Sri Seshapureeswarar Temple / Paampuranathar Temple / பாம்புரநாதர் கோயில், திருப்பாம்புரம் / Thirupampuram, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 176^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 59^th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thiruveezhimizhalai, another Paadal Petra Sthalam is very near to this temple, even the Rajagopuram can be seen if there is no obstruction. This temple is popularly known as Rahu & Kethu Temple and “South Kalahasti”. 

 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumeeyachur.

பாம்பு ஏத்துஉறை பரமரை பணிந்துநல் பதிகஇன் இசைபாடி

வாம்பு னல் சடை முடியினார் மகிழ்வுஇடம் மற்றும் உள்ளன போற்றிக்

காம்பினில் நிகழ் கரும்பொடு செந்நெலின் கழனி அம்பணை நீங்கித்

தேம்பொழில்திரு வீழிநன் மிழலையின் மருங்குஉறச் செல்கின்றார்

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

மாலினுக்கு அன்றுசக்கரம் ஈந்து மலரவற்கு ஒருமுகம் ஒழித்து

ஆலின்கீழ் அறம்ஓர் நால்வருக்கு அருளி அனலது ஆடும்எம் அடிகள்

காலனைக் காய்ந்து தம்கழல் அடியால் காமனைப் பொடிபட நோக்கிப்

பாலனுக்கு அருள்கள் செய்தஎம் அடிகள் பாம்புர நன்னகராரே

.......திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                                  -“ஆடுமயில்

காம்புரங்கொள் தோளியர் பொற்காவிற் பயில்கின்ற

பாம்புரங் கொல் உண்மைப் பரம்பொருளே

.......திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pampureswarar, Sri Seshapureeswarar,

                 Sri Pambeesar

Consort    : Sri Brambarambhigai, Sri Vandaar Poonguzhali.

Some of the salient features of this temple are....... 
The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Rishabam and Balipeedam are after the Rajagopuram. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy and Durgai.

In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar. Urchavars are Sri Subramaniar with Valli Devasena, Natarajar, Somaskandar, Sattainathar, Chandikeswarar, Malaieswarar in a mada type of shrine, Adhi Pampureeswarar under the Sthala Vruksham, Rahu, Kethu, Suriyan Adhiseshan, Bhairavar, Saneeswaran, 5 Shiva Lingas, and Nalvars. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi in a standing posture facing east.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The adhistana is a simple pada bandha adhistana. A vesara vimana is over the sanctum after a level of the square base. An open mandapa was constructed around the sanctum. The space around the sanctum is in the form of a moat, and the level is below the ground level.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The Original temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and later extended during the Pandyas and Marathas period.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozha Kings Rajarajan-I, Rajendra Chozhan-I, Pandya Kings  Sundara Pandyan, and Maratha king Saraboji Maharaja.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 35^th reign year inscription records the establishment of Thiruvasura Nayanar, Periya Devar, Nachiyar with a stone shrine by a Devaradiyar ( Lady ) called Udayal alias Narpathonnayiramanickam. For the same certain privileges were offered, by the Temple authorities/accountant and the Maheshwaras/Shiva Devotees. Latter period inscription of the same King records that in 1750 CE, Kasu received from the Thevaradiyar, and a land of 3 ma was given as irayil to the Devaradiyar.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 31^st reign year inscription records that land measuring 1.5 ma+ 3 (a fraction)  onrraraiyee moonru) was given by the Temple Sabha as irayili, as per the request of Arulmozhi Brahmarayan. For the same 2100 kasu for worship and  1000 kasu for other expenses like bringing water from river Kaveri for abhishekam.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 28^th reign year inscription records the establishment of Rajaraja Vinayaka Pillayar shrine as per the order of the king by a fisherman called Kunavayiludayar Meenavan Mooventha Velalar on the banks of river Arasalaru. For the same, land was gifted to this temple as Thevadhanam by the temple sabha as per the order of the king. Even though the shrine was constructed on the 15^th day reign of the King and the same was inscribed in his 28^th year. Why the same was delayed is not known.

Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan’s 23^rd reign inscription records that, Muttaipurathu Sankaranarayana Bhattan and Chembian Marayan had given security for Rajanarayana Brahmarayan. He ran away without paying the taxes. When the surety given people were asked to pay the taxes. They sold the House sites and lands belonging to Rajanarayana Brahmarayan was sold to the temple and tax dues were cleared.

Rajarajan-III’s 13^th reign year inscription records the endowment of 10 Cows and 3 calfs gifted to the temple for Naivedyam, milk, and ghee by Vaarunavaatheeswaramadayan alias Kosalarayar. He also constructed a shed for Cows and appointed a person/herdsman to take of them. Land was also gifted to the temple by the donor for the supply of kuruni (a measure) paddy every day to the herdsman.

Kulothunga Chozha’s 13^th reign year inscription records that a lady called Alavanthal gave few people to this temple. These people are relatives of each other. Since the inscription was damaged in many portions, whether the lady had people as slaves, sold to this temple, or given as gifts is not known.

A Maratha King Sarabhoji’s 1723 CE period inscription records that Subedar Ko Panditharaiya’s representative Manuko Panditharayan has done something to this temple. What is the donation he had made is not known from the inscriptions. But as per the Annual Report, it was recorded that he had constructed a Vasantha mandapam. As per the ASI experts, the Manuko Panditharayan must be worked under Sarabhoji as a Subedar. 

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 23^rd reign year inscription records that heavy draught prevailed in this area during that period.  3 nazhi paddy was sold to one kasu. A vellalan sold himself, along with his two daughters to this temple as slaves for 20 Kasu.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11^th September 2002 and 10^th April 2017.

LEGENDS
Nagarajan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence this temple is a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Kethu. It is believed that snake presence can be felt through the smell of Jasmine and Thazhampoo flowers. To prove the same on 21^st March 2002 a snake sheds its skin in Ambal’s shrine and another snake sheds its snake, on 26^th May 2002 on the Moolavar in the form of a garland.

The 8 serpents Ananthan, Vasuki, Thatchakan, Karkodakan, Sankapala, Kulikan, Padman, and Mahapadma prayed to Lord Shiva and worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse. Lord Shiva asked them to go to earth and worship him on Mahashivratri day. Ashtamaha Serpents Visited the 4 temples on Maha Shivaratri days during 4 Kala poojas. They are Nageswarar Temple at Kumbakonam, Sri Naganathar Temple at Thirunageswaram, Seshapureeswarar Temple at Thirupampuram, and Naganathar Temple at Nagore.

As per the sthala purana ma Parvati, Brahma, Indra, Agni, Ganga, Suriyan, Chandran, Dakshan, Sage Agathiyar, Karkodakan, King Ko Chengat Chozha, King Sunitha ( a North Indian King ) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Rahu & Ketu peyarchi/transition days, Masi Maham and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani (Aug – Sep), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi (Dec – Jan) and Monthly pradosam days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The Mobile numbers of G Prem Kumar Gurukkal are 9443943665 & 9443047302 and the landline is +91 435 2449578  may be contacted for further.

HOW TO REACH :
On the bus route from Kumbakonam to Karaikal ( Via Peralam) get down at Karkathi and from there this place is about 2 KM.
Very near Thiruveezhimizhalai ( The temple tower will be visible if there is no obstruction). 
This temple is 8 KM from Peralam, 10 KM from Sethalapathi, 23 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 29 KM from Kumbakonam, 30 KM from Thiruvarur, and  280 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Junction is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---