Thiruppallavaneecharam (Poompuhar) Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Thiruppallavaneecharam (Poompuhar) Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple, Poompuhar Post, Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu-609105. PH:9443719193

Diety

Pallavaneswarar, Amman: Soundaranayagi

Introduction

Thiruppallavaneecharam is located at a distance of about 22 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Poompuhar route. This temple is located just after the Kannaki Arch but before entering Poompuhar town. This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 10th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). Poompuhar is the place of confluence of the river Cauveri with the Bay of Bengal. Both Chayavanam and Pallavaneecharam temples are situated in Poompuhar. This is the birth place of Saint Pattinathar. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. There is no flag post (Kodimaram) here.

Puranic Significance

The legend associated with this temple is that of Saint Pattinathar. It is believed that in this place, a devout couple by the name of Sivanesar and Gnanakalambikai, lived and worshiped Lord Shiva. Sivanesar was engaged in marine trading business. They were blessed with a son and named him Thiruvenkadar (after Lord Shiva at Thiruvenkadu). Thiruvenkadar was also a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. When he attained the marriageable age, he married a girl by the name of Sivakalai. However, they were not blessed with a child. They visited many Shiva temples including the one at Thiruvidaimaruthur. To bless them with a child, it is believed that Lord Mahalingaswamy of Thiruvidaimaruthur himself appeared as a newborn outside the house of a couple, Siva Sarumar Gurukkal and Suseelai. Lord Shiva appeared in their dream and advised them to give the child to Thiruvenkadar who in turn will give them enough wealth. On the advice of the lord, the couple handed over the child to Thiruvenkadar. Thiruvenkadar and his wife named the child as Marudavanar and raised him as their own son. At a very young age, Marudavanar started handling his family business. One day after returning from his business travel, he gave a box to his mother for safe keeping and then left the house. Anxious to see what wealth his son had brought home, Thiruvenkadar opened the box but to his dismay the box contained nothing but a dung cake mixed with husk. He threw the box on the ground in anger. Inside the dung cake, he found gold and gems. There was also a note that said – “Kathatra usiyum vaaradu kaan kadai vazhikke” (Not even a broken needle will accompany the soul during the last journey). Thiruvenkadar then realised the truth and understood that this was Lord Shiva’s play and that he wanted him to give up his material wealth and enter into a spiritual life. Thiruvenkadar then renounced all his possessions and started visiting many Shiva temples. He also started composing and rendering hymns. It is believed that Saint Pattinathar was given “Shiva Dheeksha” by Lord Shiva himself at Thiruvenkadu. Thiruvenkadar is popularly known as Pattinathar. There is a separate shrine here for Saint Pattinathar. He is believed to be the reincarnation of Kuberan and this temple is also known as “Pattinathar temple”. He became a reputed Tamil ascetic-poet. He is also praised as “Thavaraja Singam” and he rendered many songs about Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. Later, he prayed to Lord Shiva to bless him with salvation. The lord appeared before him and gave him a sour sugarcane. He asked him to travel to various holy places with it. The lord further advised him that as soon as he tasted sweetness at the end of the sugarcane, he would attain salvation. It is believed that Pattinathar attained salvation at Thiruvotriyur and his Jeeva Samadhi (a shrine) was built near the Thiruvotriyur temple. It is believed that Kuberan and Kalava Maharishi have worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. Sage Agasthiar is believed to have created the Jaanavi Theertham in front of the temple and worshiped the lord here.

Beliefs

Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, their children would be blessed with wisdom and intelligence.

Special Features

The idol of Lord Shiva is very big in size and it looks very majestic. Lord Natarajar’s “Sabha” here is similar to the one in Chidambaram temple. All the idols in the Navagraham are facing towards Lord Shiva – that is, they face the west direction. In his hymn, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentioned that both Chayavanam and Pallavaneecharam temples are situated in Poompuhar. As Thiruvenkadar was born in this place, he is popularly known as Pattinathar (named after Kaverypoompattinam). Interestingly, in this temple, Brahmotsavam is not celebrated for Lord Shiva. Instead it is celebrated for Saint Pattinathar. This is known as “Adiyaar Utsavam” meaning the festival of the devotee. There is a separate temple here for Goddess Sampapathi Amman, which is believed to have been worshipped by Kannaki, Madhavi and Manimekalai (characters of Silapathikaram) of the Sangam epics.

Festivals

Some of the main festivals celebrated in this temple are – Vaikasi, Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) and Pattinathar Vizha in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-August). Pattinathar festival is celebrated for 12 days, the 10th day commemorate the event of Lord Shiva granting salvation to Saint Pattinathar. It is celebrated in a grand manner.