Sri Panangatteswarar Temple / Panankatteesar Temple / Sri Thiruppuravar Panankatteesvarar Temple Temple / Panayapuram Shiva Temple / Netroddharakaswami Temple / Panayapuram, Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 52^nd Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 20^th  Paadal Petra  sthalam of  Nadu Naadu. As per the Thevara hymns this place was called as Thiruppuravar Panangattur and now called  as Panayapuram. This is one of the Shiva temples, in which Palm Tree as sthala vruksham ( The other places ase Thirupanandal, Thiruvothur ( Cheyyar ), Thirupanangadu- Thiruvan Parthan Panankattur, Thirupanaiyur, Thirumazhapadi and Thiru Valampuram  ). 

In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar mentions that after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruarasili, Thirugnanasambandar came to this place. Went to  Thillai / Chidambaram from Thirupanangattur, after worshiping temples on the way.

    அரசிலியை அமர்ந்தருளும் அங்கண் அரசைப் பணிந்து

    பரவி எழு திருப்புறவார் பனங்காட்டூர் முதல் ஆய

    விரைசெய்மலர்க் கொன்றையினார் மேவுபதி பல வணங்கித்

    திரைசெய் நெடுங்கடல் உடுத்த திருத்தில்லை நகர் அணைந்தார்

Saint Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar, has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

    விண்ணமர்ந்தன மும்மதில்களை வீழவெங்கணை யாலெய் தாய்விரி

    பண்ணமர்ந்தொலி சேர் புறவார் பனங்காட்டூர்ப்

    பெண்ணமர்ந்தொரு பாகமாகிய பிஞ்ஞகாபிறை சேர்நுதலிடைக்

    கண்ணமர்ந் தவனே கலந்தார்க்கு அருளாயே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                -“பெண்தகையார்

    ஏர்ப் பனங்காட்டூர் என்று இருநிலத்தோர் வாழ்த்துகின்ற

    சீர்ப் பனங்காட்டூர் மகிழ்நிக்ஷேபமே”

.... திரு அருட்பா   

Moolavar  : Sri Panangatteswarar

Consort    : Sri Sathyambigai, Sri Puravammai.

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

The temple is facing east with a 4 tier Rajagopuram and there is no stucco images. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are are immediately after the Rajagopuram.  Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Sanctum Sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are on the both sides. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner prakaram Vinayagar, 63var ( Thiruneelakandar with his wife are holding a stick and hands are in anjali hastam.), Saptamatrikas, Bhairavar, Mahavishnu with Sridevi & Bhudevi, Natarajar, Bhikshadanar and Urchavars / procession deities.

In Prakaram, sannadhi for for Ambal, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Sri Arumugar and Navagrahas. Ambal is in a separate temple facing east on the left side of the Shiva’s shrine. The sthala vruksham with a Shiva Linga is also in the outer prakaram.

The Ambal sannadhi is with Sanctum Sanctorum, artha mandapam and maha mandapam. Dwarapalakis are of stucco images with Vinayagar and Dhandapani.

This temple was under threat of shifting to give way for road expansion and the road alignment was changed after public protest.

A Pallava period Vinayagar

 Arumugar

Dwarapalakas

Dwarapalakas

Nandhi Devar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha amndapam. The sanctum sanctroum is ona pada bandha adhsitanam with 3 patta kumudam. A 3 tier nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. 

Ambal is in a separate temple on the left side of the moolavar temple with  Sanctum Sanctorum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. A 3 tier nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

A remains of Chozha period Squatting Lion pillar is in front of Rajagopuram.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple built during Pallava Period before 7^th Century and reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period and extended by Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions this place was under Gangaikonda Chozha Vala Nattu Paravaipurathu Thirupanankadu. In another inscription this place and Shiva was mentioned as Rajaraja valanattu Panaiyur Nattu, Poraiyur nattu, Thaniyur Paravaipurathu, Thirupuravar Panangattur Udayar Kannamantha Nayanar. Shiva  was called as Thirupanangadudaya Mahadevar, Panangattur Udayar Kannamantha Nayanar etc.

The Chozha King Rajendra-I's inscription ( 317 / 1917) on the South, East and North side of sanctum Sanctorum, records the gift of lands, Kasus for naivedyam and worship. 

The Chozha King Parakesari Rajendra-II's 6th reign year ( 1057 CE ) inscription ( 318/ 1917) on the South side of Sanctum Sanctorum, starts with his meikeerthi records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by a person belongs to Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu Thandalam village. For the same paddy was gifted.

The Chozha king Rajendra-II's 6th reign year ( 1057 CE ) inscription on the South side of Sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of burning a lamp to Rajendra Chozha Valanattu Panaiyur Nattu, Puraiyur Nattu Paravaipuram Eswaramudaiyar. For the same land was gifted. 

The inscription on the South side of Sanctum Sanctorum ( 320/1917), without King's name, records the provision made for the worship and burning of lamp to the images of Rajendra Chozha and Paravai Nangai.

Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-I, 48^th year reign inscription ( AR 436 of 1903, SII-VIII- 752 ) starts with his meikeerthi. The inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual Lamps two Nos for which 12 Kasu was received by this temple's Sivabrahmanars from Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Manayil kottathu Manayil Nattu Manayil Arumba Kizhaan Arayan Ponnambala Kooththan alias Thondaimanar

Another Chozha period inscription ( with out King's name, reign year, and other details ) records the sale of Land and allows to excavate the irrigation channel and use for Agriculture. The measurement of the land and periphery limits are also given. Th inscription was damaged on many places and starts from 3^rd line, hence the King’s name is not known. 

