Arulmigu Panangaateeswarar Tirukkoil

Overview

Tiruppuravaar Panangaatutaiyaar Temple is located in Pannaiyapuram village, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, India.Three inscriptions are there in this holy place they are of King Kulotunga Cholan - I, Konerinmai Kondan and Parakesari Aadhi Rajendra Devan. In the inscriptions, this temple is noted as Tiruppuravaar Panangaatutaiyaar Temple and the name of the Lord is carved as Tiruppanangaatutaiya Mahadevar.

About the Temple

Being one among the 20 holy places, this place is placed on the 20th position. Lord Panangkaateeswara, the presiding deity's idol is a swayambu murthi, incarnated on its own,without anybody sculpting it. In the first seven days of the month of chithirai, every year, the sun rays falls on the Lord first, and then on Goddess Ambikai. This place is worshipped by the Sun God. In the exterior cemented hallway there are shrines of Lord Arumuga and Vinayaka.The three sacred palm trees are situated near it.The Goddess in the upright pose, faces east. In mortar-structure are the women gate keepers of the deity. Devotees worship Sathyambigai, after worshipping Dwara Ganapati and Dhandapani. Devotees reach the temple of the Lord when worshipping the Navagrahas, going around and revering the flag post. The interiors of hallway are the shrines of Gajalakshmi, Vinayaka, Arumuga, Sun, the 63 Nayanmar, Saptamaathas, Sani Bhagawan, Chantikeswarar, Lord on the Rishaba vahana, Naalvar, Bhikshaatanar, Dakshinamurthi, Durga, Navagrahas, Brahma, Somaskandar, Linghotbavar, Nataraja and Tirumal,. The image of Tiruneelakantar with his other half and both holding together the rod and praying with joined hands, is very rare. This is among the five sacred places which has palm tree as a holy tree. This was named Puravaar Panangaatoor, for it was bounded by dense forests of mullai region, to differentiate it among other holy places. To safeguard the pigeon that surrendered to Sibi Chakravarthi, he came forward to give his eyes. The God appreciating his kind behavior blessed the king his lost eyes in return. Hence, the Deity of this place is called as kanparitthu aruliya katavul. A yagna was performed by Daksha to abuse Lord Shiva. The Devas who joined the yagna and took the food (avirbhaagam), became the subject of the rage of Lord Shiva. As uttered by Lord Siva, Aghora Veerabhadrar went to Daksha yagna place and chastised all the Devas. The Sun lost his shine because of the sentence. Lamenting his blunder, he went to numerous holy shrines and worshipped Lord Shiva, prayed to him, his heart out and got reinstated with his earlier bright form that ignited the entire world. Puravaar Panangaatoor is one among the sacred places where the Sun worshipped Lord Shiva.

About the Deity

The Prime Deity, Panangkaateeswarar graces us as swayambu murthi. Every year the first seven days of the month Chithirai, every morning the sun-rays first fall on the Lord and then on Goddess Ambikai.

Legend and stories

There are three inscriptions in this holy place. The inscriptions of kings Kulotunga Cholan the First, Konerinmai Kondan, Parakesari Aadhi Rajendra Devan are available. In the inscriptions, this temple is noted as Tiruppuravaar Panangaatutaiyaar Temple and the Lord’s name is inscribed as Tiruppanangaatutaiya Mahadevar.

Daksha, to insult Lord Siva performed a yagna. All the devas who attended the yagna and took the yagna-food (avirbhaagam), became the butt of Lord Siva’s fury. As dictated by Lord Siva, Aghora Veerabhadrar went to Daksha’s yagna-hall and punished all the devas. The Sun lost his brightness because of the punishment. Regretting his mistake, he went to several holy places and worshipped Lord Siva, prayed to Him with all earnestness and got restored his earlier brightness that gave light to the entire world. ‘Puravaar Panangaatoor’ is one of the sacred places where the Sun worshipped Lord Siva.

Festivals

Maha Sivarathiri, Markali Tiruvaathirai, Aippasi Annabhishekam

Significance

The devotees pray to the Lord for the removal of hurdles in marriage, to get good fortune and to be the best in knowledge and wisdom.

Thanks giving

After the fulfillment of their prayers, the devotees perform abhishekam to the Lord and offer new clothes. They also donate their munificence to the temple renovation.

Address

Arulmigu Panangaateeswarar Tirukkoil,
Panaiyapuram P.O. – 605 603; via-Mundiyampakkam,
Villupuram District.