Panchavan Madevi Pallipadai /பஞ்சவன் மாதேவி பள்ளிப்படை கோயில் / பஞ்சவன்மாதேவீச்சரம், Thanjavur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu. Ponniyin Selvan Meet- 2016,

...a Continuation post. 

26^th September 2016.

After joining Ponniyin Selvan Group, one of my ambitions was to visit Panchavan madevi Pallipadai, Rajarajan Pallipadai (Since Udayalur  Shiva Lingam is not accepted as  Rajarajan’s Pallipadai, we skipped Udayalur). This Pallipadai temple is about 1 KM from Patteeswaram Shiva Temple. Locals will guide you if you ask for Ramanathan Kovil. ( How this temple is named after Ramanathan Temple, do not Know ). Visiting Panchavan Madevi’s Pallipadai came to true. We could get the keys from a nearby house.

PANCHAVAN MADEVI PALLIPADAI. ( Panchvan Madevicharam )

Moolavar : A Shiva Lingam / Chandrasekar

Ambal     : Mangala Nayaki / Ganavathiyar

Some of the salient features of this Pallipadai Temple are... 

The Pallipadai temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Rishabam is in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas are on the both sides of the sanctum. ( Both dwarapalakas are in different styles). The moolavar is of Dhara Lingam with 8 flat surfaces, on the remains of Panchavan madevi. ( She was buried in a sitting posture facing east after conducting the rituals, with padayals / naivedyam. The Shiva Lingam was installed above the head. It is not the practice to burn those who have taken the Shiva Deeksha).  

In Mandapam, Bairavar, Suryan and Sundarar. Dwarapalakas and Rishabam belongs Pazhuvetrayar period. In deva kostam Vinayagar, Pichadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Ganga Vijasjanar ( Shiva Pacifies Parvati ), Ardhanareeswarar as Rishabanthigar, Brahma and Durgai. In Makara torana above deva koshtam, bas reliefs of Nrutha Vinayagar, Elephant worshiping Shiva Linga, Gajasamharamurthy, Ravana Anugrahamurthy, Pichadanar, Mahishasuramardini and Kiratha Arjuna. In Greeva Koshtam, Kannappar, Elephant worshiping a Shiva Lingam and Gajasamharamurthy. Rajendra Chozha worshiping Shiva Linga is on the Maha nasi.  

PC: THF ( For further reading on THF ) 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is in the midst of fields with a three-tier Rajagopuram. The temple consists of a muka mandapam, an ardha mandapam, and a sanctum. The sanctum sanctorum is on a prati bandha adhistanam with jagathy, Vrutha Kumudam, and Viyyalavari. The bhitti starts with Vedika and Brahma Kantha pilasters are on the bhitti. The prastaram conists of kapotam and Bhoomidesam. Viyyalavari is on the bhoomi desam. An Eka tala Dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva kostam. The compound wall was constructed with brick. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This Panchavan Madevi Pallipadai was identified in the year 1978, by Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, headed by Dr Nagasamy and Dr Padmavadhi. 

This Pallipadai temple was constructed by Rajendra Chozhan-I, in memory of his stepmother Panchavan Madevi, one of the Queen and wife of Rajaraja-I. As per the inscriptions ( No 294 of 1906, No 147 of 1918,  278 of 1907 ) 254 of 1907 ) this temple was called Kshathriya Sigamani Valanattu Pazhayarai alias Mudikonda Chozhapurathu Pallipadai Panchavan madevi Isahwaram. The original inscription reads as  “பழையாறையான முடிகொண்ட சோழபுரத்துப் பள்ளிப்படை பஞ்சவன் மாதேவிச்சரம்”. Shiva was called as Panchavan Madevi Ishvarathu Devar, Chandrasekara Devar and  Umasakithar. 

One of the inscriptions records Rajendra’s lieutenant Arulmozhiyana Uththama Chozha Pirammarayan and one of the saiva Lakuleesa madam and his leader Lakuleesa Pandithar. The ardha mandapam, Rishabam, Dwarapalakas and Pillars belongs to Pazhuvettarayar's period.

"உய்யகொண்டார் வளநாட்டு வென்னாட்டு கேரளாந்தக சதுர்பேதி மங்கலத்து மாராயன் அருமொழியான உத்தம சோழ பிரம்மராயன்.....  

As per the inscriptions, the naivedyam offered includes Thiruvamudhu, Neiyamudhu, Paruppamudhu, Kariyamudhu, Thaiyamudhu, Uppamudhu, milagamudhu, adaikaiamudhu, vertical, etc. The inscriptions also record the endowments of burning perpetual lamps, sandhi lamps, Thirumanjanam, sandal paste for Thirumeipoochu, kungiliyam for thiruppugai, gift image of Umasakithar, gold ornaments,  etc. 

A brief history of this Pallipadai Temple ( as Per the display banner ).

This Pallipadai temple was built by the Chozha King Rajendran the son of Rajaraja – I. in memory of his stepmother Panchavan Madevi wife of Rajaraja- I. The architecture follows the Pazhuvettarayar style. She was the daughter of Pazhuvettarayar, one of the Chera small regional kings who ruled Pazhuvur, a part of the Chozha kingdom. As per Pazhuvur temple Rajaraja-I's 27th reign year inscription records her as "Avani Sundarapurathu Pazhuvur Devar's ( Pazhuvettarayar ) thirumagal". She was also called "Nakkan Thillaiyazhaki". She was one of the Thalichery women, a dancer, and a warrior too. She helped  Rajaraja-I, with the construction of the Tanjore big temple. This is known from Rajaraja-I's 27th reign year inscription. A village was also named after her “Panchavan Madevi Chaturvedi Mangalam”.

Rajendra Chozha-I's inscription in this temple mentions this temple as "Pazhayarai alias Mudikonda Chozhapurathu Pallipadai Panchavan Madevichuram". The inscription mentions Rajendra Chozha's lieutenant / Thalapathi, Arunmozhi alias Uthama Chozha Brahmarayan, and one of the Saiva sect Lakuleesa Madam. The Kosta images Vinayagar, Pichadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai are the iconic sculptures of Rajendra Chozha-I's period. The Shiva Lingam is of Pallava style, may belong to  Pallava king Nandhivarman - II's, period 710 to 715 CE ..... may be brought from Pazhayarai where Pallavas ruled once and installed in any one of the temples (No proof for the same).  

The Rishabam and the ardha mandapam pillars belong to the Pazhuvattarayars period and similar Rishabam and Pillars can be seen at Pazhuvur temple also. 

This Panchavan Madeveechuram is in a small Village called Patteeswaram, a part of Pazhayarai, which was once the capital of Chozhas and Chozha King's families lived till their rule. This temple is about half KM from Patteeswaram Dhenupureeswarar Temple. This temple is now called "Ramanathan Kovil".

Inscriptions are on the jagathy

LEGENDS

As per the details written on the banner, She was very much attached to Rajendra-I and wanted him to become the King after Rajaraja-I, ( for that she consumed herbal medicines to avoid conceiving / pregnancy ). 

POOJA TIMINGS :

This temple comes under HR & CE’s oru kala Pooja and archakar may be contacted for further details.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Archakar P. Sabapathy Gurukkal and his mobile number is +91 9944664144

HOW TO REACH :

This temple is called Ramalinga Swamy temple by the locals and is about 1 KM from Patteeswaram on Patteeswaram to Papanasam Road

Autos are available from Patteeswaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

.......... to be continued ( Sri Sarangapani Temple ).

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---