Tirupattur Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Trichy

Address

Palaiyur, Tirupattur,

Trichy District – 621104

Phone: +91 431 2650439

Mobile: +91 9443817385

Moolavar

Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Amman

Sri Visalakshi

Introduction

Kasi Viswanathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Palaiyur Village in Tirupattur near Siruganur in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. This temple is very close to Thirupattur Brahma Temple. This temple with a sacred tank was constructed by Cholas. The Jeeva samadhi of Sage Vyagrapada (Pulikkal Siddhar) is located within the temple.

Puranic Significance

Temple Pond created by Saint Vyagrapada:

Vyagrapathar, who had feet of a tiger, was said to have lived here for some time tending to the lord. Once during a drought when he could not get water to bath the Lingam he asked Indra on his white elephant, who used to pass overhead with water from Mount Kailash every day for the lord at Thiruvanaikaval to spare some. This was refused and the sage in anger dug the ground with his clawed feet to bring forth the Theertham of Ganges here – Pulipaichi Theertham. When Indra and his mount reached Thiruvanaikaval late after this episode the lord asked for the reason. When appraised he immediately directed them to provide the water to the sage which was duly rejected by him now. The elephant then performed the ablution to the deity itself. This scene is depicted in the Gopuram.

Curse of Ayyanar:

As per local legend, Ayyanar cursed all the Brahmins in this village many hundred years ago that their livelihood will be stopped. Slowly all the temples died due to want of maintenance and the priests all migrated. Since the temples have now been redone and the Kumbabishekam of the Ayyanar also arranged hoping for better days.

Jeeva Samadhi:

Vyagrapada, that is, one having the feet like a tiger, was one of the mythical rishis (sage) of ancient India. His image and iconography depicts him as a human being but with the legs of a tiger. He is also shown having a tiger-like tail. Generally, he is shown alongside Patanjali.

Special Features

This is an ancient temple supposedly as old as the nearby Brahmapureeswarar Temple. The Temple is believed to be more than 1500 years old. The temple has 3 tier entrance gopuram in the south. A large tank, Puli Paichi Theertham is present on the east. Presiding Deity is called as Kasi Viswanathar and is facing east. Mother is called as Visalakshi and is facing south.

There is only one praharam and the various Koshta Devathas are seen. The Amman sannidhi has separate Koshta vigrahas like Iccha Sakthi, Gnanasakthi, Kriya Sakthi, Vidya Sakthi, Siva Durga and Chandikeswari. The Jeeva Samadhi of Sage Vyagrapathar is seen opposite the goddess shrine. The Jeeva samadhi is found encased in glass.

There is no Navagraha here as the rays of the sun fall on the lord every day. The moonlight also falls on the lord here and full moon day is auspicious. Shrines of Valanchuzhi Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durga, Shivalingam, Icha Sakthi, Kriya Sakthi, Vidya Sakthi, Gnana Sakthi, Abaya Sakthi and Kala Bhairavar can be found in the prakaram.