Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple / Shri Pallavaneeswaram Sivan Temple / Pallavaneeswara Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ பல்லவனேஸ்வரர் கோயில், காவிரிப்பூம்பட்டினம், பூம்புகார், Thiru Pallavaneechuram / Poompuhar , Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 64^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam  and 10^th  sthalam on the north side of river Cauvery. This place  was called as Pallavaneechuram during 7^th Century, now called as Kaveripoompattinam, Poompuhar. This is the birth place of Pattinathar. Believed that this place Kaveripoompattinam was changed from Kaviri Puhum Pattinam – Kaviri enters ( in to sea ) Pattinam.

As per Sekkizhar’s, Periya Puranam, Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvalampuram ( Melaperumpallam ).

பன்னகப் பூணி னாரைப் பல்லவ னீச்ச ரத்துச்

சென்னியால் வணங்கி ஏத்தித் திருந்து இசைப் பதிகம் பாடிப்

பொன்னி சூழ்புகாரில் நீடு புனிதர் திருச்சாய்க்காட்டு

மன்னுசீர்த்தொண்டர் எல்லாம் மகிழ்ந்து எதிர்கொள்ளப் புக்கார்

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

அடையார்தம் புரங்கள் மூன்றும் ஆரழலில் அழுந்த

விடையார் மேனி யராய்ச் சீறும் வித்தகர் மேய இடம்

கடைஆர் மாட நீடி எங்கும் கங்குல் புறம்தடவப்

படைஆர் புரிசைப் பட்டினஞ்சேர்ப் பல்லவ னீச்சரமே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                    -“வாய்க்கமையச்

சொல்லவ னீச்சரங்கு தோயவும்பராம் பெருமைப்

பல்லவனீச்சரத்தெம் பாவனமே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pallavaneswarar. Pallavanathar

Consort    : Sri Soundaranayagi

Some of the features of this temple are as follows.

The temple is facing eat with a 5 tier Rajagopuram.  A Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the Sanctum. A 2 tier Vimana is over the sanctum. Moolavar is little bigger in size. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahmna and Durgai.

In prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, 4 Shiva Lingams, Pattinathar with folded hands in worshiping posture, Gajalakshmi, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar, Shiva Lingas Suryeswarar, Sundareswarar, Agastheeswarar, Saneeswarar,   Bhairavar ( are in a single sannadhi ), Thirugnanasambandar,  Natarajar with Kamakshi in sabha ( is similar to Thillai ) and Navagrahas. In Navagrahas, all Navagrahas are facing Lord Shiva ie west direction. There are Two Chandikeswaras and two Durgas ( mahisan is not seen under one Durgai ).

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Lord Shiva of this temple was praised by Thirugnanasambandar, this temple might be existed before 7^th Century.It is believed that this temple was built and worshiped by Pallavas. Hence this place obtained the name “Pallavaneecharam” and Lord Shiva is called as Sri Pallavaneswarar. The Sangam period kings Sembiyan, Musukundan, Manuneethi Chozha and Karikala Chozha used this Poompuhar as their port Capital, before Poompuhar was submerged in the sea.

There are two inscriptions recorded from this temple. As per the inscriptions this place Rajathiraja valanattu Nangoor Nattu Kaviripoompattinam.

Maravarman Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Sundara Pandyan’s 17^th year reign inscription records the donation of land to this temple.

Salivahana saka kali 4775, sakam 1670 ie 1757 CE, Jaya year inscription records the donation of land towards the worship and maintenance of this temple by Rayavutha Minda Nayanar. ( Thiruchaikattu seenam Kaveripoompattinam mahanam Pallavaneecharam temple... ? )

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 10^th August 1958, 05^th April 1995 and 17^th April 2008

LEGENDS

It is believed that Kubera, Kalava Maharishi and Pallava king worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. It is the birth place of Pattinathar and Iyarpagai Nayanar.

The Legend associated with this temple is the biography of Pattinathar. Pattinathar was born to Sivanesar and Gnanakalambikai as Thiruvenkadar. He was brought up as ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. When he attained the marriageable age, he married Sivakalai. After they visited Thiruvidaimaruthur, due to grace of Lord Sri Mahalinga Swamy, Sivasaruma Gurukkal and Suseelai gave them a Child. The Child was named as Marudavanar. Marudavanar had taken over the overseas family business. After he return from one such a journey, he gave a box to his mother Sivakalai and asked to keep safe. With a curiosity, Pattinathar opened the box and found only cow dung cake with a note ‘kathaRuntha oosiyum varaathu kaan kadaivazhikke - காதறுந்த ஊசியும் வாராது காண் கடைவழிக்கே” – a head broken needle will not come till the end of  life. He throw the box, precious stones and gold came from the broken dung cakes. Thiruvenkadar realised the truth behind the note and renounced all his wealth, took the spiritual path. He came to Thiruvottiyur / Thiruvotriyur and attained Jeeva Samadhi.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, 12 days Pattinathar festival in Aadi month ( July – August ) and Vaikasi Visakam ( May – June )

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The mobile number  +91 94437 19193, may be contacted for further details. The Sivachariyar Prabhupada Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile 99445 65998 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Buses are available from Sirkazhi, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai to Poompuhar and the temple is a KM before Poompuhar sea shore.

The temple is 17 KM from Sirkazhi, 20 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 39 KM from Chidambaram and 257 Km from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---