Thirunanipalli Sri Narathunaippar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Sri Nattrunai Appar Temple, Punjai (Tiru Nanipalli), Kidaramkondon Post – 609 304. Nagapattinam district. Phone: +91- 4364 – 283 188

Diety

Narrunaiyappar Amman: Parvatharaja Buddhiri

Introduction

Natrunaiyappar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the village of Ponsei or Thirunanipalli(Chola Nadu – South of Kaveri), Mayiladuthurai district, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. It’s one of the holy place “Tevaram has been sung on the primary god of the Shiva (Paadal Petra sthalam)”. From north side Chidambaram to The Mahendra Mountain totally 63 Shiva temples have been presented. It’s also one of the part of 63 Shiva’s holy places. Once upon a time ponsei ruled under Chola dynasty

Puranic Significance

The First rajendra chola has created a town Gangaikonda cholapuram with most beautiful and rare sculptural techniques. It’s similar to earlier creation of Rajaraja emperor’s Thanjai Brihadeeswarar Temple. The Chola conquest of Kadaram (Kedah) and Srivijaya, and their continued commercial contacts with the Chinese Empire, enabled them to influence the local cultures. So that Emperor Rajendra chola also called “Poorva Desamum Vendra Kopparakesari Varman “was awarded a special title. So this place named Kadarankondan, Later name has to convert into Kidarankondan. The age of the temple is nearly 1000 years. The ancestor of Rajaraja Chola, Parantaka Chola I (907–950) built this temple for Nanipalli Natrunaiyappar. It is a 9th-century temple. The sanctum sanctorum is very big in size that facilitated an elephant to worship Lord directly inside. The sanctum sanctorum and the mandaps speak volumes of the aesthetic sense and architectural skill of ancient sculptors of Tamil Nadu. The architecture of the Chola stands pride of the Tamil Civilization. In this temple wall Vijayalaya Chola statue has appeared.

Beliefs

Cauvery, though flows eastward turns here westward. This is called Basvamangini. Lord Vinayaka had to incur a dosha as he toppled the Kamandala-hand bowl of Sage Agasthya. For relief, he bathed in a tank here. The place came to be known as Pon Sei which later changed as Punjai. While Mother Durga appears in Shiva temples standing on the head of a buffalo, She graces here with a deer and a lion destroying the demons Sumba and Nisumba.

Special Features

Lord Shiva granted His wedding darshan to Lord Vinayaka and Sage Agastya. •Appar, Sundarar and Thirugna Sambandar wrote a poem’s to Thirunanipalli Natrunaiyappar in Tevara Tirumuraigal. •106th temple in 275 shiva temples where appeared in Teveram. •In a period of chola this temple called “Jayan konda valanaattu aakkoor naattupirathameyamaagiya nanipalli •Lot of rare and most beautiful sculptures appeared in a temple. These are all pride of Chola Empire. •This is 43rd Shiva temple in the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Tevaram hymns. •Sanctum sanctorum tower is huge size. Never seen these sized Sanctum sanctorum tower in any other temples in India.

Festivals

Pujas to Sun-Surya are performed from Chithirai 7-13 in AprilMay. Pradosha pujas (13th day of both full moon and new moon fortnights) and all Shiva related pujas are celebrated in the temple.