Thiruthelichery Sri Paarvatheeswarar Temple, Puducherry

Address

Thiruthelichery Sri Paarvatheeswarar Temple, Thiruthelicherry (Kovil Pathu), Karaikkal, Puducherry – 609 602. +91- 4368-221 009, 97866 35559.

Diety

Paarvatheeswarar, Amman: Parvathi Ammai (Swayamvara Thapasvini)

Introduction

Tiruttelicheri Parvatheeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Tiruttelicheri in Pondicherry, India. Now the place is known as Koilpatthu.The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Parvatheeswarar. His consort is known as Parvathi Ammai. It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. Thala Virutcham : Vilwa, Vanni Theertham : Shakti, Surya Theertham

Puranic Significance

Chaya devi was sad as her husband Sun God was not affectionate to her. Knowing this through Maharshi Narada, her fathr cursed Sun. Sun lost his shining glory. He came to this place, created a spring and worshipped Parvatheeswarar and got the relief. As Sun-Bhaskara worshipped here, the place is known as Bhaskara Sthalam. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord during evenings for 10 days in the month of Panguni from 13th – March-April. Mother Parvathi born as daughter of Sage Kathyayana, performed penance here and joined Him here. As She performed Tapas-penance, She is praised as Tapasvini and Parvathi Ammai. She blesses devotees with wedding boons. Lord Shiva with His name Kiradhamurthi appears in a hunter form. Saint Gnanasambandar was intercepted by some belonging to a different religion when he came to this place. The saint appealed to Lord for a solution. By the command of Lord, a thunder fell on them yet they could not be corrected. They said that Saivism was not a religion superior to theirs and challenged Sambandar for a debate. Sambandar accepted the challenge and defeated them. Accepting the defeat, they too embraced Saivism here. King Ambarisha prayed to Lord here and was blessed with a child. Lord thus came to be known as Raja Lingam. He is also praised as Bhaskara Lingam as Sun worshipped here. Bhaskara is the other name of Sun. The place was known as Brahmma Vanam in Krutha Yuga, Sameevanam in Thretha, Ananda Vanam in Dwapara Yuga and Mukthi Vana in the present Kaliyuga. Due to failure of monsoon as famine raised its head, Chola king prayed to Lord to save his subjects from starvation. Lord came in the form of a farmer, sowed paddy seeds in the fields. The place was freed with good yields from famine. As Lord Himself sowed seeds here, the place came to be known as Tiru-Thelisowing, cheri-place – Tiru Theli Cherry. After worshipping Lord Darbaranyeswarar in Tirunallaru, Saint Ganasambandar was passing through this place, not noticing this temple. Lord Vinayaka called the saint 10 times, made him turn back and sing a Pathigam-10 verses. As Vinayaka called (Koovuthal in Tamil) the saint, He is praised as Koovi Azhaitha Pillayar. This name changed as Koil Pathu in the days that followed.

Beliefs

Devotees pray here for child, wedding and education boons. Devotees perform abisheks to Lord and mother and offer vastras.

Special Features

Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This west facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers and it has 2 corridors. Karaikkal is the birth place of saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar, one of the 63 revered Nayanmars. The last consecration (Kumbabishekam) took place on 07.06.2004 and prior to that on It is believed that Lord Shiva here has seen the pasage of four “Yugas”. As per the sthala purana, this place was known as Brahma Vanam in Kretha Yugam, Sameevanam in Thretha Yugam, Ananda Vanam in Dwapara Yugam and Mukthi Vanam in the present Kaliyugam.

Festivals

Maha Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham is also observed regularly.