Palukandhanathar Temple

Share:

Overview : Sri Palunkanda Nathar temple is a Lord Shiva temple located in Tiruvaipadi,Tamil Nadu.It is the 40th Lord Shiva temple present on the northern bank of Cauvery.The forward facing Mandap of the temple resembles the forehead of bats.A south fronting Mother’s shrine is at the right.The Mahamandap has shrines of Lord Bhairava, Sun God, Sani Bhagwan. Saint Tirunavukkarasar has praised the temple in his Thevaram chants.Chandikeswara is the only one with Easwara title among the 63 Nayanmars. Seignalur is his birth place is situated very nearer to the shrine. He installed Linga here and worshipped and attained salvation.His memorial is close by the sanctum. Legend/Story : Brahmin Echathan and Pavithra had a son Visara Saruman who learnt all arts in young age. His holy thread ritual,Upanayanam was performed when he was 7. His mind had the thoughts of only Lord Shiva.Once he saw a shepherd beating a calf that tried to hurt him. He took the job from him and cared the cattle. He was as nice as a mother that the cows produced milk abundantly.Being always covered in Shiva views, Visara Saruman made a Linga from the sands of Manniyar River, fixed it beneath an Aathi tree and did pujas and abishek of the milk he got from the cows. People on observing him, executes abishek to Lord with the milk of the cows, condemned that he was misusing the milk which was for yajnas. His annoyed father beated him and disturbed the milk pots.Visara Saruman in his deep worship, was ignorant of the person disturbing the milk pots. He continued his prayer and attacked him with a stick. The stick transformed into an axe and father’s legs were cut. Lord and Mother Parvathi gave darshan to Visara Saruman and told him that he cut his father’s legs for of his devotion and from then on he would be his father and honoured with Kondrai flower garland which she was wearing. He was also named Chandikeswara by Lord.