Sri Parangirinathar Temple

Overview

The most important among the six Padai Veedu temples of Murugan where he dwelled before vanquishing the demon Soorapadman is Tirupparankunram (near Madurai) - a grand hill temple, visited by thousands throughout the year. Nakkeerar of the Sangam Period is associated with Tirumurugatruppadai and this shrine. Tiruppugazh, Kandapuranam and other great works speak of the glory of this shrine. This shrine is regarded as the 3rd of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. Lord of the temple is praised by all the four Saivite Saints, Tirugnana Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manicka Vasagar. This is the third Shiva temple in the Pandya region praised in Thevaram hymns.

About The Temple

This temple is situated on a hill. The lord is Sri Vinayaka, and is praised as Karpaga Vinayaka. The Rajagopuram is of 7 tier structure. Mother Aavudai Nayaki blesses the devotees from a separate shrine facing south. The Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva facing the hill near the flag post is as big as the hill. Other vahans as Moojuru and peacock are also nearby. Sri Nandi Bhagwan also graces in the entrance of Mahamandap with His consort Kalakandi. Lord Nataraja graces in the Mahamandap surrounded by Sages, Mother Annapoorani, Shivasurya and Moon nearby. Panchalingas are with their consorts in wedding form. Karthikai Muruga blesses the devotees with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. The special feature is that Garuda Bhagwan is near Lord Muruga in a standing form in this Shiva temple. There are eleven sacred springs in the temple. Those facing skin problem place pepper and salt in the springs for cure. As this is cave temple, the hill itself is regarded as the Vimana. Girivalam – circumambulating the hill is undertaken by devotees on full moon-poornima days. Earlier, this temple was the main temple here. As this temple became dilapidated, the temple was reconstructed by turning the Muruga temple to the other side facing north. The name of the temple Tiruppia Paran Kundram meaning ‘temple turned to the other side’ later changed as Tiruparankundram. Saint Arunagiriar had praised the temple in his Tirupugazh hymns as a temple worshipped Devas in the celestial world. Lord Shiva appears in standing posture facing east while Nandhi too in a standing posture is on the rear side. Mother Ambica is not in this shrine. Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai nearby facing south but without the peacock vahan. Lord Nataraja is on the right side. West of Lord Nataraja is Five faced Vinayaka and Muruga on the left. There are eight Vinayakas around Panchamukha Vinayaka representing the eight directions. The temple is under the control of the Department of Archeological Survey of India. Generally, Vinayaka, Muruga, Mother Durga and Lord Vishnu are in the prakaras in Shiva temples. The striking feature of Tiruparankundram temple is that Lords Sathya Giriswarar, Panchamukha Vinayaka, Pavala Kanivai Perumal, Karpaga Vinayaka and Mother Durga are close to the sanctum sanctorum, a very rare structure. All the Vahans of the deities as Nandhi, the Moojuru and the peacock are placed near the flag post-Kodimaram, all facing south. Garuda Bagwan, is in a separate shrine in the Shanmuga mandap near Lord Karthikai Muruga facing north.

About The Deity

The Lord in the temple appears with His left hand placed on the serpent under His feet. Those who are suffering from prolonged diseases perform Rudrabishekam for cure. They personify Lord in a silver pot and perform pujas with Vedic Scholars chanting the powerful Rudra, Chamaka mantras. Indeed, this Ahishek blesses the devotee with all expected benefits. While Lord Shiva was teaching the Pranava Mantra to Mother Parvathi, Lord Muruga was sitting on the lap of Mother, listened, and learnt the mantra. He thought that it was wrong to learn the mantra indirectly without the direct grace of a Guru. He came to this place and performed penance on Lord Shiva for the purpose. Lord Shiva appeared before Muruga on a Thai Poosam day (January-February). He is blessing the devotees as Aadhi Sokkanatha opposite the Subramanya temple here. Pilgrims to Tirupankundram should worship this Lord first before visiting other shrines. He is the principal deity of the temple. Later, as Tiruparankundram gained importance as one of the six army camps of Lord Muruga (Aaru Padai Veedu in Tamil), the temple came to be known after His name.

During festivals, flag hoisting is dedicated to Lord Shiva only, but Lord Muruga goes in procession. Lord Muruga is also praised as Soma Subramania, the word Soma representing Lord Shiva thus emphasizing the oneness of Shiva and Muruga. It is also said that Lord Shiva granted darshan to Mother Durga in Somaskanda form. The Shiva Linga in the temple is known as Devi Lingam as He was installed here by Devi Durga with Shantakaram paste, a material used in installing deities. Sages Veda Vyasa and Parasara worshipped Lord in this temple, it is believed. This is a Maal Vidai Koil- Shiva Vishnu temple. Lords Shiva, Pavala Kanivai Perumal, Karpaga Vinayaka, Subramania and Durga grace from one shrine in this cave temple. Mother Durga faces north from the Rajagopuram in a standing posture with Mahishasura under Her feet. Karpaga Vinayaka is on Her left with a sugarcane in hand sitting on a lotus flower. Many sages are around worshipping Him. Right of Mother Durga is Lord Subramania with His consorts facing north. Maharshi Narada, Indira, Lord Brahmma, Mother Sarawswathi without Veena and Mother Savithri in a standing form are nearby.

