VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Alanthurai Nathar Temple / Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple / Sri Pasupathi Temple, Thirupullamangai / Pasupati Kovil / V Pasupathikoil, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday, 20 March 2020

Alanthurai Nathar Temple / Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple / Sri Pasupathi Temple, Thirupullamangai / Pasupati Kovil / V Pasupathikoil, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

14^th February 2020.

This post was updated with Thevara Hymns, History, Inscriptions, Architecture, and Legends. For the details of the updated post, please click this link.

A 3-day study on Temple architecture was organized by Mr. Thenkongu Sathasivam, under the banner Kadikai ( கடிகை ) YouTube Channel from 14^th to 16^th Feb 2020. The study covered Thanjavur, Rajarajecharam, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Brihadishwara Temple, Darasuram Airavateswarar Temple, and Thirubuvanam, Kampaheswarar Temple.

Utilizing this opportunity, on Friday morning, had went to the Shiva Temple. This is the 133^rd Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 16^th sthalam on the south side of the River Kaveri, in Chozha Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This is the 7^th Saptha Sthana temple, which ends with Mangai.

பொந்தின் னிடைத் தேன் ஊறிய பொழில்சூழ் புளமங்கை

அந்தண் புனல்வரு காவிரி ஆலந்துறையானைக்

கந்தம்மலி கமழ் காழியுள் கலைஞான சம்பந்தன்

சந்தம்மலி பாடல்சொலி ஆடத் தவம் ஆமே

.........................( சம்பந்தர் )

Moolavar : Alanthurai Nathar, Brahmapureeswarar

Consort : Alliangothai, Soundaryanayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Nandhi are in the Mukha mandapam. Ambal is in the mukha mandapam facing south. Moolavar is a little big. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar (Brahma and Vishnu are standing on both sides), Brahma and Durgai. In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, and Nalvar.

ARCHITECTURE

The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. Ardha mandapa pillars are of Ganga style, even kodikarukku can be seen on the kumbam, kalasam, etc. The outside sanctum sanctorum is in the form of a moat.

The koshtas are brought outside to enhance the beauty of the temple. Panchara is shown between Karnapathi and Salaipathi. The pancharas top finishes at the Kapota alpa nasi. The koshta portions are on an adhistana with padmam, vrudha kumuda, kapotam & Yazhi vari, and the rest are on a padabandha adhisthana with Virutha Kumuda. The prastaram is of the kapotha style, and Viyyalavari is shown in the Bhoomi desam, and bhuta ganas are shown in valabi. Various images are in the haram. The vimana was built with stone up to the second level, and Greevam and Sikaram were built with brick.

The Durga panel is considered a special one in this temple. Durga is standing in the tribhanga posture, on the head of Mahisa with 8 hands (Ashtabhuja Durga). A Venkotrakudai / Umbrella is shown above her head. She holds Conch, Chakra, Gatha, Soolam, Shield, Ankusa, Sword, and bow in her hands. The Lower right hand is in abhaya hastham with the ring finger in folded mudra, and the left hand is holding the bow. An ambura, or the arrow holder, is shown on her back. Her vahana, Lion and Deer, are also shown. On the left side, one hero is shown doing Navakanda (offering his head), and on the right side, a man is shown cutting the flesh of his body to offer to Durga. It is believed that the Durga Statues of Thirunageswaram, Patteeswaram, and this temple are chiseled/sculpted by the same sculptor.

Similarly, the Vinayagar Panel (Devas, Bhuta gan), Dakshinamurthy Panel Sanakatha munis, tiger seems a cat is sleeping on its lap, the Lion, are looks and Lingothbavar Panels (Vishnu in the form of Varaha and Brahma in the form of Human) are very unique. The adhisthana (Lower) Kanda portions on the adhistanam have the inch sculptures (குறுஞ்சிற்பங்கள்) or the miniature sculptures of the epic Ramayana (not in order – Chozha Ramayan), and the vedikai (upper) Kanda portions have the various forms of Lord Shiva. These are the special features of this temple. Vimanam thangis are shown on the salaipathi. The vimana has the animals, birds, and human sculptures. The Pull birds, responsible for the name of the place, are in the ardha mandapam bhuta vari.

Pillar Malaithongal reliefs

Monkeys are in utharam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Lord Shiva of this temple was praised by Thirugnanasambandar in his Thevara hymn, this temple might have existed in the 6^th to 7^th Century as a brick temple. The temple with the artha mandapam was reconstructed with stone during the Parantaka Chozha-I (907 – 955 CE) period. The mukha mandapa was extended during the Maratha period.

As per the inscription, this place was called Kilar Kootrathu Brahmadesam Thirupullamangalam during the Parantaka period, and during the Rajarajan-I period, the same was called Nithavinotha Valanattu Kilar Kootrathu Brahmadesam Thirupullamangalam, and Shiva was called Thirupullamangalathu Mahadevar. How the name Thirupullamangalam has changed to PasupathiKoil is not known.

The inscriptions belong to Parantaka Chozha-I, Sundara Chozha, Aditya Karikala, and Rajaraja Chozha-I.

This temple was many times subjected to floods in the River Kaveri and will be covered by sand dunes. It is believed that during Arcot Nawab’s invasion, the temple was under sand dunes and hence this temple was not damaged.

As per the inscription available, Kanchi mutt, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal visited this temple in 2000.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The mobile numbers +919791482102 and +918056853485 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the banks of the Kaveri River and off the Kumbakonam to Thanjavur Road.

The temple is 27 km from Kumbakonam, 28 km from Thanjavur, and 305 km from Chennai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE