Tiruvetkalam Pasupatheswarar Temple / Pasupatheswarar Temple / பாசுபதேஸ்வரர் கோவில், திருவேட்களம் / Thiruvetkalam / Chidambaram - Annamalai Nagar/ Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 56^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 2^nd sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place, Thiruvetkalam, is a part of Chidambaram, also called Thillai. This place, Thillai, was named after a tree called the Thillai Tree (Excoecaria agallocha Linn) that dominates this area. Chidambaram was called different names, like Puliyur, and PerumpaRRappuliyur during the 7^th to 8^th Century.

As per Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar mentions that after worshiping Thillai Natarajar, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple and stayed here, since he was afraid of staying at Thillai. He further mentions that Thillai is the best place of worship, but not the best place to stay. Thiru. Vi. Ka is also of the same opinion.

செய்ய சடையார் திருவேட்களம் சென்று

கைதொழுது சொல்பதிகம்பாடிக் கழுமலக்கோன்

வைகிஅருளும் இடம்அங்கு ஆகமன்று ஆடும்

ஐயன்திருக்கூத்துக் கும்பிட்டு அணைவுறுநாள்

Thirugnanasambandar and Appar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirugnanasambandar stayed in this temple before visiting Thillai Temple and mentions this place as Nannagar – A good City.  

அந்தமும் ஆதியும் ஆகிய அண்ணல் ஆர்அழல் அங்கை  அமர்ந்திலங்க

மந்த முழவம் இயம்ப மலைமகள் காண நின்றாடிச்

சந்தம் இலங்கு நகுதலை கங்கை தண்மதியம் மயலேததும்ப

வெந்தவெ ணீறுமெய்பூசும் வேட்கள நன்னகராரே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நன்று நாள்தொறும் நம்வினை போயறும்

என்றும் இன்பம் தழைக்க இருக்கலாம்

சென்று நீர்திரு வேட்களத் துள்ளுறை

துன்று பொற்சடை யானைத் தொழுமினே

...... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                    -“மாயமிகும்

வாட்களமுற்றாங்குவிழி மாதர்மய லற்றவர்சூழ்

வேட்களமுற்றோங்கும் விழுப்பொருளே”

........ திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar: Sri Pasupatheswarar, Sri Pasupatha Nathar

Consort: Sri Sargunambal, Sri Nallanayagi.

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

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are under a mandapa in front of the mukha mandapa. Moolavar is of swayambhu with a scar on the top. In koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Arugraha, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Sabha is in the maha mandapa. Natarajar is with makudam. Urchavars of Lord Shiva and Parvati, as in Kuravan and Kurathi / Hunters in the Natarajar Sabha. It is believed that these Urchavars are obtained from the Temple tank.

In praharam Sri Siddhi Vinayagar, Sri Somaskandar, Nalvars, Sri Chokkanathar, Sri Meenakshi, Sri Arumugar on the peacock, Chandran, Suryan, Sri Mahalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, and sthala vruksham bamboo tree.

The bas-relief of Sthala Purana, Arjuna’s penance standing on one leg, both Lord Shiva and Arjuna are fighting with each other, Arjuna getting the Pasupata astra, etc., are carved on the Pillars of the Mukha mandapa. 

The 15th-century Arunagiri Nathar has sung two hymns in praise of Murugan of this temple. Lord Muruga is sitting on a Peacock with his consorts. Lord Muruga is in the form of Arumugar with 6 heads and 12 hands. The total idol with Thiruvasi is made of a single stone.

சாத்திர மறையு நீத்தம னேலய

    சாத்தியர் மேவிய                                        பதவேளே

தாத்தரி தாகிட சேக்கெனு மாநட

    தாட்பர னார்தரு                                          குமரேசா

வேத்திர சாலம தேற்றிடு வேடுவர்

    மீக்கமு தாமயில்                                          மணவாளா

வேத்தம தாமறை யார்த்திடு சீர்திரு

    வேட்கள மேவிய                                          பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapa, and a mukha mandapa. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The two-tier vimanam above the bhumi desam was built with bricks. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtas. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Believed to have been built with bricks during the Pallava period or might have existed before the 7^th Century.

The Saka 1488, ie, 1556 CE, Achutharayar’s inscription (AR 259 of 1913) records the gift of this place to Chidambareswara Sivakami Temple.

In 1914 CE, the temple was reconstructed with stone by Peddha Perumal Chettiar of Kanadukathan.   

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy Year 1913.

LEGEND

As per the legend, Arjuna did penance in a bamboo forest on Lord Shiva to get the Pasupata Astra to win over Duryodhana in the war. Duryodhana sent Mukasura in the form of a pig to disturb Arjuna’s penance. In the meantime, Lord Shiva and Parvati took the form of a Hunter and came to the forest. On seeing the Pig, both shoot the pig with an arrow. Both Lord Shiva and Arjuna claimed that their arrow only killed the Pig, and this led to a tussle between them. Arjuna’s bow was broken. Angered Arjuna hit Lord Shiva with his bow. This blow was felt by all the lokas. Lord Shiva kicked him with his leg, and Arjuna fell down in the theertham of this temple. This made Parvati get angry at Arjuna. Lord Shiva pacified Parvati and blessed Arjuna with a Pasupata Astra. The scar can be seen on moolavar. The Urchava idols of Gratha Murti with Parvati are available at the temple.

It is believed that people with stammering problems are offered sand balls as Prasad and get cured. To remove marriage obstacles, pray to Lord Shiva of this temple.

Since Chandra and Suriyan are installed close to each other, it is believed that worshiping them on eclipse days will get rid of graham doshas.

Arjuna's penance a pig is shown on his back 

Lord Shiva and Parvati, as hunters & Dogs, are shown at the base 

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri (Feb–March), Panguni Uthiram (March–April), Chithirai, April 14^th, Tamil New Year Day, Aani Thirumanjanam (June –July), Vinayaka Chaturthi (August–September), Deepavali (October–November), Urchavam of Arjuna getting the Pasupata astra from Lord Shiva  is celebrated during Vaikasi Visakam day.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukkal may be contacted through his mobile at +91 9842008291 and +91 98433 88552 for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is inside Annamalai University, and after crossing the Music College.

The temple is about 3 km from the Bus Terminus, 4 km from the Chidambaram railway station, 19 km from Sirkazhi, 39 km from Mayiladuthurai, 54 km from Virudhachalam, 56 km from Cuddalore, 75 km from Villupuram, and 230 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Chidambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---