Tirupayathangudi Sri Tirupayatrunathar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Sri Tirupayartunathar / Mukthapureeswarar Temple, Tirupayathangudi – 610 101 Nagapattinam District. PH:9865844677

Diety

Thiruvaruthanatha, Muktipureeswarar Amman: Kaviyankanni

Introduction

Tirupayathangudi Tirupayatrunathar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Tirupayathangudi in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India.The historical name of the place is Tirupayattrur.The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Tirupayatrunathar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Kavianganni. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirunavukkarasar.

Puranic Significance

Once upon a time, a businessman who had an affinity with Lord Shiva was trading pepper. He once saw a customs jetty near the seafloor as he sailed through the sea to export cargo by sea. Pepper customs were customary on that day. But legumes have no toll. The merchant became so proud of this place that he wanted to convert all his peppers into lentils. The next morning, when the merchant woke up to pray to Lord Shiva, he saw that all the pepper bundles had been turned into lentils. The merry merchant began his journey towards Nagapattinam. Customs came. Customs officials searched all the bundles. Knowing that the lentils are bundles, they have been sent without tax. After the customs raisins, the lentil bundles have all become pepper bundles. The merchant made profits. The merchant received all the profits from the sale of pepper money to Shiva and reached the Lord. Thus, this place is called “Thiruparatthoor” and the Lord is “Thiruvaruttanathar”. The name of the place is highlighted by the above story.

Beliefs

Bathing in the Karuna Theertham traders here pray to Tiru Payatrunathar and those suffering from vision problems and evil spirits pray to Mother Kaviaganni. Realizing their wishes, devotees offer vastras to Lord and offer Pongal-pudding nivedhana to Mother.

Special Features

Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. The presiding deity is known a Thiru Payatrunathar which means “Lord of the pulses” in Tamil. He is also known as Muktapureeswarar. Mother is known as Kaviaganni. Lord Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Siddhi Buddhi Vinayaka. The temple is facing east. There are shrines for Lords Siddhi Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, Viswanatha with Mother Visalakshi, Mothers Gajalakshmi and Mahalakshmi, Sage Bhairava Maharshi, Bhairava, Sun, Moon, Somaskanda, Veera Makali and Chandikeswara. Mother Veera Makali blesses devotees from her own shrine.

Festivals

Chitra Poornima-full moon day in April-May; Fridays in Aadi in July-August and in Thai covering January, February and Maha Shivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.