Sri Aranya Sundareswarar Temple / ஆராண்யேசுரர் கோயில், Keezha Thirukattupalli / Keelai Thirukattupalli / Parthanpalli, Mayiladuthurai District ( Nagapattinam District ), Tamil Nadu.

This is the 66^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 12^th Sthalam on the north side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place is also called as Aaranyeswarar Koil and Parthanpalli.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar didn’t mentions all the temples ( mentions as other temples also on the way ) that Thirugnanasambandar visited, but we have got the hymns for the temples which are not mentioned. Since this place and the temple is in between the two Paadal petra Sthalams, we had taken this as one of the temples that he visited.

அருமையால் புறம்பு போந்து வணங்கி அங்கு அமரும் நாளில்

திருமுல்லைவாயில் எய்திச் செந்தமிழ் மாலைச் சாத்தி

மருவிய பதிகள் மற்றும் வணங்குவார் மறையோர் ஏத்தத்

தருமலி புகழி வந்து ஞானசம்பந்தர் சேர்ந்தார்

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

பிறையுடையான் பெரியோர்கள் பெம்மான் பெய்கழல் நாடொறும் பேணிஏத்த

மறையுடையான் மழுவாள் உடையான் வார்தரு மால்கடல் நஞ்சமுண்ட

கறையுடையான் கனலாடு கண்ணாற் காமனைக் காய்ந்தவன் காட்டுப்பள்ளிக்

குறையுடையான் குறட் பூதச்செல்வன் குரைகழலே கைகள் கூப்பினோமே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                                    -“தண்காட்டிக்

கார்காட்டித் தையலர்தங் கண்காட்டிச் சோலைகள் சூழ்

சீர்காட்டுப் பள்ளி சிவக்கொழுந்தே

....... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Aaranya Sundareswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandanayagi

Some of the features of this temple are as follows.

The temple is facing west with an entrance arch.  Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the entrance arch. Moolavar is small on a square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( A Rajayoga Dakshinamurthy with 6 disciples Sanakar, Sanathanar, Sananthanar, Sanathkumarar, Lord Brahma and Lord Mahavishnu ), Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.   

In prakaram Lord Brahma worshiped Lingas ( Bhemeswarar, Muni Eswarar, Brahmesar, Agastheeswarar, Pulastheeswarar, Vyagrapatheswarar, Sakreswarar and Kapaleeswarar )  Vinayagar ( worshiped by a crab ), Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Bhairavar, Suryan, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Bhairavar, Dasa Lingas and Suryan.  A bas-relief of a King worshiping Lord Shiva is on the sanctum wall. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi in the artha mandapam, both moolavar and Ambal darshan can be done standing on one place.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have been existed before 7^th Century. The temple may be reconstructed during Chozha period and further extended during Maratha period.

LEGENDS

Since this place was in side a forest  Aranyam – vanam- Hence Lord Shiva is called as Aranyeswarar, also called as kaattazhagar Temple. Even-though the sea is about 6 KM from the Temple, sea waves sound can be heard near Dakshinamurthy Sannadhi.

Nandu/ crab worshiped Vinayagar. A Gandharva ( a Musician for the celestial gods ) was cursed by a sage to become a crab. It worshiped Vinayagar of this temple and relieved from the curse.  Hence Vinayagar is called as “Sri Karkada Maha Ganapathy”.

It is believed that Brahma installed and worshiped 10 shiva Lingas. These lingas are called Brahmesar, Bheemeeswarar, Munieswarar, Agastheeswarar, Pulatheeswarar, Vyakrapatheeswarar, Chakreshwara and Kapaleeswarar. Worshiping Brahmesar is equivalent to performing 100 Asvamedha Yagna.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on every month Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri in  the month Masi ( Feb – March), Vinayagar Chathurthi in in the month Avani ( Aug – Sep ) Kandar Sashti in the month Aippasi ( October- November ), Arudra Darshan in the month Margazhi ( December – January ), 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.30 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 18.00 hsr to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mobile and land line numbers, +91 98425 93244, +91 94439 85770, + 91 4364 256 273 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

This temple is in between Thiruvenkadu to Ilayamuthukulapuram and 1.5 Km from  from Thiruvengadu.

Near Alli Valagam on the bus route Sirkazhi to Tharangambadi, the road takes the diversion to Thiruvenkadu, after Ilayamuthukulapuram and from there 1.5 KM.

The temple is 13 KM from Sirkazhi, 23 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 37 KM from Chidambaram, 59 KM from Nagapattinam and 250 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---