Lord Shiva is in a separate sanctum sanctorum. Lord Vishnu as Pavala Kanivai Perumal with Mother Mahalakshmi is just opposite, that is, Vishnu is in the place of Nandhi. This is a very rare feature in this temple, hence the name Malvidai –Mal-Vishnu, Vidai-Nandhi in Tamil. It is explained that Lord Vishnu is offering His services to His brother-in-law Shiva. He gave His sister Meenakshi to Lord Sokkanatha with all Vedic ceremonies. Even today, the main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva only praised as Sathya Giriswarar. As the wedding of Lord Muruga with Deivanai was solemnized here, the importance shifted to Muruga then. Lord Shiva blesses devotees in the form of a hill-Kundru, hence named Paramkundra Nathar and the place Paramkundram. Sri Nandikeswara, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva with his consort Kalakandi is in the Mahamandap of the Tiruparankundram temple. There are twin Vinayakas near Him. Peacocks in the temple are white in colour and not in their natural colours as we see them. It is said that Devas are still here as white peacocks for the darshan of Lord Muruga.

Of the six army camps of Lord Muruga, Tirupankundram is the first. While Lord grants darshan to devotees in a standing posture, He grants darshan here in a sitting-wedding form with Mother Deivanai. Maharshi Narada, Indira, Lord Brahmma, Mother Saraswathi without Veena and Savithri are nearby. On the roof of the shrine are Sun, Moon and the Gandharvas. His vahans Sheep and Elephant are on the floor. Poet Laureate Nakkeerar performed penance here seeking Lord Shiva’s pardon for opposing Him on the meaning of a poetry authored by Him. During the penance, he was disturbed by the sight of a leaf, half bird and half fish in look. A ghost that was capturing those failing in the concentration of penance, caught the poet too and made the number of captives to 1000. Poet Nakkeera sang the Tirumurugu Attrupadai in praise of Lord Muruga and released all the captives and set them free. Poet Nakkera expressed his desire to Lord Muruga that he would like to go to Kasi for a dip in Holy Ganga to wash off his sin of Opposing Lord Shiva. Lord Muruga punched His Vel on a rock from where sprang the holy Ganga. Nakkeera had a happy dip and cleansed himself from the sin. The ever springing Kasi-Ganga theertha is at the top of the hill with Lord Kasi viswanatha-Mother Visalakshi shrine and Lord Muruga shrine just opposite. Nakkeera too is in this shrine. In a rock nearby are the sculptures of four Lingas, Shiva form, Kasi iswanatha, Muruga, Ambica, Lord Bhairava and Karpaga Vinayaka. The Panchakshara cave where Nakkeera was lodged by the ghost is near the Saravana Poigai-theertha.

When Lord Shiva created Lord Muruga from the sparks of His forehead eye, Mother parvathi ran out as She could not bear the heat. In the run, nine pearls from Her anklets rolled out and became Navakalis. They also became pregnant by the grace of Lord Shiva. Jealous Mother Parvathi cursed them to live bearing the pregnancy. Lord Shiva consoled Mother and said that they should deliver the children for the welfare of the world. Mother yielded in. They were Veerabagu, Veerakesari, Veeramahendran, Veera Maheswaran, Veera Rakshasa and Veera Marthandan, the commanders of Lord Muruga in his war against demon Surapanma. There is a shrine for these heroes in the front mandap of the temple.

Legend and Stories

Mother Ambica decided to destroy demon Mahishasura who was harassing the Devas. She took nine forms, fought with the demon for nine days and destroyed him. She had to incur the Brahmmahati Dosha for murdering the demon and sought the grace of Lord Shiva. Lord said that He was in this hill and advised Mother to worship Him for release from the dosha. Mother did so by installing a Shivalinga. Lord granted darshan to Mother and freedom from the dosha. Supreme Lord Shiva is in the form of a hill praised as Param Kundra Nathar and the place Parankundram. Kundram in Tamil means hill.

Festival

Special pujas are dedicated to Lord Shiva on Aani Poornima day in June-July; Tirukarthikai in November-December and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Special Rituals

On full moon day during the month of Aani – June-July, three fruits are offered to Lord Shiva as nivedhana during the pujas. Abishek is offered to the Vel weapon only and not to Lord Muruga as He is in a cave temple. The Vel is taken to the Kasi Viswanatha shrine at the hill top on the last Saturday of Purattasi month in October. Importance is given to Vel as Lord Muruga returned to this place after killing the demon Surapanma.

Significance

Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. Those facing problems about the welfare of the children and in wedding proposals pray here for favourable results. It is believed that prayer to Mother Durga at Rahukalam timing would bring in all happy boons to the devotee. Feeding-Annadhana is the main commitment followed by devotees in the temple.

Accessibility

The nearest airport is at Madurai. The nearest major railway station is at Madurai. Tirupamkundran is 7 km from Madurai on the Kanyakumari National Highway. Buses are frequently available from Madurai Central bus stand.

Temple Address

Sri Sathya Giriswarar(Parankundranathar) Temple,
Tiruparankundram – 625 005.
Madurai district.