja: Kaaran Agama
Puranik Name: Punnagavanam
Present Name: Thiruvettikudi
Ksehtra Puran:
1. This puran finds a mention in Mahabharat. When the war between Pandavas and Kauravas became imminent, Sage Vyasa advised Arjuna to meditate upon Lord Shiva and obtain Pashupatastra to fight with Kauravas. Arjuna came to this place and started his penance. When Duryodhana came to know about Arjuna’s penance he sent an asura named Mukhasur. The asura came in the guise of a boar (pig) and tried to disturb penance. Arjuna shot an arrow at the asura. At that time Lord Shiva came there as a hunter along with Goddess Parvati as a hunter woman and Lord Muruga as a hunter boy and along with four vedas as four dogs. Lord Shiva had a necklace on his neck which were six shastras. Lord Shiva also shot an arrow at the boar at the same time as Arjuna. Both Arjuna and Lord Shiva claimed that the boar was killed by his arrow. There was an argument between the two. Finally Lord Shiva disclosed his identity to Arjuna and he was about to give the Pashupatastra to Arjuna. At that time Goddess Parvati raised a doubt about Arjuna’s eligibility to receive astra. Lord Shiva told her that Arjuna has a Matsya Rekha on his palm, hence he deserved to receive the astra. When Arjuna showed his palm to Goddess Parvati she was satisfied about his eligibility. Then Lord Shiva blessed Arjuna with a Pashupatastra. At Arjuna’s request he stayed back at this place as Swayambhu Linga. In this temple during Maasi Magha festival, this event is enacted.
2. Once at Mount Kailash, Goddess Parvati told Lord Shiva that without her contribution, he cannot protect the world. Lord Shiva understood that Goddess Parvati has been influenced by her undeserved pride. In order to teach her a lesson he cursed her to be born in a fisherman’s family at this place. He asked her to perform rigorous penance to win back his trust. Goddess Parvati took birth in a fisherman's family and became an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. She did penance and finally married Lord Shiva who came as a fisherman. To commemorate this event the fisherman community at this place celebrate a festival named Kadaladu in the Tamil month of Masi. In this festival the idol of Lord Shiva is taken in procession to their village with the honor of a son in law.
3. As per the Sthala puran, when shaiva saint Sambandhar came to this place by sea, he found that each sand particle appeared to him like a Shiva Linga. As he did not want to step on them and disturb their sanctity he worshiped Lord Shiva and sang the sacred hymn from the sea itself.
Those who worshiped:
Goddess Parvati, Devas, Sage Vishwamitra, Iyadigal Kadvarkone Nayanar, Arjuna, King Annavarta.
Salient features:
1. In this temple there is an idol of Lord Shiva as hunter with bow and arrow along with Goddess Parvati as hunter woman with a pot on her head, four vedas as four dogs and Lord Muruga as a hunter boy with a bow and arrow. This is unique and not found anywhere.
2. It is very rare to come across both Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga with bow and arrow together.
3. In this temple in a shrine of Lord Muruga, he has four hands. He is depicted with a bow and arrow along with Valli and Deivanai.
4. In front of Lord Punnagavananathar shrine, the presence of shaiva saint Sambandhar and Lord Shanishwar is not seen anywhere.
5. Lord Arjuna is depicted holding a bow and arrow.
6. In this temple Lord Shiva graces as both hunter and fisherman.
About the temple:
The temple consists of Sanctum-sanctorum, Antarala and Ardha mandap. This is an east facing temple with a five tiered rajagopuram and has one Prakaram. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga and Lord Shiva exists in this temple in the form of an idol of hunter. There are beautiful stucco images on Rajagopuram. Balipeeth, Dhwajastambha and Nandi are in a mandap after rajagopuram. Swayambhu Shiva Linga is a bit tall on a square peetham under a Rudraksha Mandap.
Koshta murtis: Lord Dakshinamurti and Goddess Durga.
The shrines and idols in the prakaram are Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya, Lord Punnaivananathar (Lord Punnagavananathar), Goddess Gajalakshmi, Lord Shasta, Shaiva saint Naalvar, Lord Bhairav, Lord Surya and Lord Chandra. The utsav murtis are Lord Shiva as hunter holding a bow and an arrow, Goddess Parvati as his wife with a pot on her head along with Lord Muruga as a boy with a bow and arrow and the four vedas as four dogs. There is a procession idol of Arjuna with a bow and arrow, Lord Somaskandar and Lord Pradosha Nayakar. Goddess Ambika is in a separate south facing shrine. Lord Muruga graces with four hands along with Valli and Deivanai in a separate shrine. There is a separate shrine for Lord Punnaivananathar (Lord Punnagavananathar) in the prakaram. Lord Shanishwar’s and Lord Sambandhar’s shrines are in front of the sanctum. In the prakaram there is a shrine of Lord Natraja, Lord Siddhi Vinayaka, Lord Ayyapa accompanied by Goddess Purna and Goddess Pushkala, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Chandikeshwarar and Navagraha are in the parikrama.
Prayers:
1. Devotees believe that worshiping Lord Shiva at this place will relieve them from adverse effects of planets.
2. Separated couples pray to Goddess Parvati for reunion.
3. Devotees worship here for getting their wishes fulfilled, to get rid of troubles from enemies and for getting rid of ego.
Poojas:
Four rituals daily according to Kaaran Agama. Regular Pradosha puja
Some important festivals:
Masi (February-March): Three days Masi Magha nakshatra festival and Mahashivaratri.
Aavani (August-September): Ganesh Chaturthi.
Karthigai (November-December): Thiru Karthigai.
Timings: 6 am to 12 noon, 4 pm to 8 pm
Address:
Shri Thirumeniazhagar Temple / Shri Sundareshwarar Temple,
At Thiruvettikudi (Karaikkal),
Pondicherry 609609
Phone: +91-4368265293/265691, +91-9894051753
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