This place is at a distance of 12 kms from Thiruvarur on Thiruvarur-Mayiladuthurai route via Sannanallur. It is about 8 kms from Nannilam, 16 kms from Peralam, 7 kms from Thirukondeeswaram, 14 kms from Thiruvarur, 33 kms from Mayiladuthurai and 38 kms from Kumbhakonam.
This is Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri was praised by Shaiva Saints Sambandhar and Sundarar. Panai or Thalam means palm tree in Tamil.
The puranik name of this place was Thalavanam and the temple was known as Thalavaneswarar.
Other places where the Palm tree is Kshetra Vruksha are Vanparthan, Panankattur, Thirupuravaar, Thiruchaeyyar, Thirumazhapadi, Thiruvalampuram, Thiruppanandal.
There are 14 stone inscriptions in the temple which indicate that the temple must have been in existence even before the sixth century. It was built as a granite structure in the early eleventh century. King Karikalan Chola lived in this place for eight years before regaining his kingdom from his enemies.
History associated with the place:
According to history Chola king Ellamchetchenni was killed by his enemies when his son Karikalan was very young. His maternal uncle named Irumbidar Thalaiyar, a sangam era poet saved Karikalan and his mother. He sent them to this temple for safety. Karikalan’s mother prayed to Lord Vinayaka for protection from enemies. It is believed that Lord Vinayaka protected them so He is praised as Thunai Erunda Vinayaka. At the age of 13 with the help of his maternal uncle Karikalan defeated the enemies and got the kingdom back. When the Chola ministers sent an elephant to look for the prince the elephant found him and garlanded him. He was crowned as a king.
Moolavar: Shri Saundareshwarar, Shri Thalavaneshwarar, Shri Azhakiyanathar
Devi: Shri Bruhannayaki, Shri Periyanayaki
Sacred Theertha: Amruta Pushkarini, Parashar Pushkarini, Thirumazhal Theertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Palm tree (Panai in tamil)
Puranik Name: Thalavanam, Panaiyur
Present Name: Thirupanaiyur
Kshetra Purana:
1. As mentioned in an earlier blog, Shaiva Saint Sundarar got gold from Lord Shiva at Thirupugalur temple for conducting the Panguni Uttiram festival at Thiruvarur temple. He traveled to Thiruvarur from Thirupugalur with a gold coin. When he reached the outskirts of Thiru Panaiyur he got the darshan of Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance. At that time he worshiped the Lord by prostrating on the ground and sang a sacred hymn. There is a tank in the Northeast of the village near Manikkanacchiyar Theertha. This tank is known as Sandhitha Theertha.
2. About Thalavaneshwaram: As the place was abundant with palm trees the place got the name Thirupanaiyur. As the temple is around the palm tree the place is praised as Thirupanaiyur. Moreover, the palm tree is associated with Chola King Karikalan. It is believed that the Karikalan was standing under the palm tree when an elephant garlanded him.
Those who worshiped here: Sapta Rishis, Sage Parashar, Goddess Mahalakshmi and King Karikalan Cholan.
Special features:
1. Two palm trees - male and female - grew on their own by the side of the old ones which decayed.
2. Amruta Pushkarini was created by Sage Parashara.
3. There is a mention of Matru Uraitha Vinayaka in the sacred hymns of Sundarmoorti Nayanar.
4. There are paintings in the corridor depicting King Karikalan Cholan’s early childhood.
5. The paintings in the corridor depict the event of Lord Shiva of this temple granting darshan to Sapta Rishis and Shaiva Saint Sundarar.
6. The front mandap of the temple is designed to look like the forehead of a bat.
7. There are reliefs depicting the puran of Lord Karakateshwarar.
About the temple:
This is an east facing temple. There is no Rajagopuram. There is an arch at the entrance with a stucco image of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. In the temple there is no Dhwajastambha but it has two parikramas. Nandi and Balipeeth are facing the Sanctum. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga with a square base (Avudayar). Shiva Linga was installed and worshiped by Sage Parashara. The Shiva Linga has a beautiful luster and is slightly tall. The temple tank is known as Amruta Theertha.
Koshtha Moortis: Lord Dakshinamoorti, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Brahma, Goddess Durga and shrine of Lord Chandikeshwarar at usual position.
Next to the Amruta Theertha there is a shrine of Lord Vinayaka. The sacred hymn sung by the Shaiva Saints is inscribed on the wall. In the mandap of Sanctum of Lord Shiva there are shrines for Naalvar and Lord Nataraja. As soon as we enter we come across the shrine of Ambika on the right hand side. She is standing posture facing south. The two palm trees which grew by themselves are believed to be very old. Lord Vinayaka is praised here as Thunai Erunda Vinayaka. Thunai means support in Tamil. Erunda means stay. Adjacent to this shrine there are two palm trees which have been there for a very long time. The Kshetra Vinayaka is praised as Matru Uraitha Vinayaka like the one at Thiruvarur temple. There are shrines of Lord Saundareshwarar and Goddess Mahalakshmi in the prakaram. There are Ashta Lingas, Shiva Linga worshiped by Sapta Rishis, Lord Somaskanda moorti holding a fruit on the left hand. In the prakaram there are idols of Lord Ayyappa, Lord Bhairav, Lord Surya, Lord Chandra and Navagrahas. There is a separate shrine for Shri Thalavaneshwarar.
Prayers:
1. Devotees perform abhishek and donate vastra for Lord Shiva for getting promotion and change in the job.
2. Devotees worship Goddess Durga for the removal of marriage obstacles.
Pooja:
Daily rituals, Pradosha Pooja and other weekly and fortnightly poojas.
Important Festivals:
Avani (Aug-Sept): Shri Ganesh Chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Skanda Shashthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thiru Karthigai
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Shivaratri
Panguni (Mar-Apr): Panguni Uttiram (Pooja on Uttara Phalguni nakshatra day)
Time: 7 am to 12 noon and 4.30 pm to 8 pm
Temple address:
Shri Saundareshwarar Temple,
at post Thirupanaiyur,
via Sannanallur,
Taluka Nannilam,
Tamil Nadu 609504
Telephone Number: +91-4366237007
Contact number of temple priest: Shri Kalyansundarar Gurukkal - +91-9965981574, 9942281758
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