Thiruppunkur Sri Shivalokanathaswamy temple 20th of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Mayiladuthurai

Visited on: 4^th June, 2016 and 29^th October, 2017.

Location

Thiruppunkur is situated at a distance of about 4 kms from Vaitheeswaran Koil on the Vaitheeswaran Koil to Manalmedu route. From Mayiladuthurai it is about 17 kms and from Chidambaram it is about 29 kms.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are – Vaitheeswaran Koil, Thirukkannar Koil, Thirunintriyur, Thiruvazhkoliputhur, Thiru Karuppariyalur, Thiru Kurakkuka, Thiru Kurukkai, Mayiladuthurai, Thiru Needur and Thiru Anniyur.

General Information

Moolavar

SriShivalokanathar

Ambal

Sri Sokkanayaki Amman, Sri Soundaranayaki

Theertham (Holy water)

Punka Theertham, Rishaba Theertham

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Punka tree

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

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

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 20^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).
• 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.
• The Nandhi in this temple is huge and is placed a little distance away from its regular position to give a good view of the lord to Nanthanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, from outside the temple.
• This east facing temple has three corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 03.05.1974.

History of the Temple

According to legend, in ancient times, this region was a forest densely covered with Punga trees. Hence this place gets the name Thiruppungur.

There are 5 stone inscriptions available here which date back to the period of Pallava Kings Sakalabhuvana and Kopperunsinga Devar. As per these inscriptions, this temple was renovated by these two kings.

The historical name of this place is “Karinchaaranyam” and the lord is praised as “Sri Sivalokamudaya Nayanar”.

Legend

It is believed that Lord Brahma, Indran, Suryan, Chandran, Agni, Saints Agasthiyar, Patanjali, Vyakrapathar, Saptha Kanniyars and the monkeys (Vanaras) who were in search of Lord Ram’s wife, Sita have worshiped the lord here. Kings Rajendra Chola, Veera Vikrama Chola and his son Chirsabesa Chola have also worshiped the lord here.

It is believed that Saint Agasthiyar got the wedding dharshan of Lord Shiva here.

Thiru Nalai Povaar Nayanar

According to legend, Nanthanar, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, was born in Mela Adhanur village on the banks of the river Kollidam in a backward community. Though he was working as a peasant in a farm, he used to devote most of his time in the worship of Lord Shiva. He was very keen to worship Lord Shiva at the famous Chidambaram (Nataraja) temple and waited for an opportunity to go there. However, he could not get permission from his employer who kept stalling Nandanar’s request. Whenever anyone asked him about his trip, he used to say that “he would go tomorrow”. This earned him the nick name of “Thiru Nalai Povaar” – meaning “one who would go tomorrow”.

Noticing his eagerness, one day his employer finally granted him permission to go to Chidambaram. Nanthanar came to Thiruppungur en route Chidambaram. In those days, people from backward community were not allowed to enter into temples and had to worship the lord from the outside. However, in this temple, the Nandhi in front of the lord was so big that he could not see the lord. He then prayed to Lord Shiva to allow him to get his darshan. It is believed that Lord Shiva directed Nandhi to step aside to allow Nanthanar to see him fully without any hindrance. Nandhi obeyed immediately and the ecstatic Nanthanar got a full darshan of Lord Shiva.

Overcome with joy, Nanthanar wanted to do something for this temple. He started digging a pond near the temple for the welfare of the devotees. He prayed to Lord Shiva for his blessings to accomplish his task. It is believed that Lord Shiva instructed Lord Vinayakar to help Nanthanar to complete his task. Lord Vinayakar along with his “Boothaganas” (the lord’s security), in the form of labourers, dug the pond overnight. This pond is known as “Rishabha Theertham” (also known as Ganapathy Theertham). Lord Vinayakar here is praised as “Kulam Vettiya Vinayakar” (meaning the god who dug the pond).

Normally the idols of Dhwarabalakas (gate keepers) at the sanctum’s entrance in Shiva temples are standing erect and facing ahead. However, here their faces are slightly tilted and positioned diagonally. This is meant to signify that one Dhwarabalaka informs the lord that “Nanthanar has come for a dharshan and is waiting outside”. The other one seems to be passing the lord’s instructions to Nandhi to step aside. Both the Nandhis, the one inside the sanctum and the other outside it is not in their regular position.

Pancha Lingams

Another legend associated with this temple is that involving a debate between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. When they had a debate as to who was more charming, Lord Shiva took out a Dharbhai (a grass used in rituals) and made three knots in it and threw it down to the earth. He further said that wherever the Dharbhai falls to the ground, he would comment on Goddess Parvathy’s beauty. The Dharbhai fell on the ground at this place and got converted into the “Pancha lingams”. These Pancha lingams are situated inside the temple.

Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar

Sundaramurthy Nayanar visited this temple along with his friend Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar of Thiru Perumangalam, a nearby village. Kalikkama Nayanar is also one of the 63 Nayanmars. Interestingly, his wife is Manakkanchara Nayanar’s daughter (Manakkanchara Nayanar is also one of the 63 Nayanmars).

At the same time, it is believed that the Chola King Rajendran was also staying here. He had come to this place to worship the lord and seek his blessing for a good monsoon as that region had been facing a drought for a long time. The king requested Sundarar to address this problem. Sundarar put up a condition saying that 12 Veli* of land had to be given to the temple if he could make it rain. The king readily agreed to his proposition. Upon completing his songs, Lord Shiva brought rains to this place. Since the rains had not stopped for a few days, Sundarar was again summoned by the king to fix the problem of imminent floods. Sundarar once again insisted that 12 more Veli of land be given to the temple should the rains cease after his song. The king accepted to Sundarar’s demand. The rain stopped after his songs and the temple became richer by 12 more Veli. In his hymn of this temple, in the 2^nd stanza, Saint Sundarar mentioned about this incident.

*(1 Veli = 5 kaani = 20 Ma = 6.62 Acre = 2.679 Hectares).

After the Thiripura Samharam (an incident involving the killing of three demons), Lord Shiva made two of the demons as the gate keepers (Dwarapalakas) of the sanctum sanctorum. The third one became the lord’s drummer.

In his hymn of this temple, in the 8^th stanza, Saint Sundarar mentioned about this incident. Also, in front of Lord Natarajar of this temple, there is a musical instrument (“Panchamukha Vadhyam” or “Manimuzha” in Tamil) which is played by this demon.

Deities in the Temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Sundara Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Somaskandar, Natarajar, Gajalakshmi, Nagar, Nalvar, Kalikkama Nayanar, Suryan, Lingams worshiped by Suryan and Agasthiyar can be seen in the corridors.

There are four Shivlingams in the inner corridor. Each of this lingam is said to represent one of Lord Shiva’s faces – Thathpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojatha.

The idols of Ganapathy, Mahavishnu, Mahalkshmi and Durgai are placed in a row in the inner corridor.

In the outer corridor, “Kulam Vettiya Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Brahma lingam, Pancha lingams, 7 Santhana Nagars, Navagraham, Bairavar, Chandran can be seen.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Pitchandavar, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai, Arthanareeswarar and Kshethrabalar (Bairavar) can be seen.

There are five Shivalingams representing Lord Shiva’s “panchamukham”. These lingams can be seen under the Sthala Viruksham of this temple and are in front of Lord Bhrama’s shrine.

There are two separate shrines for Nanthanar here – one in the outer corridor and the other one outside the temple near the main tower.

Salient Features

In this temple, almost all the idols are artistically made and look very beautiful.

Since the lingam is made out of sand, abishekam is not performed to the lingam but only to the base (Aavudayar). Only “Punugu” (civet) is applied to the lingam on every Monday at the time of night pooja. The lingam is always covered with a metal sheet (“kavasam”).

In most of the temples, Nandhi will have its tongue protruding out but in this temple, its tongue is not visible. This Nandhi is carved out of a single stone and it looks very beautiful. Also, this is one of the biggest Nandhis in Tamil Nadu – it is 15 feet long, 7 feet wide and 7 feet tall.

At the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, on either side, beautiful reliefs of lord Vinayakar and Murugan can be seen.

Behind the sanctum sanctorum, on either sides of Lord Lingothbavar, there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Brahma in a worshipping posture. Devotees can enjoy the darshan of all the three lords (Trimurthys) – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is considered to be very auspicious.

This temple is considered to be significant for its three important attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness of the land and the auspicious temple tank.

The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of semi-circular tank (akazhi in Tamil).

Greatness of this Temple

Devotees believe that worshiping the lord here will lead to removal of “Naga doshams” (related to serpent) and sins from their previous birth.

Devotees also believe that worshipping the “Pancha lingams” here will remove the obstacles from their marriage proposals.

Important Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in the temple are –

10-day Vaikasi Visakam Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June)

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

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

Skanda Shashti and 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) and

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

Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple Timings

From 07.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM to 08.30 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Shivalokanathar Temple,
Thiruppungur Post,
Sirkazhi Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu 609 112.
Tele: 04364 279784 and 094867 17634.