Pazhayarai Vadathali Sri Someswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Pazhayarai Vadathali Sri Someswarar Temple, Pazhayarai Vadathali, Patteeswaram Post, Kumbakonam Taluk, Tanjore District, Tamil Nadu – 612 703. Tele: +91 – 98945 69543.

Diety

Sri Somanathar, Sri Someswrar Amman: Sri Somakamalambigai

Introduction

Pazhaiyarai Someswarar Temple, or Pazhaiyarai Vadathali is dedicated to Someswarar, a form of Shiva. It is located 6 km from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam- Aavoor Road, 2 km away from the Thenupuriswarar Temple at Patteeswaram and 3 km from Darasuram. It is served by buses from Kumbakonam or mini buses from Darasuram, the bus stop is Cholan Maligai. The temple is believed to be built during the Chola period and has several inscriptions dating back to the 8-9th century. The presiding deity, Someswarar, has a cursory mention in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Vaippu Sthalam. Theertham (Holy water): Soma Theertham, Jatayu Theertham, Indra Theertham, Kamala Theertham Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree): Amla tree

Puranic Significance

In ancient times, this place was a part of the Chola capital and many Chola kings ruled from Pazhayarai. During that time, Pazhayarai was a big city that spanned 8 kms in length and 3.5 kms in width. It consisted of many villages such as Patteswaram, Muzhayur, Udayalur, Shakti Mutram, Cholan Maligai (where the king’s palace was situated), Darasuram and Ramanathan Koil. Pazhaiyarai was divided into four blocks. These are – Vadathali, Metrali, Keezh Thali and Then Thali. This temple is located at Keezh Thali. This village is bounded by the river Mudikondan on the south and the river Thirumalairayan on the north. The river Mudikondan is also known as Pazhaiyaru and hence this place gets the name Pazhayarai. The village on the river’s northern side is known as Pazhayarai Vadathali (“vada” means north and “thali” means temple in Tamil).During Gnanasambanthar’s period, Pazhayarai housed the following the battle camps of the Cholas – Aariyap padaiyur, Pampab padaiyur, Manap padaiyur and Puthup padaiyur. This place has had different names throughout history. It was called Pazhaiyarai Nagar in the 7th century, Nandhipuram in the 8th century, Pazhaiyarai Nandhipuram in the 9th and 10th centuries, Mudikonda Cholapuram in the 11th century and Rajarajapuram in the 12th century. This temple was believed to be built by Chola King Aditya and was renovated by Chola King Raja Rajan. Raja Raja’s birth name is Arunmozhi Devan and hence this place is also known as Arunmozhi Thevecharam. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). According to legend, Garudan, the eagle mount of Lord Mahavishnu, wanted to release his mother from slavery. In order to do so he had to bring a pot full of nectar from Lord Indhra. When he was on his way to deliver the pot of nectar, he was attacked by some demons (asuras). Three drops of nectar fell down at this place and these drops turned into a lingam, a goddess and the Theertham. Garudan had a dip in this Theertham and worshiped Lord Shiva here. He made a pond here which is known as “Jatayu Theertham”. It is believed that Chandran created a theertham here and worshiped the lord. He was relieved from his curses and regained his strength and brightness. The theertham created by him is known as Soma Theertham. The lord gets the name Soma Nathar and the goddess is praised as Soma Kamala Nayagi (“Soma” is another name for Chandran). It is believed that Chandran, the serpent king Aadhi Seshan, Garudan, Ganga and Kamadenu’s daughter Vimali have worshipped the lord here.

Beliefs

Devotees believe that taking a dip in this temple’s holy water (Soma Theertham) can cure them from mental disorder like “sitha piramai”. Devotees also believe that taking a dip in the Jatayu Theertham can cure disease like leprosy.

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 24th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This is the birthplace of Amarneethi Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. This is the birthplace of Mangayarkkarasiyar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) is in a dilapidated /unfinished condition. Its second entrance tower has 3-tiers. There is no flag post (“dhwajasthambam”) in this temple. The last consecration ceremony (Kumbabishekam) took place on 29.01.2016. Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayakar (4), Murugan with his consorts, Bairavar, Suryan, Chandran, Nalvar with Sekkizhar, Mangayarkarasi, Kailasa Nathar, Navagraham and Chandikeswarar can be seen in the main hall and the corridors. In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanareeswarar with Vishnu and Brahma on his either side and Veera Durgai can be seen.

Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated here are – Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), 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), Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Maha Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham is also observed regularly.