Adhimooleswarar Temple

Overview

Tiruppaatrurai Adhimooleswarar Temple is located in Tirupattrurai, Trichy district, Tamil Nadu, India. The historical name of the place is Tirupalathurai. The presiding deity is being mentioned and praised in the hymns of Saint Gnanasambandar. This is the 59th temple on the north bank of Cauvery river praised in Thevaram hymns.

About The Temple

The temple is rig in between two rivers – Kollidam and Cauvery. Nandhi (Lord Shiva’s bull vehicle) and the Bali Peeta (an upside down lotus platform for placing the Nivedhana) are outside the temple. It is believed that worshipping the Goddess who is facing South would neutralise the ferocity of Yama the God of Death. Here the Goddess is facing south. Those who have lost their kid(s), perform special puja to the Goddess with yellow clothes. They hope to get another child.This pooja is performed in the temple on all Poornima (full moon) days.Newly wedded couples also pray to Goddess seeking healthy and wise children. Behind the inner sanctum is the shrine of Sankaranarayana instead of Lingoghbava as generally found in Shiva temples. There are idols of Lord Venugopala, Sathybhama and Rukmini in the temple.

Adhimooleswarar temple complex has a small five-tiered raja gopuram (gateway tower) and two prakarams (outer courtyard). The central shrine faces east and has an idol of Adhimooleswarar (Lord Shiva) in the form of lingam that is made of granite. The granite idols of the deities Murugan (son of Shiva and god of war), Ganesha (son of Shiva and god of wisdom), Navagraha (nine planetary deities) and Nandi (the bull and vehicle of Shiva) are located in the hall leading to the inner sanctum. The hall leading to the inner sanctum also has a South facing shrine of a Goddess Nithyakalyani, the consort of Adhimooleswarar, in standing posture. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the inner sanctum of Adhimooleswarar has idols of Durga (goddess warrior), Dakshinamurthy (Lord Shiva as the Teacher) and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva). There are four historic idols of Dakshinamoorthy sporting a Veena, Bhikshadanar, and two idols of Vishnu. The first precinct is surrounded by granite walls.

About The Deity

The presiding deity is lord Shiva. He is called as Adhimooleswarar and His consort is known as Goddess Nithyakalyani.

Legend and Stories

Once a Chola king ruling this region, passed by this place while hunting and wanted to rest. He saw a white bird and with the intention of having it, he shot an arrow but the bird escaped. When he visited the place again, he saw the bird and waited near the bushes as it was its nest.

The king noticed milk’s smell in that place.However, the bird did not return. The king pulled aside the bushes and found an anthill. When he further dug it, milk sprang from the spot. The king, afraid of the incident, simply returned back.Lord Shiva appeared in his dreamt and said that He was in that spot in the form of a Linga and directed him to build a temple. So place came to be known as Pattrurai (Paal+Thurai – Paal in Tamil means milk and thurai place, thus came the name Pattrurai) The Lord was named Pattrurainathar as he came out from the place where milk sprang up.

Festival

Margazhi Tiruvadirai, Maha Shivarathri in February-March and Tirukarthikai in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Significance

People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage and for child boon. Devotees perform abishek, archanas and offer vastras to Lord and Mother Goddess.

Nearby Place To Visit

Malaikottai Uchipillayar
Paraithurainathar
Nallandavar
Aamra Vaneswarar
Erumbeeswarar

Accessibility

Road

Buses from Tiruchi to Tiruvanaikaval via Kallanai stop at Panayapuram. The temple is 1 km from this bus stop. Auto facility is not available. As there is no direct bus facility, it is suggested that cabs may be hired from Trichy

Railways

Trichy

Airport

Trichy

Temple Address

Sri Adhimooleswarar Temple
Tirupattrurai
Trichy.