Sri Viruthapureeswarar Temple / Sri Pazhampathi Nathar Temple / Vruddhapureeswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு பெரியநாயகி சமேத விருத்தபுரீஸ்வரர் ( பழம்பதிநாதர் ) திருக்கோயில், திருப்புனவாசல்., Thiruppunavasal, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 251^st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the banks of river Pambaru (Sarba Nadhi) and the 7^th Sthalam of Pandya Naadu. The place Thirupunavasal is on the banks of river Pambar. As per Sundarar, this place was also called Pazhampathi. Had been to this temple once again on 8th January 2023. The photos taken during that time are replaced by the old photos, taken from the website.

As per Sekkizhar  Charaman Peruman also joined with Sundarar and travelled along with him to other Temples of Pandya Naadu. They visited and stayed some time at Thirukanaper before coming to this Thiruppunavasal / Thirupunavayil temple.

    ஆராத காதலுடன் அப்பதியில் பணிந்து ஏத்திச்

    சீர்ஆரும் திருத்தொண்டர் சிலநாள் அங்கு அமர்ந்தருளிக்

    காராரும் மலர்ச்சோலைக் கானப்பேர் கடந்து அணைந்தார்

    போர்ஆன் ஏற்றார் கயிலைப் பொருப்பர் திருப்புனவாயில்

Thirugnanasambandar  and Sundarar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. 

    மின்னியல் செஞ்சடை வெண்பிறையன் விரிநூலினன்

    பன்னிய நான்மறை பாடியாடிப் பல வூர்கள் போய்

    அன்னம் அன்னந் நடை யாளோடும் அமரும் இடம்

    புன்னை நன்மாமலர் பொன்னுதிர்க்கும் புனவாயிலே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

    சித்த நீநினை என்னொடு சூளறு வைகலும்

    மத்த யானையின் ஈர்உரி போர்த்த மணாளன்ஊர்

    பத்தர் தாம்பலர்பாடி நின்றாடும் பழம்பதி

    பொத்திலாந்தைகள் பாட்டறாப் புனவாயிலே

...... சுந்தரர்

Moolavar  : Sri Vruthapureeswarar, Sri Pazhampathi Nathar, 

                  Sri Mahalingeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Bhiruntha Nayaki, Sri Periya Nayaki.

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

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwara Ganapathy and Murugan are at the entrance of Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The Moolavar Vimana is also 5 tiers taller than the Rajagopuram. Moolavar Shiva Lingam is 9 feet high and Avudayar is 33 feet in circumference & 5.5 feet high and Gomuki is 3.5 feet. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( in yoga posture ), Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Vishnu and Anjaneya are installed instead of Lingothbavar. 

In Maha mandapam Somaskandar, Nalvar and Sekkizhar.

In outer prakaram, Suryan, Bhairavar, Chandran, Sabha mandapam, Pandya Nattu  ekadasa 14 Lingas, The Vinayagar is Aakanda Vinayagar ( Aakandan – Indiran -worshiped the lord), Chaturmukha Linga with Rishabam, 5 Vinayagars, Kabila Muni’s sons 9, Adhi Saiva Sivanadiyars- 2, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar in a temple like sannadhi, Dharma Sastha, Dhandayuthapani, Agandala Vinayagar and Chandikeswarar.

Pandya Nattu Thevara Paadal Petra Temple's Shiva Lingas

Pandya Nattu Thevara Paadal Petra Temple's Shiva Lingas

Kudaivarai Kali (Aroopam) temple is on the northeast corner of the temple premises, which we can see only through a mirror. Since the Kali is in ugram the mottai gopuram door is also kept closed.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Thirupunavayiludaya Nayanar. Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 5^th September 1998 and recent years on 3^rd September 2015.

The Pandya King Konerimai Kondan Tribhuvana Chakravarthy Vikrama Pandya’s 15th-year reign inscription records ( AR 612 of 1902, SII, VIII – 209 ) the endowment of Pooja and Thirupani ( maintenance ) for which land was gifted to the temple

Pandya King Kochadayabarmar Sri Veera Pandya’s 2 Vathukku ethir 5th-year reign inscription ( AR 613 of 1902, SII, VIII – 210 ), records the endowment of Village which includes Nanjai and punjai and excludes the lands already given as Thevadhanam.

