Thiruppayatranathar Temple / Sri Payatrunathar Temple / Sri Mukthapureeswarar Temple / திருப்பயற்றுநாதர் கோயில், திருப்பயத்தங்குடி / Thiruppayartrur / Thiruppayathangudi, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 195^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 78^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called Thirupayathangudi.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupugalur. He didn’t mention this temple in particular; instead mentioned other temples on the way to Thirupalli Mukkudal.

திருபுகலூர் அமர்ந்தருளும் சிவபெருமான் சேவடிகள் கும்பிட்டு ஏத்தும்

விருப்புடைய உள்ளத்து மேவி எழும் காதல் புரி வேட்கை கூர

ஒருப்படுவார் திருவாரூர் ஒருவாறு தொழுது அகன்று அங்கு உள்ளம் வைத்துப்

பொருப்பு அரையன் மடப்பாவை இடப்பாகர் பதி பிறவும் பணிந்து போந்தார்

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

உரித்திட்டார் ஆனையின்தோல் உதிரஅறு ஒழுகியோட

விரித்திட்டார் உமையாள் அஞ்சி விரல் விதிர்த்து அலக்கல் நோக்கித்

தரித்திட்டார் சிறிது போது தரிக்கிலர் ஆகித் தாமும்

சிரித்திட்டார்  எயிறு தோன்றத் திருப்பயற்று ஊர னாரே

…….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                    -“கோமுண்

மயற்றுர் பறிந்த மனத்துள் விளைந்த

பயற்றூர் திசை அம்பரனே”

…….. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Mukthapureswarar, Sri Thirupayarteu Nathar

Consort    : Sri Nethrambigai, Sri Kaaviyanganni.

Some of the salient features of this temple are……

The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam, Rishabam, and Dwajasthambam are in a newly built mukka mandapam. In the sanctum, Moolavar is a little large on a square avudayar. In Koshtam, only Dakshinamurthy. In the ardha mandapam, Natarajar, Somaskandar, and Urchavars.

In the praharam, Siddhi Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Viswanathan, with Visalakshi, Mahalakshmi, Veera Mahali, Dhandapani, Navagrahas, Suriyan, Bhairavar, Somaskandar, and Chandikeswarar. Natarajar, Somaskandar, and Utsavars are in maha mandaram.

Ambal is in a separate sannadhi with four hands, in Abayam holding Rudraksha mala, Lotus, and her left hand is on the thigh /ooru hastham.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. A three-tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum. All the mandapas are built in vavvalnethi style.

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 further extended during the Thanjavur Nayakas period and Nattukottai Nagarathars. The Chozha king Rajarajan-III inscriptions are recorded from this temple.

Rajaraja-III’s  6^th (5+1) year inscription records the endowment of land measuring ½ ma gifted to this temple after purchase for 600 kasu by his ThiruPayatrurudayan Panchanethivanan. (as a Caretaker). The inscription is damaged in many portions.

Another Rajarajan-III’s period inscription (damaged) might record the donation of 2 ma of land after purchase for 7000 kasu. This was donated by Pallavarayan Alavanthan, Chokkanatta Peruman, and their brother Vaipur Kizhavan Jananadha Kalapalar’s son Govinda Peruman. 

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 20^th August 1975 and 06^th June 2011 after renovations.

 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, a Merchant who lived in this place was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Nagapattinam was close to this place on the seashore and had a port that dealt with export and import businesses during those days, too. The Merchant carried pepper to export from Nagapattinam port, and on the way, there was a toll gate/customs check post where he had to pay the fees / Taxes. It would be a heavy loss if tax is being paid, so he prayed to Lord Shiva to change it to pulse (payaru – பயறு) so that it would not attract taxes and go back to pepper after the Check post. Lord Shiva had done as requested by the Merchant. It is believed that the merchant spent all the money earned as profit on renovating this temple. Hence, Lord Shiva is praised as Thirupayatrunathar, and this place is Payatrur.     

Bhairava Maharishi worshiped lord Shiva of this temple. It is believed that those who are suffering from eye-related ailments can get cured after praying to Lord Shiva and Ambal of this temple. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Special poojas are conducted on Aadi Fridays for Ambal and Karthigai Somavaram to Lord Shiva. Brahmotsavam will be held on Vishaka Nakshatra day in the month of Vaikasi.

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Full moon day in the month of Chithirai (April – May), Aadi Pooram in the month of Aadi (July – Aug), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Avani (Aug – Sept), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi (Sept – Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month of Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Makara Sankranti and all Fridays, Thaipoosam in the month of Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Temple landline and mobile numbers of the temple +91 4366 272423 and +91 9865844677, and the priest Chandrasekara Gurukkal on his mobile number +91 96264 76428 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The place is on the bus route from Thiruvarur to Mayiladuthurai, after Kangalajeri and Melapudur also on the bus route from Thiruvarur  (10 km) to Thirumarugal. 

The temple Thirupayathangudi is 7 km from Thirukkannapuram, 9 km from Thirumarugal, 16 km from Thiruvarur, 265 km from Nagapattinam, 38 km from Kumbakonam, and 311 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvarur.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---