Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் கோயில், தேவராயன்பேட்டை/Devarayanpettai/Ponmeidanallur near Thanjavur, Tanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

24^th February 2019.

After the darshan of Sri Matcha Pureeswarar at Kovil Devarayan Pettai, we had been to this Shiva temple at Devarayanpettai. (Since there are two Devarayan Pettai, to differentiate, the place where the Matcha Pureeswarar temple is called Kovil Devarayan Pettai). On the way to Devarayanpettai village, we could find Shiva Lingas in the fields. Also, there was an Ayyanar temple in the midst of a field.

Moolavar  : Sri Arunachaleswarar

Consort    : Sri Abhitha Kujambal / Sri Unnamulai Ambal.

The Salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a temple tank. Rishaba mandapam and balipedam are immediately after the entrance. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the Sanctum and the artha mandapam. Moolavar is under a Rudraksha pandal. It was said that water used to drop on the Moolavar when the sun was on the Vimana. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai. A simple Vimana is in the sanctum.

Ambal is in the ardha mandapa facing south with a separate Rishabam. Bairavar, Pickshadanar, and Suryan are in the artha mandapa. In the prakaram sannadhi for Lakshmi Narayanan and Chandikeswarar. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Looking at the details and iconography of the Murtis/idols, the temple might have been built during the 11^th to 12^th century, later in the Chozha period, and renovated by the Marathas. In 2011, Kumbhabhishekam was conducted through sponsorship. The Kandha Sasti Kavasam was written in this temple by Bala Devarayan.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in January 2025. 

  Chandikeswarar

LEGENDS

It was said that this place and the surrounding villages are associated with the epic Ramayana. Sri Ramar, to get rid of Bramhathi dosham, installed 108 Shiva Lingas around this place and worshiped. It was also said that the places around this temple are named after the important details of the epic Ramayan. One such interesting place was called “Pon man meintha Nallur”, “பொன் மான் மேய்ந்த நல்லூர்”, and is now called Ponmeindanallur. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 09.00 hrs to 09.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at 9944382849 and 9488513849

HOW TO REACH:

This village, Devarayanpettai, is 5 km from Kovil Devarayan Pettai, which is midway between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. All the Buses plying between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur will stop at Kovil Devarayan Pettai

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

AYYANAR TEMPLE.

The Local people took us to two Shiva temples (open to the Sky) and an Ayyanar temple. This Ayyanar is with Purna and Puskala facing east without any roof. On the opposite stucco images of a Horse and  Elephant, the Vahana of Ayyanar. The Ayyanar is sitting with Yoga Patti.

Kidanganatham Shiva Temple Rishabam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---