Pandya Kings Kochadayabarmar Sri Veera Pandya’s 2 vathukku ethir 12th-year reign inscription ( AR 614 of 1902, SII, VIII – 211 ), records the endowment of Veerapandiya Sandhi which was established in the name of the King,  Naivedyam, Thirumanjanam, Oil bath, Oil for the lamps for which a tax-free land was gifted to the temple and the same was handed over to the Supervisors of the temple.

Pandya King Kochadaiya Barmar Sri Sundara Pandya’s 13th-year reign inscription ( AR 615 of 1902, SII, VIII – 212 ), records that Orurudayan Azhakiya Manavala Perumal alias Kalingarayar, who built/ established a sandhi and Ilaya Pillayar – Lord Murugan/Subramaniar sannadhi for which land was gifted this temple excluding the land donated already to the Perumal Temple of the same Village. 

Pandya King Kobarmaraana Tribhuvana Chakravarti Emmandalamum Kondaruliya Sri Sundara Pandya’s 14^th year ethir 3^rd year reign 43 line inscription ( AR 616 of 1902, SII, VIII – 213 ), records the sale of land and housing sites /plots to Anthi Pirayan Thirugnanasambandan by the temple authorities. The sale amount is to be utilized for the burning of Perpetual lamps. 

LEGENDS

Indra who was cursed by Gautama Maharishi, Brahma who had forgotten the creation of this universe, Chandra who was cursed to lose his powers by Dhakshan, Vaya Bhagwan who had done Shiva thuroki ( A Cheater to Lord Shiva ), worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Adhiseshan, Vinayagar, Agasthiyar, Cashista Maharishi, the White Elephant of Indra, and Soundra Pandian also Worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. It is believed that Worshiping Shiva in this temple is equal to worshiping all 14 temples of Pandya Nadu. The speciality of the temple is... the Shiva Linga is of ...”மூன்று முழம் ஒரு  சுற்று/ முப்பது முழம் ஒரு சுற்று-  The Shiva Ling circumference is 3 muzham avudayar circumference is of 30 muzham”.

The sthala purana of this temple was written by Thiruvarur Thiyagaraja Kavirayar.

    அத்தனே போற்றி அகில காரணமாம்

        அம்பிகை பாகனே போற்றி

    முத்தனே போற்றி ஐந்தொழிலினையும்

        முடித்திடு மூலமே போற்றி

    நித்தனே போற்றி அறிவினுக்கறிவாய்

        நிறைந்தருள் நிமலனே போற்றி

    மத்தனே போற்றி வச்சிர வனத்தின்

        வாழுமா இலிங்கமே போற்றி

...... தலபுராணம்

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, Mahashivaratri, 11 days Brahmotsavam with temple car festival in Vaikasi, 1008 Sangu abhishekam ( Conch ) on Karthigai Somavaram and all important functions.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs and 6 kala poojas are conducted.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Landline number is +914371 239 212  and the Mobile number is +91 99652 11768 may be contacted for further details. Gurukkal is Subbaiah. The landline +914371 239212 can also be contacted.

HOW TO REACH

Buses are available from Avudayarkoil, Aranthangi, and Thiruvadanai.

Taxi to pick up and drop available from Avudayarkoil, ( they may charge Rs 600.00 to Rs 1000. ( The road is toooooo bad ).

The temple is 19.1 KM from Thondi, 21 KM from Thiruvadanai, 28 KM from Avudaiyar Koil, 45 KM from Devakottai, 74 KM from Ramanathapuram,  77 KM from Pudukkottai and 472 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Devakottai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Maha Vishnu with Anjaneyar in Koshtam

Nalvar with Sekkizhar

Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar

 Dakshinamurthy

Dwarapalakas

Dwarapalakas

Dwarapalakas

Pancha (5 ) Vinayagas

Chariot festival

Murugan Sannidhi

Veena Dakshinamoorthy 

63 var

Kudavarai Kali Shrine

Prayer

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---