Koparakesari barmar Sri Adhi Rajendra's 3rd reign year inscription ( SII Volume -VIII, 754, AR No 438 of 1903 ), records the sale of Land to Rajarajan Gangai Konda Chozhan alias Irukku velalar for feeding mahans at the temple. The periphery limits of the land gifted are given. 

The Chozha King Adhi Rajendra's 3rd reign year, 1070 CE, inscription on the east side of the Mandapam wall, records ( 322/ 1917 ), the gift of land after purchase to this temple by a person belongs to Rajaraja Pandya Nattu Mizhalai Kootrathu Pungachery,

Another inscription ( 323 / 1917 ) on the east side of the mandapam wall records the provisions made for, installing water tanks in front of Paravai Eswaramudaiyar temple and Rajendra Chozha Vinnagara Alwar Temple, to appoint a teacher for free teaching, for the maintenance of Rajendra Chozha Mandapam, and to the Supervisor who maintains the  Temple's Thevadhana and Salabhogas.   

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Konerimai Kondan Kulothunga Chozha-I's 13th reign year inscription on the west and North wall of the Sanctum sanctorum ( SII Volume -VIII, 753 ) records the gift of lands both Nanjai and punjai consists of Plantain, kamuku, inji ( Ginger ), Turmeric, etc, after exempting all kinds of Taxes towards provision of Naivedyam and Sathupadi.

The Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Maravarman Vikrama Pandya's 5th reign year ( 1288 CE ) inscription on the South wall of the first prahara ( 324/1917 ), records that the Kannamantha Nayanar Temple was is in Panaiyur ( Puravar Panankattur ). 

The Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi's 6th reign year ( 1289 CE ) inscription on the south side wall of the first prahara records the gift of lands for the worship. The inscription also mentions the word Samastha bhuvanega Veera. 

Venkatapathi Deva Maharaja period damaged inscription on the left side of the second prahara entrance ( 329 / 1917 ), records some gift. The words like year Heyvilambi, month Aippasi and Muthukrishnappa Nayaka are only readable.

Ariyanna Udayar's Son Viruppanna Udayar's period inscription ( 328 / 1917 ) on the south wall of the Amman Temple, records the gift of Village Kundralur for meeting the expenses for the celebrations and regular worship services. The date mentioned was saka 1312, Sukla Year, Kadakam Tuesday, Moola Nakshatra Day ( 06.07.1389 ).

The Vijayanagara Bukkanna Udaiyar's Son Kambanna Udayar's inscription ( 327 / 1917 ) on the east wall of the prahara records the gift of land to the Rajendra Chozha valanattu Panaiyur Nattu Paravaipuram Madhurantaka Eswaramudaiyar temple, to meet the temple expenses. And also the inscription mentions Puravar Panangattur and Chembai Pennai Vadakari Vanakappadi Nadu. 

The Vijayanagara period inscription on the east wall of the prahara ( 326 / 1917 ) records the gift of a Garden to this temple on Prabhava year Panguni Month, 3rd day on behalf of Muthu Krishnappa Nayaka.    

Ref: 

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - VIII, 752 - 754

2. Annual report on south Indian Epigraphy 1903, and 1917. 

LEGENDS

The place obtained the name of Puravar Panangattur, due to the, Palm tree as Sthala Vruksham and this place was once with full of Palm trees.

In another legend Sibi Chakravarthy cuts his thigh flush and offered for the pigeon to its weight to Vulture and worshiped Shiva of this temple.

In another legend Dakshan father of ma Parvati performed an yagna to which all the celestial deities are invited and avirbakam share was also given. Shiva was not invited intentionally. Angered Shiva send Veerabhadra to destroy the Yagna and punish those are attended. In that Surya lost his eye sight. He came to Bhoolok and Worshiped Shiva of this Thirupannakadu Temple and got back the eye sight. Hence Shiva is called as “Kan Parithu Aruliya Kadavul - Natroddharakaswami". Sun rays falls on moolavar on first 7 days in the month of Chithirai. People with eye related ailments worships Shiva of this temple to get cured.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri in Masi ( Feb- March ), Surya Pooja in the Tamil Month Chithirai, Thiruvathirai in Margazhi ( Dec - January ) and annabhshekam in Tamil month Aippasi.

Bairavar - Pichadanar

Chandikeswarar

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The Mobile number +91 9942056781 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

From Chennai to Viluppuram get down at Mundiyampakkam. The buses  going to Pondicherry  via Mundiyampakkam  is going through  Panayapuram.

From Chennai to Neyveli, Panruti, Thanjavur, 2 KM after Vikravandi get down at Panayapuram.

Auto/ Share autos are available on the opposite side of Mundiyampakkam Sugar Factory and about 3 KM from Mundiyampakkam.

The temple is 12.8 KM from from Viluppuram, 28 KM from Tindivanam, 33 KM from Puducherry and 154 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Viluppuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Durgai

Lunar Eclipse... A Rabbit is shown on the moon

Rajagopuram - Vijayanagara Dynasty's Emblem of A Sword with Sun, Moon and Pig are in the form of bas-relief. 

Varuna on the Fish. 

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---