Thiruppurambayam Sri Satchinatheswarar Temple 46th of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Kumbakonam

Visited on: March 17, 2016 and November 2, 2017.

Location

Thiruppurambiyam is situated at a distance of about 10 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Thiruvaiyaru route (via Puliancheri). Take the diversion road from Puliancheri and proceed for about 6 kms to reach this temple.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –

Innambur, Kottaiyur, Thiruvisayamangai (Govandha Puthur) and Thiruvaikavur, Patteeswaram, Sakthimutram, Pazhayarai Vadathali, Thiruvalanchuzhi and Kumbakonam (3 temples – Kudamukku, Keezhkkottam and Karonam).

General Information

Moolavar

Sri Satchinatheswarar, Sri Punnaivana Nathar

Ambal

Sri Karumpadu Solliammai, Sri Ishuvaani

Theertham (Holy water)

Brahma Theertham, river Manniyaru and Saptha Sagara Koobam (well)

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Punnai tree

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar-1, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)-1 and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)-1

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 46^th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
• The 64^th “Thiruvilaiyadal” of Lord Shiva took place here.
• This is one of the 24 important temples for Lord Dakshinamoorthy.
• This is one of the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams.
• This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower Rajagopuram has 5-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 18.03.2016.

History of the Temple

The temple is situated on the northern bank of the river Manniyaru and is surrounded by three rivers - Manniyaru, Kollidam and the Cauvery.

There are 11 stone inscriptions in this temple dating back to the periods from the first Chola king Rajakesari Varman to king Kulothungan. Also, there is another set of 62 stone inscriptions which belong to the periods of later Chola kings including Paranthagan-I, Kandarathithan, Adithan, Rajarajan, Vikraman, Rajarajan-III and Rajendran-III. Another stone inscription present there bears a mention of the Vijayanagara king Virupatchirayan.

Once this temple was under the control of the Pandya kingdom and king Varaguna Pandyan built this temple in brick. Later, the Chola king Adhithya Chola-I converted it into a granite temple.

The historical names of this place are Thirupurambiam, Kalyanamaanagar and Punnaahavanam.

Some of the idols in the koshtam and the corridor are badly broken. It is believed that this was done a long time ago by people from other religious backgrounds.

This temple is under the administrative control of Thirugnanasambantha Swamigal Adheenam, Madurai.

Legend

According to Hindu mythology, the end of every “yuga” is marked by a huge flood that leads to the destruction of all living beings on the earth. This is called the “Pralayam”. During the deluge at the end of the “Krutha yuga”, on the instruction of Lord Shiva, Vinayakar of this temple saved this place by diverting the water of all the seven seas into this temple’s well. This well is called the “Saptha Sagara Koobam” (“seven sea well”) and it is located on the eastern bank of this temple’s tank. Hence the Vinayakar here is praised as “Pralayam Katha Vinayakar”. This place gets the name Thiru Purambayam because it was an exception and was not affected by the Pralayam (“puram” means exception and “payas” means water in Tamil).

The idol of Vinayakar in this temple is believed to have been created by Lord Varunan (the god of water) using foam and shells from the sea. No abhishekam is performed to this Vinayakar except on the Vinayaka Chathurthi day. On this day, abhisheham is performed to him for the entire night with honey only. All the honey that is poured on the idol gets fully absorbed.

Another legend associated with this temple is that the 64^th “Thiruvilaiyadal” of Lord Shiva took place here. Thiruvilaiyadal is a collection of sixty-four epics and devotional stories written in the 16^th century by Saint Paranjothi Munivar. They record the stories of Lord Shiva appearing on earth in various disguises to test his devotees.

