Sri Thenupuriswarar Temple / Sri Dhenupureeswarar Temple, தேனுபுரீஸ்வரர்திருக்கோவில், பட்டீஸ்வரம் துர்கை அம்மன் கோவில், Patteeswaram, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 140^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 23^rd  sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Patteecharam and now as Patteeswaram, on the banks of Thirumalairajan River. ( T R Patnam River ). Even though this is a Shiva temple, but it is popularly known as Durgai Amman Temple.  

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of ThirusakthiMutram. Sekkizhar further records that Lord Shiva has provided pearl pandal, which is explained in the legend.  

திருச்சத்தி முற்றத்தில்சென்று எய்தித் திருமலையான்

அருச்சித்த சேவடிகள் ஆர்வம்உறப் பணிந்து ஏத்திக்

கருச்சுற்றில் அடையாமல் கைதருவார் நிழல்பாடி

விருப்புற்றுத் திருப்பட்டீச் சுரம்பணிய மேவும்கால்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. From this hymns it was learnt that during Thirugnanasambandar’s period this place Patteeswaram also called as Mazhapadi.

பாடல் மறைசூடல் மதிபல் வளையொர் பாகமதில் மூன்றொர் கணையால்

கூடஎரியூட்டி எழில்காட்டி நிழல் கூட்டு பொழில்சூழ் பழைசையுள்

மாடமழபாடி யுறை பட்டிசர மேய கடிகட்டர வினார்

வேடநிலை கொண்டவரை வீடுநெறி காட்டிவினை நீடுமவரே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                    -“பத்தியுற்றோர்

முட்டீச் சுரத்தின் முயலா வகையருளும்

பட்டீச் சுரத்தெம் பராபரமே

........ திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Patteechurar, Sri Thenupuriswarar

Consort    : Sri Gnanambigai, Sri Pal Valainayagi.

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

The Temple is facing east with 7 tier Rajagopuram on the south side. Vinayagar Sannadhi, Dwajasthambam and balipeedam are after the south side Rajagopuram. Rishabam and balipeedam are not in line with moolavar. There is also another 5 tier Rajagopuram on the south side of sanctum sanctorum. Temple tank is in front of sanctum sanctorum. There are 5 Rishabas in this temple ( Pancha nandi kshethra )  and they are not in straight line. In sanctum moolavar is of swayambhu.  In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Big size stucco image Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of artha mandapam.

In prakaram Madhavarana Pillaiyar, Saptamatrikas, Renuka Devi, Swarna Vinayagar, Mahalingar, Bala Murugan, Shanmugar with 6 faces, Ramalingar, Mahalakshmi, 63var, moovar, Saptamatrikas, Thirugnanasambandar, Rama worshiped Shiva Linga, Madavarna Pillayar, Shaniswararar, Suryan, Anjaneyar, Keerthivasar, Veda Lingam, Dhandapani and Chandikeswarar. In Artha mandapam Somaskandar and Thirugnanasambandar. Bhairavar is beautifully chiseled, it is worth to see the beauty. In maha mandapam image of Govinda Deekshithar  and his wife who had done thiruppani. Ambal is in Separate sannadhi with sanctum and artha mandapam.

DURGAI AMMAN TEMPLE

Sri Durgai Amman Temple is immediately after the north side 5 tier Rajagopuram. This Shiva Temple is identified as Durgai Amman Temple, by the local people.  It is believed that there was a Durgai Amman temple on the north side entrance of then Chozha’s Fort and guarding deity. Chozha Kings, including Rajaraja was an ardent devotees of Durgai Amman. When Chozhas was defeated and fort was destroyed, this Durgai Amman was shifted to present place. Hence this Durgai Amman is called as “Sri Kottaivayil Durgai”.

Durgai Amman is called in different names such as, Vishnu Durgai, Durga Lakshmi, Navayoga Nayaki, Navakoti Nayaki, Navagraha Nayagi, Navaratri Nayaki and NavaSakthi Nayaki. Durgai Amman is with a pleasant look and in Standing on Mahishasuran. Durgai Amman is with 8 hands / ashtabujam, 3 eyes, wearing Kundalam. Her Vahana Simham / Lion is shown on the left side.

        

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. Kamadhenu worshiping Lord Shiva, bas-relief is on one of the pillar.

A Chozha king worships Lord Shiva

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This place was called as Mazhapadi ( Thevara Hymns ), Patteecharam, Devivanam and Sakthivanam.

