Sri Pallavaneswarar temple

The Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple is located in Poompuhar and is dedicated to God Pallavaneswarar. The story of how the temple came to be has to do with a couple who were devotees of Shiva. They were called Sivanesar and Gnanakamalambikai and they had a son called Tiruvenkadar. Tiruvenkadar was a marine trader and married Sivakalai. They didn't have any children. To bless them with a child, God Shiva was born as a son called Marudavanar to a poor couple called Sarmar and Suseelai. God Shiva then appeared in their dreams asking them to give their son to Sivanesar. Marudavanar followed his father's footsteps as a marine trader. One day he gave his mother a box on returning from a business travel and left. Tiruvenkadar opened the box anticipating wealth but instead found a dung cake made of husk. He threw it in anger and then saw writing on the cake that said that even a broken needle won't accompany the soul in its last journey. Tiruvenkadar renounced his family and prayed to Shiva for salvation. The God assured him that he will attain salvation. He attained salvation in Tiruvottriyur when he was known as Pattinathar. The Vinayaka in the temple is called Anugnai Vinayaka. A big Shiva Lingam is installed in the sanctum sanctorum. Sage Pattinathar's idol is found in a separate shrine that faces north. On this shrine's Vimana one can find sculptures of God Shiva, Ambica and Pattinathar's wife. Brahmmotsavam, the festival that is celebrated for Shiva, is celebrated only for Pattinathar here and is called Adiyar Utsav (meaning festival of the devotee). Pattinathar festival is celebrated for a period of 12 days in the month of Aadi (between July and August). The tenth day of the celebration marks the day when God Shiva granted salvation to Sage Pattinathar. This day is celebrated with grandeur.