Panchanadheshwarar Temple

Overview

Sri Panchanathiswarar Temple is located in Tiruvaiyaru. Tiruvaiyaru is a very holy place. This temple is 1000-2000 years old.

About the Temple

Sage Neymesa built this temple at the instance of Lord Sri Shiva. There are two shrines near east gopuram known as Dakshina Kalasha and Uttara Kalasha. The Mukthi mantapam is famous for performing Panchakshara japam. This holy place is considered as chief among the Saptha Stana Stalas, The other six are Thiru Pazhanam, Thiruvan chottu Thurai, Thiruvadai Kudi, Thirukandiyur, Thirupanthurai and Thiruvai thanam.

The Dhyana Mandap – Meditation Hall – of the temple is built with lime and palm jaggery – Karuppati in Tamil. Deep pits were dug to store these materials. The wages for the workers were paid in gold and silver, it is said. These precious metals too were put in two pits and the workers were allowed to take what they could carry.These pits still exist in the temple.Lord Dakshinamurthi in the prakara has a special significance. Lord Vishnu had worshipped Him. He is only Guru in Tamilnadu worshipped by Perumal-Vishnu. He is praised a as Soouru Hari Shivayoga Dakshinamurthy. In the place of Muyalagan – symbol of ignorance – we usually see under His feet, there is a tortoise. The architectural skill of the temple is such that multiple echoes could be heard if one loudly calls Aiyarappa standing at a particular place. Foreign engineers had tried to find out this miracle but could not till this day.

Of the Navagraha importance, the place belongs to Sun. He is facing west. The temple has five corridors-prakaras. Devotees choose the prayer hall (Mukthi Mandap) for mental piece

About the Deity

The huge temple here is dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Sri Ayyaruappan in Tamil and Sri Panchanadeeswarar in Sanskrit, which means the Lord of the 5 rivers.Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy.It is believed that His long and thick turf is spread throughout the place behind the shrine. As a devotee cannot afford to tread on the Jatamudi of Lord, circumambulation is prohibited. Mother Goddess in the temple is praised as Aram Valartha Nayaki in Tamil and Dhrma Samvardhini in Sanskrit meaning Mother who upholds Dharama. It is the strong belief of Hindus that women are better guardians of Dharma than men. As Mother of all beings in the world – Jagan Matha – She is pursuing Her devotees to follow the path of Dharma. To emphasize the fact that every day is a Good Day, the wedding festival for mother is conducted on Ashtami nights. There is generally a belief that Ashtami – eighth day of new moon or full moon fortnights is not an auspicious day. But with the gracious look of Mother, what we call inauspicious becomes auspicious.

Legend and Stories

The names Nandeeswarar and Nandikeswarar are mistook as one name and deity. Indeed, they are different from the other. Nandeeswarar is the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva commonly called Nandhi. Nandikesar is the founder of the Tiru Kayilaya Parampara-dynasty. Dharumapuram Adheenam and Tiru Avaduthurai Adheenam belong to this heritage.

Nandikesar was born to Sage Siladha with four hands.The sage placed the child in a box and opened it then. It was beautiful child with two hands. He left the child in Tiruvaiyaru. Lord Shiva performed abishek to the child with the breast milk of Mother Ambica, the foam from Nandhi’s mouth, nectar-amirtha- Saiva Theertham and Surya Pushkarini Theertham – totally five items – hence, the Lord of the temple is praised as Aiyarappan – Lord of five theerthas.

Theertham – totally five items – hence, the Lord of the temple is praised as Aiyarappan – Lord of five theerthas.

Festivals

Maha Shivrathri in February-March is very devotionally celebrated in the temple.

Nearby Place To Visit

Andalakkum Aiyan

Padikasu Nathar

Gajendra VaradhanHara Shaba Vimochana Perumal

Appakudathan

Adhivaraha Perumal

Significance

Devotees pray for wedding, child and education boons. Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother and offer Vastras.

Accessibility

Road

Tiruvaiyaru is 16 km far from Thanjavur. Bus facilities are available. The closest railways are in Tanjore, and airport is in Trichy.

Temple Address