Pushpavaneswarar Temple / Pushpavananathar Temple / புஸ்பவனேஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருப்பூந்துருத்தி, Thirupoonthuruthi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 128^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 11^th  Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is on the south banks of river Kudamurutti. The place Thirupoonthuruthi is divided in to Melathiruppanthuruthi and Thirupoonthuruthi and the temple is in Thirupoonthuruthi. This is one of the Saptasthana Temples, which participates in ezhur festival at Thiruvaiyaru and Nandhiyamperuman’s marriage at Thirumazhapadi.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar Visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukadaimudi. Sekkizhar,  in Thirunavukkarasu Puranam records that Appar stayed and established a madam at Thirupoonthuruthi — திருமடம் அங்கு ஒன்று செய்தார்.

அங்கு அப்பதி நின்று எழுந்தருளி அணிதிரு ஆலம் பொழில் வணங்கிப்

பொங்கு புனல் பொன்னிப் பூந்துருத்திப் பொய்யிலியாரைப் பணிந்து போற்றி

எங்கும் நிகழ்ந்திருத் தொண்டர் குழாம் எதிர்கொள்ள எப்பதியும் தொழுது

செம்கயல் பாய்வயல் ஓடை சூழ்ந்த திருக்கண்டியூர் தொழச் சென்று அணைந்தார்

……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

திருப்பூந் துருத்தி அமர்ந்து செஞ்சடையானை ஆன் ஏற்றுப்

பொறுப்பு ஊர்ந்தருளும் பிரானைப் பொல்இலியைக் கண்டேன் என்று

விருப்பூறு தாண்டகத்தோடு மேவிய காதல் விளிப்ப

இருப்போம் திருவடிக்கீழ் நாம் என்னும் குறுந்தொகைபாடி

……….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.  Thirugnanasambandar’s  hymns on Thiruvalampozhil and Thirupoonthuruthi are not available.

நேர்ந்தொருத்தி யொரு பாகத் தடங்கக் கண்டு

        நிலைதளர ஆயிரமா முகத்தி னோடு

பாய்ந்தொருத்தி படர்சடைமேற் பயிலக் கண்டு

        பட அரவும் பனிமதியும் வைத்த செல்வர்

தாந்திருத்தித் தன்மனத்தை யொருக்காத் தொண்டர்

        தனித் தொருதண் டூன்றிமெய் தளரா முன்னம்

பூந்துருத்தி பூந்துருத்தி யென்பீ ராகில்

        பொல்லாப் புலால் துருத்தி போக்க லாமே

….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                                    -“சீலநிறை

வாந்துருத்தி கொண்டுள்ளனலெழுப்புவோர் புகழும்

பூந்துருத்திமேவுசிவ புண்ணியமே

…… திரு அருட்பா  

Moolavar  : Sri Pushpavana Nathar, Sri Aathipuranar,

                  Sri Poyieliyar.

Consort    : Sri Soundra Nayagi, Sri Azhakalamarthanayagi

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Rishabam and balipeedam are in between first 5 tier Rajagopuram and sanctum sanctorum entrance mini Rajagopuram. Rishabam and balipeedam are not in straight line with moolavar. Moolavar is of swayambhu. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy ( as veena Dakshinamurthy ), Arthanareeswarar as Rishabanthikar, ( written as Sankara narayanar… ? ), Pichadanar, Brahma and Durgai.

Painting of Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal’s biography is on the walls of outer prakaram. In prakaram Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar with his two wives Paravai Nachiyar and Sangili Nachiyar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal in sitting posture, Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar, Nalvar, Mahalakshmi, Durgai ( Ambal in penance -standing on leg with right hand touches the head ), Veerabhadra, Vinayagar, Sri Devi, Ayyanar, Saptamatrikas, Navagrahas ( All the 8 Grahas are facing Suryan ), Chandikeswarar, Suryan, Skanda Guru, Kailasanathar, Sri Sadhathapa Maharishi, Thrupuranthakar,

In the outer prakaram Durgambika is in a Separate sannadhi, Kasi Viswanathar. Shiva Lingas of associated temples with saptasthana are in the outer prakarm and it is believed that worshiping of these Shiva Lingas is equivalent  to worshiping Shiva Lingas without going there.

Sri Pushpavaneswarar             - Thiruppoonthuruthi

Sri Neyyadiappar                     - Thiruneithanam

Sri Panchanatheeswarar          - Thiruvaiyaru

Sri Aabathsahayeswarar          - Thirupazhanam

Sri Odhanavaneeswarar           - Thiruchotruthurai

Sri Vedapureeswarar                - Thiruvedhikudi

Sri Brahma Sira Kandeswarar  - Thiru kandiyur

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has Sunga hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this Temple.

பூங்கு ளத்திடை தாரா வோடன

                மேய்ந்த செய்ப்பதி நாதா மாமலை

                போன்ற விக்ரக சூரா ரீபகி             ரண்டரூபா

        போந்த பத்தர்பொ லாநோய் போயிட

                வேண்ட நுக்ரக போதா மேவிய

                பூந்து ருத்தியில் வாழ்வே தேவர்கள்    தம்பிரானே 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathi, Threepatta Kumudam and pattigai. The Bhitti / Wall starts with Vidhika. Brahma kantha pilasters with Kalasam, kudaam,  a plain mandi, palakai, veera kandam and Tharanga pothyal are on the wall. The Kosthtas are padra koshtas little protruding out side. There is no panjaras. The Prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, Kodi karukku and Viyyalavari. An Ekathala Vesara Vimanam  is on the Bhumi desam with Thala vahanas / Rishabams. Images are in the greeva koshtam. Ashtadikpalakas are also in the Greevam. The Vimanam Sigaram has the Maha nasi and anu nasis in between the maha nasis. The Vimanam is called as Vaijayantha Vimanam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7^th century and latter reconstructed with stone during Chozha period. Further extended  during Pandyas and Vijayanagaras Periods.

The recorded inscriptions belongs to Ko Rajakesari Varman, Adhithya, Parantaka Chozha ( Madurai Konda Parakesarivarman ),  Pandya King Sundara Pandyan and Vijayanagara King Vijayarayar Maharayar, Vira Bhoopathi Udyar, Achuthadeva maharayar and Tulaja Maharaja, Veerappa Nayaka. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Pandyakulapathi Valanattu Arcot Kootrathu Thirupoonthuruthi, Pandyakulanasini Valanattu Arcottu Kootrathu Thirupoonthuruthi and Lord Shiva was called as Thirupoonthuruthi Udayar, Thirupoonthuruthi Udaya Nayanar,  Periya Nayanar, Pushpavananathar and Ambal was called as Maragatha Nachiyar and Azhagalamarnda Ammai. Most of the inscriptions records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps, Naivedyam etc for which land, gold, paddy was gifted to the temple. 

Sundara Pandyan period Inscription starts with his mei keerthi records the endowment of Naivedyam for Adhichandeswarar, Periyanayanar, Periya Nachiyar for which land was gifted by Kiliyur Nattu Keel manthudai Uyyavanathan Rajarajadevar. 

Maravarman Sundara Pandyan’s inscriptions starts with meikeerthi as “மதிமுகத்தவனி மாமகளிலகு கோடிக்காதல் முகிழ்ந்து நின்றேத்தும்…”. Another long meikeerthi  starts with “பூமலர் வளர் திகழ் திருமகள் புகழாகம்….”. This inscription records his victories, his kindness of returning back to them and donations made to the temples of Srirangam and Chidambaram. 

The details of his inscriptions are...... Kuchalar, Kosalar, Ariyar, Konganar, Kasiyar, Maahadhar, Arumanar, Sonahar and Aganthiyar paid tribute to this Pandya King. He Conquered Cheras only with Sword and Horse. Jailed the Hoysalas who are in the Chozha country. The Chieftains like Singanan were killed in the war. The killed soldiers are piled like a hill. Vultures and Crows fly happily around it for food. Killed Seman, and enemy who acted as a friend. He conquered the Kannanur Koppam which was unimaginable. Conquered Karnataka King after Victory over Hoysalas in Chozha Country  and made them to pay the elephants as a tribute ( கப்பம் ). Srilankan king also paid tribute. The Ganga King who refused to pay tribute ( கப்பம் )was captured after a war ( He mentions that he conquered the countries on both side of the Ganga River ). The Pallava King was defeated in a war at Sendamangalam and his country was returned back. Went Chidambaram worshiped Lord Shiva and covered the Vimana of Srirangam with Gold through offering “Thulabharam”. 

