This temple is the 2nd to be visited in the Pancha-aaranya sthala. This temple is also revered by Nayanmars. This is located at Avalivanallur in the Papanasam taluka of Tamil Nadu.
Moolavar (Main Deity): Shiva - Shri Sakshinadar (witness)
Amman (Name of Consort): Parvati - Soundaryanayaki
Special Deity: Lord Muruga
Sthala Vruksha: Yellow trumpet flower tree (Pathiri tree)
Time of darshan: In the morning
Legend:
The temple priest Vishnusharma once went on a Kashi yatra, leaving behind his young wife Sushila. When he was on yatra, his wife fell ill and her sister (who was look-alike) came to help her. On returning from Yatra, Vishnusharma saw 2 women in his house. One was ugly and the other was beautiful resembling his wife who was actually her sister. He felt that the beautiful lady was his wife. He was not ready to accept his real wife Sushila who had become ugly due to illness. Sushila prayed to Lord Shiva who came to her rescue with Parvati. They appeared in front of Vishnusharma and convinced him about his real wife. Since Lord Shiva appeared as a witness, he is known as Sakshinadar.
Behind the linga in sanctum sanctorum there is a panel depicting Lord Shiva and Parvati seated on Rishabh. This is the manner in which they appeared in front of Vishnusharma to prove the identity of his wife.
Varaha (murti), Sage Agastya, Sage Kanva, the planets Surya and Chandra, and Lord Muruga worshiped Lord Shiva at this place.
Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva at this place, in his Varaha avatar, when he had lost his horn. The idols of Agastya, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhavar, Bramha are found in this temple. In the Navagraha shrine, all the planets are facing planet God Surya.
Festival:
Navaratri, Skanda shasti and new moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb) are celebrated here. The sacred teertha is known as Chandra Pushkarni.
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