Shri Payatrunathar Temple at Payattarangudi (at Thirupayattarur/ Thirupayattarangudi)

This place is at a distance of 11 kms from Thiruvarur on Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur route and about 5 kms from Thirumarugal, at a distance of 16 kms from Thiruvarur, 25 kms from Nagapattinam and 7 kms from Thirukannapuram. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saint Appar. Hence the original temple must have been in existence even before the 6th century. It was reconstructed by the Chola kings and later renovated by Nayaks. There are stone inscriptions in the temple which give an account of work done by various Chola kings.

Moolavar: Shri Payatrunathar, Shri Payatri-ishwarar, Shri Muktapurishwarar
Devi: Shri Nethtrambika, Shri Nethrambal, Shri KavyangkanniAmbal
Sacred Theertha: Devi Theertha, Karuna Theertha
Puranik Name: Thirupayatharur
Kshetra Vruksha: Indian Tulip, Ashta, Bhend, Para Pippal (in Hindi), Silanthi Tree (in Tamil)
Utsav Moorti: Somaskanda Moorti

Kshetra Puran:

1. In bygone days Nagapattinam was a seaport. Merchants used to export pepper to Arabia and in exchange import horses from there. Once a merchant who was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva brought bags of pepper for export. On his way to Nagapattinam he came to know that the tax will be levied on the pepper when exported. He realized that he will be incurring heavy loss by paying the tax. He also came to know that there was no tax on pulses. He prayed to Lord Shiva at this place for help in avoiding tax. He requested the Lord to convert the bags of pepper into the bags of pulses till he passed the checkpost. He slept for the night at this place. Pleased by his worship Lord Shiva converted pepper into pulses and informed the merchant about this in his dream. The merchant continued journey to Nagapattinam. At the checkpost the official allowed him to pass through without paying the tax as the bags contained only pulses. He sold them at a profit in Nagapattinam and spent his profit in renovating this temple. Pulses in Tamil are known as Payaru. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as Payatrunathar and the place came to be known as Thirupayattarur.

2. According to sthala puran, Lord Shiva provides salvation to his devotees who worship him at this place. Hence he is praised as Muktishwarar. One of the siddhas namely Poyyamozhi Siddha has praised Lord Shiva in his hymns as Payatrirurai Muktishwarar.

3. According to sthala puran, a person named Panchanaad Vannan from this place once prayed to Lord Shiva for the relief from eye related problems. He believed Lord Shiva cured his eye problems.

Those who worshiped at this place:
Bhairav Maharishi, Poyyamozhi Siddha

Special Features:

1. The flowers of the sacred vruksha are yellow in color and they resemble spiders.

2. There is no shrine for Goddess Durga but there is a shrine for Goddess Veeramahakali. 

3. The Mahamandap resembles the forehead of a bat.

4. Bhairava Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple.

5. The Sanctum Sanctorum is in the form of a moat.

About Temple:

This is an east facing temple and the main gopuram has no tiers, but has a sculpture of pancha moortis namely Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, Lord Angarak (planet mars). There is no dhwajastambha. The Balipeeth and Nandi are immediately after the arch (main tower) and are facing the Sanctum in a newly built mandap. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Mahamandap and Mukhamandap. The Mahamandap and Mukhamandap appear like the forehead of a bat. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga and is on a square shaped Avudayar. 

Koshtha Moorties: Lord Dakshinamoorti 

Lord Chandikeshwarar shrine is in the usual position in the Sanctum. Goddess Ambika is in a separate south facing shrine in the Mahamandap which is to the left of Sanctum. She is depicted with four hands with Varada and Abhaya mudra in the upper hands. She has an akshamala and a lotus flower in her lower hands. Lord Nataraja is in a south facing shrine in the Mahamandap. The utsav moortis and the Somaskanda moortis are in a Mahamandap. 

Other shrines and idols in the prakaram:

Lord Siddhi Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, Goddess Veera Mahakali, Lord Dandapani, Lord Vishwanath along with Goddess Vishalakshi, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Bhairav Maharishi, Lord Brahma, Surya, Chandra and Navagrahas.

Prayers:

1. Traders around this place worship Lord Shiva for success in their trades. 

2. Those with eye problems worship Goddess Parvati after taking holy deep in the Karuna Theertha. When their requests are fulfilled they worship Lord Shiva by donating vastra and by offering sweet pongal as Naivedya for Goddess Ambika. 

3. Devotees believe that by worshiping Goddess Veera Mahakali their problems due to evil forces will be eradicated. 

Poojas:

Regular daily poojas and pradosha pooja

Important festivals:

Chitrai (Apr-May): Fullmoon

Adi (July-August): Adi Puram (pooja on Poorva Phalguni nakshatra day) and Fridays

Avani (August-September): Ganesh Chaturthi

Purattasi (September-October): Navaratri

Aippasi (October-November): Skanda Shasthi and Annabhishek

Karthigai (November-December): Thiru Karthigai

Thai (January-February): Makar Sankranti and Fridays

Maasi (February-March): Shivaratri

Time: 7 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8.30 pm

Address:  

Shri Payatrunathar Temple at Payattarangudi (at Thiru Payattarur), 
Via Kangalanchery,
Taluka Nannilam,
Tamil Nadu 610101

Phone number: +91-4366272423, +91-9865844677

Contact number of priest: Shri Chandrasekhar Gurukal  - +91-9626476428

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs