Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple, பசுபதீஸ்வரர் கோவில், ஆவூர், ( Pasupatheeswaram ), Aavoor, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 138^th Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 21^st sthalam on the south side of River Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The place was called “Aavoor” and the temple was called “Pasupatheecharam” during the 7^th Century and is now called Aavoor. During the Puranic period, this place was called Manikoodam and Ashvathavanam. This is the birthplace of Sangam era poets Aavoor Kizhar, Aavoor Moolangizhar, and Perunthalai Sathanar. 

 

In Periya Puranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunallur and returned back to Thirunallur.

பணியும் அப்பதிப் பசுபதீச்சரத்து இனிது  இருந்த

மணியை உள்புக்கு வழிபடும் விருப்பினால் வணங்கித்

தணிவுஇல் காதலில் தண்தமிழ் மாலைகள் சாத்தி

அணிவிளங்கிய திருநல்லூர் மீண்டும் வந்து அணைந்தார்

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

புண்ணியர் பூதியர் பூதநாதர் புடைபடு வார்தம் மனத்தார் திங்கள்

கண்ணியர் என்றென்று காதலாளர் கைதொழுது ஏத்த இருந்த ஊராம்

விண்ணுயர் மாளிகை மாடவீதி விரைகழல் சோலை சுலாவி எங்கும்

பண்ணியல் பாடல்அ றாத ஆவூர்ப் பசுபதி ஈச்சரம் பாடுநாவே

......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                -“மல்லார்ந்த

மாவூர் இரவியின் பொன்வைய மளவுஞ்சிகரி

ஆவூரில் உற்ற எங்கள் ஆண்டகையே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pasupatheeswarar, Sri Asvathanathar,

                  Aavoorudayar

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai ( Taken from temple tank ),

                  Sri Bangajavalli ( Old )

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

The temple faces east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar is of swayambhu. In Koshtam Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Vishnu Durgai.

In Prakaram, Niruthi Vinayagar, Danush Subramaniar (holding bow and arrow), Sri Mukthi Kandar, Sri Sastha, and Bhadrakali. Five Bhairavas – Guru Bhairavar, Sanda Bhairavar, Kaala Bhairavar, Unmatha Bhairavar and Asithanga Bhairavar are also in the prakaram. Somaskandar is in a separate Sannadhi, one step below the main sanctum sanctorum.  

There are two Ambal sannidhis, Mangalambigai, and Sri Pankajavalli. It was told Mangalambigai was found in the Temple tank. Pankajavalli is the older one and is praised by saint Thirugnanasambandar. But Mangalambigai is much celebrated in this temple.

ARCHITECTURE

This is also one of the mada temples believed to be built by Ko Chenkat Chozhan. A two-tier vesara vimana with maha nasi on all four sides is on the sanctum sanctorum. There are no koshta murtis. The artha mandapam is of Vavval nethi style. 

Vavvalnethi mandapas

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple existed before the 7^th Century. It is believed that this is one of the Maada Temples built by Kochengat Chozha.

As per the Inscriptions this place was in Nithavinothavalanattu, Aavoor Kootrathu Pasupatheeswaram, and Lord Shiva was called Pasupatheeswaramudayar.

A Chozha period inscription recorded from this temple belongs to Rajendra Chozha-III’s 3^rd reign year and speaks about the donation of Land to this temple.

LEGENDS

This temple is considered more auspicious similar to Kailash and called “South Kailash”. The temple is very famous for 5 Bhairavas, hence this temple is called “Pancha Bhairava Kshethra”. It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship Bhairavar on Ashtami day.

As per the legend Adhiseshan and Vayu used to fight with each other to prove who was great and strong. While Adhiseshan was holding Mount Meru, Vayu blew Mount Meru. In this process, two peaks fell on the earth, one in this place and the other at Nallur, a nearby Village.

As per the legend, the cow Kamadhenu was cursed by the Sage Vasishtar. As per the advice of Brahma, Kamadhenu landed on the earth at Govindakudi and came to this temple. Kamadhenu worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and got relieved from the curse. Since Kamadhenu worshiped Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva is called Pasupatheeswarar. Also, Kamadhenu's landed place is called Go+vandha+Kudi – Govindakudi ( Go – Cow, Vandha - came, Kudi – Village. ). Kamadhenu worshiping Lord Shiva bas-relief is on the Dwajasthamba.

It is believed that ma Parvati, Lord Brahma, Sapta Rishis (Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautama, Jamadgni, Kashyapa, Vasishta, Visvamitra, Devas, Indra, Suryan, Kamadhenu, Patti (  Daughter of Kamadhenu ), Navagrahas and King Dasaratha worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Kamadhenu worships Lord Shiva- Sthala Puranam

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Monthly pradosams, Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani ( Aug – Sep ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the moth Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thiru Karthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov- Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makara Sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ) and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ). 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The mobile number is +91 94863 03484 and Pichai Gurukkal's mobile number is +91 94448 61548 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

Town bus is available from Kumbakonam. The temple is on the bus route from Kumbakonam to Mannargudi via Govindakudi.

The temple is 4.2 KM from Patteeswaram, 10 KM from Thirupalaivana Nathar Temple, 11 KM from Kumbakonam, 35 KM from Thanjavur, and 305 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Junction is Kumbakonam

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---