Kallar Pasupathi Koil Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Thanjavur (Pasumangai)

Address

Kallar Pasupathi Koil Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Pasupathikoil, Papanasam Taluk,

Thanjavur District,

Tamil Nadu 614206

Moolavar

Pasupatheeswarar

Amman

Paal Vala Nayaki / Loga Nayagi.

Introduction

The Pasupatheeswarar Temple, located at Kallar Pasupathi Koil in Papanasam Taluk, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, is a historically significant shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Pasupatheeswarar Temple in Kallar Pasupathi Koil stands as a testament to the rich cultural and religious heritage of the region, attracting devotees and pilgrims who seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and the Divine Mothers associated with the Saptha Matrikas.

Puranic Significance

The Pasupatheeswarar Temple is believed to be more than 1500 years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Pasupatheeswarar.
It is situated on the banks of the Kudamurutti River, which is a distributary of the River Cauvery.
This temple is one of the 70 Maadakovil (elevated temples) built by the Chola King Kochengat Chola. These Maadakovil temples were constructed in a way that elephants couldn’t reach the sanctum.

Origin of the Name “Pasupathi”:

The name “Pasupathi” is associated with Lord Shiva’s divine role. When Lord Shiva plays his Udukkai drum, it is believed that he grants Beeja Veda Shakti blessings through the Beejakshara sound waves generated by the drum.
Lord Shiva’s hand drum (Udukku or damaru) has two faces: Pasu and Pathi. “Pasu” refers to the individual, bound soul (jivatma), while “Pathi” refers to God as the Lord who redeems these bound souls from their worldly bonds (pasam). The temple offers a spiritual path for bound souls (Pasu) to reach the Divine (Pathi).
Devotees pray to Lord Pasupathi for divine wisdom and blessings that unite the individual soul (Pasu) with the Divine (Pathi).

Worship and Significance:

The temple houses a three-tiered Rajagopuram (entrance tower) with a single prakaram (enclosed precinct). Inside the temple, the sanctum housing the presiding deity, Pasupatheeswarar, is elevated and adjacent to it is the shrine of Uchishta Ganapathy, known for its sculptural excellence.
Various deities, including Saneeswara, Bhairavar, Durga, Dakshina Moorthy, and Gajalakshmi, can be found on the walls of the ground floor of the temple.
The presiding Mother is called Paal Vala Nayaki or Loga Nayagi.

Special Features

Saptha Mangai Sthalams:

Pasupathi Koil is one of the seven shrines associated with the Saptha Matrikas (Seven Divine Mothers) in the Ayyampettai/Pasupathi Koil region in the Thanjavur–Papanasam (Kumbakonam) route. Each temple is dedicated to one of the Saptha Matrikas and represents a specific aspect of Lord Shiva.

Navarathri Worship:

During Navarathri, the Universal Mother, along with each of the Saptha Matrikas, offers worship at one of the seven Saptha Mangai Sthalams. Each day is associated with a unique darshan of various aspects of Lord Shiva.

Idol of Kalapidari:

There is an idol of Kalapidari located near the temple, about 1 km away. This idol is associated with Mother Uragachudai Mulaichi as per the inscriptions in Pullamangai Temple.

Festivals

The temple is part of the Saptha Sthanam festival held in the month of Panguni. During this annual event, the deities from the main temple, Chakkarapalli, are taken in a procession for over 40 kilometers. Devotees, who are bearers on barefoot, carry the deities on a massive “kannadippallakkoo” weighing more than 2000 kilograms. This procession runs non-stop except for a few hours of halt at the Kudamurutti river sands for a fireworks show at 4 am.