This 64^th Thiruvilaiyadal refers to the following story. It is believed that a businessman (a chettiyar) from Kaveripoom Pattinam (Poompuhar) had a daughter named Rathnavalli. He wanted to marry her to his nephew who lived in Madurai. He fell ill and called his nephew to Poompuhar and gave him Rathnavalli’s hand in marriage before passing away from his illness. The boy decided to go back to Madurai with the girl and on their way, they spent the night in this temple. But unfortunately, he died of a snake bite on that night. Rathnavalli cried and prayed to Lord Shiva for help. It is believed that Lord Shiva brought him back to life and got them married under a Vanni tree in this temple’s corridors. Since there was no one else present at that time, the wedding took place in the presence of inanimate objects like this temple’s kitchen, its well and the Vanni tree.

Later Rathnavalli’s marriage was challenged by the businessman’s first wife in Madurai. In order to show proof of the wedding, Lord Shiva went to Madurai’s Sri Sundareswarar temple along with the items that had witnessed the marriage - the kitchen, the well and the Vanni tree from Thiruppurambayam. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Satchinathar” (the lord who stood witness). Even today one can see the kitchen, well and the Vanni tree in the corridors of the Madurai temple. Interestingly, all the three items can also be seen here.

Other legends

It is believed that a wood cutter (a “Pulainjan”) from the nearby village Govandhaputhur, who supplied fire woods to this temple got darshan of Lord Shiva (in the form of Lord Dakshinamurthy).

King Haridwajan of Magada kingdom had suffered from a disease called “Muyalagan” due to a curse by Sage Durvasa. He visited many Shiva temples and finally came to this place and worshiped the lord here. It is believed that he was relieved of his curse and was cured.

It is believed that Lord Brahma, Sukreev, Sages Agasthiyar, Dhronachary, Viswamithrar and Sanakathi Rishis (four) have worshipped the lord here.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Somaskandar, Natarajar, Pralayam Katha Vinayakar, Nalvar, Dhandapani, Mukkan Ganapathy, few lingams, Pradiksha Nathar, Jaya Durgai, Ashtabuja Durgai, Kala Bairavar, Suryan, Chandran and Navagraham can be seen in the main hall and corridors.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Sattanathar, Lingothbavar, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen.

There is a separate shrine for Sri Chandikeswari in the koshtam of Goddess Parvathy’s shrine.

Lingams worshiped by Agasthiyar, Pulasthiyar, Sanakar, Sananthanar, Sanathanar, Sanarkumarar and Vishwamitrar can be seen in the corridors.

Salient Features

Apart from the separate shrine for the Goddess Karumbanna Sollammai, there is also a separate shrine for Goddess Guhambika. She is seen with Murugan (as a child) in her lap. This idol is made out of clay (“sudai”).

In Tamil Nadu, this is the only place where Lord Dakshinamurthy has a separate temple. He is also praised as “Sri Aram Uraitha Nayanar”. This temple is situated outside the entrance of the main tower and on the southern bank of the temple’s tank. This is one of the 24 sacred Dakshinamurthy shrines and is considered to be very auspicious.

There are beautiful sculptures on the roof of Nandhi’s shrine.

It is believed that Lord Suryan (Sun) worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year for three days in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr) on 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.

Saint Arunagirinadhar has sang songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.

Saint Pattinathar has also visited this temple and rendered his pathigam praising Lord Shiva.

Greatness of this temple

Women worship Goddess Parvathy here asking for a child boon (“Santhana Prapthi”).

Devotees believe that by worshiping Lord Shiva here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. This is because Lord Shiva himself had conducted the marriage of Rathnavalli here.

Devotees also worship Sri Pralayam Katha Vinayakar and offer honey on Vinayaka Chaturthi days for the blessing of prosperity and wisdom.

Important Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in the temple are –

Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept),

Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct),

Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov),

Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec),

Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan),

Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), and

Masi Maham and Maha Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar).

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple Timings

From 08.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 05.00 PM to 08.00 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Satchinatheswarar Temple,
Thiruppurambayam Post,
Kumbakonam Taluk,
Tanjure District,
Tamil Nadu – 612 303.
Tele: +91 - 435-2459519, 2459715, 94446 26632 and 99523 23429.