Palayamkottai Thirupurantheeswarar Temple, Thirunelveli

Address

Palayamkottai Thirupurantheeswarar Temple, Palayamkottai, Thirunelveli district- 627002.

Diety

Thirupurantheeswarar Amman: Gomathi Amman

Introduction

Thirupurantheeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Palayamkottai, a prominent neighbourhood in Thirunelveli City, in Palayamkottai Taluk in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Thirupurantheeswarar and Mother is called as Gomathi Amman. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar. This Temple is one of the four Thirupuranthakar Thevara Vaippu Sthalams. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. The Temple was called as Thirupuranthakam in ancient times.

Puranic Significance

Once, Pandyan Kingdom was ruled Uthalan. One day, Uthalan along with his wife in balcony saw Sage Gautama walking in the street. He made fun of the sage. This behaviour angered the sage and he cursed him to become ugly. Realizing his mistake, he begged pardon. Sage Gautama advised him to install Shiva Lingam in Shenbaga Vanam in the banks of Thamirabarani River and start worship Lord Shiva to get back his original face. Sage Gautama invited King and his wife and came to this Shenbaga Vanam. Sage Gautama decided to stay in this place for some time on seeing the beauty of this place. One day, Lord Shiva appeared in the dreams of King and instructed him to install Shiva Linga in the name of Thirupurantheeswarar. As per the divine instruction, he went to Kasi for a Shiva Linga and installed the Shiva Linga in this place. By doing so, they got back their original face. Subsequently, King built this Temple.

Special Features

This is an east facing Temple with three-tiered Rajagopuram. Nandi, Balipeedam and Dwajastambam can be found facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Thirupurantheeswarar and is east facing. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava and Jala Durga are the Koshta idols located around sanctum walls. Mother is called as Gomathi Amman. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Mother shrine can be entered through a separate small three-tiered Rajagopuram. There is a shrine for Vinayaga along with his consort Vallabhai in the circumbulatory path around Mother Shrine. There is also a separate shrine for Tamil Poet Avvaiyar in the Temple premises. There is a separate shrine for Lord Murugan in the Temple premises. He is gracing the devotees along with consort Valli & Deivanai. The Muruga idol placed here was originally made for Thiruchendur temple (after that idol was taken away by Dutch looters and later got back from sea). Veerabahu and Veera Mahendra can be seen at the entrance guarding the shrine. There are shrines for Jwarahareswarar, Saptha Mathas, 63 Nayanmars, Maha Ganapathy, Gaja Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Saneeswarar, Nataraja with his consort Shivagami, Navagrahas, Kala Bhairavar, Chandran and Suryan in the Temple premises. Theertham associated with this Temple is Thamirabarani River. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa tree.

Festivals

Chithira Brahmotsavam, Margazhi Thirupalliyezhuchi, Margazhi Thiruvadhirai, Thiru Karthigai, Aippasi Thirukalyanam, Kanda Sashti, Aadi Pooram, Thai Poosam and Monthly Pradoshams are celebrated here with much fanfare.