Siddhaimur Sri Akilandeswari Sametha Ponvaithanathar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Siddhaimur Sri Akilandeswari Sametha Ponvaithanathar Temple, Sametha Ponvaithanathar Temple, Siddhaimur post, Ponnirai SO,Tiruvarur-612203 PH:9442767565

Diety

Ponvaitha Natheswarar, Amman: Akilandeswari

Introduction

Ponvaithanathar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Chithaaimur Village near Aalathampadi in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. Aalathampadi is located between Thiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi. The place is called as Thiruchitraemam / Yemam / Chithaaimur. Presiding Deity is called as Swarna Sthabaneswarar / Ponvaithanathar / Madhupureeswarar. Mother is called as Akilandeswari / Azhagiya Sornam Ambal. Praises of the temple have been sung by the Saivite saints Appar and Sundarar. This is the 223rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 106th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thala Virutcham : Aathi tree Theertham : Swarna Pushkarini

Puranic Significance

Lord Shiva helped a Chettiar Girl in proving her Chastity: In the Chetti Street of this place lived a person, Sankaran, a great devotee of Lord Siva. His wife was Anbirperiyaal. A few days after the marriage, her husband went to the neighboring country on business. During those days with her husband, she had become pregnant. Every day this lady used to sweep and mop the floor of the temple and keep it clean. She also prepared garlands for the deity. The happy Lord satisfied with her service, put a gold coin every day on the doorsteps of the temple, for her expenses. Hence, this Lord came to be known as ‘Ponvaithanathar’. After a few months, people came to know about her pregnancy. None knew about the Lord giving her gold coin. Her husband was out of station. Then, how did she have money for her expenses? How did she become pregnant? – People began doubting her. So, they ostracized her. This chaste, bold woman surrendered herself to the Lord and stayed in the temple itself. The confinement date was nearing. She had none to help her. She prayed to the Lord to save her. The Great Mother, Goddess Akilandeswari, the Mother of all created beings, conducted the delivery for this abandoned woman. The baby was born; her husband who went on business also returned. The citizens of the place told him that they doubted his wife’s character. Pained by these words, he enquired his wife about this charge. But, she categorically replied that the Lord was the witness for her purity. Her husband put strange conditions to her: “If you are a sincere person, the closed doors of the temple should open on its accord. The Arthajama pooja (the midnight pooja) should happen on its own arrangement. The sacrificial peetam behind the Nandi image should be placed before the Nandi statue. The sacred tree behind the temple should grow in front of the temple”. The shocked woman deeply prayed to the Lord, who wholeheartedly accepted her prayers. Accordingly, in the presence of the people the closed temple doors opened, the sacrificial peetam moved before the Nandi, the sacred tree also grew before the temple and the midnight pooja happened without the priest. The surprised citizens understood that these miracles were performed by the Lord himself and so blessed the woman. Even today we can see the Nandi statue outside the temple and the altar before the Nandi. Ponnirai, 6 kms west of this town, adjacent to the Aalathampadi railway station, is the place where Lord Shiva gave one gold coin every day to the Chettiar’s wife.

Beliefs

Those who pray here for normal delivery are sure to be blessed. The belief is that if one worships the Lord Ponvaithanathar, he will become certainly wealthy. When their prayers are fulfilled, the devotees perform abishekam to the Lord and Ambal and don them with new clothes.

Special Features

Presiding Deity is Swayambumurthy and is called as Swarna Sthabaneswarar / Ponvaithanathar / Madhupureeswarar. Mother is called as Akilandeswari / Azhagiya Sornam Ambal. Sthala Vriksham is Aathi and Theertham is Swarna Pushkarini. A large bee hive of around 6 meters high is very special here. Beehives are located in the Ardha Mandapam of the temple. Poojas are performed every day for these beehives. Lord Vinayakar of this place graces us in the name ‘Aathimara Vinayakar’. Sannadhi for Kanni Vinayagar, Murugan, Mahalakshmi, Brammarishi, Aiyanar, Bairavar, Sani Bhagavan, Suryan and Viswanathar can be seen in this temple. Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingodhbava, Brahma and Durgai can be found in the Koshtam. Urchavar Idols for Velavar, Somaskandar, Aadipura Amman, Pradhosha Nayakar, Chandrasekharar, Sambandhar, a Chettiyar with his wife

Festivals

Thai Poosam Theerthavari in January-February; Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January and Maha Shivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.