Palaiyur Yamanatheeswarar Shiva Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Palaiyur Yamanatheeswarar Shiva Temple, Nagapattinam

Palaiyur, Nagai circle,

Nagapattinam District,

Tamil Nadu 611108

Moolavar

Yamanatheeswarar

Amman

Dharmasamvardini

Introduction

• Location: Palaiyur village, Nagai circle, Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu.
• Deities:
  • Presiding Deity: Lord Yamanatheeswarar (a form of Lord Shiva).
  • Mother Deity: Dharmasamvardini.

Puranic Significance

• Temple Age: The temple is believed to be 1000 years old.
• Temple Design:
  • Orientation: The temple faces east.
  • Rajagopuram: A three-tiered Rajagopuram at the facade with high black stone walls.
  • Main Hall: The main hall is accessed through a long porch.
  • Deity’s Position:
    • Lord Yamanatheeswarar is positioned towards the East.
    • Goddess Dharmasamvardini is positioned towards the South.
  • Name Significance: The temple is named Yamanatheeswarar due to the benefits associated with Yama worship.
• Temple Features:
  • Architecture: The temple is constructed using black stonework, regarded as a masterpiece of the city, though no direct references are found to this claim.
  • Mukhamandapam: Decorative lamps at the gate of the sanctum sanctorum and decorative couches on either side for the Utsavamurthys, but without any murtis.
  • Lingamurthy: The Lord is represented by a small-sized Lingam.
  • Pillars: The two pillars in the temple have sculptures of Ganesha and Dandayudhapandi.
  • Nandi: Positioned before the Lord.
  • Karurai (surrounding deities): Includes Thenmugan, Lingobhava, and Durgai.
• Additional Shrines:
  • Vinayagar Shrine: Located in the south-west corner of the main hall, with a unique depiction of Lakshminarayan along with Vinayaka.
  • Murugan Shrine: Dedicated to Murugan, Valli, and Theivanai, located in the north-west of the temple.
  • North-East Features: A well, Navagraha shrine, and a long hall.
• Worship: The temple is not actively worshipped by many devotees today.

Festivals

• The temple is known for its festival where Swami walks around the streets and returns to the temple. However, it is also part of a tradition where Swami travels to the seven towns around Nagai before returning to the temple.

“With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.

Century/Period

1000 years old

Nearest Bus Station

Palaiyur

Nearest Railway Station

Nagapattinam

Nearest Airport

Trichy

Location on Map

lightuptemple