Chozha King Ko Rajakesaribarmar’s ( Aditha-I ) 3^rd reign year inscription records the endowment of  supplying ghee to the perpetual lamp by Pisangan Aiyaradigal of Nanandur village for which 8 Kalanju gold was deposited with the Sabha. Another inscription of the same King’s 14^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 30 Kalanju Gold was gifted by the King’s wife Nangai Sattaperumanar

The Chozha King Sundara Chozha’s 15^th reign year inscription records the sale of land by the Village assembly belongs to Baradayan Narayanan, Turutti and Baradayan Narayanan Nakkan  to meet the fine ( dhandam ) of 72 Kalanju and odd gold  imposed by the assembly, upon their brother Narayanan Sri Madhavan who has not repaid the fine. Both brothers represent their case to the King stating that their land was also sold  mixed with the his brothers and other’s lands. The same was returned back to them as per king’s order.

The Vijayanagara King Vijayaraya maharaya ( 1423 CE July 19^th ) inscription records the gift of Tax free land to this temple by Sivananda Perumal, the head man of Parisai. 

Another Vijayanagara King Vira Bhoopathi Udayar ( 1415 CE July 14^th ) inscription records the gift of land to this temple, by Azhakiya Thiruchitrambalam Udayan Vira Singarayan, of Sirrarasar of the same Kootram.

The Vijayanagara King Achutha deva Maharayar period 1532 CE inscription records that certain taxes are levied on the residents of the the Villages Thirupoonthuruthi, Pandaravadai and Seniartteruvu of Kandiyur and  assigned to the temple by Krishnapuram Vardappayyar for the merit of the king on the occasion of godvadass( ?.)

LEGENDS

A little elevated place  or one that protrudes between two rivers is also called as Thuruthi. Bhoomagal worshiped the Lord Shiva of this temple, hence this place is called as Poonthuruthi. Indra, Maha Vishnu, Maha Lakshmi, Suryan and Kasiba Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get rid of the curse. 

There is a separate Thirunavukkarasar Swamigal madam near the temple. Appar’s image is  in sitting posture. Since Thirupani was done by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Thirugnanasambandar hesitant to enter the temple. To get Lord Shiva’s darshan,  Rishabam moved to left side. When Thirugnanasambandar came to this place Thirunavukkarasar carried the pearl palanquin/ muthu sivigai, without the knowledge of Thirugnanasambandar. Thirugnanasambandar stayed some days with Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal madam.

It is believed that to get rid of pitru dosha, one has to worship Lord Shiva  on Aadi Amavasai ( new moon day ) after taking bath in 13 rivers / holy places  namely, Vedaranyam, Dhanushkodi, Sangamugam, Thriveni Sangamam, Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Kaveri, Sindhu, Brahmaputra, Thamirabarani and Rameswaram. Kasiba Maharishi did a penance on Lord Shiva. Appreciating his devotion Lord Shiva, made  to flow all the 13 rivers in to this temple well. Lord Shiva with Parvati gave darshan to Kasiba Maharishi as Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Saptasthana festival, Navaratri in the month Aippasi ( September – October ), Skanda Sashti in the month Karthigai ( October – November ), Thirukarthigai in the moth Karthigai ( November – December ), Thirukalyanam, Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( December - January ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and Paari Vettai.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The Gurukkal is residing next to the Temple. And the Gurukkal may be  contacted for further details..

HOW TO REACH 

The place Thirupoonthuruthi is on the way to Thirukattupalli from Kandiyur. Bus and Auto are available from Kandiyur.

The temple is 3 KM from Kandiyur, 5.8 KM from Thiruvaiyaru, 14.6 KM from Thirukattupalli, 14.8 KM from Thanjavur and 335 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Ardhanareeswarar as Rishabanthigar - Veena Dakshinamurthy

Dwarapalakas

Ravana aungraha murthy

Shiva as Oorthuva thandavar

Kirata- Arjuna 

Gajasamhara moorthy

Bara Shiva -Shiva carries a shiva Lingam on his shoulder ( Kalamuka Sect worship ) PC: Thanks to Babu Mano

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---