Thirukondeeswaram Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Thirukondeeswaram Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Thirukondeeswaram, Tiruvarur District Phone: +91 – 4366 – 228 033

Diety

Pasupatheeswarar, Pasupadiswarar, Pasupathy Natar’s Amman: Shanti Nayaki

Introduction

Pasupatheeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Thirukondeeswaram in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Pasupatheeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Shanthanayaki. Sthala Vriksham of this Temple is Vilwam and Ilavam. Theertham of this Temple is Ksheera Pushkarini. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Thirunavukkarasar. This is the 189th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 72nd Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thala Virutcham : Vilwa Theertham : Soorapuskarini

Puranic Significance

Parvathi Devi, assuming the guise of Kamadenu, is believed to have worshipped Shiva by pouring milk on the lingam. Kondi means ferocious cow and since Kamadenu worshipped the Lord here, the place is called “Kondeechwaram”. The cow came in search of this Lord by tearing the earth with its horns at various places and reached here. The lingam got wounded in the process and the cow poured milk on the lingam and healed the wound. Even today, we can see the scar mark on the lingam made by the horns of the cow. Hence the presiding deity is called Pasupatheeswarar and the Theertham is known as Ksheera Pushkarini.

Special Features

Presiding deity is called as Pasupatheeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Shanthanayaki. Sthala Vriksham of this Temple is Vilwam and Ilavam. Theertham of this Temple is Ksheera Pushkarini. There is no Kodimaram and Rajagopuram. In the “Wovval Nethi” mandapam, there are sculptures of Abathsahaya maharishi and Jwaraharesan with three feet. It is a fact being seen that doing abishekam to Jwarahareswarar with hot water and offering food made by boiled rice cures the fevers. Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothpavar, Brahma and Durgai are located in Koshta. There are also shrines for Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Naagar, Gajalakshmi, Brahmapureeswarar, Agastheeshwarar, Viswanathar Visalakshi, Bairavar, Sambandar and Suryan in the temple. Sculptures of Navagrahas and Suryan can be found in this Temple, Stucco image of Ambal as Kamadenu can be seen in the temple. Dwarabalakars are made of Sudhai.

Festivals

In the month of Karthikai (November-December) on a Thursday, between 6.00 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. called Emakandam time under the aspect of Lord Yama the God of Death, the Lord offers holy water (Theertham) to the devotees to cleanse them from all sins. Thursdays in the Tamil month of Karthikai are considered important days.