Saturday 3 April 2021

Pamani Naganathar Temple / நாகநாதர் கோயில், பாமணி Padhalechuram / Pamani, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 221st Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri and 104th sthalam in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Padhalecharam during Thirugnanasambandar’s period and the same was called as “Pampani” during Sundarar period and has corrupted to the present name of “Pamani”. Pamani about 3 Km from Mannargudi City.


In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that after visiting Pandya Nadu temples came to this Pathaleecharam. After worshiping Lord shiva of Kollamputhur, Nallaru, Thelicheri, Iyyaru and Kazhumalam ( Sirkazhi) went to Nadu nadu. But, in actual Pathaleecharam after Thirukalar.

பொன்னிவளம் தருநாடு புகுந்து மிக்கு
        பொருஇல் சீர்த்திருதொண்டர் குழாத்தினோடும்
பன்னகப் பூண்அணிந்தார் தம்கோயில் தோறும்
        பத்தருடன் பதியுள்ளோர் போற்றச்சென்று
கன்னிமதில் திருக்களமும் போற்றிக் கண்டம்
        கறைஅணிந்தார் பாதாளீச்சரமும் பாடி
முன் அணைந்த பதிபிறவும் பணிந்து போற்றி
        முள்ளிவாய்க் கரைஅணைந்தார் முந்நூல் மார்பர்

Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

மின்னியல் செஞ்சடைமேல் விளங்கும்மதி மத்தமொடு நல்ல
பொன்னியல் கொன்றையினான் புனல்சூடிப் பொற்பமரும்
அன்னம் அனநடையாள் ஒரு பாகத்து அமர்ந்தருளி நாளும்
பன்னிய பாடலினான் உறைகோயில் பாதாளே
……… திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
                                                                            -“பூவுலகாம்
ஈங்கும் பாதாளமுதல் எவ்வுலகும் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
தாங்கும் பாதாளேச்சரத்து அமர்ந்தோய்”
……… திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sarpapureeswarar, Sri Naganatha Swamy
Consort    : Sri Amirtha Nayagi.

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an entrance Arch. Stucco images of Shiva’s family are on the arch. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. A Single level Rajagopuram is at the entrance of Sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of Swayambhu, an ant hill / putru and having three parts. On left side is the Dhanajaya Munivar. In koshtam Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy as Guru Bhagavan, Lingothbavar as Annamalaiyar, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner prakaram Suriyan, Sthala Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Durvasa, Sastha, Kalabhairava, Shaneshwara, Navagrahas, Nalvar and Chandran. Natarajar is in the mandapa.

In the outer prakaram Ganapathy, Nagaraja, Mummoorthy, Kalingeswara, Subramaniar, Panchalingeshwara, Durgai,   Lakshmi, Gnana Saraswathy, Kala Bhairava,  A bas relief of Guru Bhagavan in sitting posture on a Lion is on a mandapam Pillar. Simha Dakshinamurthy.


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7th Century and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period. Further extended and maintained by Nayakas and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

As per Rajaraja Chozha-I, period Tamil inscription, this place was called as “Suddhamalli valanattu Pampani Kootrathu Pamani”. Lord Shiva was called as Thirupathaleecharam Udayar.

An inscription records the endowment of land gifted to this temple by Selvathiruvarur Vageesaperuman Vadakeelmatta Mudaliar Pillai, which includes Alalasundarar Thirumadam.

In addition to that, an inscription records the burning of perpetual lamp and annadhanam to the Devotees, for the same gift of gold and Goat / sheeps, given  to “Sribhoothi Vinnagar Alwar”.

The temple is being maintained by the Nattukottai Chettiars. Sri Lakshmanan Chettiar and his wife’s bas-relief are in the front mandapam.


LEGENDS
This place was called as Pampani, Sarpapuram during ancient times. 

As per the legend Adhiseshan came out of pathalam as Dhanajaya munivar and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence this place is praised as “Pathaleecharam ( பாதாளீச்சரம் )”. Hence this temple is considered as a Sarpa dosha parihara sthalam. Since Dhananjayan worshiped Lord Shiva on the first day of Aippasi, on that day naivedyam will consists of Vegetables, Kuzhampu, rice, vada payasam will be offered. This practice is being followed even now.  

As per the legend Kamadhenu was with Sukala munivar. One day he happened to see that the Kamadhenu was worshiping a Shiva Linga with her milk. He feared that the quantity of the milk, he will get will be less if it poured on Shiva Linga. So he got angry and started beating. The Kamadhenu ran, fallen in the Pasupathi theertha and died. Lord Shiva appeared and gave back the life to Kamadhenu.   In this process her horns hits the Shiva Linga. Due to hitting there are three scars on the moolavar.

Since a Snake Adhiseshan worshiped Lord Shiva, there is a snake shape scar is found on the back side of the Moolavar.


POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Aippasi 1st day with naivedyam of full meals & Vada Payasam. Karthigai month somavaram ( Mondays ) and last somavaram, Abhishekam will be done with 108 kalasabhishekam.  Special Naivedyams Grapes ( green ), Mango fruit and mango Juice are offered to Lord Shiva.

In addition to the above special poojas are  also conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aadi Fridays and pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Skanda Sashti in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai & Somavarams ( Mondays) in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 7.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The Mobile number +91 93606 85073 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 
To temple road is passing by the side of Fertilizer factory.
Town bus A-37 from Mannargudi and a Mini bus from Mannargudi to Rishiyur passes through this temple.
The temple is 4 KM from Mannargudi, 25 KM from Thiruvarur, 36 KM from Kumbakonam, 43 K M from Thanjavur and 327 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station is Mannargudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE





--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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