Vilamal Sri Pathanchali Manoharar Temple, Thiruvarur

Diety: Pathanchali Manoharar (vilamar, vimalan), Amman: s Mathurabhasini / Thenmozhi Ammai
Temple Address: Vilamal Sri Pathanjali Manoharar Temple, North St, Vilamal, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu 610004 PH:9894781778
Open between: 06:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 AM to 08:30 AM

Introduction

Pathanchali Manoharar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Vilamal Village in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Pathanjali Manoharar and Mother is called as Mathurabhasini / Thenmozhi Ammai (honey like speech) / Yaazhinum Men Mozhi Ammai (voice sweeter than Yazh, a musical instrument). 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 Thirugnana Sambandar. This is the 207th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 90th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.

Puranic Significance

Lord Shiva performed Aajaba Natanam for Sages Pathanjali and Vyagrapathar: Pathanjali muni penanced and worshiped Lord Siva to see Nataraja’s dance. Lord Siva was pleased with his worship and showed his dance performance at Thillai (Chidambaram). At this time Vyagrapathar Muni was also there to see the dance of Lord Siva. They were happy, and requested Lord Siva to perform Aajaba Natanam and Rudhra Thandavam for them and Padha Dharisanam for devotees. Lord Siva asked them to go to Sripuram (Thiruvarur) where they can see his performance and Padha Dharisanam. They came to Thiruvarur where they saw Siva Lingam everywhere. They worshiped Kamalambal, as per her guidance Patanjali muni made a Siva Lingam of mud, and they worshiped Lord Siva. Lord Siva was pleased and performed Aajaba Natanam for their sake, and showed his Padha darshan, which is known as “Rudhra Padham”. Lord Vishnu, Brahma, Musukundha Chakravarthy, and Devas were present at this time. Lord Shiva’s Viswarupa Dharshan: Lord Siva showed his Viswarupa dharisanam here, so Nandi head is turned to side Different Names: The place is known as Thiru Vilamal, Thiruvadi Kshetram and Siva Pada Sthalam.

Special Features

There is no Raja Gopuram for this temple. There is an unwritten statement that one has to visit this temple for Shiva’s feet Dharshan after the face Dharshan of Thiyagesar at Thiruvarur. This Temple is considered as one of the Sakthi Peedams. Lords Ganapathy and Murugan are on either side of the wall near the main entrance. There is nothing but a garden in the outer prakaram. Bali peetam and Nandhi is inside the second entrance. The Agni Theertham tank is in front of the temple. The east facing temple has a south facing Ambal shrine and a south facing shrine for Bhairavar. There are also shrines to Saneeswara, Surya, Chandra, Ganesha and Gajalakshmi. The sculpture of Pathanjali and Surya are present in the front mandapam (Artha Mandapam) and sculpture of Sage Vyagrapathar in the Maha mandapam. There is a Maha mandapam, Artha mandapam and main sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Pathanjali Manoharar and Mother is called as Mathurabhasini / Thenmozhi Ammai (honey like speech) / Yaazhinum Men Mozhi Ammai (voice sweeter than Yazh, a musical instrument). Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam made of mud and is facing east. Natarajar is present at the back of Siva Lingam and Rudra padam is located in front of main deity. When Aarathi is given in the main sanctum, we see the Jyothi in Siva Lingam and it is like a Jyothi swaroopam. Siva lingam is Jyothi swaroopam. The important feature of this temple is Idadhu pada dharisanam, which is viewing the left foot of lord Shiva. When in Ardhanarishvara form (half Shiva and remaining half Devi), the left half of lord is Devi and hence the viewing of left foot is essentially the foot of Devi herself. This special viewing of the foot is on Thiruvadirai, which is the Nakshatra or the Star on which day Lord Shiva and Devi merged to become Ardhanarishvara.According to English calendar, it falls somewhere between mid-December to first week of January. Dakshina Moorthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum. Srichakkram is seen in Ambal hastham. The Goddess here has third eye for which is cool and pleasant like Chandran. Chandikeswarar is located in small sanctum in the inner praharam. There is a separate sannidhi for Siddhi Vinayakar, Mahalakshmi and Subramanyar with Valli Deivanai in the inner prakaram. There is a well in this prakaram and a separate sanctum for Bairavar. Bairavar idol is huge in this temple. Bairavar is Kshetra Balaka, so there is no Navagraha in the temple.

Festivals

All Shiva related festivals are celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. The important feature of this temple is Idadhu pada dharisanam, which is viewing the left foot of lord Shiva. This special viewing of the foot is on Thiruvadirai, which is the Nakshatra or the Star on which day Lord Shiva and Devi merged to become Ardhanarishvara. According to English calendar, it falls somewhere between midDecember to first week of January