Pathanychallinatheshwarar Temple

Overview : Madhukavanam is a Lord Shiva temple located in Tamil Nadu. It is on the banks of River Kollidam. Lord Shiva is established in the form of a small Shivalinga.Lord Maha Vishnu blesses from wall around the shrine called ghoshta in erect form whereas Lord Muruga with his partners Valli and Deivanai are just opposite as if paying his respect to Uncle Mahavishnu. Valli is wearing Pambadam or Thandatti which is the dangling ear ornament. This is an ornament typically worn by elder women usually seen in Tirunelveli district. Lord Dakshinamurthy is lacking the banyan tree conventionally related to him. Shrines for Lord Nirudhi Vinayaka, Mother Gajalakshmi, Lord Kasi Viswanatha,are also found. The front hall have Lord Kirshna set up between two serpents called nagas with a Linga between serpents. Sundarar ,a Saivite saint had sung the wonder of Lord Patanjaleeswar as one whose head and foot could not be observed even by Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahmma. His philosophy could not be completely understood even by the scholarly.Facing east is Mother Kola Valai Kai Ambica, also admired as Kanarkuzhali and Ambjakshi. She is also described in the hymns of Saivite Saint Sundarar. On the right side of Ambica’s shrine is Sani Bhagwan-Saturn worshipped by those facing his adverse effects.Sun God spreads his rays on the Tamil new year day on the Lord praying to him. Every particle of sand looks like a Shivalinga to the sages of Dandakaranya when they came here to devote to Lord Shiva. So they prayed from out. Thus, the sand here is considered very sacred and is carried by believers and retained in their houses considering that it would bring them all happiness and success and getting them rid of their ills. Lord Nataraja is represented with his left leg forward with the body somewhat backward which is credited to his pleasing Sage Patanjali who is opposite to the chief shrine along with Nalvar who the famous saivite saint besides authors of Tiruvasagam and Thevaram hymns. For relief from bad effects of serpent planets Sage Patanjali is prayed to by the people. Sage Vyakrapada worshipped Lord Shiva in Omampuliyur temple close by. It is notable that three Shiva temples in Kanattampuliyur , Omampuliyur and Chidambaram are in a line. Legend/Story : Celestial serpent Adisesha acting as a bed to Lord Mahavishnu in the ocean acquired the form of Sage Patanjali to enjoy Lord Shiva’s dance.Lord Shiva granted him his Dance Darshan in Chidambaram. As advised by Lord Shiva Sage Patanjali came to this placed and performed penance. God appeared in front of him and inquired if he was content with his darshan. Patanjali told that he would under no circumstances be content with the darshan once or twice and it should be before him endlessly. Assuring Patanjali he said that he would be giving darshan in many places. As a mark of thankfulness of the devoutness of the sage, Patanjaleeswarar was the name taken by the Lord .