Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple / பசுபதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருக்கொண்டீஸ்வரம் / Thirukondeswaram / Thirukandeeswaram, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 189^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 72^nd Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This place was once called Thirukondeeswaram, now called Thirukandeeswaram. 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal went to Thiruvanjiyam after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruveezhimizhalai. He didn’t mention this temple in particular. Since we have got the hymns on this temple and this place is on the way between the above two temples. Hence Appar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple also.

வாய்ந்த மிழலை மாமணியை வணங்கிப் பிரியா விடை கொண்டு

பூந்தன் புனல்சூழ் வாஞ்சியத்தைப் போற்றிப் புனிதர் வாழ்பதிகள்

எய்ந்த அன்பினால் இறைஞ்சி இசைவன் தமிழ்கள் புனைந்து போய்ச்

சேர்ந்தார் செல்வத்திருமறைக்காடு எல்லை இல்லாச் சீர்த்தினார்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of lord Shiva of this temple.

வரைகிலேன் புலன்கள் ஐந்தும் வரைகிலாப் பிறவி மாயப்

புரையிலே யடங்கி நின்று புறப்படும் வழியும் காணேன்

அரையிலே மிளிரு நாகத்து அண்ணலே அஞ்சல் என்னாய்

திரையுலாம் பழன வேலித் திருக்கொண்டீச் சரத்து ளானே

…….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                 -“மன்னுமலர்

வண்டீச்சுரம்பாடி வார்மதுவுண்டுள் களிக்கும்

கொண்டீச்சரத்தமர்ந்த கோமானே”

…….. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Pasupatheeswarar,

Consort    : Sri Santhanayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. An arch with stucco images is above the sanctum entrance. Moolavar is small. Moolavar came from the earth when Ambal a cow hit the earth through with her horns (There is a scar/வெடிப்பு is on the top of Moolavar). In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. 

In prakaram Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Brahmapureeswarar, Agastheeswarar, Viswanathar with  Visalakshi, Bhairavar, Nagar, Thirugnanasambandar, Suriyan. Jyeshta Devi, Navagrahas, Aabathsahaya Maharishi, and Jurahareswarar with three legs / Thiruvadikal. Bas reliefs of Kamadhenu, Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva are on the pillars of the mandapa.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3-patta kumuda. The Bhitti starts with Vethika. Vishnu Kantha pilasters are on the Bhitti. A 2-tier nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum. All the mandapas are of Vavval nethi style. Dwarapalaka's are made of stucco. The Sthala Purana is painted on the ceiling of the ardha mandapam.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and later extended/renovated by the Vijayanagara Nayakas and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The Saka 1439 ie 1517 CE Vijayanagara King Veera Krishnadeva Maharayar inscription records the capture of Udayagiri fort and the arrest of Thirumalairakuthar.

Maha Kumbabishekam was conducted on 10^th September 2006 after renovations.

LEGENDS

As per the sthala purana, Ma  Parvati as a cow, came to this place in search of Lord Shiva. She excavates the earth with horns. The Horns hit the Shiva Linga and blood was gushing out. Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva with milk from her Utter and healed the wound. A Scar can be seen still on moolavar. Hence Lord Shiva is called "Pasupatheeswarar". Since Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of a Cow ( ferocious ), this place is called Kondeecharam.

As per the Sthala Purana, this is one of the 4 sthalas / temples, where Guru (Pragaspathi also known as Vyazhan of Navagrahas) worshiped Lord Shiva.   

In another legend, Lord Shiva is in the form of Jwarahareswar and cured fever-related ailments. Hence it is believed that those who are suffering from fever will get relieved if do abhishekam with hot water and offer cooked boiled rice as naivedyam.

This is one of the seven Lord Shiva temples and all of them are Paadal Petra Sthalams, which ends with “Charam”.

Thiru Mundeecharam

Thiru Patteeswaram

Thiru Naraiyur Siddheecharam

Thiru Kondeecharam

Thiru Pugalur Vardhamaneecharam

Thiru Ramadeecharam and

Thiru Ketheecharam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Theerthavari is celebrated on Thursday ( during Yamagandam between 06.00 hrs to 7.30 hrs ) in the Tamil Month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ) and Thursdays are considered an auspicious day to worship Guru.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on, Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda 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 and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :

Landline number is 04366 - 228 033 or temple priest T K Venkatesha Gurukkal on his mobile at +91 94430 38854 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

On the bus route Nagapattinam to Nannilam, Mayiladuthurai to Thiruthuraipoondi, Nagapattinam to Kumbakonam before entering Nannilam, Tuticorin stop from there walkable distance.

The temple is 2.4 KM from Nannilam, 16.4 KM from Thiruvarur, 29 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 32 KM from Kumbakonam, 40 KM from Nagapattinam, 42 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi and 326 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Nannilam and Junction is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---