This place Patteeswaram was a part of Pazhayarai during Chozha period and a capital for the Chozha dynasty, when they were ruling this area under Pallava Kings. After they conquered Pallavas, this was the second Capital. The Palace which existed during that time is now called as “Chozhanmaligai”. During 7^th Century Chozha period, the Villages Muzhaiyur, Patteeswaram, Sakthimutram and Chozhanmaligai are the part of Pazhayarai and are used as army camps. Pazhayarai has 4 Temples, called Vada Thali, Merthali, Keelthali and Thenthali. The T R Patnam River ( Thirumalai Rayan River ) is flowing on the south side and Arasalar River flowing on the north side of Pazhayarai.  This temple is called as Pazhayarai Vada Thali, since this temple is on the north side of  Pazhayarai River. It is believed that a coin minting place called “Nanaya Salai”, was existed at the present place of “Kambatta Viswanathar Temple”.

The inscription is recorded in two parts, the first part is in sanskrit records the repair in the temple ( reforms the land suitable for living purpose, rectification of temple tank and repair in the temple). The second part is Vijayanagara period inscription.  

The Vijayanagara King Sri Veera Pratapa Devarayar, period inscription records the construction of Temple tank / sacred tank, a mandapa in the temple and provision was made for the worship, for which a land measuring 4 ma and mukkani was gifted to this temple.  

The Vijayanagara King Vira Devaraya –II, records the endowment of evening service by Venkata Dikshitha son of Koneri Bhatta of Vasishta gotra for which 9.5 veli land was gifted to this temple.

A dispute was raised regarding the issue of first Thamboolam during a marriage in the village, to whom should be given between Chettiars and Pattu noolkaras ( Silk thread – a caste in the weaving community ). It was decided that, the first thamboolam to be given to Amman of this temple with a saree and then to both groups.

 

LEGENDS

Patti, daughter of Kamadhenu worshiped Lord Lord Shiva of this temple, hence this place is called as Patteecharam and Lord Shiva is called as Patteeswarar and Dhenupureeswarar in sanskrit.

As per the legend ma Parvati, did a penance in this place. The Devas came here in the form of Trees to protect her. Kamadhenu sent her daughter to help ma Parvati. Satisfied with the ma Parvati’s penance, Lord Shiva appeared with jadamudi and blessed her.

It was hot summer noon time when Thirugnanasambandar arrived Patteeswaram after Worshiping Lord Shiva of ThirusakthiMutram. Lord Shiva asked the Shiva Ganas to provide “Pearl Pandal – முத்துப் பந்தல்“, to avoid direct sun heat on Thirugnanasambandar.

வெம்மை தருவேனிலிடை வெயில் வெப்பம் தணிப்பதற்கு

மும்மை நிலைத் தமிழ்விரகர் முடிமீதே சிவபூதம்

தம்மை அறியாதபடி தண்தரளப் பந்தர் எடுத்து

எம்மை விடுத்து அருள்புரிந்தார் பட்டீசர் என்று இயம்ப

There were 5 Rishabas in this temple they are not in straight line. It was believed that Lord Shiva asked to move side for entry of Thirugnanasambandar.

Lord Rama while returning after worshiping Lord Shiva at Rameswaram, came to this. He created a Kodi theertham with his bow and worshiped Lord Shiva.  This theertham is considered as equivalent to Dhanushkodi Theertham. There is a sannidhi for Ramalingeswarar. Every year in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), this is celebrated to commemorate this event.

Viswamitra had obtained the title of " Brahma Rishi" from this temple. Markandeyar also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Muthu Pandal Festival on the 1^st day of Aani ( June – July ), Theerthavari in the Kodi Theertham on full moon day of the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan )  to commemorate the event of Rama being relieved from Chayahasti dosha (...?).

In addition to the above, Vaikasi Visakam Theerthavari in the river Thirumalairajan in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month aani ( June – July ),  Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Kanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar sankranti in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( March – April ), Navakodi Archana and every month pradosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The land line number +91 435 241 6976 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Patteeswaram is on the way to Kumbakonam to Avoor road. Town buses 8,11,25,35,61,62 & 67 available from Kumbakonam

Buses from Kumbakonam to Thanjavur passes through Patteeswaram.

The temple is 8 KM from Kumbakonam, 39 KM from Thanjavur, 301 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Dwarapalakas at the entrance of Mukha Mandapam

Arumugar with his consorts

Saptamatrikas with Veerabhadra & Vinayagar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---